At left, Boys Home Executive Director Donnie Wheatley presents senior Richard Arthur-Merow with The George Floyd Rogers Award. At right, Wheatley presents The Michael Folland Award to senior Shama Baggott.

Boys Home Students Recognized at 2018 Awards Banquet   Covington, VA (May 23, 2018) - Boys Home of Virginia hosted its annual Spring Awards Banquet on May 11, 2018. The Awards Banquet gives Boys Home the chance to recognize all the accomplishments of the students over the past year. Accomplishments from both on and off campus are highlighted with awards ranging from school performance to community service. Many named awards and scholarships reward the students for the hard work they put forth at Boys Home. Student Jonathan Stewart welcomed everyone, followed by the invocation led by The Rev. Anne Grizzle. Guests, staff, and students enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the dining hall staff before the awards were presented. Student Richard Arthur-Merow was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. The awards began with Aaron Smith, houseparent, handing out certificates and trophies to the 2017-2018 Boys Home Hilltoppers Varsity Basketball team. The team included Shama Baggott, Philip Neville, Ael Nyamsi, Nehemiah Reeves, Brandon Shrewsbury, John Smith, Nickolas Schwartz, Maurice Williams (team co-captain) and Abe Ashebir (team co-captain). Maurice Williams was awarded the 2017-2018 Most Valuable Player Award. Maurice also scored 1000 points in three seasons and was given the basketball that he used to score the 1000th point this season. Stephen Hodges, Tae Kwon Do instructor, handed out certificates of participation to Diego Jones, Frank Commue, C.J. Calhoun, and Shama Baggott. Jude Dostal, Justus Dostal, Shawn Young, and houseparent Austin Cole received their yellow belts. John Smith, Khean Mikkelson, Finn Anderson, and Campus Life Manager Chance Davis were awarded their purple belts. The Rev. Anne Grizzle gave awards for Spiritual Life Recognition. These students included Diego Jones, Finn Anderson, Epherem Morris, Abe Ashebir, Jason Felder, Dau Dau, and Mulugeta Slawta. Boys Home School Principal Teresa Johnson, and Assistant Principal Connie Back were next to present the Academic Awards. Elementary level highest GPA was awarded to Epherem Morris. Most improved students in elementary were Jude Dostal and Justus Dostal. Highest middle school GPAs were Abenego Commue and Finn Anderson. Most growth star reader was Chase Johnson. Highest high school GPA for 9th grade was Christian Bass, 10th grade was Khean Mikkelson, 11th grade was Abe Ashebir, and 12th grade was Edwin Lockerman. Most improved high school student was Alvin Biggs. The Wilson Reading Program Awards were given to the students who put forth exceptional effort and perseverance in the program this school year. These students were Alvin Biggs, Nehemiah Reeves, and Frank Commue. Cody Payne and Diego Jones were awarded brand new mountain bikes for doing exceptionally well in Accelerated Reader. Next, Mrs. Laura Whitmer presented the art awards. These students included Chase Johnson, Bereket Morris, Tim Kengni, Diego Jones, Sincere Peters, Mulugeta Slawta, Finn Anderson, Abenego Commue, Cody Payne, Terrance Harmon, Shawn Young, Loubens Mentor, and Darren Dudu. Cody Payne was awarded an art set for being selected as Best in Show at the Middle School Regionals in Charlottesville, VA for the Covington Woman’s Club. Anita Proffitt and Kevin Cole then presented the Boys Home of Virginia Key Club participation awards. The Key Club at Boys Home is under the leadership of Anita Proffitt and sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club. The following students received certificates for satisfying requirements of the Key Club: Finn Anderson, Alvin Biggs, Carlos Brown, Khalil Clark, Abenego Commue, Frank Commue, Dau Dau, Jason Felder, Antonius Gayflorsee, James McGill, Ael Nyamsi, Charles Pajibo, Nehemiah Reeves, John Smith, Maylon Sowers, Jonathan Stewart, Zachary Wilkerson, Maurice Williams, Mulbah Wolokolie, and Shama Baggott. Rick and Gay Turner presented students with certificates for completing the coursework and proficiency examinations for the Core Curriculum required in the Center for Applied Trades Program. Those students included Carlos Brown, Khalil Clark, Jason Felder, Philip Neville, and Nickolas Schwartz. The HVAC student of the year was awarded to Scott Faris and the Core Student of the Year was awarded to Khalil Clark. The Development Department presented the Helping Hands Awards to students who helped with photo and/or video shoots. Frank Commue, Cody Payne, Jonathan Stewart, Maurice Williams, Edwin Lockerman, Charles Pajibo, Mulbah Wolokolie, Sincere Peters, Kalil Sesay, and Richard Arthur-Merow were the recipients of these awards. The Best Foot Forward Awards were given to students who helped write articles for the parent newsletter which is sent out monthly by the Development Department. Those students were Khalil Clark, Khean Mikkelson, Nickolas Schwartz, and Maylon Sowers. Nancy Sands from the Episcopal Church Women of Southern Virginia recognized the Boys Home senior class, giving each student a gift in the amount of $100. Boys Home seniors are Maurice Williams, Antonius Gayflorsee, Alvin Biggs, Richard Arthur-Merow, Shama Baggott, Jonathan Stewart, and Edwin Lockerman. Scott Faris was also a senior but graduated this past December. The Episcopal Church Women of Southern Virginia also presented $1,000 scholarships to two students planning to attend Dabney S. Lancaster Community College this fall. Shama Baggott and Alvin Biggs were the recipients of those awards. Alvin plans to pursue General Studies. Shama will study Information Systems Technology. The Support Services Awards were presented by Director of Support Services Robert Trice and Josh Brown. Jonathan Stewart won awards for Tree Farm Worker of the Year and Grounds Crew Worker of the Year. The Leadership in Action Award was presented to the senior who maintained excellent leadership skills during the two-day senior challenge. Richard Arthur- Merow was the recipient of that award. Boys Home then began the named awards section of the banquet. The 1st Lt. Joshua Charles Hurley Memorial Award was presented by his parents, Chuck and Christine Hurley. 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 Jonathan Stewart. The Joseph D. and Hilda C. Dent Memorial Award was presented by Mr. I.B. Dent. This award is given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Dent who were longtime supporters of Boys Home and who had a keen interest in education. Shama Baggott won this award. The David C. Hall Memorial Award was presented by Mrs. Sammie Brookman in memory of her brother. The winner of this award personifies his never-give-up attitude. The award went to Khean Mikkelson. The Bill and Lang Wilson Scholarship Award, presented by Bill and Lang Wilson, is established to recognize the importance of a “helping hand” in critical junctions of one’s life. It also helps promote further education for a graduating senior while supporting Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s mission. The award and scholarship was presented to senior Shama Baggott. 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 Alvin Biggs. The Jhakee Avant Honorary Scholarship was presented by Aaron Smith. Jhakee is a recent alumnus of Boys Home and established this scholarship to reward a senior who continually grew as a person, in character, and in self-motivation during his time at Boys Home. The winner of this scholarship and award was Antonius Gayflorsee. The Tice Awards were presented by Executive Director Donnie Wheatley. The Marie Lendrum Think About Award is intended to stimulate original thought. Participants pick an original quote and write about what it means to them. The winner of this award was John Smith. The Tice Volunteer Award is presented to a young man who has worked to serve the community by volunteering to help others. Participants chose volunteer work and wrote an essay about what it means to them to work as a volunteer. The winner of this award was James McGill. The Tice Environmental Award is presented in recognition of efforts to curb wastefulness, encourage creativity in recycling, and to sow seeds of conservation and respect for the things that really matter—God’s creatures, resources, and the beauty of the world. Participants were required to complete an environmental project and then write an essay about their work and what it meant to them. The winner of the Tice Environmental Contest was Sincere Peters. The Steven Rogers Memorial Award is given to a student who made significant progress in turning his life around. As a young man, Mr. Rogers struggled with a lot of difficulties, which are common to many young men. He turned his life around upon entering the military and continued to be successful once he started a career. The award was presented to Jude Dostal. The Barry D. Mays Memorial Award is presented to a senior 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 Richard Arthur-Merrow. 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 Abe Ashebir. The Donald “Pete” Dimick Memorial Scholarship is the highest sports honor for a Boys Home student. Mr. Dimick was an outstanding athlete for Boys Home and Covington High School during his time as a student. The recipient of Mr. Dimick’s scholarship receives an all- expense paid week to a sports camp of his choice. The winner was Epherem Morris. The Madeline S. Mumford Memorial Scholarship is provided through St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chester, VA. The scholarship is to assist a young man pursuing higher education. The winner of this scholarship was senior Shama Baggott. The Berlin and Frances Lineberry Scholarship provides funding for a graduating senior who is pursuing higher education at a vocational or community college. Presented by Donnie Wheatley, the scholarship was awarded to Scott Faris. The final two awards of the night are among the highest honors for a Boys Home student. Those awards are the Michael Folland Award and the George Floyd Rogers Award. The Michael Folland Award is given to a senior and voted on by their peers. This award winner shows his peers that he took advantage of his time at Boys Home by working to reach his full potential. The Michael Folland award was presented to senior Shama Baggott. The George Floyd Rogers Award is named in honor of the Boys Home founder. This honor is voted on by the staff and presented to the resident who by their spirit, example, and overall outstanding citizenship, exemplifies the ideals of Boys Home and its founder. The George Floyd Rogers Award was presented to senior Richard Arthur-Merow. Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you to everyone who continues to make success a possibility for these students. Boys Home of Virginia is proud of the accomplishments of all of the students, especially the graduating seniors, and wish them well in their future endeavors!

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