A statewide contest for West Virginia 8th graders to design a sticker to promote voting in the Mountain State yielded more than 1,100 entries in 42 counties, including Morgan County.
Voting in underway to pick a state winner.
Warm Springs Middle School WV Studies teacher Debra Gates asked her students in late January to participate in the “I Voted” sticker design contest, which was promoted by the West Virginia Secretary of State, the state’s election agency.
Eleven of her students brought in sticker designs, and all entries went to Morgan County Clerk Kim Nickles for judging. The County Clerk’s office oversees election operations for the county.
Lucas Kucharski’s design, showing the New River Gorge Bridge and a clear “I VOTED” message, was the first-place winner from Morgan County.
Paige Waugh’s design, with a flag and stars, won second place for Morgan County.
Olivia Culp won third place. Her design included a cardinal, blue border and the state motto, “Mountaineers are Always Free.”
Kucharski’s design was entered into the regional competition for Eastern Panhandle counties. This region’s winner from Shepherdstown is in the running for the statewide contest.
Gates said her students have been studying government, both national and state, including the responsibilities of being a citizen.
“They know how important voting is,” she said.
Students have also been studying state symbols, which helped during the design challenge.
County Clerk Nickles said her office received the submissions and narrowed them to the top three entries, then asked another courthouse office to get involved in ranking the three to find the county winner.
Both Waugh and Culp said they would be eligible to register to vote in 2031.
Each county winner was presented with a certificate from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office.