Chalkboard: Waynesboro Beta Clubs win; Staunton gets coat donations from Valley Subaru, MBU FAFSA help

Kate Collins, Waynesboro Beta Clubs find success at states

WAYNESBORO — The Kate Collins Middle School (KCMS) and Waynesboro High School (WHS) Beta Clubs emerged victorious at the recent Virginia Beta Convention, showcasing their talents in various categories.

The event, held at the Hampton Convention Center, witnessed outstanding performances from both teams. For the KCMS Jr. Beta Club team, Preston Stacy claimed first place in Accessory Design, displaying creativity and skill in the competition. Also, Emma Loyacano secured second place in Onsite Art Drawing, showcasing her artistic prowess.

Additionally, the team of Parker Newton, Archer Craft, Asher Shepherd, and Sophia Williams earned second place in Musicology, highlighting their collaborative musical abilities.

"Another Virginia Jr. Beta Convention is in the books, and I’m so proud of this group on this trip," said David Lingenfelter, KCMS Beta Sponsor.

He emphasized that while trophies are appreciated, the students' maturity and kindness throughout the trip were particularly impressive. On the last day, the students generously gave away their arcade tickets to small children in the hotel lobby.

Meanwhile, Waynesboro High School made its return to the state convention after a hiatus since 2019. The Waynesboro High School Quiz Bowl Team, consisting of Jacob Hostetter, Tac Shepherd, Josh Short, and Colton Redifer won first place in the Quiz Bowl competition. With the state championship, the team qualified for the National Beta Club Convention in Savannah, Georgia in June.

The students will undergo a timed test in May to determine their eligibility for the oral rounds. The top 16 teams nationwide will then compete in the oral rounds at the convention.

The quiz bowl team “demonstrated remarkable intellect and navigated some complex questions with such poise,” said Karen Galenis, a co-sponsor of the team.

Mary Baldwin offering FAFSA help

STAUNTON — Mary Baldwin University invites students and families to join the university’s team of financial aid experts for one on-one help with the 2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

All interested parties are encouraged to visit Mary Baldwin’s Administration Building (located at the corner of Frederick and New streets) from 5-8 p.m. Feb. 26–29.

This year’s FAFSA has caused stress for students and families, a release from the school said.

Mary Baldwin University said all interested families from the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro and surrounding areas are welcome to get help accessing, understanding, and completing their FAFSA – whether they’re applying to Mary Baldwin or not.

"Students and families at any stage of the college application process are welcome to bring their FAFSA-related questions, concerns, and issues," the release said.

Valley Subaru donates coats to Bessie Weller, Dixon

STAUNTON — Valley Subaru, part of Carter Myers Automotive, recently donated children's coats to Staunton City Schools. Catherine Getz, an executive assistant with CMA, said Subaru does various initiatives throughout the year, Currently the car manufacturer is doing Subaru Loves to Give.

"They partnered with Operation Warmth, which focuses on providing coats and shoes to communities that are lacking and have needs," Getz said. "We, as a dealership, Valley Subaru spent about $12,000 to purchase coats through the Operation and donate to communities to give back."

Valley Subaru gave coats earlier this year to the Valley Mission and Salvation Army, but they had 300 children's coats. They donated coats on Monday, Feb. 19, to both Bessie Weller Elementary School and Dixon Educational Center. The coats were split about evenly between the schools with a variety of sizes.

"So kids that come to school and don't have a proper jacket or need extra help, we provide jackets to them," Getz said.

VMI launches entrepreneurship pilot program

LEXINGTON — Virginia Military Institute has launched a two-year pilot program called the Summer Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program (SUEP) as a starting point for entrepreneurship education. It has been established for cadets who possess the mindset of an entrepreneur, regardless of academic major. Through the support from the Jackson-Hope Fund, cadets participating in the program will receive three tuition-free elective credits, with room and board provided at no cost to them.

According to Col. Clifford West, professor in the Department of Economics and Business, SUEP consists of a five-week summer course, field trips to start-up companies and incubators, and interaction with guest speakers chosen from alumni and business leaders.

“The vast majority of American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited programs are already teaching entrepreneurship, and we should also offer support for our cadets on this front,” West said.

Collaborative partnerships with private and military organizations are an integral part of the initiative.

“We have already established partnerships with Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF), an entrepreneurial support organization in Staunton, and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland," West said. "We hope these are the first of many partnerships."

Anika Horn, director of Ecosystem Building at SCCF said her organization is excited to tap into the creative minds of cadets to tackle real-world problems, while equipping them with an entrepreneurial mindset.

"Seeing the world through the lens of an entrepreneur and applying lean startup principles to develop and test solutions is a skill that benefits any cadet throughout their career," Horn said. "SCCF looks forward to introducing cadets to local entrepreneurs and giving them a real sense for what it's like to serve their community."

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Waynesboro Beta Clubs win; Valley Subaru donates coats to Staunton schools