East Rockingham High School SCA spearheads donations for homebound seniors

AFP

Based on a presentation in November by East Rock Senior Center Director Lisa Gooden about ways the East Rockingham High School SCA could partner with the Senior Center, a plan was set in motion by ERHS SCA Advisors Kim Dean and Natalie McCrady to have students collect personal care items for the Center’s most vulnerable…

JMU: An open door to the world

AFP

James Madison University is the top master’s-level institution in the country in the number of students who participate in short-term study-abroad programs, according to a report released by the Institute of International Education. The “Open Doors 2011” report, which covers the 2009-10 academic year, also reveals that JMU ranked second in the nation in total…

McDonnell announces $2B investment in VRS

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that his proposed biennial budget will recommend a total of $2.21 billion in employer contributions to state employee and teacher funds by state and local governments – the largest employer contribution to VRS in history. The recommended employer contribution for state employees alone for FY2013/2014 is a record $596.9 million….

Valley League elects new leaders

Chris Graham

Dave Biery and Jim Phillips, two long-time officers of the Valley Baseball League, are stepping down. Biery, who has served as League president since 1985, will be retiring from his post after the 2012 season. Don Lemish, the former athletics director at James Madison University and current commissioner of the Rockingham County Baseball League, will…

‘Serve and Lead’ goes global

AFP

A chance to serve and lead on a global scale has led three 2011 spring graduates of Eastern Mennonite University far from the comfort and familiarity of Harrisonburg to a newly opened academic center in the Adriatic Sea town of Lezhe, Albania. The Lezha Academic Center opened during the summer of 2011 and has 33…

JMU students honing skills as TEACH ambassadors

AFP

On their way to developing into full-fledged teachers, 14 James Madison University students are already honing their teaching talents as TEACH Ambassadors in the university’s wide-ranging teacher education program. Not only are they serving younger students in the program, but also they are learning important leadership skills. “In the teacher education program, we value the…