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Students honored at Isle of Wight board meeting; projects range from robotics to a community mural for Virginia 250
Summary
The board recognized students and teachers for academic and career-technical achievements, including SkillsUSA medals, regional Kid Win placements, robotics gold qualifying for Nationals, and student work on a Virginia 250 mural and podcast series.
The Isle of Wight County School Board opened its May 8 meeting with a lengthy Achievers segment recognizing students across the division for academic, technical and artistic accomplishments.
Superintendent representatives and principals announced seniors and student teams from multiple schools. Windsor High senior Daniella Grabowiki Cardenas was named Windsor High senior of the month; Smithville High senior Donnie Deberry received a senior recognition and plans to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The board spotlighted multiple Great Computer Challenge placements for Windsor High teams and several Smithville High students who placed at the 2025 SkillsUSA Virginia State Leadership Conference.
Smithville High robotics students Emily Miller and John Worthington won gold in the mobile robotics technology competition and qualified to compete at the national SkillsUSA championship in Atlanta in June. Amberlynn Frucci and Vincent Jamie Sawyer earned bronze in an urban search‑and‑rescue robotics competition. The welding program and other Career and Technical Education (CTE) students were recognized for state and regional placements.
Middle school teams were recognized for the Kid Win renewable‑energy competition: Smithville Middle sent six teams to the state challenge after strong regional showings. The board also recognized art and technology students who built projects for the district’s robotics, engineering and computer competitions.
Separately, staff described the division’s Virginia 250 work, an initiative tied to the state’s 250th‑anniversary programming. Instructional coordinator Tiffany Truitt summarized two years of student projects: a student‑designed mural in the community room at Sentara St. Luke’s that depicts local historic sites; a student podcast series and website called “Revolutionary Roots” produced by Windsor and Smithfield High students; and a recent Gifted and Talented evening featuring about 400 students’ performances and projects. Sentara St. Luke’s and the Isle of Wight County Museum partnered with schools for research, site visits and public displays.
Board members praised the teachers and students. Dr. Truitt said the projects combined curriculum standards with community partnerships and produced cross‑disciplinary student work in research, creative writing, art and media production. The superintendent and several board members said the projects have drawn regional attention and will continue in 2026, including planned participation in the Sail 250 program next year.
