James Madison student helped others on alternative trip  

While most James Madison University students were packing up for the year and heading home, Cory D'Orazio of Roanoke was headed to New Orleans.

D'Orazio, a media arts and design major, was one of 50 students participating on JMU's eighth annual Alternative May Break trip.

The trips started in 2005 as a response to Hurricane Katrina, and while the focus is still on rebuilding houses and communities, students now perform whatever jobs are most needed when they arrive.

Students are assigned to groups of eight or nine with a student leader and a faculty or staff leader for each group. Students are paid $300 to participate.

Alternative May Break is part of JMU's award-winning Alternative Break Program, which coordinates opportunities for students to assist people while they learn more about societal issues, including homelessness, education, immigration and health problems.

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Tyler Giles of Roanoke was among eight Bluefield College students from Southwest Virginia who spent their spring break on a mission trip to Kroonstad, South Africa.

The trip is part of the college's overall mission to prepare students for a life of service to God and the community.

The students, along with a university official, an alumna and two students from the University of North Carolina Charlotte, spent 10 days sharing their faith and leading studies and worship.

The team led a Backyard Bible Club for roughly 80 local kids a day and visited schools and a juvenile detention center, and conducted door-to-door evangelism and a revival.

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The Roanoke Valley branch of the American Association of University Women has awarded $1,500 scholarships to two nontraditional women who are returning to college. The scholarships are funded with proceeds from the association's annual book sale.

Marsha Redwine of Bent Mountain, who received the Nontraditional Women's Scholarship, will be attending Jefferson College of Health Sciences to study to be an occupational therapy assistant.

Kathy Chaney of Vinton received the Myrtle and Norman Shifflett Scholarship. She plans to attend Radford College to obtain a bachelor's degree in computer science with a concentration in database analysis and administration.

Additionally, Kate Craighead, who is studying nursing at Virginia Western Community College, received the Lorraine and Hal Jones Jr. Scholarship and will use it to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing at Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

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A June 22 wine and wellness event at the Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock will help the Botetourt Family Violence Task Force provide assistance to Botetourt County survivors of domestic violence.

In addition to wine tastings, the event will include an appearance by a local celebrity, yoga, massage, acupuncture, other wellness activities and music by Solrevolt.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. To buy tickets or for additional information, visit www.facebook.com/wineandwellness or contact Barbara Kolb at 798-7465 or www.blueridgevineyard.com , or TAP at 283-4836.

The Botetourt Family Violence Task Force is a standing subcommittee of the TAP Into Hope Domestic Violence Services Advisory Commission. It was formed in 2011 to unite the Botetourt County community in its response to domestic violence and to offer support to people affected by such events.

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