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Miss West Virginia speaks at local dinner

By Toni Milbourne - For the Chronicle | Mar 18, 2022

Shepherdstown Community Club member Shannon Taylor, left, presents Miss West Virginia Jaelyn Wratchford with a gift certificate to the SCC book sale, which Wratchford is a frequent shopper at each fall. Toni Milbourne

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Shepherdstown Community Club opened their doors for an in-person meet-and-greet on Tuesday evening, the first such event since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“We are so excited to be back!” said club vice president Jenny Haines. “It’s awesome that we are seeing a lot of new faces.”

SCC President Jennifer Wabnitz agreed with her.

“For the last two years, we kind of had dark doors,” Wabnitz said. “So tonight, I’m glad to feel like we are emerging from that dark time.”

Wabnitz spoke briefly about the return of the club’s popular Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea, which will return this May, after two years on hiatus. Wabnitz also shared that the popularity of the club’s October book sale, along with the abundance of donations received, has resulted in an expansion of that fundraising event over two weekends, rather than the traditional one. The club accepts book donations for the sale throughout the year.

Following Wabnitz’ brief remarks, Shannon Taylor introduced the dinner’s special guest, Jaelyn Wratchford, who took a few moments to share her experiences as Miss West Virginia over the past year.

Wratchford highlighted her platform for the scholarship pageant competition, “Investing in Our Future: The Impact of Youth Empowerment,” during her speech. According to her, she has dedicated the months, since being crowned in June 2021, spreading her platform’s message to thousands of children throughout West Virginia.

“I’ve been in the schools as much as I can, following the restrictions of the pandemic,” Wratchford said. “Those are the moments I like the most — being with the kids.”

Wratchford expressed her appreciation for being asked to speak at the club’s event, noting that Shepherdstown is a special place to her.

Wratchford is a student at Shepherd University and employee at the Community Garden Market, when she is not performing her duties around the state.

“My grandmother retired as a teacher from Shepherdstown and my mom has worked at Covenant Baptist Church all of my life,” Wratchford said, adding to the list of reasons for her love of the local community.

For Wratchford, while she has done some exciting things related to being Miss West Virginia, including competing in the 100th Miss America pageant, the thing she has loved most of all about being Miss West Virginia, is encouraging youth empowerment in children throughout the area.

“The kids think I’m a queen with a crown,” she laughed. “But, then they realize I am just a person who has achieved things and that they, too, can achieve great things.

“I love to pour energy, time and love into them,” Wratchford said. “It’s exhausting, but it is so worth it.”

The next SCC event is the upcoming spring clean-up day at Morgan’s Grove Park on March 26, in preparation for the park’s opening day on April 2. Volunteers are needed and can report to the park pavilion on the morning of March 26, for job assignments.