Briefs: Dance Espanol; Carter Bank professional development; Scholarship recipients; Commercial building sold (2024)

Dance Espanol

Piedmont Arts hosted the Southwest Virginia Ballet’s Dance Espanol as part of its educational outreach programming this week in area elementary schools.

The program, designed for fourth graders, blends dance education with Spanish vocabulary to help students learn Spanish through movement. This fall, students from Axton Elementary School and G.W. Carver Elementary school participated in the program.

They spent this week learning from Pedro Szalay, the artistic director of Southwest Virginia Ballet in Roanoke. Their lessons culminated in a performance on Friday afternoon for parents, teachers, administrators and their classmates.

On Friday morning at G.W. Carver, Szalay addressed the crowd prior to the performance starting.

He spoke about the mission of the program: to teach children to feel comfortable in their bodies, how to respect others and be self-aware, and the importance of learning new languages. Szalay also spoke on how important it is to keep arts in the schools and how opportunities like this foster relationships and build important skills for the future.

Three Carver Elementary students who participated in the program, Sadie Morris, Kayla Ayers and Ella James all agreed. They talked about the friendships they made in the program, how they were excited about the new vocabulary they learned and how they are excited to continue dancing.

Morris and Ayers said they were nervous to perform, but James mentioned that she had been dancing for years and doesn’t get stage fright anymore. Morris and Ayers added that seeing their families and friends in the audience helped ease their nerves.

In addition to new skills, friends, and vocabulary words, all participants in Dance Espanol get a T-shirt to commemorate their participation in the program. These shirts, representing the hosting school’s colors, are a great source of pride amongst the students.

Dance Espanol will be coming to Martinsville City Public Schools in the spring.

Carter Bank announcement

Bassett native Danielle Atwood is one of two Carter Bank associates who recently completed the Virginia Bankers Association’s School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia.

Atwood, an alumna of Bassett High School, and Katrina Huerth not only graduated, but did so as class leaders. Atwood served as class president, while Huerth was co-Honor Grad, meaning she tied for the highest GPA in the class.

“Danielle and Katrina’s achievements at the Virginia Bankers Association’s School of Bank Management exemplify the dedication and leadership that Carter Bank values,” Carter Bank CEO Litz Van Dyke said. “Their success as class leaders, while managing their demanding roles and personal responsibilities, speaks volumes of their commitment and capabilities. They are not just exemplary individuals but also vital assets to our team, leading by example and inspiring others to strive for excellence in their careers.”

Atwood, a project manager in Martinsville, and Huerth, a Charlottesville-based loan review officer, both said the School of Banking helped them better understand the whole organization and how each department must work together to ensure the bank’s success.

“There is so much more to a bank than just what the customer sees, and in my role, I work with every department,” Atwood said. “Banking School helped me gain a better understanding of the functions of each area, so I can be best prepared to work with them.”

“Bank School helped me to see that it takes all parts of the bank working and growing together to be successful,” Huerth added. “The key to our success is realizing we rely on one another. It’s not a ‘one-man’ show. We have to move out of silos and reach across to help each other on new initiatives, processes, and building the best bank in the communities we serve.”

Both also touted the growth of the personal networks and relationships they built, both in and out of class.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet with so many executive leaders and department heads that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to talk with, especially one-on-one,” Atwood said. “These relationships will prove invaluable as I grow in my role and work to grow within the organization and industry.”

“Banking is a relationship business and banking school gave me the opportunity to build relationships with bankers across Virginia and with my fellow associates at Carter Bank,” Huerth said. “These relationships will be extremely helpful as I continue to grow my role at the bank”

In addition to Atwood and Huerth, two Greensboro-based associates, Chris Babco*ck and Matt Welborn, graduated from the North Carolina Bankers Association’s School of Banking.

Scholarship recipients

The Board of Trustees of the J.T. – Minnie Maude Charitable Trust announced that $1.25 million has been awarded in scholarships to 402 students for the 2024-2025 academic school year.

The Trust offers scholarship opportunities to students who reside in Caswell, Halifax, Henry, Pittsylvania and Rockingham Counties, including all towns or cities located within these five counties. Individual scholarship amounts have ranged from $500 to $7,500.

Award recipients were selected based on academic and non-academic achievements and financial need. Scholarships are generally renewable, provided the student continues to meet all scholarship criteria.

The number of award recipients listed directly correlates to the number of applications received from each county. Interested students and parents are encouraged to visit the Trust’s website at www.jtmm.org.

Local scholarship recipients are: Abigail Grace Mosley, Adam Cade Varner, Alexis Brooke Garten, Amanda Grace Goad, Andrew Dariel Cruz-Herrera, Anne Barrett Laine, Audrey Grace Russell, Austin Ray Witcher, Bear Barry Carl Priddy, Briana Grace Tatum, Brittany Simone Waller, Brittney Faith Mitchell, Bryan Martell-Rios, Bryson Tyler Stokes, Caleb Parke Joyce, Caroline Grace Cook, Chevon Kelis Trotter, Colin Wayne Waller, Crystal Anahy Corona, Elizabeth Ann Poe, Emily Anne Bray, Emma Kathryn Prillaman, Eva Camille Underwood, Evan Hope Parnell, Evelyn Balderrama, Eydie Burke Kenny, Finley Reese Brightwell, Hunter Blake Whitlow, Jakob Scott Foley, James Demetrius Farris, James Finley Underwood, James Kinhun Li, Jamie Nicole Lynskey, Jentonia Alexis Wilson, John Nicholas Foley, Joseph Bradley Fincher, Kelsey Madeline Reece, Kennedy Elizabeth Wilkins, Kennedy Shae Coleman, Kenya King, Kristian Jade Preston, Kyndall Brooke Nelson, Landon Christian Martin, Leia Diane Richardson, Madison Renee Ross, Mallory Shannon Kaczor, Matthew Landon Frazier, Mia Ryann Davis, Michael Layne Frazier, Michael Parker Hardy, Nala Kay Preston, Nolan Joseph Poperowitz, Olivia Mabel Kendall, Riley Wilson Woodel, Sarah Catherine Loftin, Savannah Arlene Brown, Saylor Elizabeth Robertson, Scott Moore Harmon, Shannon Elizabeth Peters, Sienna Renee Bailey, Skyler Lee Robertson, Sophie Madison Kendall, Sydney Elise Cruise, Sydney Nicole Witcher, Taylor MaKenzie Martin, Tyra Makelle Valentine, Wil Brayden Gardner, Zachary Dylan Johnson and Zoie Sinclair Pace.

Commercial building sold

445 Industrial Park Drive has been sold to a subsidiary of Time Equities, a New York diversified investment firm for $2.35 million.

The property is currently leased by Atlas Molded Products and no change in occupancy is anticipated, according to a release.

The 99,500-square-foot industrial building is located on 6.5 acres and was the former site of Tri-State Foam Products, who began producing expanded polystyrene in 1984.

Atlas EPS, a division of Atlas Roofing Corp., purchased Tri-State in 2012 and has continued similar operations at the facility.