Awards for Riverheads yearbook, Staunton athletic trainer; Fishburne honoring veterans: The Chalkboard

GREENVILLE — Riverheads' yearbook, "The Colosseum: New Additions, Old Traditions," won the highest award the Virginia High School League gives for publications, trophy class. The award was presented at the multimedia championship Oct. 21.

"This is the equivalent of winning a state championship," said the school's yearbook advisor Kynndal Wenger.

The book scored an overall superior rating, with an emphasis on its theme and sports coverage. It was the first time the school won the award, according to VHSL records.

"We worked really hard on that book," Wenger said. "To me it's just a testament how hard all of them worked and how dedicated my staff was to making it not only a book that sold well, but also a book that competed well."

Last year's book was the first one that Wenger had seen through from start to finish. She taught the class two years ago but was on maternity leave for the last few months of school, so she wasn't there for the final stages of completing the book.

Wenger received the email about winning the award in the middle of a meeting on a teacher workday, so she had to wait a day to tell the students.

"It was the hardest secret to keep because I just wanted to shout how proud of them I was from the top of the school," she said. "I watched a lot of students find their place in the yearbook room and thrive as part of the yearbook staff last year. To see not only their hard work, but their dedication honored with a trophy class award was the exact reason I love the role of yearbook advisor."

Senior Tatum Fridley said the award just acknowledged all the hard work the students put into the yearbook.

"It said something about Riverheads, our traditions as a school," said Fridley, the yearbook's editor-in-chief.

The yearbook covered each week of the school year, similar to how a newspaper might, Wenger explained. It included sports, clubs, classes and other aspects of students' lives, like homecoming and prom. They also had a question of the week that tied into something that happened that week.

Jesse Oldham is the sports editor. He said one of the most interesting parts of yearbook for him was taking photos.

"Getting to sit right on the side of the field or right where everybody else isn't allowed to go, and take photos and capture the moment," said Oldham, who only started photography as a sophomore. Now, Oldham is a senior.

Becca Hensley said yearbook offered an opportunity to meet other people, both inside and outside the school.

"I'm the business manager so I am making calls constantly to businesses and even other yearbook groups," Hensley said. "It's really a great way to get involved in your community."

Staunton High's athletic trainer honored

STAUNTON — The Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association recently chose Staunton High School's Kwadwo Donkor for its VATA Vito Periello Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.

"The award is an honor reserved for an individual or group in recognition of their service, contribution, or grassroots effort to the profession of athletic training," VATA wrote in a letter sent to Donkor. "Through dedication, selflessness and hard work, your contribution has promoted not only the common mission of the Virginia Athletic Trainer"s' Association, but has positively influenced the patient population in which you serve. Congratulations."

Donkor will receive the award at the VATA symposium in early January at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.

A Bridgewater College graduate, Donkor went to the school to play football and major in business.

An injury ended his football career and the business part didn't work out either. What he did find at Bridgewater was a love of athletic training. He decided that would be the career path he'd follow.

After five years working at Fishburne Military School, Donkor has been at Staunton since 2017.

"Mr. Donkor is the epitome of dedication, selflessness and hard work," a social media post from Staunton High School said. "He positively influences the patients he serves and everyone around him. Thank you for all you do to support our athletes, students and community, Mr. Donkor."

Fishburne hosting Veterans Day ceremony

WAYNESBORO — Fishburne Military School is hosting its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Ridgeview Cemetery in Waynesboro Saturday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.

An opening formation at 10:20 a.m. in the Yount Barracks Quadrangle, followed by the Corps of Cadets march to the Riverview Cemetery to honor all active duty service members and veterans and pay special tribute to FMS veterans who fell in combat. Officers from the Waynesboro Police Department will provide the escort duties to the cemetery as the FMS Cadets will march up 11th Street and 13th Street in Waynesboro en route to the Riverview Cemetery.

The guest speaker for the ceremony is LTC Raul Herrera, USA, (RET). Cadet Giovanni Belisle, battalion executive officer and son of a veteran, will also make brief remarks.

“As a country and as individuals, we must honor our veterans who make our world better," said Chris Wingate Fishburne's senior army instructor. "And as a nation, there's no one more deserving of our gratitude and respect than those who have served in the military, which is why Veterans Day is so incredibly significant.”

For those who cannot attend in person, the ceremony will be live streamed on the FMS Facebook page. Find the livestream on Fishburne's Facebook page.

All veterans, alumni, and guests are also welcome to march with the cadets to the ceremony at the Riverview Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the FMS Veterans Day ceremony will be held in the Hitt-Millar Fieldhouse on the Fishburne campus.

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Awards for Riverheads yearbook, Staunton athletic trainer; Fishburne honoring veterans