HR Young Achievers recognized

NORFOLK, Va. - Throughout the school year WAVY-TV and our Partners on Your Side are proud to recognize young people in Hampton Roads who excel in academics, sports, arts and community service.

Teachers, parents, mentors and friends nominate young people for the distinction of being chosen as a Hampton Roads Young Achiever.  A panel of judges selects the winners and each week WAVY-TV airs a video segment showcasing the young people you have risen to the top.

Thursday, all of this year's award-winners and their family and guests boarded the Spirit of Norfolk for a luncheon cruise to receive their accolades.  In addition, ten Young Achievers were selected to receive either a $500 Savings Bond or a $1000 Scholarship.

Below is a list of all of this year's Hampton Roads Young Achievers and the Bond and Scholarship winners.  To the right is a slideshow of pictures featuring today's winners with WAVY TV President and General Manager, Doug Davis.

MARCUS BRINKLEY  A recent graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, this Young Achiever was involved in DECA, Future Business Leaders of America and Scholastic Bowl. In his nomination, it was noted that he a young man determined to make the world a better place. He believes in helping people and being a leader in all that he does.

RHEVYN CLEGG  This Young Achiever just graduated from York High School where she participated in J.V. and Varsity volleyball and basketball teams. She was also a member of the Model UN and the French and National Honor Societies. She’s spent time volunteering at the Tabb Library, tutoring others and working to feed and shelter the homeless. She’s received her Girl Scout GOLD Award and values all that Girl Scouts has helped her become.

ANTHONY COX, JR.  The lessons learned from being involved in sports are many, according to our next Young Achiever. He should know: he’s a member of the wrestling and football teams at Granby High School. He was also in band, FBLA and DECA. He enjoys participating in numerous church volunteer activities and has even enrolled in Minister in Training courses.

IAN DANSEY  Our next Young Achiever has a true passion for music. He plays in his own band and played in the jazz ensemble at Phoebus High before his graduation this spring. He’s a member of the National Honor Society, and he ran cross country and indoor track. He went on a mission trip to Belize to build a school and participated in homeless ministry.

KATIE FULLER  One teacher of our next Young Achiever says she “is always willing to volunteer for any activity”. She is a recent graduate of Indian River High School where she played varsity volleyball and soccer. She volunteers in her community and served on the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as a Youth Liaison. 

VINCENT GREER  This Young Achiever was chosen by his peers to serve as the S-C-A President at Booker T. Washington High School. He’s overcome speech challenges to participate in Forensics, Scholastic Bowl and theater, as well as playing in the marching and concert bands. In his nomination he was referred to as a special person who never gives up.

VIRQUAN HAROLD  Leading by example is clearly what this Young Achiever has done on a daily basis while a student at Landstown High School. His list of leadership positions is long: SCA President, Model UN President, Ring Dance Chair, SCA City-wide representative, Scholastic Bowl JV Captain. He also ran track, participated in DECA and was inducted in to both the German and National Honor Societies.

JONATHAN HERLAN  This Young Achiever is a home-schooled Junior who also participates in the Home School Enrichment Program in Chesapeake. He’s played lacrosse and flag football and really enjoys teaching art. He plays drums and piano and volunteers at the Greenbriar YMCA—having earned multiple times the Over 100 hours of Volunteer Service Award from the YMCA.

WILLIAM HILL  Our next Young Achiever recently graduated from Lafayette High School in Williamsburg. He was the model of a student-athlete (basketball, football, wrestling) earning him scholarship offers from some of the top football programs in the country. He’s a youth member of the NAACP and is committed to community service. He feels his faith and his family are what keep his feet on the ground. 

TEANNA JOHNSON  Community Service was in this Young Achiever’s life long before she entered Landstown High School, and she has kept it going. She’s spent time volunteering with her church, local little leagues and at an area nursing home. Before graduating this spring, she worked with the yearbook club and the senior class. She is the winner of the Tidewater Builders Associations Young Designers competition for her excellence in architectural design.

MADELEINE JULIENNE  This Young Achiever has just completed her sophomore year at York High School. She’s a member of the track team and enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program. She served as the President of the National Junior

Honor Society and President of the CHROME club -- that’s Cooperating Hampton Roads for Minorities in Engineering. A member of the jazz, festival and marching bands, she is a dedicated musician who believes music helps connect people. 

JAMIE KAMIYA  According to her school counselor, our next Young Achiever gives unselfishly of herself and is an excellent role model for others. Inducted into the National and Spanish Honor Societies, she also participated in Granby High School’s International Baccalaureate Program prior to graduating this spring. She’s played volleyball and softball and loves performing on stage in front of an audience and says she’s learned many life skills through her volunteer work.

EMILY KERSEY  Our next Young Achiever is passionate about dance. She loves performing, but also enjoys using dance to give back to the community. She created, organized and taught a dance seminar for children at a local shelter for women and children. She’s participated in mission trips, performed in choir and theatre and is a member of the National Honor Society.

CALEB KNAPP  This Young Achiever says his passion is for helping others. He’s spent many hours volunteering on mission trips to Mexico, New York City and Brazil, in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and as a camp counselor. During his senior year at Hampton Christian High School, he served as the yearbook editor and was a member of the BETA club and SCA. He was also an active athlete: varsity soccer, golf, cross country and track. He has selected the appointment to the United States Naval Academy.

PETER LAI-LEPAGE  For our next Young Achiever, it’s all about service. He’s a youth leader at his church and a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. Prior to his recent graduation from Cox High School, he was the Vice President and service chair of the National Honor Society. He was also a member of the crew team, Autism Awareness and the French Honor Society. And he has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. 

BIANCA LASCANO  Our next Young Achiever says volunteering has increased her understanding of unity, dignity and respect and allowed her to make a difference in the lives of others. When she wasn’t spending time volunteering with organizations such as Asthma Camp, Barack Obama’s campaign office and Obici Hospital’s Youth Volunteer program, she was playing in Nansemond River High’s marching, symphonic and concert bands and serving as the President of CHROME.

ANN-LAURENCE BAUMER  This Young Achiever is a rising junior at Cox High School. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, the varsity crew team, and does morning announcements on the school’s Channel 4. She volunteers at her church and was a teen correspondent for the Virginian Pilot. She was also recently elected SCA President for the next school year.

JENA MILLER  This Young Achiever takes pride in community service. She is the youngest member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and volunteers for countless causes. She was awarded the Outstanding Youth Award in 2008 by the City of Chesapeake and worked with Senator Blevins in the Chesapeake Leadership Forum. A member of the National Honor Society and a recent graduate of Grassfield High School, she plans to become a pediatric nurse.

DEVON MORGAN, JR  Our next Young Achiever’s actions speak louder than his words. Having to deal with his stuttering challenged him to find a way to get his ideas out in a different way. As a senior at I.C. Norcom High School, he participated in ROTC, track and tennis. But it’s his volunteer efforts with the Adopt-a-spot program and feeding and housing the homeless that allowed him to find a way to show he cared about his community without having to worry about saying it.

SARA NELSON-OWENS  This Young Achiever is a recent graduate of Heritage High School where she was a member of the marching and concert bands, the National Honor Society and the Model UN. She has served as a volunteer in many capacities with her church and with the Red Cross. She performs with the Rhythm Project, Pans on Fire and Mosaic steel orchestras. She feels being a leader is important and “attitude is everything!”

SAVANNAH NUCKOLS  Softball, field hockey and track are a few of the activities in which our next Young Achiever has excelled. She spends downtime during school days to teach others to play drums or help out in a special needs class. She served on the student council while attending Lakeland High School and volunteers at a Homeless Shelter and with special needs children.

SHANIKYA POWELL  Our next Young Achiever is write on! That’s W-R-I-T-E on! She is an accomplished writer of stories and poetry and is now a recent graduate of Granby High School. She believes in giving back to the community – which she does often. She volunteers at local medical facilities and at the Park Place Recreation Center helping young girls. She wants to pursue medicine and one day own her own nursing home. 

EDRIC SAN