Aaron Smith was named Houseparent of the Year during the 3rd Annual Commencement and Awards Ceremony held on Saturday, May 29, 2021. The award was presented by Boys Home of
Virginia Executive Director Donnie Wheatley. This is the second year Smith has been honored as Houseparent of the Year.
Smith was nominated for the award by Boys Home students from all over campus. The students commented that they believe him to be kind, fair, and caring. They also shared that Smith has gone above and beyond to help support students in a variety of ways.
Smith has been a houseparent at Boys Home for more than 8 years. “I enjoy working with the students and building relationships with them,” stated Smith. “It is a labor of love.” He went on to share that there are challenges of helping to raise young men, as well as rewards of watching them mature, grow, and succeed.
“My time with the residents has been a rewarding one – watching them grow, develop, and mature,” said Smith. “When I first started, I thought I had so much to teach them, and I do. But, the reality is that I also have learned from our residents. We all bring something different to the table.”
Boys Home employs a team of houseparents who provide mentorship, guidance, friendship, and structure for residents. “Houseparents have one of the toughest jobs on campus,” says Executive Director Donnie Wheatley. “They are the heart of the campus with the most group and one-on-one interaction with the boys.”
“We are extremely proud to have Mr. Smith as a member of the Boys Home family,” stated Associate Director of Program Chad Whitmer. “He is a very dedicated houseparent and exceptionally good at building relationships with our residents.”
For more information on becoming a houseparent or available positions at Boys Home, please visit our employment page.
For more information on how you can help further the mission of Boys Home, please visit givetoboyshome.org