Whimsically Witchy helps fund Staunton schools; Gov School musical and scholarships: The Chalkboard
STAUNTON — The art and music departments of Staunton's three elementary schools — Ware, McSwain and Bessie Weller — recently received a check for $5,333.17 that was generated by Whimsically Witchy, a Halloween display created by Camille Dierksheide.
Dierksheide is a mom of a Staunton elementary student. She has been putting out a Halloween display since 2017, but it really took off a couple of years ago and last year she decided to give back to the community by asking people to donate to the McSwain Elementary School's arts education program. Dierksheide's house is right across North Coalter Street from the school. The idea raised over $2,400 for the school.
This year Dierksheide expanded that idea. While the display is free, visitors are asked to donate through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge payment portal via QR code displayed on yard signs. She wanted proceeds to benefit all of the school division's elementary programs.
"The music teacher at Bessie Weller said they are starting an after school orchestra club and this money will really be helpful," Dierksheide said.
Dierksheide said all the teachers encouraged her to do this again next year.
"Hopefully it will be bigger and better in 2024," she said.
Gov School presents top secret musical
FISHERSVILLE — Sympathy Jones is a darn good secretary, but what she wants to be is…a spy. The Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School, in association with ShenanArts, is proud to present "Sympathy Jones: The New Secret Agent Musical,: a 1960’s-era comic adventure in the same vein as "Get Smart and Austin Powers."
Sympathy is tired of seeing male agents head out on secret missions while the most dangerous thing she gets to corner is a hot pot of coffee. She dreams of adventure, so she seizes the opportunity when a top-secret file lands on her desk at the Agency. She follows the clues to uncover a nefarious plot. When no one believes her, she strikes out on her own to save the day.
Rookie agent Henry Greene confronts her for crashing his assignment, and they realize that their odds are better if they work together. But can they take down the mysterious and ruthless Secret Coalition for Revenge, Assassination, Terrorism, Counterintelligence and Heists before it’s too late?
With music, lyrics, and concept by Masi Asare and book by Brooke Pierce, "Sympathy Jones"features fun, jazzy musical numbers such as “Time Will Tell,” “Get Your Gun,” “Technical Disguise,” and “Super-Secret Agent.”
The show will run Thursday Jan. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 28 at ShenanArts in Staunton. Performance times are as follows: Jan. 25-27 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students 18 and under, $12 for senior citizens and college students, and $15 for adults. The performance is recommended for ages 8 and up. To purchase tickets, please visit www.ShenanArts.org.
Directed by Cassy Whitacre, "Sympathy Jones" features Riley Reed as the title character, Aiden McQuain and Will Otto as her arch nemeses, and Jayden Golder, Jacob Hostetter, Chester Johnston, and Bella Klemm as the Agency staff on the case.
Keira Harrison plays a lounge singer with mysterious motives, and Ryan Workman is the inventor of the dangerous technology that starts it all. Ari Bennett, Tristyn Bowersox, Adelie Condra, Lauren Ghidoni, Charlotte Hudson, Tac Shepherd, Jav Stell, and Fish Trella-Luedtke will play an ensemble of agents and evil henchman. The cast includes students from Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County.
Megan Zuhowski serves as musical director, with choreography by Shanda McCray Hansen of the Staunton Academy of Ballet and fight choreography by Larry Friedland. The design and production team includes Chris Davis, Dawn Davis, Kate Delaney, Cori McDaniel, Susan Polly, Jennifer Reed, and Susan Vass.
Hershey offering scholarships for Augusta County seniors
STUARTS DRAFT — The Hershey Company, in partnership with the William E. Dearden Foundation, has announced the continuation of a joint scholarship fund in Augusta County. The scholarship is open to students pursuing continuing education opportunities such as a two- or four-year degree, a trade certification, professional license or apprenticeship program.
The program will award its scholarships to high school seniors in Augusta County in May 2024.
A distinguished and highly respected alumnus of Milton Hershey School, William E. Dearden served as former Chairman of the Board of The Hershey Company and oversaw the construction of the Hershey plant in Stuarts Draft. The Hershey Company and the William E. Dearden Foundation are working with local schools in the Augusta County area and employees at the manufacturing facility to spread awareness about the scholarship opportunity.
To be considered for a $5,000 scholarship, applicants submit an original essay about Mr. Dearden's legacy and their own journey of academic and professional growth. Applicants will also be required to provide at least one character reference or letter of support.
In 2023, Stuarts Draft became the inaugural community for the launch of the Dearden Scholarship. Entering its second year, the initiative has broadened its reach to include students from high schools in proximity to Hershey’s Hazleton plant in Pennsylvania. Hershey and the Dearden Foundation intend to offer the scholarship in additional Hershey manufacturing communities across the U.S. in the future, expanding both Milton S. Hershey and William E. Dearden’s legacies of helping youth succeed in their lives and careers.
The scholarship application and more information about the program are available at https://www.deardenfoundation.org/.
Scholarship opportunity for students pursuing agriculture or education
RICHMOND — The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is pleased to introduce the Doug Stoughton Memorial Scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors and current college students pursuing a future in agriculture or education.
Scholarship winners will receive $1,000 to further their studies at a two- or four-year college or university. The scholarship was created in honor of the late Doug Stoughton, a past Virginia Farm Bureau Federation special programs director who had a passion for furthering youth education in agriculture, and who left a lasting impression on both AITC and VFBF.
“Doug was very instrumental in advocating for AITC and agricultural literacy,” said Tammy Maxey, AITC executive director. “This scholarship allows us to honor his legacy and the impact he had, while providing an opportunity for students pursuing a career in agriculture or education.”
Interested students can apply online at form.jotform.com/VaAITC/AITCScholarship. Applicants are required to submit a high school transcript and two letters of recommendation.
Additionally, applicants will need to submit personal statements describing their extracurricular activities and community service, leadership experience, interest in agriculture and education, and how the scholarship will benefit them.
Applications are due March 31 and can be emailed toaitc@vafb.com. Scholarship winners will be notified by May 31.
For more information about this scholarship and other AITC initiatives, visit virginia.agclassroom.org.
The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of agriculture through education and outreach activities. To learn more and support, visit virginia.agclassroom.org.
'Hidden Figures' author to speak at Bridgewater's MLK Day celebration
BRIDGEWATER — Writer, researcher and entrepreneur Margot Lee Shetterly will deliver the keynote address for Bridgewater College’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Cole Hall on the College’s campus. Shetterly’s address, “The Importance of Representation and Racial Progress,” is free and open to the public.
Shetterly is the author of "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race," which was a top book of 2016 for both TIME and Publisher’s Weekly, a USA Today bestseller, and a #1 New York Times bestseller.
A powerful exploration of early intersectionality in the workplace—Hidden Figures reveals what day-to-day life was like for Black women pursuing their dreams in the Civil Rights Era. Shetterly explores the barriers they had to break, the supporters along the way, and how they really felt through it all.
The 2016 film adaptation of her book stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst and Kevin Costner. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and Octavia Spencer was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
Shetterly is also the founder of the Human Computer Project, a digital archive telling the stories of all NASA’s “Human Computers,” women from all backgrounds whose work tipped the balance in favor of the United States in WWII, the Cold War and the Space Race. Shetterly’s father was among the early generation of black NASA engineers and scientists, and she had direct access to NASA executives and the women featured in the book. She grew up around the historically black Hampton University, where some of the women in "Hidden Figures" studied.
Shetterly’s research has been supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. She is currently a scholar-in-residence at the University of Virginia, with joint appointments at the McIntire School of Commerce and the School of Engineering.
The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the event starting at 7:30 p.m. The format for the event is a traditional lecture. Attendees will have an opportunity for a book signing with Shetterly from 8:30 to 9 p.m. A livestream of the event will be available at bridgewater.edu/shetterly.
This endowed lecture is sponsored by the W. Harold Row Symposium on Reconciliation.
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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. 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: Staunton elementary art programs, Gov School musical and scholarships
