Two Meadow Bridge High Students Honored as Honorary Secretaries of State

West Virginia Secretary of State recognizes students for voter registration drive.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:48am

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A serene, nostalgic painting depicting two students standing in front of a state capitol building, the scene bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet pride and civic duty.Two high school students are recognized for their efforts to increase voter registration among their peers, highlighting the power of youth civic engagement.Charleston Today

Two students from Meadow Bridge High School in West Virginia have been named honorary secretaries of state by the state's Secretary of State Kris Warner. Trip Roles and McKinzie Sawyers were recognized for their efforts in leading a successful voter registration drive that registered at least 85% of their school's eligible student body, qualifying the school for the Jennings Randolph Award.

Why it matters

Engaging young people in the democratic process and encouraging voter registration among high school students is an important civic duty. This recognition highlights the positive impact students can have when they take initiative to increase political participation in their communities.

The details

Trip Roles and McKinzie Sawyers were special guests at the state capitol, where they were named honorary secretaries of state by West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner. Their principal, Charlie Redden, recommended the pair and their teacher, Corey Woodrum, for the designation, which is awarded to West Virginia high schools that meet the criteria of the Jennings Randolph Award by registering at least 85% of their eligible student body to vote through a student-led voter registration drive.

  • The students were recognized on April 17, 2026.

The players

Kris Warner

The West Virginia Secretary of State who named the students as honorary secretaries of state.

Trip Roles

A student at Meadow Bridge High School who led the voter registration drive.

McKinzie Sawyers

A student at Meadow Bridge High School who led the voter registration drive.

Charlie Redden

The principal of Meadow Bridge High School who recommended the students and their teacher for the honor.

Corey Woodrum

The teacher at Meadow Bridge High School who worked with the students on the voter registration drive.

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The takeaway

This recognition highlights the important role students can play in increasing civic engagement and political participation among their peers. By taking the initiative to register their classmates to vote, these students demonstrated a commitment to democracy and the power of youth activism.