Piedmont Arts hosted Southwest Virginia Ballet’s “Dance Espanol” in area elementary schools this week as part of its educational programming.

The program, designed for fourth-graders, combines dance instruction with Spanish vocabulary to help students learn Spanish through movement. This fall, students from Axton Elementary School and GW Carver Elementary School participated in the program.

They spent this week learning from Pedro Szalay, artistic director of the Southwest Virginia Ballet in Roanoke, and their lessons culminated in a performance Friday afternoon for parents, teachers, school administrators and their classmates.

On Friday morning, Szalay addressed the crowd at GW Carver before the show began.

He spoke about the program’s mission: to teach children to be comfortable in their bodies, respect others and be confident, and the importance of learning new languages. Szalay also spoke about the importance of keeping art in schools and how opportunities like this foster relationships and build important skills for the future.

Three Carver Elementary students who participated in the program, Sadie Morris, Kayla Ayers and Ella James, all agreed. They talked about the friendships they made in the program, how excited they were about the new vocabulary they learned and how excited they are to continue dancing.

Morris and Ayers said they were nervous before their performance, but James mentioned that she has been dancing for years and no longer has stage fright. Morris and Ayers added that seeing their families and friends in the audience helped ease their nerves.

In addition to new skills, friends and vocabulary, all Dance Espanol participants receive a t-shirt to commemorate their participation in the program. These shirts, which represent the colors of the host school, fill the students with great pride.

“Dance Espanol” is coming to Martinsville Public Schools in the spring.

Danielle Atwood of Bassett is one of two Carter Bank employees who recently graduated from the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia.

Atwood, a Bassett High School graduate, and Katrina Huerth not only graduated but were also class presidents. Atwood was class president, while Huerth graduated with honors, meaning she had the highest grade point average in the class.

“Danielle and Katrina’s achievements at the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management exemplify the dedication and leadership qualities that Carter Bank values,” said Litz Van Dyke, CEO of Carter Bank. “Their success at the top of their class while managing their demanding roles and personal responsibilities speaks volumes about their dedication and abilities. Not only are they exemplary individuals, but they are also an important asset to our team as they lead by example and inspire others to strive for excellence in their careers.”

Atwood, a project manager in Martinsville, and Huerth, a loan examiner from Charlottesville, both said the School of Banking helped them better understand the entire organization and how each department must work together to ensure the bank’s success.

“A bank is so much more than what the customer sees, and in my role I work with every department,” said Atwood. “Banking school helped me better understand the functions of each department so I am best prepared to work with them.”

“Bank School showed me that all parts of the bank need to collaborate and work together to be successful,” Huerth added. “The key to our success is that we rely on each other. It’s not a one-man show. We need to get out of our silos and help each other with new initiatives and processes and build the best bank in the communities we serve.”

Both also praised the growth of the personal networks and relationships they had built both inside and outside of the classroom.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many executives and department heads that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to speak with, especially in person,” said Atwood. “These relationships will prove invaluable as I grow in my role and work to grow within the organization and industry.”

“Banking is a relationship business and banking school gave me the opportunity to build relationships with bankers across Virginia and with my colleagues at Carter Bank,” Huerth said. “These relationships will be very helpful to me as I continue to grow my role at the bank.”

In addition to Atwood and Huerth, two Greensboro-based partners, Chris Babcock and Matt Welborn, also graduated from the North Carolina Bankers Association School of Banking.

The Board of Directors of the JT – Minnie Maude Charitable Trust announced that $1.25 million in scholarships have been awarded to 402 students for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Trust offers scholarships to students residing in Caswell, Halifax, Henry, Pittsylvania, and Rockingham counties, including all cities in those five counties. Each scholarship ranges from $500 to $7,500.

Award recipients were selected based on academic and non-academic merit and financial need. Scholarships are generally renewable provided the student continues to meet all scholarship criteria.

The number of award winners listed is directly related to the number of applications received from each county. Interested students and parents are asked to visit the Trust’s website at www.jtmm.org.

Local fellows include: Abigail Grace Mosley, Adam Cade Varner, Alexis Brooke Garten, Amanda Grace Goad, Andrew Dariel Cruz-Herrera, Anne Barrett Laine, Audrey Grace Russell, Austin Ray Witcher, Bear Barry Carl Priddy, Briana Grace Tatum, Brittany Simone Waller , Brittney Faith Mitchell, Bryan Martell-Rios, Bryson Tyler Stokes, Caleb Parke Joyce, Caroline Grace Cook, Chevon Kelis Trotter, Colin Wayne Waller, Crystal Anahy Corona, Elizabeth Ann Poe, Emily Anne Bray, Emma Kathryn Prillaman, Eva Camille Underwood, Evan Hope Parnell, Evelyn Balderrama, Eydie Burke Kenny, Finley Reese Brightwell, Hunter Blake Whitlow, Jakob Scott Foley, James Demetrius Farris, James Finley Underwood, James Kinhun Li, Jamie Nicole Lynskey, Jentonia Alexis Wilson, John Nicholas Foley, Joseph Bradley Fincher , Kelsey Madeline Reece, Kennedy Elizabeth Wilkins, Kennedy Shae Coleman, Kenya King, Kristian Jade Preston, Kyndall Brooke Nelson, Landon Christian Martin, Leia Diane Richardson, Madison Renee Ross, Mallory Shannon Kaczor, Matthew Landon Frazier, Mia Ryann Davis, Michael Layne Frazier, Michael Parker Hardy, Nala Kay Preston, Nolan Joseph Poperowitz, Olivia Mabel Kendall, Riley Wilson Woodel, Sarah Catherine Loftin, Savannah Arlene Brown, Saylor Elizabeth Robertson, Scott Moore Harmon, Shannon Elizabeth Peters, Sienna Renee Bailey, Skyler Lee Robertson, Sophie Madison Kendall , Sydney Elise Cruise, Sydney Nicole Witcher, Taylor MaKenzie Martin, Tyra Makelle Valentine, Wil Brayden Gardner, Zachary Dylan Johnson and Zoie Sinclair Pace.

445 Industrial Park Drive was sold for $2.35 million to an affiliate of Time Equities, a New York-based diversified investment firm.

The property is currently leased by Atlas Molded Products and no change in occupancy is expected, a press release said.

The 9,250-square-foot industrial building sits on a 2.6-acre site and was the former site of Tri-State Foam Products, which began producing expanded polystyrene in 1984.

Atlas EPS, a division of Atlas Roofing Corp., purchased Tri-State in 2012 and continues operations at the facility in a similar manner.