2009-2010 WSAZ Awards

 
WSAZ's "The Best of the Class 2010"

WSAZ article/video

Besides their academic achievements, both Morgan and Katie have been involved in many other activities at Clay.  Morgan, the son of Ted and Lisa Garrett of Rosemount, has participated in cross country, baseball, and basketball while Katie, the daughter of Darla Wheeler of Portsmouth and Lee Wheeler of Minford, has participated in volleyball and basketball during her four years at Clay.  They were both the school's 2010 Wendy's Heisman representatives.


Article from WSAZ (04/27/2010)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Here's a pop quiz for you. What do you get when you take 220 students from 157 schools across three different states?

The Best of the Class 2010.

For the 26th year, WSAZ honored some of the brightest students around. Students like Spring Valley's Ross Evans and Allie Merritt, who are both finalists for the National Merit Scholarship.

Both Evans and Merritt got the chance to tour the Huntington Museum of Art before Monday's ceremonies. Both students say with all the stresses of getting ready for college, the opportunity to look back at their accomplishments is a welcome break.

"It's nice to get rewarded for the hard work," Evans said. "Everyone here has obviously put in a lot of hard work over the last four years and the past 12 to 13 years."

Merritt says a quote from a friend has helped her keep working hard.

"Grind now, shine later," Merritt said. "If you work really hard now, it will pay off later. You think four years is a long time to work hard, but it's really not."

Tyler Fields has his sights set on bigger and better things. The Phelps High School senior is the first in his family to go to college. He says breaking the mold is something he does not take lightly.

"My father and grandfather both worked in the mining industry," Fields said. "I guess it kind of shines a light on my family and myself. Because I'm making a life for myself through my college education."

While all of the students at the Best of the Class have proven their ability to succeed in the classroom, some students like Kara Pollinger show their ability to succeed in athletics as well.

"It's the way my whole life has been," Pollinger said. "I'm used to it. That's the way my parents brought me up -- athletics and academics going hand and hand."

This fall, Pollinger will become a member of the U.S. Navy women's basketball team, and she hopes her hard work will inspire others.

"I know it gets hard, but if its something that you love, don't give up on it just because it's hard," she said.