2023/2024 Varsity Team – Head Coach Mark Miller (above)
FRONT ROW – Sedekee Koroma, Sage Custalow, DeLeon Lee, Josiah Culp and Carveon Lee (LEFT TO RIGHT)
BACK ROW – Head Coach Mark Miller, Devyn Humphrey, Ephy Morris, Kenneth Bailey, Kenny Blackwell and Zavian Avant (LEFT TO RIGHT)
2023/2024 Junior Varsity Team – Head Coach Aaron Smith (above)
FRONT ROW – Zion Wilkerson, Noe Tenke, John Mark Herring, Kemon Lewis and Josiah Culp (LEFT TO RIGHT)
BACK ROW – DeLeon Lee, Chris Silvas, Head Coach Aaron Smith, Sean Onyekwere and Sedekee Koroma (LEFT TO RIGHT)
On November 27 Boys Home will kick off the 2023-2024 basketball season with an away game against Craig County High School. The first home game will take place on Tuesday, November 28 against Victory Baptist Academy at 5:30 p.m. The junior varsity team will be led by Campus Life Manager Aaron Smith. Coach Smith summed up his coaching philosophy with a quote from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” Coach Smith is looking forward to the season ahead.
Intake and Evaluation Manager, Mark Miller, will lead the varsity team this year as head coach. The title of coach is familiar to Mark who coached junior varsity and varsity basketball for Boys Home from 1992-2008 and again for the 2022-2023 season. Coach Miller stated, “I am looking forward to the opportunity to coach returning players and the newer players on the team. The experience of being part of the Boys Home basketball program will leave lasting and enjoyable memories for the students.”
Please note that there will be a $5 (cash) entry fee for all home games. Join us to help cheer on Boys Home for the 2023-2024 basketball season. Go Bears!
Pictured L-R: Melvin Clark and his wife, Vicki Clark
Congratulations to Mr. Melvin Clark of Ferrum, Virginia, the 2023 winner of the P. Buckley Moss print #275 titled “Graceful Autumn Ride.” Mr. Clark and his wife, Vicki, are long-time collectors of P. Buckley Moss art and were delighted to receive this beautiful piece. This year’s raffle raised $2,720, which will go toward helping our students grow into successful young men. Thank you to everyone who participated in this fundraiser and special thanks to the P. Buckley Moss Society and Loving Art and Frame located in Covington, Virginia.
Boys Home of Virginia is excited to announce an online match challenge beginning November 17 – November 28. Thanks to members of the Boys Home Board of Trustees they will match dollar for dollar up to $25,000 of online donations received during that time.
Boys Home will be able to use these donations to directly impact the student’s basic needs, as well as help each young man strive toward becoming a productive member of society by developing his potential – spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially.
Visit www.givetoboyshome.org to donate online November 17 – November 28. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact Sandra at 540-965-7715.
On Saturday, October 28, Boys Home of Virginia hosted its 7th annual fall fundraiser, the Harvest Hustle 5K, 10K and Half-Marathon at the Intervale Trailhead of the Jackson River Scenic Trail! One hundred and fifteen participants gathered to compete on a beautiful fall day. Racers from all over Virginia and West Virginia, as well as North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Utah, enjoyed the friendly competition. Bottled water and Gatorade were provided by sponsors for participants, along with the tasty baked goods, coffee, and specialty teas for sale by local Covington vendor, Kanawha Café.
All runners received a long-sleeved t-shirt with the race logo and a one-of-a-kind participation medal as they crossed the finish line. A collectable 16 oz. glass mug with logo was given to the top three fastest male and female racers in each age group, as well as a certificate of their accomplishment. The overall top three male and female racers for each race won a collectible acrylic Boys Home house-shaped trophy. All first-place winners also received a gift certificate to Lex Running Shop in Lexington, Virginia.
Overall winners in the 5K race were 1st place male – Cedric Drennen (24) of Clifton Forge, VA finishing at 15:38, 2nd place male – Joshua Anglin (16) of Covington, VA finishing at 19:07, and 3rd place male – Nickolas Powell (16) of Covington, VA finishing at 20:16. First place female – Brittany Unroe (32) of Covington, VA with a time of 21:41, 2nd place female – Charlotte Taylor (13) of Covington, VA finishing at 25:36, and 3rd place female – Madilyn Via (13) from Covington, VA finishing at 27:03.
Overall winners in the 10K race were 1st place male – Samuel Urffer (37) of Lewisburg, WV with a time of 45:34, 2nd place male – Ethan Forbes (21) of Covington, VA finishing at 46:35, and 3rd place male – Nolan Rosales (13) of Covington, VA finishing at 48:40. First Place female – Alania Lowman (47) of Clifton Forge, VA, finishing at 51:35, 2nd place female – Hannah Seldomridge (28) from Roanoke, VA finishing at 56:24, and 3rd place female – Colleen Urffer (36) from Lewisburg, WV finishing at 57:33.
The overall winners for the half-marathon were 1st place male – Derek Batey (52) of Roanoke, VA with a time of 1:41:05, 2nd place male – Liam Brown (62) from Lincoln University, PA finishing at 1:42:31, and 3rd place male – Eduardo Sanchez (25) from Covington, VA finishing at 1:48:18. First place female – Rachael Thompson (39) of Covington, VA finishing at 1:46:25, 2nd place female – Michelle Mackie (52) from Lexington, VA finishing at 1:54:59, and 3rd place female – Adrien Monti (44) from Roanoke, VA finishing at 2:22:32.
The finish times for each race are listed on www.runforboyshome.org along with photos to commemorate the day.
Boys Home would like to thank Run Roanoke, the Falling Spring and Covington Rescue Squads, Kanawha Café, Alleghany Parks and Recreation, as well as all participants and volunteers for making this event possible. Boys Home is also very grateful for the generosity of the many businesses that sponsor the Harvest Hustle each year. A huge thank you to the following event sponsors: Lexington Prescription Center, Alleghany Highlands Community Services, WestRock, Highlands Community Bank, Silvercrest Asset Management, TTCE/E-ZPass VA, Campbell Insurance, Old Dominion Furniture Company, Persinger Memorial United Methodist Church, McDonough Toyota, K. McConnell Legal, Spencer Home Center, Jackson River Community Credit Union, The Rail Bar and Grille, The Cat & Owl, J & K Electric, West Winds Venue, The Recorder, Edward Jones Investments, The Law Firm of William T. Wilson, Jack Mason’s Tavern & Brewery, Slaughter and Slaughter Family Dentistry, Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative, Grand Home Furnishings, Valley Supermarket IGA, Lex Running Shop.
This wonderful event is not only a fundraiser, but it helps to raise awareness of Boys Home and the services that are provided for the young men thy serve. The vision of Boys Home is to provide a community that inspires young men to positively impact those around them. This event shows the commitment and discipline needed to be a runner, the tenacity never to give up, and the importance of always striving to do your best. It also provides a great example of how a community can come together and support each other.
Boys Home is grateful to everyone who helped make the 7th annual Harvest Hustle a huge success!
On Friday, November 24, the Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm will open for its 30th season. The updated hours for the 2023 season are below. In her bequest, Joanne Tannehill, left her Augusta County tree farm to Boys Home as a teaching and learning experience for students. The Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm is maintained throughout the year by the Christmas tree farm manager and students. In the spring, students assist with planting young seedlings and relocating mature transplants to the tree field. In the summer and fall, they shear trees and groom the fields. During the winter, the students harvest trees for wholesale. Once the Christmas tree farm opens, students assist visitors with choosing a Christmas tree and the packaging process.
If you are purchasing a live tree this season, please consider a visit to the Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm. Wreaths will be available to purchase as well. All purchases will support this organization that serves as a home for the holidays and all year round for many young men.
Tree Farm Dates and Hours for 2023
Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday
November 24, 25, 26 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Open Saturday and Sunday
December 2-3, 9-10 and Saturday, December 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Santa will available for photos on December 2 and 3 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Address: 1118 Bear Wallow Flat, West Augusta, VA, 24485
