Congratulations to Ms. Barbara Ostrom of Vienna, Virginia for winning the Boys Home Online Donor Appreciation drawing on Wednesday, May 5th. Boys Home Development Director Elaine Brelsford personally delivered the prize to Ms. Ostrom.
Anyone who donated online at www.give2boyshome.org from March 1st – April 30th was entered for a chance to win a beautiful wooden tea box, handmade by Virginia artisan Gary Woods. All contributions received help provide food, clothing, shelter, and guidance to each young man on campus.
Boys Home of Virginia would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who participated as well as artisan Gary Woods for making the drawing possible.
Boys Home of Virginia, founded in 1906, provides a healthy and supportive environment for young men whose lives have been negatively impacted by poverty or family instability. Students are provided food, clothing, shelter, and guidance in a manner that supports the successful transition to adulthood along with educational and career opportunities. Boys Home, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, is almost entirely privately funded by individuals, organizations, churches, and foundations.
The third annual Boys Home of Virginia Commencement and Awards Ceremony took place on the Boys Home campus on Saturday, May 29, 2021, with more than 150 people in attendance. Bailey Stagner was the student speaker, while Mike Nunnally was the alumni guest speaker.
Degrees were conferred to seven students, three earning honors. This year’s graduates are Clifford Calhoun, Dau Dau, Seth McClelland, Philip Neville, Ael Nyamsi, Christian Sergent, and Bailey Stagner. Nyamsi and Sergent have both joined branches of the military; one has joined the United States Air Force, while the other will be a member of the United States Army Reserve. Dau will continue his college career at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in the fall, while McClelland will begin an online degree at Penn Foster and in-person classes at Central Virginia Community College. Neville and Stagner will go on to apprenticeships in different skilled trade fields, and Calhoun has already begun his working career and is looking into starting his own business.
The awards ceremony began following the presentation of diplomas and the conferring of degrees by Executive Director Donnie Wheatley and Director of Boys Home School Teresa Johnson.
Several students were recognized for their participation in soccer, martial arts, student council, and the Key Club. The Development Department presented two awards: The Helping Hands Award was presented to Joshua Eng, and the Best Food Forward Award was given to Mulu Slawta. The Christ Episcopal Church Women in Danville, Virginia, gave each graduate a gift.
The Dabney S. Lancaster Community College presented the Boys Home Scholarship to Dau Dau. The scholarship was established by Steve and Donna Vaughn and Anne Dean in support of a Boys Home senior who plans to attend DSLCC in the fall.
The 1st Lt. Joshua Charles Hurley Memorial Award is awarded to the student who leaves a great impact. On November 1, 2003, Hurley lost his life while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hurley loved his family, life, friends, and serving his country. The recipient of this award was Philip Neville.
The Joseph D. and Hilda C. Dent Memorial Award is given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Dent, who were longtime supporters of Boys Home and had a keen interest in education. This year’s recipient was Dau Dau.
The David C. Hall Memorial Award is presented to the Boys Home student who demonstrates Hall’s never-give-up attitude. The 2021 recipient was Jude Dostal.
The Bill and Lang Wilson Scholarship Award was established to recognize the importance of a “helping hand” in critical junctions of one’s life. It promotes post-secondary education for a graduating senior while supporting Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s mission. The scholarship was presented to senior Dau Dau.
The Matthew Foster Honorary Scholarship is given in honor of alumnus Matt Foster. He overcame many obstacles during his time as a student and grew from a rebellious teen to a self-confident young man who turned two years of high school into one to graduate on time. The winner of this award and scholarship was Philip Neville.
The Jhakee Avant Scholarship was established to honor a former Boys Home resident who overcame many obstacles. The award is given to the graduating senior who exemplifies continuous growth in character and self-motivation. This year’s recipient was Ael Nyamsi.
The Steven Rogers Memorial Award is presented to a young man who has made significant progress in turning his life around and who has the potential to live a good and successful life. The recipient of the Steven Rogers Memorial Award was Bereket Morris.
The Barry D. Mays Memorial Award is presented to a student who is living in the experiential living apartment and shows the desire and ability to learn and perform skills of self-sufficiency. The recipient of this award was Jude Dostal.
The Sam Cunningham Award is given to a Boys Home student participating in athletics with a high level of dedication and a positive attitude. The winner of this award was Dudi Awol.
The Donald “Pete” Dimick Memorial Scholarship is the highest sports award given to a Boys Home student who has excelled in sports. It provides an all-expense-paid week at the sports camp of the student’s choice. The award was presented to Dudi Awol.
The Madeline S. Mumford Memorial Scholarship is provided through St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chester, VA. The scholarship is to assist young men who are pursuing post-secondary education. The winner of this scholarship was Philip Neville.
The Berlin and Frances Lineberry Scholarship provides funding for a graduating senior who is pursuing higher education at a vocational school or community college. The scholarship was awarded to Seth McClelland.
The Shama Baggott Award is given by Edmund Davidson, who wished to recognize the perseverance demonstrated by former Boys Home student Baggot to overcome a multitude of obstacles. This year’s recipient was Christian Sergent.
The Harrison Resilience Award is presented to a young man who shows the ability to encounter a difficult setback during the year, devise a plan, and continue on demonstrating growth and serving as an example to others. Two students were recognized: Joshua Sielatshom for the under-12 category and Ael Nyamsi for ages 13 and up.
The Michael Folland Award is among one of the highest awards given to a senior. It is given to a student who takes advantage of the opportunities available at Boys Home to work toward achieving his full potential. The Michael Folland award was presented to senior Ael Nyamsi.
The George Floyd Rogers Awards is named for the founder of Boys Home of Virginia. The recipient is voted on by staff. The award is presented annually to the young man who, by his spirit, demonstrates outstanding citizenship and best exemplifies the ideals of Boys Home and its founder. The 2021 recipient of the George Floyd Rogers Award was Christopher Harris.
Additional recognition was made in the following areas:
The student with the highest GPA was Ael Nyamsi. Nick Rodgers and Ephy Morris were recognized as the most improved students. Recognition for the most accomplished student went to Nicholas Frazier. The student with the highest Accelerated Reader score was Sage Custalow. The 2020 Teacher of the Year recipient was Louis Sarratt. The Houseparent of the Year award went to Aaron Smith.
The following employees were recognized for more than 20 years of service to Boys Home: Sandra Scruggs, Lynda Specht, Brian Jefferson, Alisa Hayslett, and Jennifer Holestin.
Boys Home of Virginia will be participating in a 24-hour online giving event called Give Local Alleghany Highlands on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. This event is sponsored by The Alleghany Foundation and MightyCause.
Give Local Alleghany Highlands is an opportunity for community members to support local non-profit organizations. Every participating organization has the chance to win additional monetary prizes for donations received on June 15th. Any donations to Boys Home of Virginia during the power hours of 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. will help Boys Home become eligible to win a prize for the most donations or the most donors. There will also be a Golden Ticket prize drawing each hour from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on June 15th for any non-profits that receive donations during these hours.
This is a one-day, online giving event; however, any cash or check donations received June 1st – June 15th will be counted towards the grand total received. The minimum donation is $5.00, and there is no maximum donation limit. Please visit www.givelocalah.org to donate on behalf of Boys Home of Virginia or for more information about the Give Local Alleghany Highlands event. If you need additional information about Boys Home, feel free to contact Melinda Nichols at 540-965-7707 or visit www.boyshomeofva.org.
Covington First Presbyterian Church representatives Rev. Susi Ennis and Barbara Hise visited Boys Home to tour a cabin created by the applied trades classes. Students who had a hand in creating the custom-built cabin were present to talk about the nearly-completed structure. The project was made possible by a grant sponsored by Covington First Presbyterian Church and funded by Presbytery of the Peaks.
Mr. Louis Sarratt, Special Projects Manager for Boys Home, came up with the idea of a modular cabin as a teaching tool to provide students with foundational skills needed to be successful as a carpenter. The grant funds were secured, and the project began this past March.
Several students have been a part of the project, from the planning, to building the decking, standing the walls, building the gussets for the truss system, and window installation. The cabin plans were also modified during the building process to accommodate more people. An additional loft area was created over the front entrance. The bunk on the lower level was expanded, and the roofline was elevated.
Rev. Ennis and Mrs. Hise visited with students to hear about the project and what the boys had learned in the process. They viewed the building and were provided with insights from Boys Home students and staff regarding the construction planning and implementation. The students were excited to show off their handiwork and explain various building methods and designs.
“We are very humbled by the investment of Covington First Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of the Peaks,” shared Executive Director Donnie Wheatley. “Partnerships such as this open doors of life-changing opportunity for Boys Home students.”
The next step in the process will be to disassemble the cabin, transport it to its final location on the mountain, and re-assemble. When asked if the various parts were numbered for re-assembly, Boys Home student Seth shared that the building was constructed in such a way that they did not need to mark the various pieces.
According to Sarratt, the long-term vision is to use this cabin as a template for future learning opportunities for upcoming students. Sarratt and the students hope to have this initial cabin placed on the chosen site and completed by the fall.
For more information on Boys Home and how you can help, please contact the Development Office at (540) 965-7700.
Brelsford personally delivered the prize to Ms. Ostrom.
