CEDAR Holds Coal Fair at Chief Logan Lodge

 

 

By Dylan Vidovich

April 15, 2019 - The Coal Education Development and Resource, or CEDAR, of Southern West Virginia Inc. held their annual regional coal fair at the Chief Logan Lodge and Conference Center this past week.

 

Numerous student winners in this year's CEDAR coal fair are pictured following the awards banquet Friday evening. 

Photo by Dylan Vidovich, Logan Banner

Now in its 18th year, the fair invites students in several counties, including Logan, Mingo, Boone, Wyoming, McDowell and Wayne, to enter coal-themed projects in one of seven categories: science, math, English-literature, art, music, multimedia technology or social studies. Students are judged in grade levels of K-4, 5-8 and 9-12, and three winners are selected in each grade level in each category.

The projects are judged by individuals from outside the counties to prevent bias. One judge this year came from as far as St. Louis, Missouri.

The displays of student projects could be viewed all week at the Chief Logan Lodge and Conference Center, and various events surrounding the projects were held each day. On Friday night, the students, along with parents, teachers, school administration officials and Logan County Schools Superintendent Patricia Lucas and Assistant Superintendent Darlene Dingess-Adkins, were treated to an awards banquet, in which winners were recognized and given cash prizes for their achievements.

Another special individual in attendance at Friday's banquet was Janice Martin, who serves as the assistant inspector at large of Region II of the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training in Welch. Born in the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies, Martin came to McDowell County in 1972 and has led a long career in the trade industry, including working as a coal miner for U.S. Steel in Gary, West Virginia, driving tractor-trailers across the country, becoming a certified welder and obtaining an engineering degree.

Martin is the first woman to become a state mine inspector in West Virginia and is now also the first female supervisor for the Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training. Shaylee Collins, a student at Mingo Central High School, won first place in the 9-12 art category for her piece depicting Martin as a coal miner.

"I was honored that Shaylee - the young lady - chose me to draw for her portrait," Martin said. "She got in touch with me, and that's why I'm here."

During the banquet, Martin went around the room and spoke to the students, encouraging them to "reach for the stars."

"Never give up on your dream," Martin said. "Get an education. The most important thing in life is getting a good education, because that is something that no one can take from you. There's no such word as 'can't.' Don't let anybody ever tell you that you can't do something, and even if you fail, you get up and you try again. Never give up."

The student winners in this year's CEDAR coal fair projects are:

Science K-4

First place: Brandon Miller, Matewan K-8

Second place: Wilson Lamb, Chapmanville Intermediate

Third place: Mason Estepp, Burch PreK-8

Science 5-8

First place: Zachariah Nunley, Burch K-8

Second place: Claudia Jarrell, Kermit K-8

Third place: Daylee Ellis, Jaimie Darrin Christian Academy

Science 9-12

First place: Zack Cozmyk, Liberty University Home School

Second place: Jared Ritchie, JDCA

Third place: Hannah Turner, Mingo Central

Math K-4

First place: Elijah Swims, Omar Elementary

Second place: Jaxon Diamond, Omar Elementary

Math 5-8

First place: Kinsey Mounts, Gilbert K-8

Second place: Haley Runyon, Burch K-8

Third place: Alissa Munroe, JDCA

Math 9-12

First place: Destiny Ellis, JDCA

English/Literature K-4

First place: Bianco Moore, Burch K-8

Second place: Lacey Brewer, Omar Elementary

Third place: Shyana Cooper, Corey Mahon, Omar Elementary

English/Literature 5-8

First place: Brayden Mitchem, Matewan K-8

Second place: Carly Sparks, Jenna Sparks, Williamson K-8

Third place: Jaden Johnson, Matewan K-8

English/Literature 9/12

First place: Matthew Layne, JDCA

Second place: Abigail Grim, Wayne High

Third place: Nick Perry, Alex Perry, JDCA

Art K-4

First place: Benjamin Brumfield, Kermit K-8

Second place: Mattox Sartin, Kermit K-8

Third place: Kenadi Casey, Williamson K-8

Art 5-8

First place: Caleb Fletcher, Williamson K-8

Second place: Breanna Crabtree, Makenna Bolding, Kaylee Ramey, Matewan K-8

Third place: Kiera Blankenship, JDCA

Art 9-12

First place: Shaylee Collins, Mingo Central

Second place: Kelsey Kellogg, JDCA

Third place: Molly Woolum, Mingo Central

Music K-4

First place: Brianna Horn, Jeyliona Judkins, Williamson K-8

Second place: Layla Adkins, Omar Elementary

Third place: Kaleb Maynard, Issac Martinez, Burch K-8

Music 5-8

First place: Lakira Grimmett, JDCA

Second place: Austin Rayburn, Jacklynn Barnett, Michaela Blankenship, Man Middle

Music 9-12

First place: Hollie Nagy, Chelsea Sammons, Mingo Central

Second place: Whytni Salmons, JDCA

Technology/Multimedia K-4

First place: Lorelai Staten, Buffalo Grade

Second place: Sawyer Dalton, Chapmanville Intermediate

Third place: Austin Justice, Williamson K-8

Technology/Multimedia 5-8

First place: Lucas Browning, Man Middle

Second place: Timothy Sullivan, Connor Dotson, Jaxen Erwin, Jayce Fraley, Matewan K-8

Third place: Brody Dotson, Kaden Lilly, JDCA

Technology/Multimedia 9-12

First place: Eric Dillon, Lauren Gallimore, Mingo Central

Second place: Emilie Osborne, Katie Queen, Chase Jackson, Kelton Creed, Wayne High

Third place: Donovan Endicott, JDCA

Social Studies K-4

First place: Blake Smith, Burch K-8

Second place: Aaliyah Wolford, Kierra Accord, Omar Elementary

Third place: Payton Johnson, Kami Wolford, Matewan K-8

Social Studies 5-8

First place: Sadie Westfall, JDCA

Second place: Madison Lester, Addison Bishop, JDCA

Third place: Madison Estepp, Burch K-8

Social Studies 9-12

First place: Alyssa Blankenship, JDCA

Second place: James Cline, Mingo Central

 

Third place: Kirsten Lester, Mingo Central