The president of Saint Joseph School’s student council got a feel for how the Berkeley County Commissioners govern when she served Oct. 23 as an honorary member of their team.
Alana Espenlaub, 14, of Bunker Hill, was recently elected by students in grades six to nine at the Catholic private school in Martinsburg to serve as their leader. She plays indoor volleyball for the Crusaders and for a travel team, plays beach volleyball for a local club and participated in the Berkeley County Youth Flag Football League. She also is a member of Genesis, the show choir at Saint Joseph School.
Espenlaub told the commissioners and other county staff members, plus about a dozen other attendees, that she doesn’t have her eye on a specific college yet, but she has one definite aspiration: “I really want to go into the Army or the Navy.”
She also told the commissioners that the SJS student council organized a “pink-out day” for Oct. 30, for which students and staff are encouraged to donate $1 each to dress down. All proceeds will go toward research to fight and prevent breast cancer.
Commission President Eddie Gochenour pointed to the pink tie he was wearing and said he wears one of that hue for every meeting of the governing body in October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Espenlaub also heard a presentation about one woman’s sizable contribution of heart to the community. Bunny Shaw was celebrated for her more than 40 years of service to the Bethany House, which provides shelter, case management, meals and laundry facilities to women and children in the area.
After being lauded for sowing seeds of safety, hope and empowerment to countless mothers and their offspring, Shaw said her work ethic was instilled by her father and deflected all praise to another Father: “I give the glory to God,” she said.
