Cabell County Board spotlights student winners and unveils Woody Williams Center identity as applications surge

The Cabell County Board of Education opened its Nov. 18 meeting by recognizing student achievements and unveiling branding for the new Woody Williams Center for Advanced Learning and Careers.

Dr. Ashley Stevens introduced a series of student and community recognitions, including Cabell Midland junior Max Noble, who won first place in engineering at the West Virginia Makes Festival for a 3‑D printed weightlifting attachment he called the Gripinator. "My original prototype held 90 pounds," Noble said. "This one was able to hold 540 pounds. We plan to make it stronger and more reliable." Providence for the competition was on Marshall University's campus.

Stevens also introduced Milton student Easton Goodpastor, named a "hometown hero" after raising $1,200 at the Milton farmers market to support a local family. "I started when I was 3, and I grew corn, beans, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers," Easton told the board.

Three students — Khalil Clements and Kaithen Negenhall of Huntington High School and Olivia Flowers of Cabell Midland — were recognized as finalists for the U.S. Senate Youth Program. A student identified as Camille described the rigorous selection process and the Washington, D.C., activities finalists could expect.

Master Sergeant Jared Jones introduced the Cabell Midland Air Force Junior ROTC color guard and the cadets present, and the board paused for photographs.

Later in the meeting Melissa Ash, director and principal of the Cabell County Career Center (soon to be the Woody Williams Center), presented the center's new corporate identity and logo. Ash described a two‑version approach for color and formal materials, strict palette and usage rules, and an embedded QR code for applications and program information. "Our primary logo will be navy and yellow for marketing; the navy and gray version will be for formal documents," Ash said. She told the board that interest in the center has more than doubled since last year: "Last year we had 305 students request to be in our building. This year, 633 have applied to be in our programs."

The board discussed holding an open house and a ribbon‑cutting in January after the center's anticipated move. Superintendent Hardesty had earlier told the board the district anticipates students' last day at current locations will be Dec. 17 and the first day at the Woody Williams Center will be Jan. 7.

The board approved the Woody Williams Center logo later in the meeting as part of the special board items.

The meeting included brief veterans' recognition and announcements about upcoming art shows and local literacy awards.