CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelson Thorne of Petersburg High School has been selected as the AARP West Virginia/MetroNews Scholar Athlete of the Week for the week of October 27.
A senior, Kelson is a 4.0 g.p.a. honors student. He is a National Honor Society member, Student Council representative and is actively involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is the son of Eddie and Tonya Thorne of Petersburg.
In both his academic and athletic pursuits, Thorne has excelled at the Grant County school. A four-year football letterman, he is a starting running back/linebacker for Coach Jeff Dodd’s Vikings. As a junior, he earned All Potomac Valley Conference offensive and defensive honors, and has achieved one of the top five single-game rushing performances in school history. Kelson has been a qualifier for the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commissioner (WVSSAC) State Track Championships during each of the past three years, finishing 5th in the Shuttle Hurdles at the 2013 State Meet. He earned All Potomac Valley Conference honors in track as both a sophomore and junior.
On a community level, Kelson is actively involved in volunteer and service activities. He serves as a volunteer with Energy Express, Potomac Valley Relay for Life and Operation Christmas Child. He is a peer volunteer at Petersburg Elementary School, where he assists with daily lessons and activities in the art enrichment class. Kelson attends Brushy Run Church of God, leading its youth group in completing service projects in the Petersburg area during the year.
Kelson is currently completing college coursework as a student at Petersburg High School, and hopes to continue his football career on the collegiate level while pursuing a biology degree. His goal is to become a sports medicine physician, specializing in neck and spinal injuries.
During the 2013 Fall Sports season, one high school student athlete will be selected each week as the AARP West Virginia Scholar Athlete of the Week and recognized on the popular West Virginia MetroNews High School GameNight program, which airs 9:30 p.m. – midnight each Friday night on nearly 40 radio stations across the Mountain State.
West Virginia student athletes in Grades 11 and 12 with a minimum 3.0 grade point average are eligible for the award. Nominees should excel in one or more athletic program, and be active within their community through service and community involvement. Nomination forms may be completed online at wvmetronews.com/scholar-athlete-of-the-week or at aarp.org/wv.