Bridgeport High School announced that James Goots and Aika Takahashi are the April Students of the Month.

 

James Goots is the son of James and Sue Ann Goots of Bridgeport. James has served as an active member in the National Honor Society and has also participated in many school and community organizations and service projects. At the school level, he initiated and organized the Rosenbaum Family House/WVU Foundation fundraiser, "Color-Me-Rad". He was an active participant in the Red Cross Blood Drive, the Angel Tree Network, and the Shop for Tots Program. As a freshman and sophomore, he was a member of the Student Council and served as Class Treasurer.

 

Last summer James had the honor of attending American Legion Mountaineer Boys' State Leadership Academy and in 2012, he was selected to participate in the West Virginia University Dental Academy held in Morgantown.

 

James has been a consistent honor student during his four year tenure at Bridgeport. He received academic lamps and letters, which are rewarded to those students who have achieved superior ratings with their grade point averages for the entire academic year. During his junior year, he took college Algebra and college Trigonometry classes, which was in conjunction with a school partnership with West Virginia University. He is currently taking several courses through Fairmont State University, which will count toward his college degree.

Outside of his school commitments and responsibilities, James participated in working with the Salvation Army, the Clarksburg Mission and the youth group at All Saints Catholic Church in Bridgeport.

 

In addition to his academic and community achievements, James has been involved in several sports while at Bridgeport High School. He has been a four-year member of the Bridgeport High School Golf Team, played on the Freshman and Junior Varsity Basketball Teams and played on the Tennis Team his Junior year.

 

James has been accepted to West Virginia University majoring in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in Health Science. His vision is to pursue a career in Dentistry.

 

Aika Takahashi is the daughter of Brian and Wilda Murray of Bridgeport. She is the President of Bridgeport High School (BHS) Band, a member of BHS Key Club, National Honor Society, the National Society of High School Scholars and the WV Jazz Society. She debuted this year in the BHS senior production of the musical "Honk!" Aika actively plays the alto saxophone in the BHS Marching, Symphonic band and Jazz Band. She is the lead saxophonist in the BHS Jazz Band which has been selected by Marshall University as the Honor Jazz Ensemble. She was also selected to perform in Marshall University's Thundering Herd All-Stars Band. She was chosen to perform in Alderson-Broaddus ' High School Honor Band, WVU Honor Band and West Virginia Music Educator's Association's (WVMEA) All-State Band. She also participated in the WVMEA Solo Ensemble Festival where she received a Superior rating for her performance.

 

For the past four years she has been chosen to perform in Harrison County's All-County High School Band. She has taken several Master Classes from the 2491 U.S. Army Band and those offered through the West Virginia Jazz Society. She has performed on stage with world renowned musicians such as Sean Nowell, Karen Greene and Marshall Keys. Aika was part of the BHS Songbirds who opened on-stage for Karen Greene. Her participation involved both singing as well as soloing on her saxophone. She was afforded the opportunity to partake in a mentoring and jam session with DC Area professional saxophonist Kevin Simpson & pianist Lee Covington.  In her free time she enjoys taking private saxophone lessons from Phil Wyatt and piano lessons from Renee Wyatt, listening to Jazz music, reading and spending time with family and friends.

 

In the fall, Aika will attend Marshall University pursing dual degrees in both Jazz Studies and Music Education. She has already participated in Marshall University's Jazz-MU-Tazz Music Camp and has received Superior ratings for her musical performance from Marshall University and was recognized by the Jazz Studies Program for her outstanding solo performances.