12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 7 Number 7


March 2013 Around Hampton Roads Cox & VCTA to Award $100,000 in


Scholarship Funds Students from across Virginia are encouraged to apply for the Virginia's Future Leaders Scholarship Program


CHESAPEAKE, Va., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association (VCTA) announces, on behalf of all of its members, the 2013 Virginia's Future Leaders Scholarship Program. This year, in partnership with the Donald A. Perry Foundation $100,000 will be awarded to outstanding Virginia students attending Virginia colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.


In 2012, 23 students from Cox markets across Virginia were awarded $40,000 in scholarships through the Virginia's Future Leaders Scholarship Program.


"Cox is committed to helping the next generation realize their full potential through education," said Gary McCollum , Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cox Virginia. "Cox is proud to help students achieve their dream through partnering with VCTA."


Interested applicants should visit the VCTA website at www.vcta.com or call (804)780-1776 for an application and rules.


The Virginia's Future Leaders Scholarship Program, now in its 10th year, is an education initiative of the Virginia cable industry and is made possible through the generous funding of the Donald A. Perry Foundation.


Hampton University Competes for


“Retool Your School” Grants Hampton University Competes for up to $50,000 in Grants and Encourages Alumni and the Community to Vote as the School Vies for Grants for Sustainable Campus Improvements


New York, NY–– Hampton University has been announced as a finalist in The Home Depot’s 2013 RETOOL YOUR SCHOOL campus improvement grant program. Designed to reinvigorate HBCUs, finalists are competing for $225,000 in grants for on-campus improvements and are now asking their communities and the public to help them win. From February 18, 2013 to April 15, 2013, supporters can visit www.retoolyourschool.com to vote for their favorite school and sustainable campus improvement project. One $50,000 Tier 1 major grant, twelve Tier 2 $10,000 minor grants and one $25,000 Campus Pride for the school receiving the most online votes and social media activity, as assessed by The Home Depot, will be awarded. The Home Depot® will announce the winners on May 3, 2013.


To apply for the Retool Your School grants, HBCUs were required to submit Letters of Intent that include brief descriptions of their potential projects via the “Retool Your School” website by February 11, 2013. Applicants that provided their Phase 1 proposals by the deadline were able to continue and submit full proposals for Tier I, Tier II and Campus Pride campus improvement grants. During the online voting period, which is currently underway, consumers are able to view descriptions of project proposals and can cast one vote per day for their favorite HBCU. Following the online vote, a panel of distinguished judges will also evaluate each school’s proposal. Tier I and Tier II projects will be judged based on the number of votes posted to the website, as well as the judges’ evaluation of the relevance to the proposal requirements as listed on the website and application. Entrants must highlight how each project will make a lasting, positive impact on their campus. Special attention will be given to schools that pitch eco-friendly plans. The winning schools will be determined based on a combination of online votes and the judges’ evaluations. The awarding of the Campus Pride grant will be based on the number of votes and social media activity the winning school receives.


Hampton University will face stiff competition from finalist schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Therefore, Virginia residents, Hampton University alumni, friends and family should log on and vote at www.retoolyourschool.com to ensure that the Pirates bring home the grand prize.


Some of the potential improvement projects entered by the HBCU finalists include projects that will affect the campus and community as a whole, such as installing eco-friendly bathrooms, adding wheelchair ramps and automatic access doors, creating sustainable landscaping projects, replacing windows with Energy Star rated fixtures, installing solar energy systems and motion sensors to reduce electric consumption in classrooms, starting community gardens and campus greenhouses to encourage healthy eating, and creating nature trails accessible to the surrounding community as a fit living initiative. Each of the proposed improvement projects will enhance campus life for current students and generations to come.


For more information and updates on The Home Depot “Retool Your School” grant program or to vote online visit www.retoolyourschool.com.


Registration Now Open for the 2013 Virginia Senior Games to be


Held in Newport News


Registration is now open for the 2013 Virginia Senior Games that will be held in Newport News on May 15 – 18, 2013. Over 1,000 athletes age 50 and older from throughout Virginia will compete in twenty-one sports at venues throughout Newport News. The sports are Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Billiards, Bowling, Canasta, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Mini Golf, Pickelball, Pinochle, Racquetball, Road Race, Shuffleboard, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball. In addition to the competitive events, there will be an Athletes’ Party/Wellness Fair at City Center at Oyster Point on Friday,


May 17, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This is the first year that Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism will host the Virginia Senior Games, and they will also host the 2014 Virginia Senior Games (which will be a qualifying year where athletes can qualify for the National Senior Games in 2015).


The Virginia Senior Games is an open competition with no qualifying scores/times required for entry. On-line registration and event information is available on the Virginia Recreation and Park Society website at www.virginiaseniorgames.org. Registration deadline is April 12, 2013.


For information about becoming a volunteer or sponsor for the 2013 Virginia Senior Games, please call (757) 926-1400.


www.nngov.com MEAC Annual Cheerleading


Championship The MEAC Cheerleading Championship tips off Sunday, March 10 at Echols Hall on the campus of Norfolk State University (Va.). The annual event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature competitive squads from the conference’s member institutions. Fans can purchase tickets for $5 at Norfolk State University starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10th. Along with the participating MEAC Institutions, area high and middle schools, along with recreational cheerleading teams will be performing. Morgan State University won the overall championship a year ago, their second consecutive title. Norfolk State placed second and Maryland Eastern Shore finished third in the overall team competition. Morgan State swept the competition also taking home victories in the All-Girls and All-Star Divisions. Ticket books for the 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament can be purchased at all 13 MEAC university ticket offices, Scope Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, the MEAC Office and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling the MEAC at (757) 951-2055 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.


Hampton Roads Retail Academy


The Hampton Roads Retail Academy will be commencing in Downtown Portsmouth this Spring. The Hampton Roads Retail Academy is an educational program, consisting of both classroom and one-on-one counseling, for retail merchants and budding entrepreneurs. The courses are designed to provide information across the entire spectrum of the retail experience as well as general business management.


The inaugural session is being rolled out to Downtown Portsmouth retailers and prospective business owners, and the twelve-week academy will cover the following topics:


• •


• • • •


Strategic & Business Planning Marketing & Merchandising


Customer Service Legal Matters


Financial Planning Security


The first session of the course will begin on March 6th and will meet through May 22, 2013. Classes will be held on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 – 10:00 AM in the Portsmouth Partnership Briefing Center (TowneBank Building, 200 High Street, Suite 203, Portsmouth, VA 23704). The tuition for the twelve week course is $60.


In addition to being offered to Downtown Portsmouth retailers, a second session will commence this summer and will be extended to entrepreneurs throughout the City and Hampton Roads. The second session will begin on June 12, 2013 and runs through August 28th.


Register online today for this great opportunity! The City is pleased to be the home to the Hampton Roads Retail Academy, which is strengthening the region’s retail community by developing knowledgeable, innovative, and dynamic retailers! For more information about the Hampton Roads Retail Academy, contact Ben Salomonsky at (757) 353-8866 or by email atbensaljwlrinc@aol.com.


Chinese Company Brings Jobs and


Millions of Dollars to Suffolk Shenzhen Superwatt Power International Co., Ltd. (SWT), a China based manufacturer, has selected Hampton Roads for its new U.S. location.


SWT has chosen a site in the City of Suffolk for its operation, which will operate under the designation Grandwatt Electric Corporation here in the United States. The building is a 30,525 square foot building located at 1013 Obici Industrial Boulevard. The company is a privately owned manufacturer of power generators for telecom, mining, railway and other commercial and industrial applications. It is headquartered in Shenzhen and has production bases in Shandong province and Huizhou City in Guangdong province. SWT’s products are sold domestically and in more than 60 countries around the world.


“Suffolk continues to be an ideal location for foreign business investment and job creation,” said Suffolk Mayor Linda T. Johnson. “We welcome Grandwatt Electric Corporation to our growing community and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with them and their partners.”


The project represents a $10 million capital investment and anticipates 50 jobs over the Tell us about your


Church programs Churches@hamptonroadsmessenger.com


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