Area students win awards; Day of Action set; Mediation Center to offer virtual training
Local youth wins prestigious award
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina recently named Transylvania County youth Tyber the winner of its 2023 Robin Myer Realizing Potential Award. The award, presented annually, goes to the Little Brother or Little Sister who shows outstanding ability to engage their aptitude and interests and make a difference in their community.
In keeping with BBBS of America protocols to protect its Littles, BBBSWNC typically identifies “Littles” and its“Bigs” by first name only.
The Robin Myer Realizing Potential Award is named for Robin Myer, who was executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for 27 years. BBBSWNC, based in Asheville, is now led by President and CEO Lelia Duncan. The agency works with parents/guardians and schools to serve hundreds of youth every year. Its staff and volunteers work with kids in all 18 of North Carolina’s westernmost counties and on the Qualla Boundary.
Tyber, a rising senior at Rosman High School, had “a very tough year last year,” including losing his father and a very close friend, BBBSWNC Transylvania County program coordinator Hannah Huskey said.
“But he still found the strength and perseverance to improve his academic skills and grades. He is an inspiration,” Huskey said.
Currently, he and his Big Brother Jim are touring colleges to help him decide what he wants to do when he graduates. The two have been matched for two years and were partnered in a school program prior to that.
“It has been a privilege for me to walk through life with Tyber,” Jim said, “as he has grown into a young man that I admire. And I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”
To learn more about BBBS of Transylvania County, contact program coordinator Huskey at 828-513-0424 or by email at hannahh@bbbswnc.org. More information can also be found at bbbswnc.org.
Students place in state Soil and Water Conservation contests
Ava Wright and Marie Minick won first place and second place, respectively, in the Soil and Water Conservation State Level Essay and Slide Show Contests, according to a news release from the Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Wright's essay was titled “Water – the Cycle of Life” and detailed the uses of hydropower in relation to human life. Students competing at this level have advanced through three and sometimes four tiers of competition before representing their area against winners from across North Carolina, the release said. After winning the eighth grade essay contest, her essay advanced to the Area 1 Competition where it placed first, then moved on to the state competition, placing first again.
Minick delivered a computer-generated slideshow titled "Water and Art," which detailed the various facets of how water is used throughout art. This slideshow placed her first in Henderson County. After winning at the county level, her slideshow advanced to the Area 1 Competition where it placed first, then moved on state, where it was second.
United Way's Day of Action set for Aug. 3
United Way of Henderson County's Day of Action will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 3 at schools across Henderson County as they prepare for the 2023-24 school year.
Since its 2016 premier, Day of Action has been a county-wide morning of service to help our local schools get ready for the upcoming academic year, according to a news release. Volunteers of all ages come together at campuses across the county to contribute time and hands-on-labor to complete a variety of projects to assist school staff members as they prepare to receive students.
This year, Day of Action projects at all participating schools will be focused on an outdoor spruce-up of the school grounds. Approximately 300 volunteers are needed. Interested volunteers can find a list of participating schools along with registration information by visiting United Way’s website at www.LiveUnitedHC.org/DayOfAction. Volunteers who are registered online by July 7 are guaranteed a free T-shirt.
United Way announces new grant awards
United Way of Henderson County (UWHC) recently announced new grant awards totaling $445,409 that will support 35 programs at 20 local nonprofit agencies in the coming year.
According to a news release, this is the second year of a two-year competitive funding cycle supported by 40 community volunteers. Grant awards benefit Henderson County nonprofit agencies with programs aligned with United Way impact areas, including education, financial stability, health and basic needs.
The grant funds will support nonprofit programs that address kindergarten readiness, school success, affordable housing, economic self-sufficiency, healthy youth behaviors, physical activity and nutrition and basic needs and crisis services.
“Our community investment grants are part of our multi-faceted approach to addressing community needs,” said Denise Cumbee Long, Executive Director of United Way of Henderson County, in the release. “And, our careful process of vetting recipient agencies using panels of community volunteers ensures donors that their dollars are used wisely and well.”
Mediation Center to provide virtual training
According to a news release, on June 6, the Mediation Center of Henderson County will provide a one-hour virtual training in conflict resolution. The webinar will provide participants with ways to contribute to a more peaceful community.
Free to Henderson County residents, the live webinar “Conflict Resolution in the Henderson County Community” will be from 10-11 a.m.
The Mediation Center is a nonprofit which serves Henderson, Transylvania, Polk and Buncombe counties. It offers community mediation and supervised family visitation services. Over the past two years, it has served over 900 people in Western North Carolina, the release said.
Preregistration is required in order for participants to receive the event’s link. More information can be found at www.mediatewnc.org/training/trainingforeveryone.
Speaker Series at Laughing Waters Retreat set for June 10
Conserving Carolina and Laughing Waters Retreat Center will present a free lecture titled "Wild Encounters," presented by naturalist and educator, Carlton Burke, of Carolina Mountain Naturalists at 10:30 a.m. June 10 in an outdoor pavilion located in the orchard at Laughing Waters Retreat Center at 3259 Gerton Highway in Gerton.
Carlton Burke will bring a variety of animals native to the region for those attending to learn about and see up-close. Guests are asked to park in the orchard, accessed from the address above, and can expect a short walk up a little hill and gravel driveway to the pavilion. If mobility is an issue, there is the opportunity to be dropped off closer to the pavilion.
For more information, visit Conserving Carolina’s website calendar event at conservingcarolina.org/calendar. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
For more information about Laughing Waters Retreat Center, visit laughingwatersnc.com. Laughing Waters is the community center for Hickory Nut Forest Eco Community in Gerton. With 20 homesites in the midst of forever-protected forest, its focus is on land stewardship, green homes, renewable energy, healthy food, and education.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Area students win awards; Day of Action set; Mediation Center to offer virtual training
