In Ohio County Schools, we love hearing from our alumni. In fact, over 800 people have filled out our Wheeling Park High School alumni survey linked at the top of this page!
As we get closer to celebrating Park’s 50th anniversary next year, stay tuned for regular alumni coverage. Do you have a story? Share it here today or fill out our alumni survey to stay in touch.
Meet Robert, an Elm Grove Elementary Dragon, a Bridge Street Red Devil, and 2020 grad from Wheeling Park. His experience in OCS was shaped heavily by both opportunities for fellowship and CTE.
“During my time in Ohio County Schools, I was involved in a wide range of academic, athletic, technical, and service-oriented activities. These included Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Drug Free Clubs of America for four years, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and various computer clubs. I played one year of baseball and was heavily involved in church volunteering through Kids’ Ministry, the Tech Team, and Morning Wake Up. I also participated in mission trips to Guatemala and Long Island, New York.”
A foundation of education and encouragement allowed Robert to find his passions: “Ohio County Schools prepared me for the world we are in today by providing opportunities that allowed me to discover who I am and pursue what truly interested me. From inspiring and encouraging teachers like Mrs. Haley, my third-grade teacher at Elm Grove Elementary, to the continued support and education I received throughout my career technical education, OCS consistently helped shape my future..
My interest in computers was first sparked in fourth grade by Mr. Reinhardt. That curiosity continued to grow at Bridge Street Middle School. I participated in a bridge competition at Marshall University. As part of that experience, I had the unforgettable opportunity to walk the catwalk of the New River Gorge—an experience that challenged me, built my confidence, and gave me an early glimpse into higher education and engineering-focused problem solving.”
These moments led Robert to declare a meaningful major at Marshall University: “These early experiences made my choice to attend Marshall University an easy one. At Wheeling Park High School, I further developed my technical skills as a Dual Completer in both “Coding, Application, and Game Design” and “Computer System Repair Technologies.” I helped create visual effects for the football video board/Jumbo-Tron and operated a camera during football games, gaining valuable hands-on experience. The Career and Technical Education opportunities provided by Ohio County Schools allowed me to pursue my interest in computers in a meaningful way and laid the foundation for my academic and professional success…
“I went on to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Cyber Forensics & Security with a minor in Criminal Justice from Marshall University in 2023, followed by my Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity with a concentration in Cyber Forensics in 2025. During my time at Marshall, I applied the strong foundation I gained from Ohio County Schools and was given many opportunities to further my career through internships with the West Virginia State Police Department in Charleston and the Huntington Crime Lab. Because of my academic performance, transcripts, and resume, I was awarded additional scholarships, including the Department of Defense SMART Scholarship, which fully funded my Master’s Degree.”
And today? Robert works for the government as a Digital Forensic Examiner: “I graduated from Marshall University in May 2025 and currently work as a Digital Forensic Examiner for the Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense). Since graduating, I have also earned my GCFA certification as a GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst, allowing me to continue advancing professionally in the cybersecurity and digital forensics field.”
He sums it up better than we ever could: “The mission statement of Ohio County Schools, “Together, We Achieve” truly reflects my experience. The opportunities are there, the support is there, and when encouragement exists both internally and externally, success follows. Without the firm foundation of God and Ohio County Schools, I would not be where I am today. I am living proof that a student from Ohio County Schools in West Virginia can achieve big things.”
#alumnispotlight #TogetherWeAchieve