Pendleton County honors two students, Jax Bennett and Samuel Eason. These young scholars were inducted as knights of the Golden Horseshoe Society in a ceremony held June 11 at the State Capitol in Charleston.
Since 1931, the Golden Horseshoe Award has stood as a beacon of academic excellence and a cherished tradition within West Virginia. This prestigious award, bestowed by the West Virginia Department of Education, honors eighth-grade students who demonstrate exceptional knowledge of the state’s history, geography, and government. The Golden Horseshoe test, named after the golden horseshoe pins given to early explorers by Governor Alexander Spotswood, challenges students to delve deeply into the rich tapestry of West Virginia’s past and present.
The origins of the Golden Horseshoe Award are deeply intertwined with the state’s commitment to education and historical awareness. The idea was conceived to inspire students to learn more about their state’s heritage. Over the decades, the Golden Horseshoe Award has grown in prestige, with thousands of students participating annually in the rigorous examination. Each spring, the ceremony is held to induct new “knights” and “ladies” of the Golden Horseshoe Society, a rite of passage that many West Virginians hold in high regard.
