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Students highlight mental‑health outreach, arts and traditions; board recognizes long‑service staff
Summary
Culpeper County High School students presented on Morgan’s Message mental‑health outreach, cultural trips and extracurriculars; students also credited staff for student voice wins such as reinstating strawberry milk. The board recognized employees with 30–40 years of service and multiple athletic and fine‑arts achievements were honored.
Students from Culpeper County High School took the podium during the March 10 school board meeting to describe student‑led initiatives and extracurricular successes, and the board used the meeting to recognize long‑serving employees and student athletes.
Senior Ella Brooks described Morgan’s Message, a student‑led nonprofit that the high school’s student‑government association is promoting to reduce stigma around mental health for student athletes. Brooks said the group formed after the 2020 death of Morgan Rogers and that the organization hosts dedication games, fundraisers and regional learning labs to encourage conversations about mental health.
Students highlighted other activities: Arianna Lambert described cultural and civic trips to Howard University, the National Museum of African American History and The U.S. Capitol; SCA regional representative Jason Arias said CCHS hosted 150 students from 12 schools for a leadership conference; and student Namias (first name presented as spelled in the record) credited the administration with reinstating strawberry milk in the cafeteria after raising the idea with the principal. Principal Doctor Soderholm and other administrators told the board they welcome student ideas and encouraged continued student leadership.
The board recognized several veteran employees: two staff with 30 years of service, three staff with 35 years, and one employee who reached 40 years posthumously (James “Beau” Smith III of maintenance). The board presented certificates and gifts to the honorees.
Athletic and fine‑arts recognitions included state qualifiers and placers in swim, wrestling and indoor track. Coaches and sponsors from Culpeper County High School and Eastern View High School introduced student athletes and recounted their achievements. The fine arts department highlighted that 72.9% of students participate in arts programming and encouraged the public to attend the upcoming art show and maker fair.
Board members and the superintendent praised the students and staff for positive community impact, and several board members noted the presentations illustrated teamwork, dedication and belonging across academics, athletics and career education.
