James Madison Middle student wins $500 prize for Malcolm X portrait in contest

Persistence helped Donovan Starkey, a student at James Madison Middle School, win the top prize in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia's annual Black History Month Art contest.

Donovan won a $500 gift certificate for his portrait of Malcolm X. Last year, he won second place in the contest that is sponsored by U.S. Cellular.

For the past six years, participants in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia have been invited to select an influential black American and develop his or her likeness into an original 8.5 x 11 portrait using any art medium.

Donovan's entry this year was one of more than 300 submitted from nine area clubs. Ten finalists were chosen to have their work displayed at area U.S. Cellular stores where the public voted for their favorites during February.

Garrett East won the second place award of a $200 gift certificate for a portrait of Jackie Robinson. Garrett attends Shawsville Middle School.

Alex Watty from Christiansburg Middle School won a $150 gift certificate for third place for a portrait of Ray Lewis.

"Rewarding relationships with partners like U.S. Cellular help us inspire young people to recognize important contributions that people have made and use their creative expression at the same time," said Laurie Gibbons, chief professional officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia.

She said the club members look forward to the contest and that more than 1,500 youngsters have entered the contest during its six-year history.

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The Science Museum of Western Virginia has received a $15,000 gift for its Reinvention Campaign.

The campaign is funding new interactive exhibits - and upgrades to a handful of popular older exhibits - as part of the Science Museum's reopening in May in Center in the Square.

The gift is from Catawba Capital Management, a Roanoke-based independent investment advisory firm.

"The Science Museum is among the jewels of the Roanoke Valley," Terry Crowgey, president of Catawba Capital Management, said in a news release. "We're delighted to be able to enhance our support for the museum during this exciting time."

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Family Service of Roanoke Valley is one of 100 service agencies selected to receive a $2,000 grant as State Farm lead agencies to organize Roanoke Valley youth for community service projects on Global Youth Service Day, April 26-27.

Family Service also is getting ongoing training and expert consulting to develop high-visibility, youth-led community service projects.

This is the 12th year that teens in Family Services' Teen Outreach Program have planned projects and a celebration and designed T-shirts for the service day, according to Sarah Jane Lawrence, the teen outreach program manager.

Service projects and a post-service celebration at Wasena Park will tie in with violence prevention, multiculturalism, safe driving and healthy living, Lawrence said in a news release.

Volunteer opportunities will include a blood drive, animal advocacy, children's health and welfare, environmental activities, elderly outreach, poverty prevention and veterans assistance.

Planning for the projects began on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 21, and projects culminate on Global Youth Service Day .

Now in its 25th year, Global Youth Service Day reaches more than 1 million young people through partnerships with schools, community groups and faith-based organizations. Service projects will occur in more than 100 countries and will address community needs such as healthy living, childhood hunger, and environmental conservation.

For more information on Global Youth Service Day activities, contact Jenny Lee at 563-5316, ext. 3032, or Sarah Jane Lawrence at 563-5316, ext. 3010 or 400-3126.

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