(Photo Submitted)

In 2007, Britnee Gibson, a sophomore at Gilbert High School entered a Social Studies project in the CEDAR of Southern West Virginia Regional Coal Fair entitled, “Bituminous Coal, will it be West Virginia’s State Rock?”  On Saturday, April 11, 2009, Britnee, now a senior and the Gilbert High School Homecoming Queen was able to witness her project’s completion. The West Virginia Senate adopted House Concurrent Resolution 37 which completed legislative action, making bituminous coal the official state rock of West Virginia.  Gibson has participated in the CEDAR of Southern West Virginia program since it began in 2001. Pictured from left to right, Delegate Troy Andes, a member of CEDAR’s board of directors; Georgene Robertson, CEDAR president; Britnee Gibson, CEDAR student; Delegate Harry Keith White; Debbie Mudd, CEDAR coal fair manager; Addam Gibson, CEDAR student; Janet Gibson, Britnee & Addam’s mother; James Mullins, CEDAR vice president; Delegate Steve Kominar; Phil Montague, CEDAR board of directors.