Craig Howell MEETING THE MARK – West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner was in Hancock County Thursday, recognizing students at Madonna and Oak Glen high schools for receiving the gold level of the Jennings Randolph Award, presented in honor of having 100 percent of eligible students register to vote.

WEIRTON — Two area high schools have been recognized for their efforts to encourage members of their senior class to perform their civic duty and vote.

West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner was in Hancock County Thursday, visiting Weirton Madonna and Oak Glen high schools to present them with the Jennings Randolph Award.

The award is named in honor of Jennings Randolph, the late U.S. senator from Harrison County, West Virginia, who often is referred to as “the father of the 26th Amendment” for his effort to get the voting age in the United States lowered from 21 to 18.

Schools wishing to earn the award are charged with organizing student-led voter registration drives with a minimum of 85 percent of students eligible to vote in the next general election signing up.

Both Oak Glen and Madonna received the gold-level of the award, which is earned by having 100 percent of eligible students register to vote.

“Registering 100 percent of your eligible seniors to vote is not just a milestone,” Warner said. “This recognition commits you to a long tradition of civic responsibility.”

Warner noted he has visited 38 of the state’s high schools within the last year to encourage students to register to vote, with his staff at 57 schools. Typically, he said, only 20 schools are able to hit the 85 percent voter registration mark, with only eight to 10 able to make it to 100 percent.

To have two schools so close to each other geographically is almost unheard of, he said.

“It’s really rare,” Warner said, offering praise to not only the students but their teachers, administrators, parents and guardians. “It says a lot about the community pride.”

Some of the students also have received individual recognitions related to the award.

Rylee Birkhimer and Alenna Alatis from Madonna, and Ella Paras, Danica Holden and Maddox McKay from Oak Glen previously were honored by being named Honorary Secretaries of State in recognition of their efforts to lead the voter registration drives at their respective schools.

Hancock County Clerk Karan Valenti also offered her congratulations to the students for the achievement.

“It shows great responsibility and a commitment to civic duty,” Valenti said.

Warner also took a moment to remind eligible voters that the state’s early voting period continues through Saturday, with those registered to vote able to visit their county courthouses to cast their ballots.

In Hancock County, early voting is available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. In Brooke County, voting can be done from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

West Virginia’s primary election is Tuesday.