CHARLESTON W.Va. (Hinton News) – On Monday, Feb. 26, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner hosted a student leader from Summers County Comprehensive High School (SCHS) as his honored guest at the State Capitol.
Brandan Isaac – a member of the 2024 graduating class at SCHS – was recommended by his principal to represent their high school as an Honorary Secretary of State for his efforts to register members of the senior class to vote. Nominations for Honorary Secretaries of State are only accepted by those high schools that qualify for the Jennings Randolph Award. To qualify for the Award, a West Virginia high school must host a student-led effort to register at least 85% of their eligible senior class to vote.
Started by the WV Secretary of State’s Office in 1994, the Jennings Randolph Award for Civic Engagement commemorates West Virginia’s late U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph’s legacy as the Father of the 26th Amendment. One of the defining moments in voting rights history, the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971. The Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
“With the designation of Honorary Secretaries of State, Brandan Isaac has proven to his school, community, and state that he is committed to seeing more young people in West Virginia voting and playing an active role in our government,” said Secretary of State Mac Warner. “Fewer than 30 high schools in the state will receive this prestigious recognition for the 2023-24 school year.”
In addition to a tour of the WV Secretary of State’s Office and the State Capitol, Senator Vince Deeds recognized Isaac during the State Senate floor session. Senator Deeds is a representative of Summers County and serves as Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
