Greenbrier East High School Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Students Selected For Senate Youth Program

Two West Virginia student leaders will be traveling to the nation’s capital this March to study the American political processes.

Each year, two high school juniors or seniors are selected from each state for the Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in Washington D.C. USSYP is an intensive week-long educational experience and scholarship sponsored by the United States Senate for outstanding high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in public service.

West Virginia’s delegates this year are Bryson Riggleman, a senior from Petersburg High School and Peyton Barker, a senior from Greenbrier East High School. Both are student government presidents at their schools.

Riggleman said he’s excited to represent the state and learn up close about how the government works.

“It’s one thing to read something in a textbook,” he said. “It’s another thing to apply it outside of the textbook and into real life. I want to see what it looks like in real time, in real action.”

Barker said she is most looking forward to meeting and learning from fellow student leaders from across the country.

“Every person has so many different things to offer,” she said. “I really just want to work on my ability as a leader, and just learn from others. That way going forward, whether I’m an engineer, a politician, helping middle school students or raising my kids, I know that I’ve been fully equipped.”

Photos courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Education

Student delegates also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship to the college or university of their choice. To qualify, students had to complete an application process that included essays, interviews, recorded speeches and an exam.

Joey Wiseman, director of student enrichment for the West Virginia Department of Education, said a selection team comprised of constitutional officers such as West Virginia Supreme Court justices and other professionals make the selection each year.

“It’s a great opportunity for students,” he said. “We’re always trying to promote students to look at different careers and we need public servants out there in the field.”

Petersburg High School Principal Amanda Campbell said although she was very proud of Riggleman, the credit is all his.

“This is what he has just been called to do,” she said. “He is always at the forefront of any kind of question about how we’re doing things with the school, how we can make them better. He is a proponent for his classmates when there’s something going on.”

Mike Vincent, school counselor at Greenbrier East High School, has similar praise for Barker.

“I’ve had other students that have made it to the interview process. I have not had any students that have gone on to be one of the two going to D.C.” he said. “She is the one that should have done this so I’m really glad that she did. Because it’s just such a perfect fit for her.”

Governor Who Called Girls 'Thugs' Says Sorry If He Offended

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Friday offered a conditional apology for calling a high school girls basketball team “thugs,” saying he didn’t know the remarks would cause any trouble.

Justice has drawn criticism for using the term after a scuffle broke out at a heated Tuesday night game between Greenbrier East High School, where he coaches, and Woodrow Wilson High School.

“I hate to say it any other way, but honest to God’s truth is the same thing happened over at Woodrow two different times out of the Woodrow players,” a heated Justice told The Register-Herald in a post-game interview. “They’re a bunch of thugs. The whole team left the bench, the coach is in a fight, they walked off the floor, they called the game!”

The team’s coaches are black, as are some of the players.

His comments spread quickly on social media and at the state Capitol, with one lawmaker, Del. Mike Pushkin, tweeting that the governor was making “thinly veiled racial slurs.”

On Wednesday, the Republican governor defended himself, issuing a statement that said “Anyone that would accuse me of making a racial slur is totally absurd.” The statement did not include an apology, which irked some lawmakers.

“These are high school females playing athletics in our school system. To be the governor and call them thugs is unprofessional and it’s immature,” said Del. Timothy Miley, the Democratic minority leader of the state House of Delegates, adding that he thinks the term has racial connotations. “When you use that kind of phraseology, it has consequences, whether you intended to have them or not.”

Then on Friday, in an interview with local ABC affiliate WCHS-TV, Justice said he was sorry if he hurt any feelings, while noting others who’ve used the word.

“First of all, I would tell them that I’m really sorry if I’ve done anything that has offended them. But secondly, I would just say this, Barack Obama used that term,” he said. “Newspapers in our state have used the term. The New York Times uses that term all the time.”

“If we need to use another term we would say, you know if I could take it back, surely, I would take it back because you know, I never dreamed it would bother anyone,” Justice told the station.

A spokesman for the governor declined to comment further.

Last month, Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Beilein apologized after using the word “thugs” while reviewing film with his players.

Gov. Justice Defends Calling Opposing Girls Basketball Team, Coaches ‘Thugs’

Updated Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 at 4:15 p.m.

Gov. Jim Justice is defending his use of the word “thugs” to describe players and coaches of a high school girls basketball team. The governor — who coaches the girls team at Greenbrier East High School — used the phrase to describe the behavior of an opposing team and their coaches during a Tuesday night game. With lawmakers in session, Justice’s words were also the topic of conversation Wednesday on the House of Delegates floor.

In a post-game interview with the Beckley Register-Herald, Justice called players and coaches from Woodrow Wilson High School “a bunch of thugs.”

Those comments followed a game — which was held at Greenbrier East in Fairlea — that’s been described as “physical” on the court. Additionally, an assistant coach from Woodrow Wilson reportedly got into an altercation with a fan.

Woodrow Wilson has one of the most racially diverse populations in the state. Many players and coaches on that school’s girl team are black.

In a news release issued Wednesday, Justice defended his use of the word “thugs.”

“My definition of a thug is clear – it means violence, bullying, and disorderly conduct. And we, as West Virginians, should have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior,” Justice said. “Anyone that would accuse me of making a racial slur is totally absurd.”

Justice also noted that the Woodrow Wilson assistant coach was cited by the West Virginia State Police for obstructing an officer.

“I am certain that the [West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission] will deal with this in a professional and appropriate matter,” he said.

This incident isn’t the first time Justice has received criticism over his choice of words. In 2018, he used the phrase “Chinaman’s chance” to describe a piece of legislation’s possibility of survival. He’s also compared himself favorably to Kunta Kinte, an African slave in the 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family.

Justice’s comments drew mixed reactions Wednesday on the floor of the House of Delegates. Some lawmakers condemned his actions while others were more reserved in their positions.

Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, took aim at the governor not only for the controversial remarks but also argued that Justice gives coaching priority over his duties as the state’s chief executive.

“It’s clear that Jim justice is an embarrassment on and off the court,” Fluharty said, noting Justice’s use of the phrase “Chinaman’s chance.”

He said West Virginia has been “plagued” by stereotypes depicting citizens as bigoted and racist.

“I take offense, when, the governor of our state refuses to acknowledge, refuses to simply say, ‘I’m sorry’ when he makes statements like he did last night,” Fluharty said. “Because that’s what West Virginians do. We own up to our mistakes. But our governor is unwilling to own up to his.”

Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, agreed that Justice should be more engaged in his duties as governor, but said accusations of racism should be reserved.

“The governor does obviously need to show up here more often and do the business he was elected to do. But I want to caution us here in this body, from possibly making, jumping to conclusions or possibly making logical fallacies,” McGeehan said. “We’re throwing around the term racism too much. Because when we do that, and we jump to those conclusions, and we level the term ‘racism’ at our political opponents — especially, someone who might be an easy target.”

Del. Jeffrey Pack, R-Raleigh, called on Justice to apologize and asked lawmakers to forgive the governor for his choice of words.

“I hope the governor apologizes publicly. I hope the governor apologizes privately to those whom he has he has offended and I hope from the bottom of my heart that they find it in their hearts to forgive as we have been forgiven,” Pack said.

West Virginia Governor to Stop Coaching Boys' Basketball

Gov. Jim Justice says he’s retiring as a high school boys’ basketball coach though he’ll continue to guide the girls’ team at Greenbrier East High School.

The 66-year-old first-term governor, who coached the boys to a 103-48 record over six years, says his first responsibility is to serve West Virginians as governor.

In 2013, he coached the girls’ team to a 22-0 regular season.

Since taking office this year, he has turned over operations of his coal, agriculture and resort businesses to his children and recently switched parties from Democrat to Republican.

He has been recently touring the state urging voters to approve a road reconstruction bond in an Oct. 7 referendum.