The New River Valley Leading Lights organization’s mission is to acknowledge and honor volunteers across the New River Valley who are making community changing impacts through volunteerism, culminating in an annual celebratory banquet. Jessica Wirgau, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, served as this year’s guest speaker.
High school nominees included Naisha Hudait, Blacksburg High School; and Alexandria Woodward, Floyd County. Sydney Hardwicke, New River Community College student, was the college nominee.
Nominees from Floyd County included Velva and Gordon Groover, Maxine Lewis, Amanda Morgan, and Paul Tremblett. Nominees from Montgomery County included Dr. Wendy Baldwin, Ruth Grene, Gunin Kiran, Marsha Langston Smith, David McEwen & Amy Winkler, Holly McFall, Andrea Muscatello, Clara Taylor, and Anthony Woodyard. Nominees from Pulaski County were Melvin Lester, Sally McCarthy, and Steve Rapp. Radford City nominees included Dr. Florence H. Mogen. Dr. Richard Harshberger of Radford was nominated in the Lifetime Achievement category.
From the 21 nominees, nine were chosen as Distinguished Recipients.
The 2024 Leading Lights Distinguished Recipients honored included Alexandra Woodward (High School Award), Naisha Hudait (High School Award – Robert “Bob” Job III Memorial Award), Sydney Hardwicke (College Award), Amanda Morgan (Floyd Community Award), Ruth Grene (Montgomery Community Award), Dr. Wendy Baldwin (Montgomery Community Award – Jim and Lenna Moore Memorial Award), Sally McCarthy (Pulaski Community Award), and Dr. Florence H. Mogen (Radford Community Award). Dr. Richard Harshberger of Radford was named as the German Club Alumni Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
The community Distinguished Recipients receive $500 to direct to a non-profit of their choice, and the Lifetime Achievement recipient receives $1,000 to direct. The nominees’ volunteer efforts include work with food pantries, the Free Clinic, afterschool programs, community groups, retirement communities, schools, literacy groups, history groups, and many more.
NRV Leading Lights was established in 2007, prompted by the outpouring of voluntary service after the April 16 events at Virginia Tech. The first Leading Lights Recognition Event was held in April 2009. These annual events highlight the extraordinary compassion of ordinary citizens who united in service to others. To learn more about NRV Leading lights, visit www.leadinglightsnrv.org. NRV Leading Lights will be seeking volunteer nominations at a later date for the 2025 awards.
New River Valley Leading Lights
