Two high school seniors organized an ambitious drive to help those in need of bone marrow transplants, while others baked cookies for soldiers. A William & Mary student garnered a prestigious international award. Both Habitat for Humanity and Williamsburg Landing have welcomed new employees, and a cyclist completed a feat of endurance.
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HRA Students Organize Bone Marrow Registry Drive
Madeline Montgomery and Ellie Ferguson held a Be the Match bone marrow registry drive Wednesday evening at the College of William & Mary.
Montgomery was inspired for this project by her godfather, Russ Brown, a former W&M football player who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012. Brown received a bone marrow transplant and has entered remission.
The Hampton Roads Academy seniors met first with the W&M football team, where 50 members joined the bone marrow registry. They also held a drive at the Sadler Center where 20 more students completed a cheek swab to be added to the list of potential donors for the future.
For more information on Be the Match or bone marrow donation, visit their website.
W&M Student Earns Gates Scholarship
Senior Ashley Fidler’s outstanding academic accomplishments have earned her a ticket to the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
She was one of 40 students across the U.S. to receive the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, a highly competitive full-cost award. The scholarship is presented applicants from countries outside the U.K. to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
Fidler, the third W&M student to win the prize, is a double major in chemistry and biology. She will pursue a master’s degree in philosophy at Cambridge.
Read more about Fidler’s undergraduate accolades and the Gates Cambridge Scholarship here.
Hennaman Joins Habitat for Humanity
Mark A. Hennaman has joined Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg as the director of marketing and community relations. In that role, he will be responsible for developing a donor relationship program for the two ReStore locations on the Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. Hennaman will also oversee marketing and increasing community awareness of ReStore.
A past board member for Habitat for Humanity, Hennaman brings more than 25 years of experience in community banking. He has served on the boards of the Williamsburg AIDS Network, the New Kent County Board of Social Services and the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, and is also a previous member of the New Kent County Board of Supervisors.
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg recently expanded its partnership with Ferguson, who will donate pipes and plumbing products for upcoming projects. Ferguson is also the headline sponsor for the 10th annual Raise the Roof fundraiser, scheduled for March 14.
York County Students Hold Sweet Drive
The Tabb High School Key Club, sponsored by Mr. Michael Martinez, organized a cookie contest designed to collect homemade cookies for U.S. troops. Classes were encouraged to bring in as many cookies as possible in support of the Airman-Soldier Cookie Drive.
The winning class, taught by Chris Elliot, provided 37 dozen cookies for the cause.
Cookies were collected by the Key Club and presented to the Langley Air Force Base Ladies Club, the sponsors of the cookie drive, to be forwarded to the troops.
New Staff Announced at Williamsburg Landing
Nancy L. Barhite joined Williamsburg Landing earlier this month as director of independent living health services. Barhite received her education from Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh.
Her hospital nursing career included Riverside Home Health in Newport News, where she served in medical-surgical, dialysis, oncology, and acute coronary care units. Barhite also led a free-standing dialysis facility and most recently served as patient care manager overseeing the care of 300 patients in Sentara’s Home Care and Hospice program on the lower peninsula.
Cyclist Completes 500th Class at IBG
Butch Easton of Williamsburg reached a milestone Feb. 19 at Iron-Bound Gym in Newtown. Easton completed his 500th indoor cycling class in less than a year.
He signed the IBG wall and was toasted by his fellow cyclists.
