Here’s a round-up of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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Patrick & Henry Community College to add boxing club
The Patrick & Henry Community College athletics department has announced a partnership with Rockbottom Athletics to create the P&H Athletics Boxing Club, beginning in Fall 2022.
Rockbottom Athletics is a local community-based athletics center specializing in physical fitness through boxing and mixed martial arts. Its founder, Jomo Lucas, is a former P&H student and has partnered with the P&H athletics department to allow his center to be the home of the boxing club for practice and training.
“Boxing teaches young men and women more than just footwork and hand-eye coordination,” Lucas said in a statement. “Boxing also teaches life skills and discipline, aiming to show how individuals can, in fact, walk away from a fight.”
The P&H boxing club will be an officially registered National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) program that is insured and sanctioned by USA Boxing, Inc. and is able to compete in all USA Boxing and NCBA events. Members of the boxing club can expect to learn how to box, train, spar, and compete, but must also be a registered student at Patrick & Henry Community College.
Jorge Concepcion III is a local business owner, P&H Athletics supporter, and has trained under the tutelage of Jomo Lucas. Through his business, Package Up Transportation and Concepcion Sports, Concepcion has committed a scholarship for students that may be interested in joining the P&H Boxing Club and are pursuing an associate degree.
Oliver McCall, former WBC Heavyweight Champion, will also be a trainer for the boxing club. His role is to not only teach them the key in-ring strategies that made him a world champion, but also the life skills needed to deal with fame and fortune.
“Mr. McCall has been to the top of the mountain but has also unfortunately experienced the pitfalls quite often associated with professional athletes,” said Brian Henderson, P&H Athletic Director and Associate Vice-President for Student Engagement and Inclusion. in a statement. “However, just as he was as a fighter after a loss, he overcame those obstacles, got back up on his feet, and is here to share a wealth of knowledge with students enrolled in the P&H boxing club.”
For more information on enrolling at Patrick & Henry Community College and joining the P&H Boxing Club, please contact Brian Henderson at bhenderson@patrickhenry.edu.
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Birthplace of Country Music Museum starts monthly Bluegrass Jam
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee has partnered with the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association (ETBA) for a monthly Bluegrass Jam, every fourth Saturday, beginning May 28 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.
ETBA’s monthly Bluegrass Jams are specifically acoustic and only feature traditional bluegrass instruments: acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dobro.
The Museum is also hosting its own monthly general Community Jam the second Saturday of each month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT; the next general Community Jam will be on June 11. These general Community Jams embrace other types of music, from old-time and country to blues and Americana.
Musicians of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to take part in monthly jams at the Museum and there is no cost to participate. Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments and gather in the Learning Center for each monthly jam session.
For more information about these events and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
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Warner, Kaine announce federal funding for school programs
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-Virginia, have announced $6,236,161 in federal funding for 15 Virginia schools for Upward Bound programs. Upward Bound, administered through the Department of Education, provides support to low-income and first-generation high school students in order to increase high school and college graduation rates. Here are the recipients in Southwest and Southside:
Patrick Henry Community College will receive $312,480 for programs including tutoring, mentoring, and a summer bridge program. It will serve 68 students in Martinsville as well as Henry and Patrick Counties.
Virginia Tech will receive a total of $1,146,350 for programs including financial aid application assistance, Pell Grant education, and course selection. It will serve 223 students across Southwest Virginia.
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise will receive $427,133 for programs including tutoring, information on financial aid and alternative education programs, and college application support. It will serve 80 students across Southwest Virginia.
Southwest Virginia Community College will receive a total of $685,387 for initiatives including a Summer Discovery Program, study skills and time management workshops, and college and financial aid seminars. It will serve a total of 132 students across Grundy, Hurley, Twin Valley, Council, Castlewood, Honaker, and Lebanon High Schools.