The Jennings Randolph Award for Civic Engagement recognizes West Virginia high schools that conduct successful student-led voter registration efforts and register at least 85 percent of eligible seniors to vote. Tyler Consolidated High School has earned distinction as the newest recipient of the honor.

The award commemorates the legacy of longtime West Virginia U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph, who represented the Mountain State in Washington, D.C., for more than five decades.

Often considered the “Father of the 26th Amendment,” Randolph spent 29 long years (1942-1971) campaigning to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 in response to President Franklin Roosevelt reducing the mandatory military draft age from 21 to 18 and 1942.

His well-known quote was heard across the country. “If they’re old enough for bullets, then they’re old enough for ballots,” Randolph said.

The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office administers the award with special recognition from the West Virginia legislature.

Secretary of State Kris Warner presented the award to Tyler Consolidated High School during the senior class awards day on Monday May 18th. Seniors Dane Nelson and Lilly Thompson were both named honorary Secretary of State for their leadership in the student LED effort by Secretary Warner.