Williamstown senior is dedicated to music and foreign languages | News, Sports, Jobs

Alyssa Stump, a Williamstown Middle/High School student, is a member of the Williamstown marching band and jazz band.
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WILLIAMSTOWN — Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Stump is “dead-set” on studying the Korean language.

“Languages are very cool,” she said. “And there’s so many different ways you can communicate with someone else.”

Stump plans to go to Davis and Elkins after graduation, where she was awarded two scholarships. She said she received a $16,000 scholarship for good grades. She was also selected for the Citizens Bank of West Virginia Emerging Leaders Scholarship. This will provide Stump with a total of $40,000 spread over four years. Stump was required to submit an essay telling how she would pay the scholarship forward to the state of West Virginia.

Stump is interested in majoring in communications and studying foreign language, specifically Korean. This was the only college that she looked into that offered Korean. She knew that she wanted to pursue the language as soon as she started writing it.

“As soon as I started writing it down, just the way it’s written alone was enough to put my brain into some sort of trance,” she said.

Alayna Garst, left, and Alyssa Stump take a picture before leaving for an away football game.
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Stump is unsure of the career path she will take after college, but said her dad gave her the idea of becoming a news reporter in a foreign country. She also plans to study at least two other languages, so she can be known as a Polyglot, someone who knows and is able to use four or more languages.

Stump has a true passion for playing music. She started playing the piano at the age of 10. One day she decided she wanted to play the instrument, and begged her parents to let her. One of her neighbors, who gave out lessons, taught her to play, and she has stuck with it to this day.

“I like how difficult it can actually get, because there are so many keys and there’s so much you can actually do in general,” she said.

After trying color guard for a year, Stump decided she wanted to join the marching band. She asked her friends what the easiest instrument to learn was, and they told her it was the trumpet, because it only had three buttons. Stump said it was difficult to learn, but she wouldn’t change instruments even if she had the chance. This year, Stump was chosen as a co-section leader, alongside Truit Robinson, in the trumpet section.

“I like how it’s really easy to get along with everyone and strive for a specific goal in mind, specifically getting better,” she said.

Alyssa Stump attends the West Virginia Oil and Gas Festival in Sistersville Park with the Williamstown Marching Band. From left, Makayla Davidson, Ellie Hanlon, Adam Tucker, Carson Rose, Alyssa Stump, Truit Robinson, Jacob Lunduski, and Rylan Gedan.
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Stump is a 3.9 GPA student. Her favorite subject to study is music, but she also enjoys learning about math. She takes college courses like College English and Political Science to help her prepare for college, and challenge herself.

Stump is a member of the Williamstown jazz band, National Honor Society, and Environmental club. Jazz band is an after school program, where students get the chance to learn jazz music.

“It’s fun to learn a new type of music,” she said. “Just to learn how to get into the rhythm of it all.”

The Environmental Club discusses the impact members can make on the environment.

In her spare time, she volunteers through the band and the NHS. After the 4th of July fireworks, she helped clean up the aftermath with the band. She also volunteered with the Salvation Army of Marietta to sort Christmas presents.

Alyssa Stump and other Williamstown band members take a picture at the West Virginia Marching Band Invitational in Charleston. From left, Ellie Hanlon, Carson Rose, Alyssa Stump, Adam Tucker, Makayla Davidson, and Ryan Gedon.
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“It was really nice to be able to help other people like that,” she said. “It makes me feel quite whole.”

Stump also enjoys reading, practicing her instruments, making crafts, and painting.

Alyssa Stump attended the West Virginia All-State Band auditions with some of her bandmates in Charleston. From left, Carson Rose, Adam Tucker, Alyssa Stump, and Truit Robinson.
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Alyssa Stump takes a picture before a Williamstown football game.
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