Fuqua volleyball places in early season tournament 

The Fuqua varsity volleyball team got their season started this past weekend, competing in the Grove Christian Invitational tournament. The group came in fourth, with the coaching staff saying they showed steady improvement throughout the tournament. Senior Marina Morris  was named to the All-Tournament team, registering 50 kills on the weekend. 

The Fuqua volleyball team will travel to take on Lunenburg Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. Then Fuqua plays host to The Carmel School Friday at 5:30 p.m.  

More school supplies for Cumberland 

Earlier this month, we reported on the school supply donation several pilots contributed to Cumberland County Public Schools. They weren’t the only ones. A number of local churches also helped out the school district this month. 

The members of Sharon Baptist Church have been donating annually for many years. This year

was no exception. Members provided the school district with a carload of pencils, pens, notebooks, composition books, crayons, and other supplies. Members of Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church have also been loyal supporters of the school system and each year bring school supplies. A third church in the county,  Payne Memorial Methodist Church, also brought school supplies. They came this month with bookbags as well as boxes full of crayons, markers, pencils, and other supplies. 

Prince Edward graduate helps assemble 

A Prince Edward County High alum is working in Indiana now, helping the homeless. And as of this month, she’s finished fundraising for the project. Dennine Jordan Smith is executive director of Coordinated Assistance Ministries, a nonprofit based out of Kokomo, Indiana. After three years, the mortgage for her group’s new facility is paid in full. 

In October 2021, after Coordinated Assistance Ministries partnered with Howard County and later the City of Kokomo Indiana to manage a shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness and COVID 19, the nonprofit had the opportunity to purchase the commercial building that housed the COVID shelter for $256,000. 

“We did not have the funds to do this, but we had a need- for more storage space, meeting space and appropriate office space to serve our guests,” Smith said. “Our board of directors and I believed that this was an opportunity that God had led us to. It was undoubtedly a “faith walk!”

After obtaining multiple grants and fundraising, the organization paid off the balance of the mortgage after receiving an unexpected contribution from the estate of a past donor. 

Dennine is a 1998 graduate of Prince Edward County High School. She is the daughter of Darlene Jordan and the late John Jordan, Jr. of Prospect. She currently resides with her husband William and family in Kokomo, Indiana. 

Cumberland student honored by school board

Rising senior Addison Carney was recognized at the August meeting of the Cumberland County School Board for her achievement in the field of forensics. 

Carney has been a member of the forensics team for Cumberland since her freshman year and has been competing in Virginia High School League competition in numerous events. Forensics competitions are held in in the numerous areas, including the following: Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Original Oratory, Storytelling, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Serious Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Dramatic Interpretation, Serious Duo Interpretation, and Humorous Duo Interpretation.

During state competition last year, Addy finished the season with a first place finish in Original Oratory and received her championship ring. In March, she returned to Sterling to compete again. For the second time, she placed first in Original Oratory. Her speech was entitled “Better.” It was an examination of how numerous students across the nation endure abusive homes and require the assistance of peers, teachers, and community members to help them out of those environments.

Carney was presented with her second championship ring by Coach Charles Haigh and Cumberland High Principal Missy Shores. She’ll be trying for a “triple crown” this year, in attempting to lock down her third championship.