INSTITUTE, W.Va.— West Virginia State University 4-H (WVSU 4-H) demonstrated its leadership in youth development by securing multiple first-place awards at the 2026 West Virginia Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (WVAE4-HYDP) Spring Conference.

WVSU 4-H Educators Linzie Farmer and Christine Kinder were recognized with three awards: Expanding the 4-H Audience and Creating Opportunities for All, Excellence in Teamwork, and Excellence in Urban 4-H Programming. Their efforts included the Classroom Creators program, which advances inclusive education for students with autism through engaging, hands-on STEAM experiences. Additionally, their Impact 4-H & Spark Labs initiative, a partnership with the YMCA in Beckley, was commended for creative urban outreach.

WVSU 4-H Educators Samantha Belcher and Tiffany Ward and 4-H Program Assistant Hailey Saxton earned the Promotional Package-Team award for their West Virginia Nature Poster Series. The project celebrates native species and promotes environmental literacy among K–12 students and educators across the state.

Educational Resource Development Coordinator Crystal Bishop and 4-H STEM Specialist Vathani Amarasingham received the Susan Barkman Award for Research and Evaluation, recognizing outstanding program assessment and impact measurement. Bishop was also honored for communication excellence in the Personal Column category.

“Our team exemplifies the very best of 4-H through their innovation, dedication and unwavering commitment to serving young people and communities across our state,” said WVSU 4-H Youth Development Program Leader Loren Farmer. “These well-deserved honors reflect not only the creativity and excellence they bring to their work every day, but also the lasting impact they have on the lives of West Virginia’s young people.”

With these achievements, the WVSU 4-H team moves forward as contenders for regional and national accolades. 

For more information on WVSU 4-H and its programs, contact Loren Farmer at loren.farmer@wvstateu.edu or visit wvstateu.edu/4h.

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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