William Byrd High School is continuing its tradition of naming Terriers of the Month for each
month of the school year. Eight students and four teachers/staff members were chosen in
September.
All WBHS students and staff may nominate individuals who they believe exhibit the “Terrier
Way” (being safe, respectful, responsible, and embodying the best of WBHS).
Last year ALCOVA Mortgage in Vinton and its branch manager Matt Crizer (a WBHS graduate)
wanted “to sponsor or help the school in some way with honoring students and teachers who are
doing great things in and out of the classroom.”
Crizer suggested creating Terrier of the Month T-shirts for those honored (to be purchased by
ALCOVA) and asked art/graphic design teacher Alicia Spangler to work with her classes to
create potential designs. She started a competition among her students; the top 10 designs were
selected by Spangler and the school administration, and then voted on by the student body. Art
classes at Byrd will be creating a new Terrier of the Month T-shirt for the 2024-2025 school
year.
The following students were chosen as Terriers of the Month for September:
include (front row) teachers Will Satterfield and Dionne Nichols; second row Angel Thomas,
third row (l to r) Ava Ashworth and Bridgette Wray; top row, Morgan Odum and Heidi Dixon. (photos by Debbie Adams)
Morgan Odum is a junior who was nominated for her positive attitude and strong work ethic.
The teacher who nominated Morgan said, [she] “is such a delight to be around! She is
personable, friendly, and so respectful. She asks great questions and is so genuinely grateful for
the help. I hope Morgan picks a really cool job where she gets to help people… I think she would
be great at that!” Morgan’s parents are Stephanie Lincoln and Travis Odum.
Bridgette Wray is a junior who was nominated for being respectful and responsible. The teacher
who nominated her said, “Bridgette exemplifies what it means to be respectful and responsible.
She takes her education seriously, gives her best in the classroom every day, and is willing to
learn new things. She has an inquisitive mind and asks great questions! On top of that, she’s quick with a smile and is full of positive energy. Her smile lights up the room! She treats
everyone with kindness and respect, compliments others, and is a great listener. I’m so lucky to
have Bridgette in my class this year.” Bridgette’s parents are Lois Wray and Rex Dooley.
Stephen Byars is a freshman who was nominated for his willingness to help others and his
eagerness to learn. The staff member who nominated him said, “Stephen is a fantastic student!
He is always ready to learn as soon as he walks in the room and stays focused and engaged
throughout the entire class. He is always willing to help his classmates and is a wonderful
addition to the class.” Stephen’s parents are Sarah and Adam Byars
Ava Ashworth is a senior and member of the volleyball team who was nominated for
embodying the Terrier Way. The staff member who nominated her said, “Ava embodies the
Terrier Way through leading by example both on and off the court. She shows compassion and
kindness towards the students and staff here at the school, and she is one of the most responsible
and reliable students in the building.” Ava’s parents are Emilie and Andrew Ashworth.
Angel Thomas is a junior who was nominated for being polite and an active participant in class.
The teacher who nominated Angel said, “She will often volunteer to read aloud in class and does
a nice job sharing her ideas during class discussions.” Angel’s parents are Christina Peters and
Chip Thomas.
Emma Young is a junior who was nominated for her strong work ethic. The teacher who
nominated her said, “Emma is an excellent student. She regularly turns in quality work on time.
She brings energy into the classroom. Her positive attitude encourages others. She actively
participates, answers questions, and is hard-working. DD is a great example of what the Terrier
of the Month should be.” Emma’s mother is Rebecca Saunders; her stepfather is Kevin Saunders.
Draven Flinchum is a junior who was nominated for being polite, respectful, and hard-working.
The staff member who nominated Draven said, “His work is always neat and meticulous. Draven
puts forth his best effort on every assignment. He is always willing to help his classmates and to
respond to questions during class discussions. Draven is an absolute pleasure to have in class!”
Draven’s father is Matthew Flinchum.
Heidi Dixon is a sophomore who was nominated for embodying what it means to be a Terrier.
The staff member who nominated her said, “When I think of what embodies a Terrier, I
immediately think of Heidi. She is a great role model and advocate for her fellow students at the
school. Her hard work, loyalty, and her commitment to excellence speak for itself through her
work as a student-athlete and as a member of our Student Advisory Council.” Heidi’s parents are
Lori and Christopher Dixon.
Four William Byrd teachers were also named Terriers of the Month.
They are:
Melissa Carr teaches College Bound Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, and AP Chemistry. The
students who nominated Ms. Carr highlighted that she makes a difficult subject like Chemistry
understandable and relevant. As one student said, “Ms. Carr teaches in a way that makes us as
students understand the material we are being taught and to excel above what we are required to
learn, and she has no problem with spending extra time to help us. She genuinely wants us to succeed and do well in her class; therefore, she should be recognized for her dedication and
commitment to helping us strive as students and as people in general.”
Travis Welty teaches Geometry, Advanced Geometry, and Algebra I. Welty is one of the new
teachers this year and has already made a positive impact on the school community. The student
who nominated him said it best, “Mr. Welty accommodates students who are having bad days or
who are having trouble focusing. He is very understanding and is willing to help individuals
understand a topic. He makes geometry very easy to understand.”
Will Satterfield teaches Advanced World History II and World History II. The students who
nominated him highlighted that he makes an effort to build relationships with students. As one
student said, “I wanted to nominate Mr. Satterfield because he always makes an effort to talk to
people and has a good work/fun balance.”
Dionne Nichols teaches English 12 College Bound and English 12 AP. She provides her
students with engaging lessons. As one student said, “Mrs. Nichols always has energy and is
ready to teach in an engaging way. She is always positive, and it rubs off on her students; her
class is always an excellent start to my day.”
Submitted by WBHS Assistant Principal Kevin Richardson
