Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Ed Hall and daughter Nicole Hall-Smith- VWCC photo
He didn’t graduate from college and came from humble roots, yet Ed Hall went on to launch his commercial real estate firm Hall Associates Inc. and then became an ardent supporter of Virginia Western Community College, including as a member of its Educational Foundation. Now Ed Hall and his family has pledged more than one million dollars in gifts to VWCC. Yesterday he was honored when the Business Science Building was renamed as the Hall Family Center for Business Science. That donation and previous large gifts are earmarked for Virginia Western’s Permanent Endowment Fund, the Career Center and other student programs.
Seniors helping seniors – that’s what the Director of Communication at Brandon Oaks called residents’ efforts to provide high school seniors on staff with scholarships. Some of the high school seniors on Brandon Oaks’ staff were awarded scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 each, thanks to the interest of the seniors they serve every day. WFIR’s Emma Thomas, with details:
In an effort to maximize the customer’s time, the DMV has added a new resource page to its website. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with more:
Jess Silvia, program director of Lavender House, in front of the LLC.
A new living-learning community has opened on Tech’s campus. A Dean of the University says that Lavender House is a much needed addition to the campus’ host of LLC’s aimed at combining academics and the residential living experience. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with that story:
The Virginia Department of Education has released results from the Standards of Learning tests administered near the end of the previous academic year. Good news for Roanoke County Public Schools – students “made significant gains in performance,” especially in math. Reading increased by 4 percentage points and math scores were up by 11 percent. A County school system official says they are “back to pre-pandemic performance in many of individual subjects.” Both reading and math scores in Roanoke County were well above the statewide average.
Roanoke County Public Schools’ officials invite the public to discuss business and training needs that the planned Career and Technical Education Center could meet. Officials hope that by inviting the business community to discuss the training gaps that they see, the new center’s curricula can better address the needs of local industry. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with more:
Its been on the wish list says an assistant dean involved in the planning stages – and now a welcoming space where students can meet and get to know each other better on the Virginia Tech Carilion campus in Roanoke is being officially launched today. That story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Kiwanis Club of Roanoke photo
Dr. Brenda Hale, long time president of the Roanoke NAACP chapter and community activist, was honored by the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke yesterday with an honorary naming of the Roanoke Star atop Mill Mountain, a fundraising program the Kiwanis Club initiated several years ago. A sign near the Mill Mountain Star viewing platform will recognize that naming for the next year.
The Wellness Rodeo returns to CHIP on 3rd Street Downtown, this afternoon. This month’s theme? Back to School. CHIP of the Roanoke Valley will be host to Queenpin Acupuncture’s Wellness Rodeo until four PM today. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with details: