Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing writer
Many students were recognized during the Salem City School Board meeting on March 12. Students received plaques for their successes and endeavors, shook the hands of the board members, as well as had their photos taken.
The first to be recognized were the Spelling Bee participants. Salem City Schools has a rich history in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, engaging students from fifth to eighth grade. Students participate in grade-level and classroom bees, where all students have the chance to showcase their spelling prowess. The winners from these competitions then advance to the school spelling bee, where a champion and alternate are chosen. Recently, these champions and alternates participated in the Salem City Schools 2024 Division Spelling Bee, held at Andrew Lewis Middle School on Thursday, Feb. 8. After an intense battle, Audrey Lee from Andrew Lewis Middle School took the crown, spelling the championship word “stomach” correctly.
Salem City School 2024 Division Spelling Bee participants recognized at the meeting are below.
Andrew Lewis Middle School – Audrey Lee; 7th grade
East Salem Elementary School – Jayden Woods; 5th grade
GW Carver Elementary School – Allison Rude; 5th grade
South Salem Elementary School – Christiana Ciril; 5th grade
West Salem Elementary School – Emily Wise; 5th grade
Another important recognition was that of Governor’s School Project Form Awards. The annual Project Forum, hosted by the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science and Technology, took place on Saturday, Feb. 3. This event allows students to apply their expertise and research in real-world scenarios, exploring topics of personal interest. Salem High School students enrolled in the Governor’s School actively participated in the Forum, presenting their accumulated knowledge and skills. Below is a compilation of Salem High School students who received recognition and awards for their projects.
Zachary Easter
First Place in Engineering Mechanics
AT-CV Walker (All Terrain Combat Vehicle)
Mitchell Deese
First Place in Microbiology
The Stability of Bacillus Strains When Applied on Bare and Avicta Corn Seeds
Josephine Eaton
First Place in Plant Sciences
The Effectiveness of Glycine max on Microplastic Removal from Soil
Emma Baldwin and Dorothy Myers
Second Place in Animal Sciences
The Absorption and Effect of Microplastics on C. elegans
Mirabel Makked
Second Place in Animal Sciences
The Effect of Polyethylene Microplastics on C. elegans
Kathryn Ha and Claire Rawlins
Third Place in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Investigating the Role of SNAI2 in the Proliferation of HCT116 Cancer Cells
Vivienne Eaton and Ryan Hubbard
Third Place in Plant Sciences
The Allelopathic Effect of S. oleracea Organs on the Germination of S. lycopersicum
Thirdly, “Spartan Spirit,” Salem High School’s store, was recognized for achieving gold-level certification for the 2023-24 school year, ranking the store among the top 728 school-based enterprises nationwide. This recognition will be honored at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California, from April 27-30. DECA members Kendall Joyce and Madi Martin, under the guidance of advisor Kris Harless, led the store to success in just two years.
Finally, was the recognition of freshman Derek Bush who was victorious at the VHSL Class 4A State Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, finishing with a remarkable 37-2 record and 21 pins at 113 lbs. Despite two losses, he beat the returning 4A state champ and the 3A state champ. Bush defeated all six state place winners during the season, showcasing exceptional skill. With a 3.9 GPA, he was named captain and led his varsity team to top 5 finishes in every tournament, where he consistently claimed individual first place. All of these earned Bush the title of 2024 VHSL Class 4A 113 lb. state wrestling champion.
