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Boys Home of Virginia 2021 Commencement and Awards Ceremony

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.

Visit our Facebook page for a full gallery of photos.

Boys Home to Participate in Give Local Alleghany Highlands 2021

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 15^th 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 1^st – June 15^th 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.

Boys Home to Participate in Give Local Alleghany Highlands

Members of Covington First Presbyterian Church Tour Boys Home Cabin Project

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.

Louis Sarratt Named Boys Home Educator of the Year

Louis Sarratt, Special Projects Manager, was named as the 2020 Educator of the Year for Boys Home of Virginia during the 42^nd Annual Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Dinner at the Greenbrier on April 18, 2021. Each year, the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, in collaboration with the local school systems, recognizes outstanding educators within each school division. 

According to Boys Home Director of Education Teresa Johnson, Mr. Sarratt was chosen as the 2020 Boys Home honoree because he is an exemplary individual and educator. “He uses a variety of techniques to monitor, evaluate, and encourage student progress. He seeks assistance from the school administration to reach his students. He maintains a great rapport with students and is actively involved with school projects on campus.”

Sarratt says he was very surprised and humbled by the honor. While he doesn’t label himself a teacher, after spending just a little time with Sarratt, it’s evident that he has provided a lifetime of guidance and education to those around him.

Starting his career as a craftsman working for his father-in-law, Sarratt credits his father-in-law with the skills, knowledge, and know-how that he is now passing on to the students at Boys Home. Sarratt had a 20-year career in the United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, providing instruction in carpentry and masonry. As a master mason, he taught many other young adults the craft. He also taught first-year carpenter apprentices at Norfolk Technical Center for a year.

Sarratt started at Boys Home as a full-time employee in January of 2018. Prior to becoming a full-time employee, he worked on a few remodeling projects and volunteered for a handful of mission projects for Boys Home a few years earlier.  Sarratt says he felt the calling to be more deeply immersed in Boys Home from that moment on. However, it wasn’t until October 2017 that he and Mrs. Sarratt finally made the decision to move.

“I was in charge of a few of the renovation projects and upgrades around campus when I first started,” shared Sarratt. Within the first few months, he built the stone altar and cross at the top of the Boys Home mountain. Then, he started working with the younger students on smaller craft projects. Soon, Sarratt was asked to take on more responsibilities in teaching skilled trades like carpentry and masonry to the students interested in skilled trades.

One of the biggest challenges for Sarratt has been time management. He says he has had to be very conscious of how he spends his time. “Students would come to me asking for help on a special project or class project. At first, I would tell them no because of my time constraints. But then, I started to see the look in their eyes when I would turn them away. I don’t ever want to see that look on any young man’s face again.”

The students that he is teaching now have been finishing the inside of the trades building – building interior walls and classrooms, insulating, and more. One thing that he says he wants to be sure of is that students leave Boys Home with some kind of certification. Sarratt is working on a partnership with Build Smart Institute in Roanoke to create such a pathway for students. “I want these kids to leave here with something in their hand. I want them to start in the world with a leg up or head start,” he stated.

Sarratt is very vested in the success of each of the young men at Boys Home. This year’s graduation will be particularly bittersweet for him as he has been with these students since they started high school. He is proud of their accomplishments thus far and is looking forward to their future successes. Sarratt spoke, with his eyes getting slightly misty, of one of this year’s seniors, “He was like a sponge. I couldn’t give him enough information.  And, at the end of each class on Friday, he would thank me for all that I had taught him and the other students that week.”

“It’s amazing what God can do when you let go and let Him work through you. We are here to be a positive force in the lives of these young men. We want them to leave here with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the world – to teach them the code of Boys Home – leaving here to make a good life for themselves and their families and the world a better place.”