William Byrd High School has announced its student and teacher/staff Terriers of the Month for
January.
Each month, William Byrd High School recognizes students and staff who go above and beyond
to make the school a better place. Their hard work, dedication, and positive attitude truly embody
Terrier Pride.
Student Terriers of the Month for January include Franklin Apple, Abi Saritelli, Kassie Brant,
Enna Schofield, Lizeth Nolasco, Emma Olivit, Jada Johnson, Emma Rupe, and Blake
Richardson.
(front row, l to r) Kassie Brant, Blake Richardson, Jada Johnson, and Emma Olivit with Matt
Crizer, branch manager of ALCOVA Mortgage, and back row, Lizeth Nolasco, Franklin Apple,
Abi Saritelli, and Enna Schofield. (photos by Debbie Adams)
Teacher/Staff Terriers of the Month include Richard Tisinger, Ryan Adams, Jill Harris, Kevin
Richardson, Brady Paschal, Travis Welty, Alicia Spangler, Cherrybell Farrington, Katie
Hetherington, Matt Bartley, Mitchel Burkhart, Allison Thornton, and Edward Donahue.
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).
Two years ago, ALCOVA Mortgage in Vinton and its branch manager Matt Crizer (a WBHS
graduate) reached out to the administration at William Byrd, looking for a way “to honor
students and teachers who are doing great things in and out of the classroom.” They decided to
expand the existing Terrier of the Month program to include recognition on the school’s digital
sign, free Terrier of the Month t-shirts from ALCOVA, and recognition in the Vinton Messenger.
Crizer suggested having the students in art/graphic design teacher Alicia Spangler’s digital art
classes create potential t-shirt designs which were then voted on by the student body. The plan is
for students to create a new design each school year.
The successful program has continued and even expanded during the 2024-25 school year to
include more students and teachers each month. The program is facilitated by Asst. Principal
Kevin Richardson and Life Counselor Lauren Pomeroy.
This year, the students named as Terriers of the Month also receive a postcard from the
individual who nominated them indicating what prompted their selection and what has made
them standouts in the student body at William Byrd.
In presenting the shirts to the newest Terriers of the Month, Crizer said that the project began
with ALCOVA wanting to give back to the school. He congratulated students for their
accomplishments, saying “keep up the good work.”
Asst. Principal Kevin Richardson, told the students that with the Terrier of the Month program,
the school wishes to focus on students “who are doing the right things.”
~Vinton Messenger staff report
