Bridgeport, WV, Middle School trio some of county's top Golden Horseshoe winners

“This is something they’re going to take with them the rest of their life. They’re part of an elite club now. It’s a big confidence booster, and I’m very proud of these young men. They worked very hard.”

The award shows academic excellence in the field of West Virginia history and carries on an 88-year tradition of dubbing recipients as Knights and Ladies of the Golden Horseshoe.

The school’s 225 eighth-grade students and another homeschooled student located in the Bridgeport school area took the exam Feb. 22.

Orlando, Dailey and Clayton are 14 years old and consider social studies one of their academic strengths.

Orlando, who won a social studies fair in fifth grade, prepared for the test by reviewing outlines and taking pre-tests during February from teacher Kenneth Edwards, who since has moved on to Bridgeport High School.

“That really helped me get to the point I am today, winning the Golden Horseshoe,” Orlando said. “Each week, we had a pre-test and a quiz about stuff that might be on the test, as well as online resources to prepare.

“I forgot to look over it the night before the test, but I did well anyway. I feel very accomplished and proud with how hard I worked to get this. I didn’t think I would, but you always have to try and put your best effort forward in anything dealing with school.”

Dailey, who studied online quizzes before the test with teacher Bill Shaver, especially remembers a lot of information about mining disasters in the state.

“If I didn’t win, it wouldn’t have been a big deal to me, but since I did, it is a big deal,” Dailey said.

A West Virginia History and World Geography teacher for both seventh- and eighth-grade students, Shaver tried to prepare his students the past few months through the state curriculum.

“It was all about eliminating choices to give them an idea what the test was going to be like,” Shaver said. “I think my classes all thought they did well, which is all that matters. It’s a big honor to be knighted. It’s an important accomplishment.”

Shaver teaches two eighth-grade classes, totaling about 50 students.

“Logan is pretty quiet, but I know he knew his stuff. He does a good job,” Shaver said.

Clayton wasn’t confident about his overall score and will be nervous during the Charleston ceremony.

“I didn’t think that I would do well at all,” Clayton said. “My main strengths are math and social studies, though, so that might be the reason why I did so well.”

“(The test) was about stuff we haven’t quite learned about yet, but has been on the news a lot and you hear about.”

An algebra student preparing for geometry at Bridgeport High School, Clayton said current events often “stick to (his) head, especially stuff that I don’t necessarily consider important.” He mainly listens to the news during family dinners.

Clayton’s mother, Julie Clayton, teaches fifth-graders at Simpson Elementary while his father, Jason Clayton, teaches at Fairmont State University, where Jensen Clayton is already considering majoring in a mathematics-dominant field.

As well as completing multiple-choice questions, each student had to write an essay.

Mazza announced the three Golden Horseshoe winners during a school lunch period.

“They kept it a secret from us until I heard about it at lunch in front of everyone,” Clayton said. “I was extremely shocked.”

The students are also to be recognized at the May 7 Harrison County Board of Education meeting.

A half dozen Bridgeport Middle School students achieved Golden Horseshoe designation in 2017.

There will be 223 eighth-grade students knighted by State Superintendent Steven Paine statewide, according to Kristin Anderson, Department of Education executive director of communications.