Katie Sayers

Katie Sayers, 10th Grade student at Faith Christian School is the Lady Warriors Varsity Soccer Team starting goalkeeper.

Recovering from a fractured leg last season, Katie returned this season with determination and many outstanding performances that caught the eyes of many coaches and players throughout the region.

Katie was honored by the Virginia Association of Christian Athletics and placed on the 1st Team All Southwest District Team, 1st Team All South Region Team, and 1st Team All State Team.

Congratulations to an outstanding student-athlete!

One student will win a dark silver Nissan Juke donated by First Team Auto Mall. Photo courtesy of John Carlin

With prom season wrapping up, RAYSAC – Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition is gearing up for the first-ever outdoor After Prom Grand Finale, which is highlighted every year by awarding a new car to a local student. This year’s Grand Finale will be held rain or shine on Saturday, June 1, from 2-5 p.m. in downtown Roanoke’s Century Plaza, across the street from Fire Station Number one on Church Avenue.

“We want to create a festival atmosphere for the youth,” said Ashley Hatcher, Grand Finale coordinator. “The idea is to provide activities that the students will enjoy and value. We also wanted to be able to include more participation from our community partners in the Grand Finale.”

New this year will be a climbing wall provided by the National Guard. Roanoke Police will demonstrate the hazards of drunk driving with their “drunk goggles” simulator. The Blue Ridge Transportation Safety Board will be on hand with a computer crash simulator, and caricature artist Molly Doyle will provide sketches of the students. There will also be a photo booth where participants can take fun pictures with their friends. Vendors will serve popcorn and nachos to round out the festival theme.

The event is held as incentive for high school students who remain at their after prom parties — where they are safe – until the very end. “We have not had an accident that resulted in injury or death to a student at a participating high school since the program started 25 years ago,” said RAYSAC Director Kathy Sullivan.

Again this year, RAYSAC will offer a new car to one lucky student. The vehicle is a dark silver Nissan Juke donated by First Team Auto Mall. It is the 23rd year First Team has donated a vehicle for the After Prom Grand Finale. “We believe strongly in giving back to the community,” said David Dillon, president and general manager of First Team Auto Mall in Roanoke. “Year after year, we hear from the students that the car is the incentive. We are happy to be part of a program that’s working.”

In addition to the car, two iPads will be given away and RAYSAC also guarantees that at least one student from each school will win a prize worth $100 or more.

Twenty-eight schools from across the region are participating this year, two more than last year. For the first time, the event is open to students designated as alternates as well as those who won the right to compete for the car and other prizes by staying at their after prom parties till the very end. Approximately 250 people are expected to attend.

For more information on how to help keep kids safe on prom night, make a donation, call Ashley Hatcher at (540) 982-1427, ext. 2132, or visit www.RAYSAC.org.

– Submitted by John Carlin

When most James Madison University students were packing up for the year and heading home, local student Cory D’Orazio, a media arts and design major from Roanoke, VA, quickly shifted gears from focusing on studying to focusing on others. Fifty JMU students packed up and loaded a bus bound for New Orleans, La. on JMU’s eighth annual Alternative May Break trip.

Started in 2005 as a response to Hurricane Katrina, JMU has broadened the focus of the trip, dubbing it “AMB: Rebuilding New Orleans.” Misty Newman, assistant director of Community Service-Learning for Alternative Break Programs said, “While the focus remains rebuilding houses and communities, our trip incorporates whatever type of work is most necessary at the time of arrival.”

JMU’s volunteers stayed at Camp Hope whose mission focuses on housing volunteers who are rebuilding and providing new construction for New Orleans. Trip participants are assigned to a small group of eight or nine with one student leader and one faculty or staff leader for each group. Students paid $300 to participate.

Alternative May Break is part of JMU’s award-winning Alternative Break Program, which coordinates opportunities for students to assist people while learning more about societal issues, including homelessness, education, immigration and health problems.

JMU’s Alternative Break Program is a two-time recipient of the Break Away National Program of the Year award in recognition of the university’s commitment to active citizenship.

James Madison University offers each student a future of significance — not an education of mere prestige, but an extraordinary education of exceptional scholarship, inventive thinking, unparalleled attention to the world community, a university-wide enthusiasm for teaching, and a commitment to student success.

– Submitted by James Madison University

It was a special day to support Southwest County’s Loren Wright in her fight with cancer.  On Saturday, May 18 in the parking lot of Penn Forest Worship Center, Loren’s friends held a fundraiser to help take some financial pressure off of Loren and her husband.  You can read more about Loren and her fight with cancer here.  “Knowing that people are out there and they care… knowing that you have the community support makes a big difference,” said Loren. The fundraiser organized by Lisa Carleno, Stacey Beard and Kellie Mirasola was a big success and featured a Silent Auction, Zumba class, car wash, various vendors, hair chalking and mini mani’s from the CSHS Cheerleaders, as well as lawn games and face painting.

Loren Wright, along with her husband Craig and son Aidan, sat in a rocking chair outside and enjoyed speaking to everyone who came to support her. She said when she first arrived and everything was being set up, she had tears streaming down her face… “I was very emotional,” she said.  Seeing all the love and support from those around her in the community overwhelmed her.  Loren quickly recovered and in her usual happy manner embraced those who came to see her.  And of course, in true Loren fashion she pulled out her camera and started snapping pictures of the memorable day.  You can see Loren’s beautiful pictures here.

Cave Spring High School is hosting a Hope For Hannah day on Saturday, June 1, from 1:00pm – 6:00pm, to benefit Hannah Bryant, a current sophomore at Cave Spring High School who was recently diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). The day will include a 2 vs 2 and 4 vs 4 volleyball tournament, field day activities, food, and all of the fun you can have! The cost is $12/person ($10 with a “We’re In This Together” bracelet).  “We’re In This Together” bracelets are currently being sold to raise awareness and funds for the Bryant family.  Bracelets will provide entry to the volleyball tournament, and access to all food/drink and field day festivities.

Please contact Jessica Ficarro at jficarro@rcs.k12.va.us or Tamalyn Tanis at tamalyn1@cox.net for more information or to volunteer!

Submitted by Jessica Ficarro

Sometimes the sequel turns out better than the original. Ask James Cole.

In February, the New Kent Trojans had topped Cole’s Cave Spring High School Scholastic Bowl team at the VHSL state tournament, on their way to winning the AA state championship.

But the rematch, in the semifinals of Richmond’s WTVR-6 Battle of the Brains television show, saw team captain Cole and the rest of the Knights take an early lead, withstand a mid-match surge, and close strong to win a 310-225 decision to claim their second consecutive berth in the finals.

The Battle of the Brains brings together 40 high school teams from across Virginia in a head to head elimination tournament, with matches consisting of questions covering a wide range of academic and popular culture topics.

Riding Cole’s 50 points, Cave Spring took a 70-50 lead after the first period. They widened the lead to 110-65 after the team collaboration section. In the third period, New Kent closed the gap to 25 points before senior Maddie Burton scored 30 to restore control to Cave Spring.

For the match, Cole accounted for 130 points, Burton for 90. Bret Smith added 40 and Colin Rooney 10.

The win places Cave Spring in the finals against the winner of the St. Christopher’s-Maggie Walker Governor’s School. Maggie Walker eliminated Cave Spring in the semifinals of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 competitions.

The cumulative individual performances also earned both Cole and Burton places in the show’s All-Star competition, becoming the fifth and sixth CSHS students to qualify as All-Stars in the Knights five years of participation in the Battle of the Brains.

Submitted by Kenneth Flint 

Morgan Claybrook

Faith Christian School, an accredited, independent Christian classical school serving students in grades K – 12, is pleased to share that one of its seniors, Morgan Claybrook, has garnered an impressive research assistant position at Roanoke College, where she will attend this fall.

Morgan, the daughter of Jim and Kimberly Claybrook of Roanoke County, has been selected as one of only ten freshmen chosen to participate in the four year Undergraduate Research Assistants Program (URAP) and will work with Dr. Catherine Sarisky on “Purine Biosynthesis in Archaea.”

This carries with it the potential of an $8,000 scholarship over Morgan’s four years in college, as well as the opportunity to publish her research in a scholarly journal.

For more information, visit Faith Christian School on the web at www.faithchristian-school.com

Submitted by Susan Childs

$1,000 Recipient is 2013 Graduate of Faith Christian School 

The Virginia Gentlemen Barbershop Harmony Chorus is pleased to announce the recipient of the organization’s annual John Tully Memorial Scholarship. Faith Christian School 2012 graduate, Katherine Quiroz, received a $1,000 scholarship on May 13, 2013. Quiroz will attend Christopher Newport University in the fall majoring in communications. She has been lead singer in the praise band at her church, president of her school’s largest organization, and section leader for the Roanoke Children’s Choir. She is one of 11 high school seniors to win the statewide Byrd Leadership Award with 650 nominees. As a member of the Roanoke Children’s Choir for 10 years, Quiroz has performed for 8 seasons with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops and also sang in several performances with Opera Roanoke. “The Virginia Gentlemen appreciate all Katherine has contributed to the community and are extremely proud to have this scholarship awarded to her, states Dave Davis, Marketing Director for the organization. She is highly deserving of this scholarship and we congratulate her on what she has achieved.”

The John Tully Memorial Scholarship, honoring former chorus member, John Tully is awarded to high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership in choir, scholarship, and excellence in all aspects of the high school experience.

The Virginia Gentlemen is the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a premier male a capella singing organization in Southwestern Virginia. The Chapter’s Virginia Gentlemen chorus appeals to men of all ages seeking to be part of a high quality vocal performing group known for its fun, fellowship and harmony. The organization is a 501(c) 3 and contributes a portion of its performance proceeds to the John Tully Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid local college-bound high school students and to The Harmony Foundation, providing grants promoting vocal music education in schools and communities.

To learn more about The Virginia Gentlemen, visit www.vagents.org.

Submitted by Lisa Soltis

Bluefield College recognized dozens of outstanding students for academic excellence during its year-end Honors Convocation, April 24.

Each spring, the college acknowledges academic achievement and service among its students through the capstone awards program. In welcoming students to this year’s ceremony, Vice President Robert Shippey spoke about the significance of the day.

“You are to be commended for your efforts and your steadfast pursuit of excellence,” Dr. Shippey told the students. “It is our joy to honor you today. Even as we celebrate your accomplishments, we are reminded that everything we are and everything we do is for the glory of God.”

Among the students honored and the awards presented during the 2013 Honors Convocation:

Beverlie Connor of Roanoke received the Dr. Gerald E. Clay Teacher Education Scholar Award.

Thirteen Bluefield College business students were recognized for winning the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) State Leadership Competition with 23 overall awards, more than any other PBL chapter in Virginia, including Cary Carpenter of Roanoke and Tyler Giles of Roanoke.

– Submitted by Chris Shoemaker

Kendall’s father, Jere Bayne, kindly allowed us to share the following information (and pictures) on Kendall’s progress: (This information is from their blog)

Kendall was able to come home during her week off of treatment and other than the rainy weather has had a great time back home. We had a wonderful Mother’s Day and Kendall had a fantastic time at her first Prom. It’s so nice to see her be a teenager and not have to go to a Dr’s office or clinic! She looks and feels really good and will be starting her second cycle this coming Wednesday when we return to Arizona. Thanks again for all of the support and prayers. Kendall keep on believing! You are so strong and make us all proud! We Love You! Mom, Dad, Connor & all of Team Kendall!

You can read more about Kendall and her family on their blog: http://www.kendallbayne.com/