The Salem Student Art Show was held at the Salem Public Library on Sunday, May 19th, and displayed all different kinds of work from elementary students from each of Salem’s four schools. More than 100 different pieces of art were showcased for students, parents, and anyone for matter to come check out.

Salem City School’s Gifted Coordinator Hunter Routt says this yearly event has become something the students really look forward to.

“Each child that has art in the show receives a personal invite”, she said. “The art teachers gather the strongest art from the entire school year. It’s great when the kids get an invite because it has their name on it and shows something they did”, she said.

The student’s opportunity to bring their parents out is something that is no doubt one of the best parts. But even before that, most of the children enjoy just showing their creativity even before anyone gets to see it.

“The best part is getting to make it fancy and use glitter and stuff,” said Elliana Vidal, 2nd grader at East Salem Elementary.

“I like getting to use all kinds of different colors,” said Caleb Parr, from Mr.Hodges Kindergarten class at Salem South Elementary.

Sarah Meadows is the Art Teacher at both East and South Salem Elementary. She says the annual tradition has become something the students work toward since the beginning of school in the fall.

“We use our projects from all through the school year. You may see pumpkins they did from Halloween. The kids get so excited for this event, they really use it as their moment to shine”, she said.

2013 is the sixth year such an event was held at the Salem Public Library. Routt said the event continues to grow, and the numbers would agree. This year’s art show was the largest turnout of any to date, and a 36 percent increase from the figures they had from last year. In addition, the event also brings in more people to the library as well, something Routt is proud of.

“Last year on the day of the show, it was their busiest traffic day of the year,” she said, proving that the popularity is continuing to rise.

After the show, Routt calculated that over half of the students who had art displayed were in attendance to see it, all with at least one adult of course, and many bringing multiple family members with them.

You can view photos from the reception in the slideshow above, or click through them individually here.

– Photos and story by Chad Parries

Haley and Heather Moore. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Calaway

Haley and Heather Moore, former Salem residents, graduated from The Christian Education Consortium in Louisville, Ky., on May 17.

They have both earned academic scholarships and have been accepted into the Western KY University Honors College. They will be pursuing a BFA in Performing Arts with a concentration in musical theater. They will be teaching drama camps this summer at the Arts Center that they currently take lessons at, as well as going to NYC to dance for a week at the Broadway Dance Center. They will be taking a dance workshop with some of the cast of the Broadway hit “Newsies” and seeing several other Broadway musicals.

Their parents are Richard and Cindi Moore. Grandparents are Mike and Cynthia Calaway and Rick and Sharon Moore, all of Salem.

– Submitted by Cynthia Calaway

Friends and families of graduating Roanoke County seniors will once again be able to watch the pomp and circumstance of graduation on Friday, June 7, even if they can’t be in the stands in person. For the fourth-straight year, Roanoke County Public Schools will provide live streaming coverage of graduation ceremonies with Graduation 2013 Live.

Graduation ceremonies being held at the Salem Civic Center this year will be streamed live via the Roanoke County Public Schools Web site at www.rcs.k12.va.us/graduation.

“Not everyone is able to attend graduation in person. Many students have family and friends who do not live in the Roanoke Valley, or in Virginia or even in the United States. We wanted to create an opportunity for those who could not attend graduation in person to be able to watch the ceremonies online,” said Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Lange.

“We thank the Salem Civic Center for providing the network support to make this new opportunity possible,” Lange said.

Four Roanoke County high schools are holding graduation ceremonies at the Salem Civic Center:

• 9 a.m.: Hidden Valley High School
• 11:30 a.m.: Cave Spring High School
• 2:30 p.m.: William Byrd High School
• 5 p.m.: Northside High School

Live online coverage for these high schools will begin approximately 5-10 minutes before each graduation begins.

Glenvar High School has scheduled their graduation ceremony for Highlander Stadium at 9 a.m. and, therefore, will be streamed via tape-delay. In the event of inclement weather on June 7, GHS will move graduation ceremonies to the Salem Civic Center at 7:30 p.m. If the GHS graduation is moved to the Salem Civic Center, it will be streamed live.

Beginning June 8, family and friends can watch replays of graduation ceremonies with Graduation 2013 Rewind. Playback version of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 ceremonies are still available for viewing online.

– Submitted by Chuck Lionberger, Roanoke County Public Schools

Photo courtesy of Jake Roberts

The Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association, Inc. (RRHBA) has awarded a $500 scholarship to Jake Roberts of Roanoke County.

Roberts will graduate from Glenvar High School in June 2013. He plans to attend Virginia Tech seeking a degree in Building Construction. He is the son of Rich and Ashby Roberts of Roanoke County.

RRHBA’s annual scholarship program was established in 1990 in order to provide assistance to qualified area high school seniors and Virginia Tech students who are furthering their education in a building related curriculum.

The Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association (RRHBA) is a non-profit, professional trade organization with over 300 member firms dedicated to being the respected voice of the residential and commercial building industry. Since 1955, the RRHBA has proudly served the counties of Bedford (in conjunction with the HBA of Central Virginia), Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Roanoke; and the cities of Roanoke & Salem. RRHBA is affiliated with the Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

– Submitted by Melody Williams

Keff Beasley of Salem will showcase work in Huntington University’s film showcase at 7 p.m. May 10.

Beasley, a senior Film Production major, will showcase “Destination Success” (director and writer), “Fort Wayne Ballet” (director), “Gingersnap” (director, writer and producer).

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution a “Best Midwestern College.” Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

– Submitted by Huntington University

Rebecca Hawley shares these photos from the Salem High prom on May 11 at Hotel Roanoke.

We have paparazzi photos from Salem prom here.

You can share your prom photos at news@sosalem.com or use the “share” button to upload 10 at a time.

On Friday May 9, William Webster was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Radford University. The next day, William received a diploma from the university so it was a big week for him. This is a very special time for this young man who has wanted to serve his country since he was a small child. He resides with his grandparents, Dr. Fred and Carolyn Eichelman of Salem. He is the son of Carol and Buddy Webster and brother of Michael Webster.

– Submitted by Fred Eichelman

Roanoke College President Michael Maxey is pleased to announce the appointment of G. Michael Pace, Jr. as Roanoke College’s first General Counsel. Pace was the managing partner of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP from 1999 through 2012 where he also represents privately held companies, colleges, school boards and other clients. His legal experience includes business and commercial real estate law. Pace is already associated with Roanoke College as an adjunct professor in the Public Affairs department. He will join Roanoke College full time on July 1 and will work from the President’s office. He will continue his relationship with Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore as Of Counsel to the firm.

“Mike Pace has an excellent legal mind and is a creative problem solver,” Maxey said. “Both of those skills will be valuable additions to our work here. His appointment is an important stride forward for Roanoke College.”

Pace is a former president of The Virginia Bar Association (2008), and he is the founder and president of The Center for Teaching the Rule of Law, which located its offices on the Roanoke College campus in 2012. The Center is a charitable educational organization, the mission of which is to enlighten people everywhere about the role of the rule of law as the fundamental foundation that enables democratic ideals, principles and institutions to work and provide justice, fairness, equality and stability in civil societies, past, present and future.

The Center’s signature program is the Virginia Law Foundation/ Virginia Bar Association Rule of Law Project, which brings together students, teachers, lawyers and judges in classrooms to talk about the importance of the rule of law as the basis of the rights and freedoms we enjoy and encourage them to become active and engaged citizens as adults.

The World Justice Project featured the Rule of Law Project at the World Justice Forum II in Vienna, Austria, in 2009, and in at the World Justice Forum III in Barcelona, Spain, in 2011, and again at The Hague in July. The American Bar Association Commission on Civic Education has designated the Rule of Law Project as a “best practices” program for adoption by bar associations in the United States.

Pace is a member of The American Bar Association, The Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, the Roanoke Bar Association, and the Salem-Roanoke County Bar Association. He is Fellow of The American Bar Foundation, and a Fellow and Board member of the Virginia Law Foundation. Pace is also a member of the National Council for the Social Studies and the Virginia Consortium of Social Studies Specialists and College Educators.

Earlier this year, Pace was recognized by The Virginia Bar Association as the recipient of its Gerald L. Baliles Distinguished Service Award. Pace joined a distinguished list of recipients, including former Governor Baliles, former United States Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. and former Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justices Harry L. Carrico and Leroy R. Hassell, Jr.

Pace is a resident of Salem and a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, where he served on its Board of Trustees. He received his Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he also serves as an adjunct professor.

– Submitted by Roanoke College

Jefferson Senior High School Class of 1946 is having their annual lunch at The Roanoke Restaurant on May 24 at 11:30 a.m. Come and join your old classmates.

Submitted by Marguerite Tucker Wade

A well-known opera conductor and a long-time businesswoman are this year’s honorary degree recipients at Roanoke College.

The College recognized Regine N. Archer of Salem and Steven C. White of Copper Hill during its Commencement ceremony on May 4.

Archer, who is chairman and former president of Salem’s Blue Ridge Beverage Co., received the honorary Doctor of Commerce. Archer has been a Roanoke College Associate for 31 years. She created the Regine Archer Endowed Scholarship for International Students, which provides financial aid to full-time international students. She also has served on the College’s Fine Arts Endowment Committee.

Archer, a native of Belgium, became president of Blue Ridge Beverage in 1972, after her husband’s sudden death. The company remains in the Archer family, with Archer’s son, Bob, now its president and CEO. Archer has served in many community organizations, and she has won numerous awards for her business work and service, including induction into the Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia’s Business Hall of Fame and the Lifetime Service Award by the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

In 2004, Archer created the Archer Family Endowment within the Salem Educational Foundation, in memory of her late husband, James. Awards from this endowment are made to deserving Salem High School graduates who plan to attend a four-year college or university and who have been outstanding academic students.

White, who is principal guest conductor and artistic advisor for Opera Roanoke, received the honorary Doctor of Fine Arts. He is known as one of North America’s premier conductors of both operatic and symphonic repertoire, and he is the former artistic director of Opera Roanoke. Also, White has served as principal conductor for Opera Birmingham and as associate conductor and chorus master for Florida Grand Opera.

He also has been cover conductor for various productions of the Metropolitan Opera.

Additionally, White has been a Roanoke College Associate for four years, and his gifts have supported the Roanoke College Children’s Choir. By his invitation, the children’s choir has been consistently featured in Opera Roanoke productions.

During the 2012 holiday season, Maestro White guest conducted the Roanoke College Choir in its first performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in more than 30 years.

– Submitted by Roanoke College