Sammie Ashmore, a student that shows what it means to be PARK. She is a very active student here at Wheeling Park, and is involved in many things, a list that includes being on the leadership team for FCA(Fellowship of Christian Athletes), DECA(Distributive Education Clubs of America), was on the volleyball team all four years, and a completer in the Marketing CTE Program. Though above all, there is nothing more unique for a girl in Wheeling, West Virginia, than her love for the Georgia Bulldogs. Her fandom of Georgia comes from her dad. 

“It came from my dad, growing up we’ve always been big Georgia fans, because his love came from when his friend took him to a game and he fell in love with college football and he decided to follow Georgia ever since,” said Sammie. 

Sammie is now following in her dad’s footsteps of being a Georgia fan, having been to three games just this past season. Though Sammie enjoys being a fan of them so far from Athens, because very few people around here follow Georgia, she says every time somebody sees something Georgia related, they think of her, and send her what they saw. She also is someone that isn’t afraid to show her love for Georgia as well, as one of her good friends and fellow senior Caitlyn Anderson talked about. 

“When people try to hate on them and support the other SEC (Southeastern Conference) teams, she doesn’t shy away, she stands firm in the way she supports them,” said Anderson. 

This included earlier this year when Georgia lost to Alabama– a game Sammie was at– Officer Wilson called her down to Student Management just to tell her, “Roll Tide.” 

Though one of the things she might be best known for is her love for Georgia, she is a very popular student on the volleyball court and in the classroom, and always brings a great attitude and personality. 

“I’ve had her for four years in class and she is one of those students that’s energetic, ready to work, ready to learn, super positive,” said marketing teacher Mr. Turbanic. 

Mr. Turbanic also pointed out how Sammie’s personality and energy translated to her last year running the “Parker at Park” Instagram account. 

Sammie is someone that her friends greatly enjoy being around because of the personality she always has. 

“If I’m having a bad day and I see her, and she comes up to me with her cheery attitude, she’ll always brighten my day…it always helps me and I can tell it affects others too,” said Anderson. 

Sammie, as touched on in previous Press articles, is passionate in her faith, which she says helps her keep her positive personality. She shows that with a bible verse on her senior parking spot and in her Instagram bio, as two examples, which she tries to live up to in her everyday life.   

“Loving Jesus is probably the biggest way, and probably the hardest way, because sometimes you want to get mad…it says not to be put to judge and to be more thoughtful about what I’m doing and how I’m living,” said Sammie. 

Although her faith is one example of what has made her into the person she is today, something unique about Sammie is she went to Country Day until 6th grade. Having been in both the public and private school systems, she says how big of a change that was for her; going from a school that is doing a lot of teaching outside or in fun ways in the classroom, unlike Triadelphia where the seats were the same everyday and learned inside all day. 

Even though she was going to a much bigger school in Triadelphia for 6th grade, she found something that she loved in volleyball, and she says how she has made many memories through the sport over the years. 

“I’ve played volleyball not only for school but I’ve also played for a club, so with that one I have traveled to many different places…not even how well we did in the tournament that stuck out to me, it was what I’ve done off the court and what I’ve done with my friends and sitting in like a huddle just talking to each other,” said Sammie. 

Sammie also touched on what she’ll miss most about Wheeling Park. From the student section to the fun kids had in getting the confetti for every home Friday Night Football game. Though she said one thing that should stand out to any incoming freshman: 

“You pick how your high school experience is, you can choose to make the most of it and be fun, but you can also choose to do nothing and not be involved at all,” said Sammie. 

Sammie is someone that is very involved, and one of those things is as previously mentioned, that she is a completer in the Marketing CTE program, and she intends to major in the business side of sports, more specifically sports marketing in college. 

Sammie is someone that is a very well known person throughout Wheeling Park High School, and in October she added to her high school memories when she was crowned Homecoming Queen. You can always see Sammie out supporting her friends and peers, and showing just as much or more Park Pride than anyone.