Milestones: July 14, 2026
Vivan Gali, a rising sixth-grader at Quioccasin Middle School, recently earned a first-place prize in the 2026 America250 America’s Field Trip contest, WRIC ABC 8 recently reported. The competition challenged students in grades 3-12 to answer the question, “What does America mean to you?” In his 100-word essay, Gali wrote about "neighbors sharing Diwali donuts, a guitar mentor who never let him give up, and a mail carrier whose smile brightened cold mornings," according to WRIC.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently announced the following appointments to her administration: Charitable Gaming Board – Joanne Roddie Smith of Henrico, retired human resource officer, U.S. Army; College Building Authority – Kelly Pickerel of Henrico, retired senior vice president, Wells Fargo Bank; Health Benefit Exchange Advisory Committee – Catherine Silva of Henrico, regional vice president, state affairs, Elevance Health; Public Building Authority – John A. Mahone of Glen Allen, retired government official, Commonwealth of Virginia; 9-1-1 Services Board – Sarah C. Owen of Glen Allen, director of public policy, Broadband Association of Virginia; and Sexual and Domestic Violence Program Professional Standards Committee – Madeline Torres of Henrico, court advocate and counselor at YMCA Richmond, and Amanda Mbata of Henrico, clinical director at Safe Harbor.
During its annual awards dinner June 23, the Short Pump Ruritan Club honored the following first-responders: Kenneth Walters, Henrico Firefighter of the Year; Ayana Baylor, Henrico Police Officer of the Year; and Katrina Wade, Henrico Deputy Sheriff of the Year. All of the recipients were nominated for their awards by their respective department for their exemplary public service. The organization also recognized Joey Mirabile, Sr., owner of Joey’s Hot Dogs in Innsbrook, as the Businessperson of the Year for his commitment to supporting numerous nonprofit and community organizations. In addition, Short Pump Ruritan Club announced the 10 recipients of its 2026 college scholarships: Sophia Demchenko, Ashley Glaze, Kristina Melnyk and Skye VandeLinde, of Godwin High School; Khalil Epps, of Hermitage High School; Caleb Swanson, homeschool; and Jed Fowler, Kryanna Stratiou, Lilah Usry and Sawyer Williams, of Goochland High School. More than 50 students applied for the $1,500 scholarships, which are open to graduating students living in Western Henrico and Goochland counties.
James Claiborne Wright of Henrico graduated magna cum laude from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania May 17. Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business & Management.
The following local students graduated in May from the Georgia Institute of Technology: Jacob Bleth, Tiffany Jensen, Troy Stephens and Theo Urban, of Henrico; and Ronojoy Dutta, Charity Quinn and Javier Rodriguez, of Glen Allen.
John-Sebastrian Moore of Henrico recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
Erin M. Hopewell of Glen Allen was named to the spring 2026 president’s list at Iowa State University. To be eligible for this honor, students must maintain a 4.0 grade point average for two consecutive semesters.
Elizabeth Zehmer of Glen Allen was named to the spring 2026 chancellor’s list at Troy University in Alabama. To be eligible for this honor, students taking at least 12 credit hours must earn a 4.0 grade point average for the semester.
Celie Shield of Henrico was named to the spring 2026 dean’s list at the University of Rhode Island.
James Boyd of Henrico was named to the spring 2026 dean’s list at Hamilton College in New York. To qualify for this honor, students must be a current member of the Class of 2026 or 2027, be enrolled in at least four credit hours, and earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Boyd graduated in May, earning a bachelor's degree in Economics and Environmental Studies.
