BUCKHANNON — On April 10, 2024, seven students from Upshur County Schools presented five projects at the 2024 West Virginia State Social Studies Fair in Charleston, WV. To compete at the state level, students must qualify at county and regional levels through an evaluation of a written abstract, physical display and oral presentation.

The state competition was highly competitive this year, with more than 500 students presenting 320 projects — the largest competition field within the last 10 years. 

Students from counties across the state in grades 3-12 presented projects in content areas such as anthropology, economics, psychology and more. There are three divisions of competition: Division I for students in Grades 3-5, Division II for students in Grades 6-8, and Division III for students in Grades 9-12. Students could enter projects as individuals or groups.

The participating Upshur County students received three first-place awards and one third-place award for their entries this year. We celebrate these students for their research curiosity, dedication to scholarship, and courage to present their findings! 

The Upshur County Student Results were as follows:

• 1^st Place – Division I, Economics, Individual: American Women in WWII presented by Thomas Loudin, Tennerton Elementary School
• 1^st Place – Division II, World History, Group: The Effects of the Spanish Influenza – WWI presented by Emma Collett and Isabella Bowers, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School
• 1^st Place – Division III, World History, Individual: Defying the Blockade: Berlin Airlift presented by Johnny Chen, Buckhannon-Upshur High School
• 3^rd Place – Division II, Psychology, Group: Understanding Sleep Paralysis presented by Ava Trent, Alexis Huffman and Harper Currence, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School
• Participating – Division II, World History, Individual: The Lost Colony of Roanoke presented by Amelia Morehead, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School