The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will honor the 94th class of the Order of the Golden Horseshoe on Tuesday, Jun. 10. The distinction recognizes the top-performing 8th graders on the annual Golden Horseshoe exam.
There are three Golden Horseshoe winners from Clay County this year, all of Clay Middle School: Jason Belt, Cruz Cottrell, and Natalie Tanner.
Once again, the induction will occur in three ceremonies at the West Virginia Culture Center. This year, 223 students will become Knights of the Golden Horseshoe as they are knighted into the longest tradition of its kind in the country.
In 1716, Governor of the Virginia Colony Alexander Spotswood organized a delegation of men who explored the land west of the Allegheny Mountains (most of which is now West Virginia). He presented each of them with a small golden horseshoe to commemorate their bravery in crossing the mountain. This year marks the 309th anniversary of the Golden Horseshoe legacy.
West Virginia has hosted Golden Horseshoe inductions since 1931. Generations of families boast numerous Golden Horseshoe winners as it is an esteemed honor to earn the award.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) will live stream all three ceremonies on its YouTube channel and broadcast the events on WVPB television channels.
A complete list of 2025 winners and information can be found on the WVDE website.
