Standout Madison Elementary Students Treated to Limo Ride, Lunch

Joselyn King

WHEELING -- A group of students at Madison Elementary School didn't know it, but the limousine van pulling up to the school Friday at lunch time was there for them.

Eleven students were rewarded after earning all three possible achievements asked of them at Madison. They all made the honor roll, showed faithful attendance and demonstrated role-model character, explained school counselor Jessica Watt Dougherty.

For their efforts, the limousine van -- provided by Altmeyer Funeral Home -- came and took them to lunch at Generations.

"They don't know about this, but their parents do," Dougherty said before the limousine arrived.

Students participating included third graders Patrick Milliken, Ashtynn Ryder, Tavyn Stein and Daryl Ellsworth; fourth graders Lydia Crosswhite and Na'Ziya McGhee; and fifth grade students Amiya Fisher, Trent Crosswhite, Kapri Russell, Kyleonna Shaw and Samira Williams.

Dougherty expected the students would be surprised. Her hope was that the reward "just sets the bar higher" and encourages them to achieve academically.

"They've already received their certificates during a ceremony earlier this week," Dougherty said. "We told them they would be getting a really awesome surprise later in the week."

Prior to learning of their surprise, the students were called out of their classrooms just prior to 11:30 a.m., told to bring their coats, and gathered in Dougherty's office - where they received words of congratulations and a pep talk from both Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller and Principal Andrea Trio.

Dougherty had noted earlier that at least one of the students "missed at least 30 days of school" last school year, and she had been working with that student. The student so far this school year has perfect attendance.

Miller commended them for their attendance.

"What you are showing is that you can learn, and we all know you can't learn if you are not in school," she said. "There are students in this room I know didn't have perfect attendance last year. But they worked hard, preservered, and now they are here."

Trio added that during their time at Madison she has come to know the students and their stories well.

"I know something about each of you, and maybe you've had a hurt life. You've had your heart broken. But you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and came to school," she said. "You've proven you are a good person, and that you can get good grades. That is amazing."

Generations did not charge for the star students' lunches, and Altmeyer picked up the tab for the adults who accompanied them, which included Dougherty and Trio.

The students were also joined for lunch by five Wheeling Park High School students involved with the Beyond Education program there. They are all five former students at Madison who also have plans to become educators.

"They will greet the students with banners, and have lunch with them," Dougherty said.

"We are excited. We have never done anything like that before, but we hope to do something special for them every nine weeks."

She acknowledged a school environment has challenges and stress issues, and that it was "nice to take time to have a celebration."

"I am excited. We've never done anything like that before," Dougherty said. "We hope to do something special for them now every nine weeks."