Tom Midkiff, Junior Achevement director, and First Lady Gayle Manchin receive a $10,000 grant from All-State Foundation representative T. J. Nicholson (Photos not in original article)
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West Virginia's First Lady Gayle Manchin praised the Junior Achievement program recently when she visited Hurricane Middle School.
She met with officials from Junior Achievement, The All-State Foundation, Putnam County Band and Putnam County Schools to inaugurate a cooperative program entitled "Economics for Success."
Principal Greg LeMaster welcomed the group, which had gathered to promote a partnership between All-State and Junior Achievement.
Manchin told the assembled students about the conditions they deserve in life and their own responsibilities.
She outlined "Five Promises" of conditions every child deserves: a caring adult, a safe place to be, a healthy start, a marketable skill and an opportunity to serve.
While noting that homes, schools and churches provide for these needs, she noted that "all five promises are exemplified by Junior Achievement."
Manchin encouraged the students to be involved in school and extra-curricular activities.
"Involvement will help define what you become," she said, adding that "the only place 'success' comes before 'work' is in the dictionary."
Putnam County was selected for the ceremony because of its high participation in the Junior Achievement program.
The program sends volunteers into the classroom to educate students about business and economics.
Hurricane Middle School has had an active Junior Achievement program for several years.
During the ceremony, All-State Foundation representative T. J. Nicholson presented Junior Achievement with a check for $10,000, along with a challenge to continue helping young people achieve "the American Dream" of being "productive, responsible citizens with an exceptional quality of life."
Tom Midkiff, director of West Virginia Junior Achievement and an alumnus of Putnam County Schools, thanked the schools and teachers for allowing Junior Achievement to "reach more lives through education."
"We believe education is the key to economic development," he said.
After receiving an abbreviated Junior Achievement lesson from volunteer Vera Conley of Putnam County Bank, students and guests attended a reception in the library.
The Junior Achievement program at Hurricane Middle School was initiated by retired Life Skills teacher Phyllis Clark and is currently sponsored by Julia Shoffner.
First Lady Gayle Manchin with Hurricane Middle students
Putnam County Bank's Vera Conley teaches business and economics at Hurricane Middle School