Several months ago North Cross School announced they would start a Global Studies Program for their upper school students. The program officially launched at the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year. The specifics of this program combine academic course work, specialized electives and seminars, international travel, a speaker series and various additional cultural activities to provide a unique 21st century curriculum and perspective.

It has just been announced that the Global Studies Program has officially been named the Horace G. Fralin Program for Global Studies at North Cross School after a generous donation was made to the program from the Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust. Heywood Fralin and his son, William Fralin, who both have close ties to North Cross School, serve on the board of trustees for the Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust, named for Heywood’s older brother who passed away in 1993. The Fralin family is known in the Roanoke Valley for their commitment to philanthropy, especially towards education.

“It is important for any community to have wide and varied educational options, such as North Cross School, available to its citizens. It is imperative for economic development both in terms of strengthening the educational output of its K-12 students and in terms of offering choices for families looking to relocate to the area,” says William Fralin. “The global studies program promotes educational diversity for both individual students and the valley as a whole. Horace believed in the value of education and its importance to move the Roanoke Valley forward. We think this gift underscores this belief.”

On Thursday, November 1, at 6:30 p.m. North Cross School hosted the Fralin family for the official naming of the Global Studies Program. After Headmaster Chris Proctor announced the official naming, William Fralin, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, took the time to speak to the global studies students about various international issues including the global impact of the upcoming election.

“Over one-third of the upper school students at North Cross School are currently enrolled in the Global Studies Program, and we anticipate more students will participate in individual parts of the program,” says Robert Robillard, Director of the Horace G. Fralin Program for Global Studies at NCS. “There is no doubt that the Fralin’s generous contribution will have a positive impact on many students at North Cross and throughout the Valley.”

Submitted by North Cross School