This issue of our newsletter is dedicated to updating you on all things K-12 from Beacon of Hope! Thank you for supporting our efforts to create positive change in our community.
Invest, Inspire, Equip
Issue #2
Quarter Two Newsletter In this issue, you can read about:
January 2025
Virginia College Application Week 2024
Beacon Scholar Spotlights and Interviews
What are Promise Pals?
Middle School Programming Updates
Staff Profile Highlight: Noah Winton
HOPEx 2025: The Art of Change
Virginia College Application Week 2024: A Pathway to Opportunity, Education, and Career
This past October’s Virginia College Application Week (VCAW) highlighted how personalized support and strong community partnerships open doors to brighter futures for Lynchburg’s students. The annual statewide initiative supports Virginia’s high school seniors navigating the college application process with confidence and ease, and Lynchburg Beacon of Hope takes it to extraordinary heights through collaboration with school counselors, teachers, volunteers, and local partners. Just during this week, nearly 1,000 college applications were submitted by students from Lynchburg City Schools, applying to 109 different institutions across the nation. Though the whole week was exciting, the on- site admissions day was a highlight! Fourteen area colleges offered immediate decisions, resulting in 271 acceptances between Heritage and E.C. Glass. That day also saw over $938,500 awarded in scholarships, further emphasizing the power of accessibility and support. Additionally, students saved a collective $40,710 in application fees, with an average student savings of $179.87 . These practical benefits were paired with tailored guidance as Future Center Directors and school
counselors met with students one-on-one, ensuring their post-secondary plans—college, trade school, military, or career—aligned with their aspirations. Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) played a pivotal role in introducing career and educational opportunities, alongside Beacon of Hope’s college and career coaches, who provided hands-on support throughout the week. Thank you to our donors for making initiatives like VCAW possible! We are especially grateful to Frito-Lay for donating bags of chips to keep our students snacked up and energized while they worked on college applications, essays, and checked off their VCAW to-do lists. Our community helped make this event a success!
Smiles, Service, and Success: Lacy Parrish’s Journey from a Heritage Pioneer to a JMU Duke
For Lacy Parrish, what began as a routine orthodontist appointment transformed into a lifelong passion. “I was a sophomore in high school when my braces piqued my curiosity about dentistry,” she recalls. “Each appointment left me more intrigued.” That curiosity led her to the Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) dental assisting program, where hands-on experience helped her envision a future in the field.
Now a pre-dental student at James Madison University, studying on a Beacon of Hope Commonwealth Scholarship, Lacy is building on the foundation laid by her high school experiences. “One of the most important lessons I’ve carried with me is knowing how to use resources,” she says. “In college, leaning on advisors, study groups, and tutors is key to success. That’s something I learned early, and it’s made all the difference.” But Lacy isn’t just focused on her own future—she’s active about giving back. Often returning to chat with current students in the LCS dental program, she has also served as a panelist and summer internship mentor (as pictured above), using Beacon of Hope’s opportunities to inspire the next generation of graduates. “I want to show students that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s how you grow. Sharing my story is my way of helping them see what’s possible, even when the path gets tough.” Her commitment to mentorship is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Inspired by her father, a football coach at Heritage High School, Lacy saw firsthand how impactful a strong role model can be. “Watching my dad lead his players taught me how much one supportive person can change someone’s life. That’s the kind of person I strive to be for others.” While Lacy is focused on her future in dentistry, she’s also dreaming of creative ways to make her practice unique. “I’d love to have a ceiling aquarium, like the ones on Tanked. Imagine patients watching fish swim while they’re in the chair—it’d make going to the dentist a lot more fun.” Lacy’s journey is a testament to the power of community support and the impact of programs like Beacon of Hope’s. From her first braces appointment to inspiring the next generation of dental students, Lacy is proof that investing in students can create a ripple effect of opportunity and inspiration for years to come. Lynchburg Beacon of Hope: Mid-year Impact Update 1,919 3.35 12,000
The number of visits to the Future Centers at both Heritage and E.C. Glass during Fall 2024.
This fall semester’s average GPA for our Commonwealth Scholarship recipients.
The total number of on- site hours attained by Summer Internship participants since 2022.
Foundations for the Future: Inspiring Growth and Academic Awareness from Elementary School On
Promise Pals : Building Connections and Inspiring Futures Promise Pals , our elementary school mentoring program, is fostering meaningful connections and shaping futures for nearly 200 young learners in Lynchburg. This year, over 20 Heritage and E.C. Glass alumni—now college students at CVCC, UVA, JMU, and Virginia Tech—are mentoring 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at Perrymont and Heritage Elementary Schools. Each participating class is paired with two or three college mentors who alternate activities throughout the school year. Every month, students receive a letter, video, or visit from their mentors, offering encouragement and sparking conversations about dreaming big and planning for the future. These interactions inspire elementary students while helping LCS alumni see the impact of their own stories and practice giving back to the community that shaped them. The goal is for this year’s third and fourth graders to continue with college mentors throughout the rest of their elementary years, ensuring sustained support as they grow. Fifth graders, meanwhile, will transition to middle school and into the next phase of our K-12 programming, designed to promote academic success and future planning. Promise Pals is part of Beacon of Hope’s mission to provide early intervention, recognizing that these connections are key to increasing graduation rates and shaping post- graduation opportunities for students.
Future-Focused Conversations: Preparing Middle School Students for What’s Next In May, Beacon of Hope’s 8th Grade College and Career Symposium returns for its 11th year, bringing all of Lynchburg City Schools’ eighth grade students together for a day of inspiration and exploration on a local college campus. Held at Randolph College this year, the symposium introduces eighth graders to college life and career opportunities through engaging workshops, interactive panels with college students who were once LCS middle schoolers, and career-focused exhibits featuring local partners like Centra and the Lynchburg City Fire Department. This event, designed to spark excitement and connect academic performance to future opportunities, helps students envision their paths beyond high school. It’s a cornerstone of Beacon of Hope’s middle school programming, which also includes initiatives like the 7th-grade cohort at Sandusky Middle School, where students engage in personal assessments, field trips, and mentoring to prepare for the future. By connecting students to meaningful experiences like the 8th Grade College and Career Symposium , we ensure students take their first steps toward a bright future. Starting with Promise Pals in elementary school and continuing through middle school and beyond, Beacon of Hope provides a seamless pathway of support, helping students dream big and achieve their goals.
Staff Highlight: Noah Winton, From Middle School Hero to Heritage High School Future Center Director
For the past two years, Noah Winton has led the Future Center at Heritage High School, helping students uncover their passions and navigate life after graduation. But Noah’s journey with Lynchburg Beacon of Hope began much earlier. A South Alabama native, Noah moved to Virginia to attend Liberty University, where he earned his undergraduate degree and developed a deep connection to the Lynchburg community. Starting as a freshman work-study student with Beacon of Hope, Noah spent all four years of college immersing himself in programs like Middle School Heroes and thriving as a Future Center Advisor, where he exercised his strengths through leading class visits, running the
Future Center’s social media, and providing a fresh perspective to existing programs.
Now, as a Future Center Director, Noah brings boundless energy, creativity, and dedication to his work, drawing on his experience running youth summer camps and continually reimagining Future Center support for today’s evolving students. After six years with Beacon of Hope, his commitment to empowering students has only grown stronger. Want to reach out to Noah? Shoot him an email at Noah@BeaconOfHopeLynchburg.org.
HOPEx 2025: Celebrating “The Art of Change”
Lynchburg Beacon of Hope invites you to HOPEx 2025, our fourth annual celebration of stories, transformation, and inspiration. This year’s theme, “The Art of Change,” will explore how change shapes lives and communities. Join us on April 4, 2025, at the Historic Academy Theatre for an unforgettable evening! This year’s event features an incredible lineup of speakers. Grammy and Tony Award nominee Phillip Boykin brings his illustrious Broadway experience, including Hadestown , Once on This Island , The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess . Dr. Chris Kukk, author of The Compassionate Achiever and Dean of Longwood University’s Cormier Honors College, will share insights from his groundbreaking work at the intersection of neuroscience and social sciences. Local real estate and property extraordinaire, Daryl Calfee will offer reflections on life, change, and resilience drawn from his recently published book, Let’s Skip the Bullsh*t: Lessons from Dad after Your Mom Died.
Lynchburg City Schools alumni Manan Shah, Avery Sprouse, Bobby Vinson, and Zhakia Scott will share inspiring stories of growth and leadership, showcasing the impact of change. Hosted by Kathleen Davis with music from Flat Five Jazz, this unforgettable evening awaits. Get your tickets now on the Academy Center’s website! HOPEx 2025 would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors including Framatome, Centra Health, Moore and Giles, Jamerson-Lewis Construction, Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation, Bank of the James, and Innovative Wireless Technologies.
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