WHEELING, W.Va. — Bordas & Bordas has announced the recipients of its 2026 Fighting for Justice Award, an annual recognition honoring high school seniors who demonstrate leadership in preventing bullying and creating more inclusive school environments throughout the Ohio Valley.
The program was established in 2014 by Jim Bordas as part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to supporting students who lead with respect, compassion, and courage. The award recognizes “anti-bully ambassadors” from high schools across Belmont County, Ohio, and Ohio and Marshall counties in West Virginia.
Each recipient is selected for consistently promoting equality, respecting differences among peers, and standing up for students facing harassment or discrimination.
The 2026 Fighting for Justice Award recipients are:
* Kendyl Brandon, Martins Ferry
* Sam McLean, St. Clairsville
* Sophia Funke, Linsly
* Levi Powell, Wheeling Park
* Ra’Myah Askerneese, Wheeling Park
* Taylin Holt, Wheeling Park
* Kason Angel, Cameron
* Carli Farmer, Bellaire
* Laken Vinskovich, Union Local
* Mason Smith, Wheeling Central
* Damian Russell, Shadyside
* Gracie Lee Hunter, John Marshall
* Shelby Elrick, East Richland Christian School
* Kaylee Baxter, Bridgeport
* Becklee Oliver, Barnesville
“These students are setting the tone for their schools in ways that matter long after graduation,” said Jamie Bordas, managing partner of Bordas & Bordas. “The Fighting for Justice Award recognizes students who make people feel seen, respected, and supported. That kind of leadership has a real impact on school culture and on the people around them.”
Students nominated for the award must be senior students who actively contribute to a safer and more respectful school environment through their daily actions and leadership among peers.
Since launching more than a decade ago, the Fighting for Justice Award has recognized hundreds of students across the region for demonstrating integrity, empathy, and a willingness to stand up for others.
For more information about the Fighting for Justice Award, visit bordaslaw.com. Bordas & Bordas is a plaintiff’s litigation law firm with offices in Pittsburgh, Wheeling, W.Va., St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Moundsville, W.Va. The firm’s attorneys practice throughout the region in diverse areas of law and are licensed in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Texas.
