Heather Bell
RADFORD — Radford High School has taken second place in the annual Wells Fargo Cup for Academics competition, Radford Superintendent Robert Graham announced Monday.
Radford came in second, 95 points behind the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, located in Richmond.
“Second place behind a Governor’s School, not too shabby,” quipped Graham in an email.
“The excellence continues! Very, very proud,” added Radford City School Board Member Lee Slusher.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) administers the Wells Fargo Cup award program.
“First awarded in 1990, the Wells Fargo Cup represents 29 academic seasons of excellence,” reads information released by the VHSL. “Six cups are presented, one for academic activities and one for athletics in each of VHSL’s six enrollment classifications.”
The winners for athletics are announced following the completion of spring championships.
According to the VHSL, Wells Fargo Cup winners are determined “by a point system based on performance in VHSL state competitions.”
“Schools can earn academic activity points for outstanding participation in magazine, news magazine, newspaper, online news, yearbook, broadcasting, theatre, scholastic bowl, forensics, debate, creative writing, and film festival,” the League said. “For the five activities involving team champions — scholastic bowl, creative writing, debate, theatre and forensics — points are awarded on the following basis: first place, 50; second place, 45; third place, 40; fourth place, 35; fifth place, 30; sixth place, 25; seventh place, 20; and eighth place, 15.”
Four first-time winners won this year’s Wells Fargo Cup competition.
“Claiming Cups for the first time included George Wythe-Wytheville in Class 1, Maggie Walker in Class 2, Massaponax in Class 5, and James Robinson in Class 6,” states the VHSL.
Radford won first place in the academic competition in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and took second place in 2018.
