Editorial: Adding to storied list of accomplishments

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 20, 2024

In the course of our reporting, we at The Tribune often see the youth in the county make several significant accomplishments.

And, often, it is the same individuals we see in our headlines over and over, showing the drive they have and the commitment to those around them.

It is entirely possible to discern, at an early age, when someone is destined for great things.

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And that was the case when we learned of two Lawrence Countians who were elected as president and vice president of Marshall University’s student body earlier this month.

Both Brea Belville and Connor Waller have appeared in these pages many times over the years, so it was no surprise that they added to their already grand list accomplishments.

Belville, Marshall’s new SGA president, is a name who has appeared many times in our coverage of the Lawrence County Fair. Involved in the county’s 4-H program for years, she has been on the Junior Fair Board, a 4-H Teen leader and has been named as the fair’s queen. In addition, she has been the undefeated winner in rabbit showmanship, year after year, and has always been helpful to us in our coverage of the event she is so passionate about.

All that, and she has been a Lawrence County Civic Scholar at Teen Ambassador with the Ohio Attorney general and graduated top of her class at Symmes Valley High School in 2022.

Waller has also been a repeat name in our coverage over the years. A fellow Lawrence County Civic Scholar, he has interned with the Lawrence County Commission, been on a winning Quiz Bowl team and taken part in St. Joseph High School’s mock trial team.

Among the projects he has been involved with under the commission are a draft of an online business incubator, attending Impact Prevention’s Party in the Parks events and a study of counties across the nation to see what Lawrence County could learn from them for things such as tourism and economic development.

It is no doubt both Belville and Waller are at just the beginning of their achievements and we fully expect them to be familiar names to the community for decades to come.

We were proud to hear of this win earlier this month and look forward to all they accomplish in the future.