Western Wayne Middle School Principal Mrs. Jennifer Bradley praised eighth graders for “staying the course” through all of the unforeseen circumstances and regular academic and extra-curricular challenges they faced during their time in the middle school.
This class is particularly special to Bradley because when they began sixth grade, Bradley started her first year as the principal of the Western Wayne Middle School.
To conclude her speech, Bradley wished the students well and asked their audience of family and friends to applaud them.
Eighth grader Jade Wetherington, Middle School Student Council president, proudly led her classmates and all in attendance in the pledge of allegiance.
Jade said she truly enjoyed her time in the Western Wayne Middle School. She looks forward to all she will learn in high school. She aspires to either work in theater as an actor or to be a cosmetologist.
“I enjoyed making everyone smile this year at all of the events the student council was able to hold,” she said.
The featured event of the Moving-Up Ceremony was all 8th grade students receiving awards in various categories for excellence or improvement in all academic and unified arts classes. In addition, students received awards for good citizenship, excellent work habits, and for a variety of high academic achievements such as making the honor roll for 11 quarters in middle school from 6th through 8th grade. After all of the students received their initial awards, the class of 2026 stood up, and the entire stadium filled with their family and friends gave them another round of applause.
It is also a Western Wayne Middle School tradition for many years that two outstanding students, one male and one female, are recognized for their patriotism and leadership among other qualities. The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the local American Legion present these awards.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award was presented to 8th grader Audrey Agnello.
Audrey received the good citizenship medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution for being an outstanding student in the 8th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor and honesty, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
George Schaffer presented the American Legion Award to 8th grader Logan Pauler.
Logan received this annual award for being an outstanding student in the 8th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor, scholarship, Americanism, leadership, and courage.
Both Audrey and Logan felt extremely honored to receive their respective awards. They also both, at first, felt shocked to learn the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Legion had chosen them for these high honors.
Audrey is a hard-working young woman who especially loves to study science and is highly involved in activities and sports at Western Wayne.
In addition, she is a long-time competitive swimmer who is a member of the Pacers at Marywood University. She also plays soccer, runs track, and plans to join the tennis team for her freshman year. In addition, she is an honor roll student who also participates in the PJAS club and was the captain of the Middle School Reading Relay Team this year.
She looks forward to her high school science classes the most. In the future, she is thinking about studying genetics or epidemiology.
“My experiences in middle school have helped me to learn how to work and achieve many things independently,” Audrey explained.
Fellow classmate Logan Pauler is also a hard-working individual and honor roll student. He most enjoys his math classes because he likes problem solving.
In addition, he is a triple-sport athlete who plays basketball, soccer, and track.
“I am most looking forward to the seriousness of my high school classes,” Logan, who aspires to be an architect, said.
For the second year in a row, students and their families made poster boards of pictures of favorite memories of their students to add a personal touch of their memories throughout the year to the ceremony.
Western Wayne faculty, administration, and staff wish the class of 2026 the best on their new journey to the high school.
