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Movement to honor teachers, local leaders

STEUBENVILLE — The Lee Alexander West Spiritual Movement will present three teacher and three village impact awards during a one-hour memorial ceremony on Jan. 31 to remember Lee Alexander West.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Tower of Power Church on Maryland Avenue.

“We expanded our nomination pool and connected with all local high schools and have a winner from Edison Local, Buckeye Local and Steubenville High School,” said Cookie West, mother of Lee West.

She organized the L.A.W.S. Spiritual Movement following Lee’s death in 2012.

The service will be one hour in length and is open to the public.

The teacher impact awardees will be Paul Baker, John Abrams and Bill Stephens, while Monica Rogers, the Rev. Ashley Steele and Charity Mcafloose will receive the village impact awards.

Lee Alexander West was a 15-year-old freshman when he died in a house fire on July 31, 2012.

“Many people knew Lee as a great athlete, but Lee was an excellent student as well. He was an honor student at Steubenville High School. There were several teachers that helped shape Lee into the young man he had become,” said Cookie West.

“Lee was in transition at Steubenville High School. Lee loved all sports but he was also very passionate about his education. Lee’s dream was to become an engineer, and he was already checking out colleges and universities that offered engineering courses,” she recalled.

“I remember reading one of his report cards from high school and the comments his teachers had written really made me proud. I felt good because I knew Lee was taking his classes and academics very seriously. Teachers in our schools don’t always get a lot of thanks. But our children succeed and become doctors, lawyers, engineers and teachers because of the people who help shape them and inspire them while they are in school,” stated Cookie West.

“I believe Lee is looking down from heaven. I believe Lee is always with me. I know I will see Lee again. I understand and respect God’s plan. He needed Lee. God has comforted me. My tears are tears of joy because Lee is in heaven. And they are tears of sorrow because I miss him,” Cookie West stated.

“I am inviting the community to join us that evening at the Tower of Power Church for a positive evening,” Cookie West added.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)

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