FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ann Bailey Berry, WVU Extension Communications
Phone: (304) 293-4221, ext. 3416; e-mail: Ann.Berry@mail.wvu.edu
To be archived after January 1, 2007
Supporting vital programs that benefit the youths of Wyoming County has earned David “Bugs” Stover of Pierpont the West Virginia University Extension Service Champion Award for 2006.
Stover, who is circuit clerk for Wyoming County, accepted the award during WVU Extension's recent Appreciation and Accolades Dinner at WVU Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp, Weston.
The president of Wyoming County 4-H Volunteer Leaders, Stover was applauded by WVU Extension for being “more than willing to do whatever is necessary to provide quality educational programming to the youth we are serving.”
The active 4-H volunteer was praised for being a true advocate for WVU Extension programs, particularly the 4-H Youth Development Program. He visits with and calls legislators and other leaders to inform them about the benefits Extension programs provide youths and families. His advocacy has included many visits to the West Virginia Legislature.
Locally, he is instrumental in obtaining funding for WVU Extension programs in Wyoming County. He attends county commission and board of education meetings to speak about funding needs.
Besides serving as a club leader for the Wyoming County 4-H Teen Leadersduring the year, every summer Stover takes his vacation time to volunteer during 4-H camp.
He is currently working on funding for a traveling 4-H camp for Wyoming County youths. His dream is that youths in this county can learn more about West Virginia.
"Many of the youth in Wyoming County have not been out of the boundaries of the county; or if they have, it has been one county over…. The traveling 4-H camp will give youth the opportunity to learn about the state of West Virginia. While traveling the state, the youth involved will learn about the physical, cultural and social history of the state. I want youth to understand what West Virginia has to offer,” Stover said.
He does not hesitate to answer the question “Why a traveling camp?”
“ Most of the youth have West Virginia History in the classroom but have never seen the sites they are learning about. I want them to experience West Virginia.…30 years ago, I had the opportunity to direct a YOC camp, and we traveled the state with this camp. Whenever I see someone that participated in this event,” Stover said, “they remind me and say ‘Do you remember that trip?’ ....30 years later, the impact remains. I want youth today to have this experience.”
Stover is among West Virginia’s 7,800 volunteer 4-H leaders who guide youths through learn-by-doing experiences that help them feel safe, master problem-solving, develop generosity and think independently.
The 4-H program is coordinated by the WVU Extension Service. With an office in each of the state's 55 counties, WVU Extension works with West Virginians to improve their lives—from helping kids discover career paths to teaching firefighters how to save lives.
WVU Extension's four major program areas are 4-H Youth Development; Families and Health; Agriculture and Natural Resources; and Community, Economic and Workforce Development.
Details about WVU Extension Service's programs are available on the Web ( www.ext.wvu.edu) and at WVU Extension Service county offices.
—WVU-ES—
fsm— 11/20/06
Last modified
November 21, 2006
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