Ross Gallabrese STUDY — Superintendent Jeffrey Crook, left, and President Ted Pauls look at notes during the May 11 meeting of the Brooke County Board of Education.

WELLSBURG — Many students were recognized during the May 11 meeting of the Brooke County Board of Education.

The list included numerous members of the Brooke High School band.

“I’m lucky to have such wonderful students and parents to work with,” said Johnny Leonard, the school’s band director. “Something like this just doesn’t come together on a whim. It takes a village, and at Brooke High School, we are blessed to have a wonderful community that supports us in everything that we do.”

Leonard thanked members of the administration and staff for their support while praising band parents.

“What they have done with getting kids to and from practices, supporting them, listening to their kids practicing at home for hours and hours,” Leonard said. “And to my students, I appreciate all of the work that you have done. It has been a banner year for us.”

The band performed at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and several members have been selected to participate in the OVAC All-Star Marching Band.

Leonard said the school’s concert band, jazz band and percussion ensemble will present a concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Rick Taylor Auditorium at the high school. The concert is free, and donations are welcome.

Band students recognized included:

• All-state honor recital finalists: Saxophone quartet — Deedra Groves, Gauge Cheeks, Olivia Keister and Alaina Nelson; soloists — Gauge Cheeks, Max Diaz and Deedra Groves.

• Region I solo and ensemble festival superior ratings: Juliahna Chiodi, Lauren Dulaney, Raegan Gibson, Jocelyn Golick, Abby Hahn, Ryan Haught, Emma Helsel, Jackson McCombs, Abby McGee, Addison Merinar, Esme Provenzano, Rosia Smith, Brock Swiger and Maddison Taylor.

• Region I solo and ensemble festival superior with honors: Gauge Cheeks, Max Diaz, Maggie Fluharty, Deedra Groves, Piper Huff, Olivia Keister, Ty Lallone and Alaina Nelson.

• West Virginia University Invitational Honor Band: Deedra Groves, Alaina Nelson, Lauren Dulaney, Gauge Cheeks, Max Diaz, Ella Hensel and Addison Merinar.

• West Virginia University Honor Jazz Band: Gauge Cheeks.

• W.Va. Region I Honor Band: Addison Merinar, Emma Helsel, Gauge Cheeks, Deedra Groves, Alaina Nelson, Lauren Dulaney and Elise Spurlock.

• Concert band — superior ratings at Region I Concert Band Festival: Zoey Bond, Gauge Cheeks, Juliahna Chiodi, Dakota Cook, Xavier Dawson, Max Diaz, Lauren Dulaney, Maggie Fluharty, Raegan Gibson, Jocelyn Golick, Deedra Groves, Abigail Hahn, Ryan Haught, Luke Haught, Emma Helsel, Piper Huff, Zachary Huggins-Blount, Jared Jenkins, Olivia Keister, Ty Lallone, Jackson McCombs, Abigail McGee, Addison Merinar, Layla Michael, Sophia Morris, Michael Mull, Alaina Nelson, Skye Palmer, Kalleigh Rahr, Russell Smith, Ambrosia Smith, Elise Spurlock, Brock Swiger, Sophia Tacozza, Carlina Taylor, Maddison Taylor, Joseph Tomes, Madison Walker and Abby Wohnas.

• Jazz band — superior ratings at W.Va. Northern Region Jazz Finals: Gauge Cheeks, Max Diaz, Lauren Dulaney, Jocelyn Golick, Deedra Groves, Luke Haught, Emma Helsel, Zachary Huggins-Blount, Jared Jenkins, Olivia Keister, Ty Lallone, Jackson McCombs, Abby McGee, Addison Merinar, Michael Mull, Alaina Nelson, Ambrosia Smith and Brock Swiger.

• Marching band — W.Va. Oil and Gas Festival competition at Tyler Consolidated High School: First runner-up grand champion out of 16 bands; outstanding soloists: Ty Lallone and Rosia Smith; gold medals: field show, field commander and auxiliaries; silver medal: drumline.

Also recognized during the meeting were:

• Students passing their journeyman’s electrical test: Wyatt Blake, Maddox Doll, Cooper McMahon, Ezra Shaffer, Aiden Stock and Colton Yensen.

• Faith Farrell, who was named 2026 OVAC Girls Swimmer of the Year in 5A.

• Derek Wayne, who was named 2026 OVAC Girls Coach of the Year in 5A.