Charleston, W.Va. – WV Secretary of State Kris Warner recently hosted two student leaders from Grafton High School (GHS) in Taylor County as special guests at the State Capitol on February 10, 2026.
Addison Nethken and Bryce Isner, both members of GHS’s Class of 2026, were recommended by their school principal, Matthew Knopp, to represent GHS as Honorary Secretaries of State. This recognition reflects Addison and Bryce's leadership in organizing a student-led effort to register members of the senior class to vote.
While visiting Secretary Warner at the State Capitol, the two students were also recognized by the WV Legislature.
Nominations for a student to be recognized as an Honorary Secretary of State are accepted only from a West Virginia high school that qualifies for the Jennings Randolph Award. To earn this prestigious distinction, a West Virginia high school must host a student-led voter registration drive that successfully registers at least 85% of its eligible student body to vote.
Started by the WV Secretary of State's Office in 1994, the Jennings Randolph Award for Civic Engagement commemorates West Virginia's late U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph’s legacy as the Father of the 26th Amendment. One of our nation's defining moments in voting rights history, the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971. The Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, an effort Senator Randolph had first championed 29 years earlier while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Since Secretary Warner took office in January 2025, more than 17,500 eligible high school students have been registered to vote.
April 21st is the last day for eligible West Virginia citizens to register to vote in order to participate in the May 12th Primary Election. Early voting in-person begins on April 29th.
