All in Education

Farewell column: Intern Erica Zheng shares insights

Throughout the internship, I became much more involved in my community. I have met numerous people and learned a lot from them. I was able to get an understanding of their lives and their passions. From meeting leaders across Lexington to Miss Lexington’s Outstanding Teen to business owners, each had offered something different and insightful.

Davidson-Davie announces largest healthcare apprenticeship in North Carolina

Davidson-Davie Community College today announced the creation of the largest healthcare apprenticeship in North Carolina, with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist signing on as the college’s first healthcare partner under the new agreement. Students will be able to work in a healthcare profession while taking courses related to their career goals.

Local schools Go Outside (GO) Grant provides supports field trips

The North Carolina Schools Go Outside (GO) Grant was created to address the main barrier to getting kids outside during the school day – funding. Field trips and outdoor experiences offer students opportunities to explore and learn in hands-on environments. With limited dollars available from our local school systems, such engaging and active styles of learning are becoming things of the past.

Back to School Carnival

Step right up to our first annual Back to School Carnival! Children and teens will have a blast and can enjoy activities like face painting, carnival booth games, making giant bubbles, eating popcorn, and playing cornhole. The list goes on, and your family can enjoy taking silly pictures at the photo stations, playing a game of life-sized Angry Birds, and cashing in your free tickets for prizes of crisp, new school supplies.

Meet Ava Katherine Socarras, first Miss Lexington’s Outstanding Teen

It was late 2021 when Socarras was named Miss Lexington’s Outstanding Teen 2022. Her passion and social impact initiative, another term for a platform in the Miss America system, is Share a Spare, which emphasizes kidney disease. As an ambassador of the National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina, Socarras has attended meetings with nephrologists, kidney disease patients, recipients of kidney implants and kidney donors; it’s all a way to learn more about kidney disease and how to spread awareness about it.

Johnny Leroy Dawkins Jr. Scholarship Fund annual fundraiser

Johnny Leroy Dawkins Jr, who was murdered in 2008 as a result of gun violence. The annual fish fry has become our signature fundraising event. The community looks forward to the fish fry each year. As a result of the fundraiser we have been able to award 2-3 scholarships annually in the amount of $500 each, awarding over $12,000 in scholarships. Our mission is to continue to honor the legacy of our loved one by providing scholarship awards to males - African American, Indigenous, and People of Color - upon graduating high school for the purpose of pursuing a higher education while joining the fight against gun violence.

Davidson-Davie alum is Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced that CEO Justin W. Strickland of Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Southeast Award winner. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed. An independent panel of judges selected Justin based on his entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.