Virginia
State approves first adult high school in Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Virginia’s first high school for adults has been approved by the Virginia Department of Education and it is coming to Roanoke.
More than 670,000 adults in Virginia do not have high school diplomas. The Roanoke Valley itself has about 14,000 of those adults. But that could soon change, with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys receiving approval for a new high school aimed at that age group.
“The Excel Center will meet people where they are, so they can earn a state recognized diploma,” said Zenith Barrett, Vice President of Business & Community Engagement with Goodwill. “Planning for the Excel Center really started last year, when we lobbied to change state law and to allow the adult school in Virginia. With the approval from the state department of education, it’s really the first step in the process.”
Barrett said the lack of a high school diploma leads to decreased income and even increased health concerns. She said providing more opportunities for people to get their diplomas can drastically help the community.
“Giving the students not only access to the state-recognized credentials, but also the industry-recognized credentials, will kind of help them with helping the entire family, helping them really earn that industry-recognized credential, and also access to in demand occupations, so that they can earn livable wages,” Barrett said.
Courses will be offered at an accelerated pace to help accommodate students with busy schedules, and students can take advantage of other helpful resources.
“Wrap-around services include on-site free childcare, assistance with transportation, life coaching, and then that opportunity for access to post-secondary options and then the career pathing,” said Barrett.
And by partnering with Roanoke Valley Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education, both organizations are hopeful they will be stronger together.
“We know that in collaboration we will be able to support all learners in the area that need to work towards their high school equivalency,” said Lea Deacosta, Regional Program Manager with Roanoke Valley Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education. “Regarding Goodwill Industries of the Valleys’ Adult High School in Roanoke, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education is excited to partner with Goodwill to expand service options for adults in the area who want to complete a high-school equivalency program. It seems like a very exciting project with a lot of wrap-around services available to participants, and that’s a great thing. We’re looking forward to watching the Adult High School plans unfold!”
Goodwill is still looking for funding for the center, but hopes to have students walking around the halls in about two years.
Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – A man has been arrested after entering a store in McLean, stealing merchandise and assaulting an employee.
The suspect has been identified as Calvin Hughes Jr, of Washington D.C.
Leesburg Pike robbery suspect
Police responded to the 8300 block of Leesburg Pike in McLean for a commercial robbery on November 21 around 11:00 a.m. According to police, the suspect entered the store, stole merchandise, and assaulted an employee.
Hughes Jr. was identified and arrested nearby for robbery and is being held without bond.
Virginia
Sunshine State Bound Wolverines Ready for Virginia Tech at Fort Myers Tipoff – University of Michigan Athletics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan men’s basketball team (4-1) hits the road to take on Virginia Tech (3-2) at the Fort Myers Myers Tip-Off on Monday (Nov. 25) at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Opening tip is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on FS1.
Notes
• There will be eight teams in two divisions competing in the Fort Myers Tipoff. Michigan is among four teams in the Beach Division along with South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Xavier. The Palms Division features Miami (Ohio), Jacksonville, Mercer and Siena.
• The Maize and Blue faces Virginia Tech in its Beach Division opener on Monday. After a prep day, Michigan plays either South Carolina or Xavier in the consolation (6 p.m.) or championship (8:30 p.m.) on Wednesday (Nov. 27).
• After Thanksgiving, the Michigan women’s team plays at the Fort Myers Tipoff, in Shell Division play. Kim Barnes Arico’s Wolverines open with Belmont (Nov. 29; 2 p.m.) and play either Virginia Tech or Davidson on Saturday (Nov. 30) in the consolation (2 p.m.) or championship (5 p.m.).
• Michigan is 4-2 all-time against Virginia Tech. After winning the first four games in the series, the Wolverines have dropped the last two. U-M faces Virginia Tech for the first time in eight years, last playing in 2016 ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Crisler Center. All six games in this series have been part of a tournament or specialty event.
• Michigan is 3-3 all-time against South Carolina. The Wolverines could face the Gamecocks for the first time in six years, with the teams having faced off in the second game of a home-and-home series played in 2018. There have been three games in Ann Arbor, and two in Columbia. The lone neutral-site game was the championship of the 2006 NIT in Madison Square Garden (U-M lost 76-64).
• Michigan is 3-1 all-time against Xavier. Two of the four games have been played in the postseason. The first came in the 1984 NIT quarterfinals — a 63-62 U-M win — as the Wolverines went on to claim their first NIT title. The second was in the 1989 NCAA first round — a 92-87 U-M win — which was the launching point for the Maize and Blue on its way its first national championship. The last meeting between the Wolverines and Musketeers was in the 2015 Gavitt Games (Big Ten vs. Big East) at Crisler Center — nine years ago (U-M lost 86-70).
• ?Michigan wrapped up a three-game homestand (3-0) and improved to 4-1 overall. Now, U-M plays five of its next six games on the road. The Wolverines will be away from Ann Arbor for seven of its next 10 games.
• U-M is shooting 52.8 percent from the field, which ranks 15th nationally. Seven Wolverines are shooting above 50 percent as Tre Donaldson leads U-M shooting 62.2 percent (23-for-37).
West Virginia Mountaineers: Commitment 101: Jahmir Davis
Cincinnati (Oh.) La Salle 2025 offensive tackle Jahmir Davis has committed to West Virginia.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder, picked the Mountaineers after a weekend official visit to campus where he earned a scholarship offer from the Big 12 Conference program.
The Buckeye State product also held offer from Marshall and Kent State but had been on the West Virginia radar since the summer.
That interest picked up over the past several weeks after a strong senior season where he earned Division II Southwest District All Star first-team selection honors.
Davis was recruited by recruiting coordinators Trey Neyer and Ken Signoretti and then developed into a connection with offensive line coach Matt Moore.
The offensive tackle fills a need for West Virginia in the 2025 class and becomes the third offensive lineman to commit to the program this cycle behind Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 2025 offensive lineman Gavin Crawford and Olney (Md.) Good Counsel offensive lineman Eidan Buchanan.
Overall, Davis is the 23rd prospect to commit to West Virginia in the 2025 class.
WVSports.com breaks down the commitment of Davis and what it means to the West Virginia Mountaineers football program both now and in the future.
Skill set:
Davis possesses excellent size and good athleticism for an offensive tackle. He also has an impressive wingspan which is going to help him in his role at the position. An under-the-radar type, West Virginia has had a lot of success over the years with identifying these athletic body types and molding them for their roles along the offensive front and Davis has the potential to do the same.
The Mountaineers needed to find another tackle type body in this class and Davis checks that box physically, while also impressing with his play on the field as a senior.
Fitting the program:
West Virginia needed more offensive tackle body types in the program with the Mountaineers set to lose both of their starters from the 2024 season to graduation. Buchanan is a major piece to that puzzle, but Davis is also is exactly what the doctor ordered. An intriguing frame, with plus athleticism, Davis is going to need to develop his body at the college level and fill out but has the physical qualities that you’re looking for at tackle.
The offensive lineman has already visited Morgantown so there is a comfort level there and he should be able to step and in start that process in an offensive line room that will lose four players at the end of the year.
West Virginia has continued to make Ohio a key state when it comes to targeting players and Davis is just the latest to join the program in the past couple seasons.
Recruiting the position:
In terms of offensive tackles Davis fills the need there but the Mountaineers are still recruiting one key target on the offensive line in Ohio commitment Parma (Oh.) Padua Franciscan 2025 offensive lineman Brandon Homady. Like Davis, Homady took an official visit over the weekend to Morgantown and the Mountaineers have made him a priority down the stretch as an interior option on the offensive front.
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