MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Berkeley County Schools celebrated 10 years of the Work Exploration Program with a graduation and reception Wednesday at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg.
Students in the program from Martinsburg, Hedgesville, Musselman and Spring Mills High School were recognized.
Tia Price, a student at Spring Mills High School in Berkeley County, received special recognition as the recipient of the West Virginia Council for Exceptional Children’s Yes I Can Award for Self-Advocacy.
Price told the audience she could not have done it alone.
“I stood up for myself and made sure I had everything I needed to graduate and succeed within the school setting,” she said. “But I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teachers.”
Price is the first student from the Work Exploration Program to ever receive the award, and possibly the first from Berkeley County.
The program works with local businesses to help students with mental and physical disabilities explore careers and employment.
Price was nominated for the Self-Advocacy Award by her teacher, Rebecca Hutchinson.