Twenty students graduated from eighth grade at Saint Joseph School during a May 23 Mass and celebration at St. Joseph Parish in downtown Martinsburg.
Before a crowd of family, friends, school administrators and staff, the students were lauded by Principal Maria Byrd and Father Thomas Gallagher, pastor of St. Joseph Parish.
Members of the SJS Class of 2024 are Colin Atkins, Savannah Bischoff, Taylor Cady, Gabriel Campos, Stella Carter, Braylen Cole, Aiden Dinh, Charles Dunn, Jaxson Guenther, Harlan Harmison, Riley Kilmer, Anna McCreery, Mikhail Mendoza-Cordero, Jessica Monroe, Deacon Nguyen, Rebecca Par, Adelaida Rodriguez, Lane Smith, Lucas Velez and Thomas Watson.
The following subject awards were presented during the graduation ceremony:
  • Excellent participation and expressive reading: Atkins
  • Advanced skills and writing technique: Rodriguez
  • Outstanding achievement in Math 8: Monroe
  • Outstanding achievement in Algebra I: Rodriguez
  • Excellence in physical science: Campos
  • West Virginia history: Rodriguez
  • Religion: Velez
  • Excellent work and participation in Spanish: Atkins
  • Excellence in art: Par
  • STEM: Campos
  • Outstanding performance and leadership in theater: Kilmer
  • Excellence and leadership in choir: Monroe
  • Outstanding musicianship in band: Guenther
  • Outstanding practice and performance in handbells: Dunn
  • Physical education: Guenther and McCreery
President’s Award for Educational Excellence (gold medal), for students who earned an 85% or higher on a standardized test in reading or math, and at least a 3.5 grade-point average for all trimesters in sixth and seventh grades, and the fall and winter trimesters of eighth grade: Bischoff, Campos, McCreery, Par and Rodriguez
President’s Award for Educational Achievement (silver medal) for students who achieved a 69% or higher on a standardized test in reading or math, and at least a 3.0 GPA for all trimesters in sixth and seventh grades, and the fall and winter trimesters of eighth grade: Atkins, Cady, Carter, Cole, Dunn, Guenther, Harmison, Mendoza-Cordero and Watson
Knights of Columbus Patriotic Service Award: Watson
Aquinas Medal: Guenther. Named for Saint Thomas Aquinas, the medal is the most prestigious honor a student can receive from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. One student at the highest academic grade level at each Catholic school in the diocese is recognized for embodying excellence in learning, faithful discipleship, leadership, and service to school, parish and community.
Congratulations to the SJS Class of 2024!