WVVA Student Harlan Earns Prestigious Golden Horseshoe Award 

For West Virginia Virtual Academy student Harlan, learning about the Mountain State became more than just another class assignment. It became a journey into the history, culture, and people who shaped West Virginia that led to one of the state’s highest academic honors.  

Harlan earned the prestigious Golden Horseshoe Award, a statewide recognition given to eighth grade students who demonstrate exceptional knowledge of West Virginia history, geography, civics, and culture through a competitive exam. 

The achievement was especially meaningful to Harlan because history had not always felt like his best class. 

“I was kind of surprised because normally history isn’t my strongest subject, so I was happy that I improved,” Harlan said.  

His mom and Learning Coach, Tawny, agreed that the award reflected the time and effort Harlan invested throughout the year. He credits his eighth-grade social studies teacher, Kyla Fishbaugh, with helping him become more interested in the Golden Horseshoe and the topics it covered. 

“I do think Mrs. Fishbaugh pushed me towards the Golden Horseshoe, because I didn’t know about it before she brought it up,” Harlan said. “She made it sound fun and interesting, and I thought it was. She had a fun way of teaching about the subjects in the Golden Horseshoe and in class too.” 

Fishbaugh said Harlan’s quiet determination and steady work ethic stood out all year. 

“Harlan consistently demonstrated dedication, responsibility, and a genuine passion for learning,” said Fishbaugh. “He regularly produces excellent work, rarely misses class, and takes great pride in learning about West Virginia history. While he may be a student of few words, his accomplishments speak volumes.” 

Harlan said he especially enjoyed learning about West Virginia before statehood, including the people and cultures that shaped the region. His consistent determination in learning West Virginia History helped turn a subject that once felt challenging into an opportunity to grow, succeed, and be recognized among the states top eighth-grade scholars. 

Finding Focus Through Online Learning 

Before enrolling at WVVA, Harlan’s family had explored virtual learning on their own. But they found that a more structured online school environment made a difference. 

“We were trying to do it on our own originally, with virtual school, but that didn’t really work out,” Tawny said. “We switched to WVVA to have a more structured classroom environment than homeschooling. I had gotten iReady and all of these different programs for him to do, but there was a lack of engagement. He really got bored just clicking through all the stuff. Having the live teacher there with deadlines and feedback created a conversation that he didn’t really have before.” 

That balance of structure, teacher support, and flexibility is part of what many WVVA families value.  

Beyond the Classroom  

While Harlan’s Golden Horseshoe recognition highlights his academic success, his experience also included opportunities to connect with classmates through clubs and activities. 

Tawny shared that Harlan participated in the coding and running club at WVVA, finding ways to engage beyond daily classes.  

“Running club is virtual, but they were able to post their daily achievements for how much time they completed and communicate with the other people in the club,” she said. “So even though it’s virtual, they were still able to engage outside of school in those clubs.” 

In the coding club, Harlan used a program to create and share projects with other students. 

“Mostly we use this program called Scratch to make little games and slideshows,” he said.  

Tawny added that those moments created another learning opportunity for the students to make conversation and give each other feedback. Together, these activities helped Harlan build confidence, explore his interests, and stay connected with his school community beyond the virtual classroom. 

Celebrating Harlan’s Achievement 

WVVA’s executive director, Doug Cipoletti, says Harlan’s accomplishment reflects not only his knowledge of West Virginia, but also his commitment to learning. 

“We are incredibly proud of Harlan for earning this tremendous honor and representing WVVA so well,” said Cipoletti. “The Golden Horseshoe Award is a significant achievement, and Harlan’s hard work and commitment to his education are truly commendable.” 

WVVA also recognizes the important role educators and families play in student success, including Fishbaugh’s guidance throughout the school year and the support Harlan received at home. 

As Harlan looks ahead to high school, his Golden Horseshoe Award stands as a powerful reminder of what can happen when curiosity, structure, teacher support, and hard work come together. 

Congratulations, Harlan! WVVA is proud to celebrate your achievement and the way you represent West Virginia students. 

To learn more about West Virginia Virtual Academy, visit our website today!

Back to Blog