Top Story Spotlight McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home McDowell County Schools Sep 17, 2026 Sep 17, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save From McDowell Early College student to CIHS liaison, Kelsey Ledford’s journey has come full circle.kAm{657@C5 :D 2 AC@F5 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ ?2E:G6 H9@D6 65F42E:@?2= ;@FC?6J 3682? 2E |2C:@? t=6>6?E2CJ 2?5 t2DE |4s@H6== |:55=6 367@C6 3C:?8:?8 96C E@ |4s@H6== t2C=J r@==686]k^AmkAmpD 2 >6>36C @7 E96 4=2DD @7 a_`f[ {657@C5 E@@< 7F== 25G2?E286 @7 E96 t2C=J r@==686 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 8C25F2E65 2D 2 `aE9 8C256C H:E9 3@E9 2? pDD@4:2E6 :? pCED 2?5 2? pDD@4:2E6 :? $4:6?46 568C66]k^Am Kelsey Ledford graduated from McDowell Early College in 2017. Submitted by McDowell County Schools kAmw6C E:>6 :? D49@@= H2D D92A65 3J A6@A=6 H9@ >256 2 5:776C6?46 2=@?8 E96 H2J] {657@C5 C6>6>36CD r=2F5:2 ~’qF4<=6J 2D 2 72>:=J =6256C 2?5 D@>6@?6 H9@ 925 2 =2DE:?8 :?7=F6?46 @? 96C] $96 2=D@ 4C65:ED $4@EE (:=D@?[ 96C A9JD:4D E62496C[ 2D 2? 65F42E@C H9@ >256 2? :>A24E @? 96C]k^Am People are also reading… Will Isaias match Helene? National Weather Service forecasters address concerns Retired state trooper donates $2,000 to support McDowell Tech BLET cadets Weakened Isaias still threatens NC, NWS says. Here's the timeline of the heaviest impacts McDowell County commissioners hear update about design, timeline for new school for Marion Marion's Mountain Glory Festival canceled due to impending Hurricane Isaias weather concerns McDowell County commissioners hear update on data center rules Shiflet Field Fly-In & Drive-In returns to Marion Saturday with aircraft, classic cars, family fun Hunter's Liver Mush needs help with repairs, rising costs to keep Marion business operating Carolina Panthers announce return of running back on Thursday McDowell County reports no injuries after overnight flooding, landslides; EOC center, shelter closes Nebo woman charged with fentanyl possession following traffic stop Trump doles out billions to voters ahead of midterm elections McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Carson Gowan has dedicated his life to community Swannanoa man faces sexual assault charges in McDowell County Candidates for Marion seat on McDowell Board of Education answer questions kAmp7E6C t2C=J r@==686[ {657@C5 962565 E@ pAA2=249:2? $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 367@C6 6G6?EF2==J EC2?D76CC:?8 E@ &}r pD96G:==6[ H96C6 D96 62C?65 96C q2496=@C @7 pCED :? p?E9C@A@=@8J]k^AmkAmw6C 65F42E:@? E96? =65 96C :?E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 (@C<7@C46 x??@G2E:@? 2?5 ~AA@CEF?:EJ p4E W(x~pX[ 2 AC@8C2> E92E 96=AD AC@G:56 7F?5:?8 7@C DEF56?ED 7C@> =@H\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D H9@ H2?E E@ AFCDF6 E96:C 65F42E:@?] %92E 6IA6C:6?46 6G6?EF2==J 3C@F89E 96C 324< E@ |4s@H6== %649?:42= r@>>F?:EJ r@==686[ H96C6 D96 3682? H@C<:?8 H:E9 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?ED]k^AmkAm%@52J[ {657@C5 D6CG6D 2D E96 rxw$ {:2:D@? 7@C |%rr 2?5 |4s@H6== t2C=J r@==686^|4s@H6== p4256>J 7@C x??@G2E:@?] x? >2?J H2JD[ :E’D E96 A6C764E 7F==\4:C4=6 >@>6?E] {657@C5 <?@HD 7:CDE92?5 H92E :E’D =:<6 E@ 36 2 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?E ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H92E 4@>6D ?6IE] $96 2=D@ <?@HD 9@H G2=F23=6 :E 42? 36 E@ 92G6 D@>6@?6 E96C6 E@ 96=A J@F D66 E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D :? 7C@?E @7 J@F]k^Am kAm{@@<:?8 324< @? 96C @H? t2C=J r@==686 6IA6C:6?46[ {657@C5 D2JD @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 25G2?E286D H2D D:>A=J 36:?8 29625] %96 t2C=J r@==686 82G6 96C 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 6IA6C:6?46 D@>6 @7 E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D @7 25F=E9@@5 62C=J[ H9:49 96=A65 96C 766= >@C6 AC6A2C65 H96? D96 6G6?EF2==J DE6AA65 :?E@ 4@==686 =:76] p?5[ @7 4@FCD6[ E96C6 2C6 E96 >6>@C:6D E92E 925 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 8C256D @C 568C66D]k^AmkAm~?6 @7 {657@C5’D 72G@C:E6D H2D EC2G6=:?8 E@ t4F25@C] xE H2D 96C 7:CDE E:>6 @FE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 E96 25G6?EFC6 @7 K:A\=:?:?8 H2D 2 9:89=:89E] u@C 96C[ :E H2D @?6 @7 E9@D6 6IA6C:6?46D E92E >256 D49@@= 23@FE >@C6 E92? ;FDE H92E 92AA6?65 :?D:56 2 4=2DDC@@>]k^Am Kelsey Ledford Submitted photo kAm}@H E92E D96 H@C<D H:E9 DEF56?ED H9@ 2C6 7@==@H:?8 2 A2E9 D:>:=2C E@ 96CD[ {657@C5 92D D@>6 D:>A=6 25G:46i “%2<6 25G2?E286 @7 J@FC E:>6 96C6 2?5 2== E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E92E 4@>6 J@FC H2J] *@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ 92G6 J@FC H9@=6 =:76 7:8FC65 @FE C:89E ?@H] tIA=@C6[ ECJ ?6H E9:?8D[ 2?5 6?;@J E96 ;@FC?6JP”k^Am kAmxE’D 25G:46 E92E {657@C5 92D =:G65 96CD6=7] w6C A2E9 H2D?’E A6C764E=J DEC2:89E 2?5 :E 5:5?’E 92G6 E@ 36] $96 6IA=@C65 5:776C6?E D49@@=D[ 5:D4@G6C65 ?6H :?E6C6DED[ 7@F?5 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 96=A @E96CD[ 2?5 6G6?EF2==J 7@F?5 96CD6=7 324< :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ E92E 96=A65 86E 96C DE2CE65]k^Am kAm%@52J[ D96 86ED E@ 36 E92E 96=A:?8 92?5 7@C E96 ?6IE 8C@FA @7 DEF56?ED] p?5 E92E >2J 36 E96 36DE A2CE @7 96C 2=F>?: DE@CJi {657@C5 5:5?’E ;FDE >@G6 @? 7C@> |4s@H6== t2C=J r@==686] $96 42>6 324< C625J E@ 96=A @E96CD >@G6 7@CH2C5[ E@@]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Retired state trooper donates $2,000 to support McDowell Tech BLET cadets “His willingness to help remove financial obstacles for our cadets sends a strong message that their community believes in them." McDowell County commissioners hear update about design, timeline for new school for Marion The new elementary school that will replace both Marion and Eastfield schools will be constructed along U.S. 70 East near the Marion city limits. McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Carson Gowan has dedicated his life to community Through the eyes of his family, he stands out as the ultimate Titan, choosing to stay in McDowell County to teach, coach and support the schoo… Kids-In-The-Creek returns to Marion greenway for first time since Hurricane Helene The volunteers with the LJEA hosted around 135 East McDowell Middle School students at three stations: water chemistry, macroinvertebrates, an… Watch Now: Related Video White House Defends New Press Secretary Over Legal Credentials Students know alcohol. Ketamine is different Students know alcohol. Ketamine is different US Inflation Climbs To Four-Month High As Gas Prices Surge. US Inflation Climbs To Four-Month High As Gas Prices Surge. US-Iran war: US consumer confidence slides amid rising costs US-Iran war: US consumer confidence slides amid rising costs Recommended for you
Retired state trooper donates $2,000 to support McDowell Tech BLET cadets “His willingness to help remove financial obstacles for our cadets sends a strong message that their community believes in them."
McDowell County commissioners hear update about design, timeline for new school for Marion The new elementary school that will replace both Marion and Eastfield schools will be constructed along U.S. 70 East near the Marion city limits.
McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Carson Gowan has dedicated his life to community Through the eyes of his family, he stands out as the ultimate Titan, choosing to stay in McDowell County to teach, coach and support the schoo…
Kids-In-The-Creek returns to Marion greenway for first time since Hurricane Helene The volunteers with the LJEA hosted around 135 East McDowell Middle School students at three stations: water chemistry, macroinvertebrates, an…
