As Governor, I was truly privileged to recognize the 2009 West Virginia Golden Horseshoe Award winners a couple of weeks. About 225 eighth graders were inducted as "knights" and "ladies" into the prestigious, historic Golden Horseshoe Society.
Having been administered since 1931, the Golden Horseshoe test acknowledges the state's top West Virginia history students. It is the longest-running program of its kind in the nation, making it a most impressive award. I commend the outstanding hard work, commitment and perseverance shown by these students. Their efforts have certainly paid off, allowing them to be the top scoring students in the Mountain State.
I applaud this year's award recipients, and I welcome each one into the Golden Horseshoe Society. Membership in this elite group is certainly a West Virginia distinction.
This year's students joined more than 15,000 students who have received this recognition - these are West Virginians we want to encourage to come back and visit the Capitol grounds. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I officially invite all past and present Golden Horseshoe winners to attend the 2009 Golden Horseshoe Reunion on Friday, June 19, 2009 at the State Capitol.
This one-day reunion is free, and the day's festivities range from a VIP tour of the all-new State Museum to an evening concert. This event is being coordinated through the Department of Education and the Arts in conjunction with its Division of Culture and History. The deadline to register is Friday, May 15, 2009. Golden Horseshoe Winners may find out more information and register for the event by going to www.wv.gov/ghreunion or contacting the Department of Education and the Arts at 304-558-2440.
This is only the second time that past-winners have officially gathered on the Capitol grounds. The previous reunion in 1996 attracted more than 800 winners.
This reunion is a great way for our state to recognize the legacy of hundreds of outstanding West Virginia history students. I encourage all past and current winners to bring their family and friends to this reunion, which showcases the importance of our state's heritage, while also highlighting those who excelled in West Virginia history in the eighth grade.
It will be a day for the history books!
