Trending
WHEELING -- More than a dozen students from Ohio, Marshall and Belmont counties were honored for their efforts to stand against bullying in their schools at a reception Monday afternoon.
One student from each high school in the counties -- 14 total -- was named as an Anti-Bullying Ambassador by Bordas & Bordas being nominated by school personnel and members of the community for their work counteracting bullying. The winning students received $500 at the end-of-year ceremonies of their schools, as well as four Pittsburgh Pirates tickets, entitling the students to sit in a Bordas & Bordas suite at PNC Park.
Managing Partner Jamie Bordas said the students faced higher expectations for counteracting bullying as social media becomes more prevalent, exposing students to more information and opportunities for negative experiences.
"Being a good athlete, you have to work, but a lot of times it's a God-given ability; being a good student, you have to work, but a lot of times, it's a God-given ability," Bordas said. "Being kind and treating others right, that's all up to you, and in today's age it's harder and harder to go through high school. Myself, your parents, we didn't have the things you do with social media, but you've been able to navigate that and do well, despite everything out there, and been recognized by your teachers, guidance counselors, as someone who's doing the right things for others."
In previous years, Bishop Donahue High School was also included in the distribution, and next year will not include St. John Central High School, due to the closure of the schools.
The award has been handed out for the last six years, Bordas said, as a personal passion of his father, Jim Bordas.
"The reason (Jim Bordas) started this is because it aligns so closely with the beliefs he's had since he was your age -- treat others with kindness, stand up for others, be a friend to those who might not have any," Jamie Bordas said. "That's why this is so big for him -- he views you all as being those types of folks who'll fight for others."
Wheeling Central High School student Baron Vogrin said he was honored to accept the award.
"I tried treating everyone with the respect I felt I should be treated, because everyone deserves, no matter who they are, to be treated with respect," he said. "It's an honor to be recognized."
The students selected to win, and their high schools, were:
∫ Myra McEndree, Barnesville;
∫ Gavyn Strauss, Beallsville;
∫ Maci Crozier, Bellaire;
∫ Damion Green, Bridgeport;
∫ Tyler Hill, Cameron;
∫ Gabrielle Broski, John Marshall;
∫ Emma Campsey, Linsly;
∫ Shane Krob, Martins Ferry;
∫ Victoria Haswell, Shadyside;
∫ Kyle Storer, St. Clairsville;
∫ Shaylyn Horvath, St. John Central;
∫ Hannah Kemp, Union Local;
∫ Baron Vogrin, Wheeling Central; and
∫ Jordan Phillips, Wheeling Park.