Top Story Spotlight McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home McDowell County Schools Sep 17, 2026 12 hrs ago 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 :? 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Here's what to know McDowell Sheriff’s Office, highway patrol, Marion police operation results in 136 charges South Carolina man charged by McDowell Sheriff’s Office with child sex crimes Hungry bear keeps trying to force its way into homes in NC neighborhood, state says Foothills Food Hub opens store in Marion selling locally produced food, including meat and veggies McDowell County ceremony honors the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks Global nonprofit lists NC dead last in ranking of best states for workers. Here's why Data centers, streetscape project, homelessness to headline meetings in McDowell this week Culturas Unidas Festival returns to downtown Marion McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home McDowell County commissioners hear about state legislation on data centers 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? 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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 Meet the Rotary Club of Marion's Students of the Week The club recognized Emma Kate Brackin and Lauren Roland of McDowell Early College as the Students of the Week. McDowell alumni spotlight: From Marion Elementary to leading the county's parks and rec "His story is a reminder that the experiences children have in their schools and communities can reach far beyond their childhood years." This year, McDowell High students can attend home athletic events for free “This was also made possible by the partnership between McDowell High Athletics and the McDowell Titan Booster Club." Watch Now: Related Video Who Is Robert Kraft, The Pro-Israel Billionare Who Ousted Macklemore? Trump Threatens EU With Tariffs Over Canada ‘Associate Membership’ Trump Threatens EU With Tariffs Over Canada ‘Associate Membership’ OpenAI Reveals 6 New Cases of ‘Concerning’ AI Misbehavior OpenAI Reveals 6 New Cases of ‘Concerning’ AI Misbehavior 70% of hospital generators in Gaza out of service: Health Ministry. 70% of hospital generators in Gaza out of service: Health Ministry. Recommended for you
Meet the Rotary Club of Marion's Students of the Week The club recognized Emma Kate Brackin and Lauren Roland of McDowell Early College as the Students of the Week.
McDowell alumni spotlight: From Marion Elementary to leading the county's parks and rec "His story is a reminder that the experiences children have in their schools and communities can reach far beyond their childhood years."
This year, McDowell High students can attend home athletic events for free “This was also made possible by the partnership between McDowell High Athletics and the McDowell Titan Booster Club."
