Morgan County 8th graders Dominick Fox, Aryonna Stotler and Kii Younker will be traveling to Charleston next week to become members of the 95th Class of Golden Horseshoe Winners. These are students who have shown a mastery of West Virginia state history on the annual Golden Horseshoe test, given statewide to eighth grade students. 
Students spend their eighth grade years studying West Virginia history, culture and geography in preparation to take the Golden Horseshoe test. Winners were announced in early May.
This year, 225 students will become Knights of the Golden Horseshoe during an annual ceremony on June 9, hosted by the West Virginia Department of Education.
Held at the West Virginia Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex, the ceremony includes recognitions of these students by state and federal officials. State Superintendent Michele Blatt will conduct the event. The ceremony will once again be live streamed by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Local winners
Each of West Virginia’s 55 counties will be represented by top students at the Golden Horseshoe ceremony.
In Morgan County, those three students include Aryonna Stotler, a student at Paw Paw Schools, and Dominick Fox and Kii Younker, students at Warm Springs Middle School.
Stotler took her West Virginia history class from William Taylor at Paw Paw High School this past year. While English is her favorite subject, she excelled on the Golden Horseshoe test, thanks to some practice tests. Still, she was surprised to have been named a winner.
Stotler said she found out she was one of the county winners during “one random day in art class.”
“Everyone was really surprised,” she said.
In addition to her studies, Stotler has played volleyball at the school.
Fox and Younker are students of Debra Gates at Warm Springs Middle School.
Fox said he enjoyed learning the state history ahead of the test.
“It’s fun,” he said.
He admitted that the questions about the state rivers and such – West Virginia geography – were the toughest.
In addition to his studies, Fox has participated in Math Field Day and other academic extracurriculars. He has plans to go into the education field.
Younker is excited to attend the ceremony in Charleston with family. On top of his academic endeavors, he participates in football, wrestling and track locally.
Why the Golden Horseshoe?
In 1716, Governor of the Virginia Colony Alexander Spotswood led a group of explorers west of the Allegheny Mountains into what is now largely West Virginia.
To honor their courage and determination in crossing the rugged terrain, he awarded each participant a small golden horseshoe. This year commemorates the 310th anniversary of the Golden Horseshoe tradition.
