Saint Joseph School sixth-grader Charlotte Smith worked her own magic by bringing home second place from the 2026 West Virginia State Social Studies Fair.
Her project, “A Haunted History … Wizard Clip,” was awarded in the state and local studies category for division two, which encompasses students in grades six to eight. The Inwood resident traveled with her family to the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center for the April 28 competition.
She qualified for the state contest after placing first in the regional social studies fair on March 21 at Musselman High School.
According to the West Virginia Department of Education, which hosted the event, 566 students in grades three to 12 took part, the largest student participation since the fair began in 1977. The participants represented 44 counties and presented 357 projects.
The competition featured three divisions, with a total of 94 first-place winners, 99 second-place winners and 86 third-place winners, according to the WVDE. Additionally, 70 students received honorable mentions.
Division one was for grades three to five and division three was for grades nine to 12.
