BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education celebrated student achievement both in and out of the classroom during its meeting Monday at the central office.

‘Medal of Honor’

Martin County Middle School (MCMS) “Congressional Medal of Honor Character Development Program” medal recipients Martha Maynard, Zoe Sammons and Zandra Sammons were the first honored.

The Medal of Honor Character Development Program, an initiative of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, teaches students the importance of values such as courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship and patriotism. The program uses the real-life stories of Medal of Honor recipients and citizen heroes to help students connect lessons of history to their own lives, encouraging them to make positive choices and contribute to their communities.

MCMS principal Brent Haney explained the meaning of the recognition.

“This is a new thing in our school,” he said. “It is the most prestigious honor you can receive at our school. It has to do with pillars of honor, commitment, patriotism, and courage. Our staff looks for people within our building who exhibit qualities throughout their day-to-day lives at the school that align with each of the pillars. They have to give me examples of how that kid achieves that within the day-to-day affairs of the building. These kids are well-deserving of it in every single facet of it.”

Haney said the school holds a ceremony and awards students a medal from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

“Most of those people throughout life are vets,” he said. “However, there are some citizens who have achieved that.”

The middle school follows the same pillars used by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

“They get recognized and get a certificate,” said Haney. “We read how they achieved it. At the end of the year, we’re going to have a big banquet with a nice dinner, plaques and all that.”

Each Monday, students explore core character values through the lens of real heroes during homeroom. Through discussions and activities, the program helps build character, inspire leadership and promote respect among students.

MCMS Student Council

The board next recognized the MCMS Student Council: president Luke Preece, vice president Brody Jewell, secretary Chucky Maynard, treasurer Paxton Whitt, and members Zander Sammons, Emily Mooney, Alivia Stacy, Jamalynn Preece and Braxton Pack.

The council conducted a schoolwide election at the beginning of the year, complete with campaign signs, candygrams, and speeches before the student body.

“We had about 20 people to sign up,” Maynard said. “We held an election. In October in the gym in front of everyone, we had to do speeches. We had an election the next day and people voted all of us to be the student council.”

The group now meets monthly to discuss student concerns and ideas for school improvement.

“We discuss things that can make our school better,” said Maynard.

Pack added that the council is creating a suggestion box so students can anonymously submit ideas for consideration.

“Our main motto is to stop bullying in the middle school,” Maynard said, drawing applause. “It’s the main problem in the middle school right now.”

The journalism class recently published an article defining different types of bullying to raise awareness across the school.

“Cyberbullying, rumors, in-person bullying,” said Maynard. “We have so much bullying and a lot of fights, and we just want to end that.”

Principal Haney praised the students’ initiative.

“They did a phenomenal job,” Haney said. “Their first meeting was amazing.”

He described the council as “a voice for all the people.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing what they do throughout the course of the year,” said Haney.

History-making soccer

The board also honored the Martin County High School girls soccer team — the 15th Region All “A” champion — along with head coach Steven Gauze, assistant Joshua Gauze and manager Mandy Fletcher.

“Should be an annual thing,” Superintendent Larry James remarked as the players assembled before the board.

The team includes Aaliyah Scott, Tessa Gantt, Jaz Jude, Londyn Fraley, Anna Hinkle, Faith Caldwell, Annaleigh Davis, Aubrey Muncy, Maja Alm-Arnesen, Hope Caldwell, Mia Preece, Lexi Cline, Emily Mills, Jane Smith, Madelyn Goble, Emily Ledford and Bri Muncy.

This season marked their third consecutive Regional All “A” tournament victory.

“We were supposed to be really good this year and we were really good this year,” Coach Gauze said. “We lost two games. We also for the first time in history, went to the Final 4 at the state. That’s pretty awesome.”

Seven players made the all-region team. Faith Caldwell earned “All-Region Player of the Year” honors and was named to the all-state second team.

“I gotta give the girls credit, I do practice a lot,” said Gauze. “We practice pretty much six days a week. We were on the field a lot. We played in the heat, the rain, the cold, you name it. We start out in the blazing heat and finish when it’s cold.”

The Cardinals defeated powerhouse programs Ashland, Boyd County and Russell.

“The first time in history that we’ve done that, and all in the same year,” Gauze said. “And beating Prestonsburg in the All ‘A,’ I’m really proud of them.”

He credited his son, Joshua Gauze, and his wife, Marcella, for their help with the team.

“It’s kind of a family affair,” Gauze said. “I can’t say enough about these girls. They did really good this year.”

Three seniors — Alm-Arnesen, Ledford and Gantt — will graduate this year.

“We’ll have everybody else back next year,” Gauze said. “We’re actually pretty young. Half of them were pretty much juniors, and the other half were freshmen. Next year I expect to do even better.”