Class of 2026
At Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia, we believe helping students build confidence is one of the most important investments we can make in their futures.
This year’s cohort includes young entrepreneurs turning creativity into businesses, a worldwide robotics competitor, leaders serving their communities, and future innovators preparing for opportunities at schools like Princeton, Harvard, and Rhode Island School of Design. Through experiential learning and initiatives like The Southwest Virginia 18 Under 18, our mission is to help students see what’s possible for their lives, feel connected to their communities, and believe in their ability to make a difference.
We encourage our community to continue investing in the next generation by volunteering, mentoring, partnering, and championing opportunities for young people to grow. Most importantly, we congratulate this year’s incredible honorees and cannot wait to see the impact they make in our region and beyond!
Keri Garnett
President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia
Rylen Barlow, 8
Homeschool
Rylen Barlow is always trying new ideas and creating tools to help with his chores. He is also a coder and has a goal of creating his own cartoon or movie. He enjoys taking charge of organizing activities for his homeschool co‑op—with guidance, he helped plan a moon phase activity, a firehouse visit, and a visit to a School of Nursing with an ECPI professor.
Rylen demonstrates leadership by taking responsibility and helping others in everyday situations. He often steps in to assist other children who are struggling on the computer without being asked. When a child falls, he is usually the first to check on them and offer help. Rylen plays both t‑ball and basketball and consistently cheers for his teammates, showing leadership through encouragement, support, and positivity.
Rylen is actively involved in his community. He volunteered with the Harvest Collective to help plant fruit trees near the Roanoke EnVision Center. He also assisted a local church by decorating bags for people experiencing homelessness.
Rylen has a strong interest in foreign languages and taught himself to write the Russian, Greek, Japanese, and Arabic alphabets. He enjoys researching different countries and hopes to travel around the world.
Rylen aspires to become a chef and hopes to one day own a restaurant in Australia. He often thinks big and says he plans to be a chef, director, and doctor. This summer, he plans to sell his artwork.
Elijah Davis, 17
Appomattox County Schools
Elijah Davis completed NCCR Core, HVAC 1, OSHA 10, and is dual‑enrolled in Electrical 1 through the CTE Academy at CVCC while working two part‑time jobs in HVAC and at Kroger. At his HVAC job, he volunteers for additional troubleshooting tasks, takes on small project responsibilities, and gains experience estimating time, communicating with customers, and making cost‑conscious decisions. He balances coursework, technical labs, two jobs, and competitive athletics by negotiating work schedules around labs and meets and following through on commitments.
Elijah leads by example in classrooms, job sites, and athletic settings. He regularly mentors classmates and newer employees by explaining HVAC troubleshooting techniques, assisting with electrical lab work, and helping instructors support students during lab sessions. When unexpected issues arise on service calls or busy shifts, he assesses priorities, communicates next steps, and helps implement solutions.
Elijah also mentors peers beyond technical settings, offering guidance when classmates struggle with concepts or teammates are discouraged. He volunteers at community outreach and Raider’s Care events, assisting with equipment setup and basic maintenance. He has participated in school community service days focused on campus maintenance and volunteered at youth sports clinics, using his experience in football and track to support younger athletes. Crediting deliberate choices with establishing and staying committed to his current pathway, Elijah uses his abilities to improve conditions for others in his community.
Tevin Davis, 14
James Madison Middle School
Despite facing medical challenges and setbacks, Tevin Davis continues to push himself as a student‑athlete and a leader. His ability to persist and perform despite obstacles reflects determination and resilience across academics and athletics. With an entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take charge, he approaches tasks with innovation, often finding his own effective way to get things done while ensuring results.
Tevin leads in multiple settings, including the classroom, on the court, and on the field. He sets the example through consistent work ethic, discipline, and accountability, motivating teammates and peers to stay focused and committed. During competition, he supports others and remains engaged, and in academic settings, he encourages responsibility and follow‑through. His actions demonstrate maturity and respect for both peers and adults.
Tevin extends his leadership beyond school through active community involvement. As a participant in the Community Builders program, he speaks before city council to advocate for youth voices, representing his peers with confidence. He is also committed to service through continued participation in the Special Olympics each year since becoming eligible.
Described as having “a heart of gold” and deeply admired by mentors, Tevin consistently contributes his time and energy to serving others through volunteering and public engagement. He is recognized not only for his effort and leadership, but for the character he demonstrates in supporting others and representing his community.
Claire Griffey, 16
Buchanan County Career Technology and Higher
Learning Center
When Claire Griffey noticed a need in her community, she started her own business, Griffey Glow Tanning, at just 15 years old. She manages appointments, communicates directly with customers, and handles the day‑to‑day operation of the business while balancing school, athletics, and other responsibilities.
Claire takes on leadership roles across academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. As a cheer captain, she motivates her team and sets expectations through her actions. She participates in student organizations and takes an active role in organizing, guiding, and supporting fellow classmates.
Claire is also committed to serving her community. She has volunteered as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and interned with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Appalachia Summer STEM Program. During her internship, she worked behind the scenes to organize activities, teach lessons, and mentor younger students, helping support both the program and its participants.
Through Jobs for Virginia Graduates, Claire applies communication and leadership skills in real‑world settings. While managing her business alongside school, leadership roles, and community service, Claire consistently takes on new responsibilities and follows through on the work required to grow (and glow!) and make a positive impact in everything she does for others.
Anson Hager, 15
Staunton River High School
In 2023, Anson Hager began operating his own Lego resale business, SML Bricks LLC. He buys and sells Lego and related items primarily online, using multiple inventory and payment platforms; he maintains detailed product knowledge, sources inventory at prices that allow for resale, and created the business logo and marketing materials.
Anson purchases Lego in bulk, sorts and inventories high‑value parts through his Bricklink store, and developed a process to clean, sanitize, dry, and package Lego. He re‑bags used sets to original standards and sources missing parts to complete sets before resale. His Bricklink store holds 100% positive feedback, earning an eBay Top Rated Seller status in 2025.
He expanded to Whatnot live auctions, selling over 1,000 items and earning more than 120 five‑star reviews, and later diversified into clothing and shoes. He reinvests earnings into a custodial Roth IRA and youth brokerage account and builds finance skills through competitive stock‑market programs, college‑level coursework in finance and AI, and preparation for AP Capstone with a business focus.
Anson contributes actively to his community. He serves as an A/V technician for Bethlehem UMC’s contemporary worship service, participates in mission projects, donated $1,000 raised through Lego resale to a preschool learning project, assists Rotary service events, and serves as Freshman Class Treasurer while maintaining all A’s and competing in cross-country and track.
Kennedy Helm, 17
Northside High School
Kennedy Helm actively supports and collaborates with small businesses and community‑based organizations, gaining experience in how local businesses operate, grow, and connect with their communities.
Through work with businesses such as God Greens, Humble Hustle, and Food On The Go, she has learned about branding, customer engagement, and community support. Her involvement in DECA supports her application of business concepts in competitive and real‑world settings.
Kennedy serves in multiple leadership roles. She is Senior Class Treasurer, a leader in the PTSO, a two‑year cheer captain, and a varsity cheerleader. She also founded the Unity in Diversity Club to promote inclusion within her school. In addition, she uses social media as a platform to encourage confidence, authenticity, and self‑expression among young girls.
Kennedy is actively involved in community work. She works as a Youth Mentoring Assistant with Goodwill Industries, supporting youth programs, workshops, and community activities. She also serves as a Community Plan Developer for the H.O.P.E. Heat Resilience Project, collaborating with Virginia Tech students and professors to research the impact of rising temperatures on her community.
Her involvement extends to NAACP, PBIS, youth urban planning programs, healthcare camps, community choir, and school organizations. She is eager to apply her skills and passion to make a positive impact wherever she goes next.
Drake Johnson, 16
William Fleming High School
Drake Johnson supports community‑based entrepreneurship through his involvement with EmpressHER Studio, a creative wellness platform centered on mindfulness, creative expression, and mental health awareness. He assists with community events and programming focused on wellness initiatives and creative spaces, helping support conversations addressing mental health, particularly within Black and Brown communities.
Drake regularly contributes through volunteer service at local community events across Roanoke. He assists with activities designed to strengthen community connection, support youth engagement, and promote collective well‑being by offering support where needed.
An aspiring veterinarian, Drake is an active participant in Young Doctors Roanoke (YDR), a chapter of the Young Doctors Project founded in 2022. The program prepares local high school boys for careers in medicine while mentoring youth and providing free, supervised community health screenings.
Through YDR, Drake receives hands‑on exposure to health professions, including CPR training and blood pressure monitoring, while participating in community outreach efforts. Young Doctors Roanoke meets regularly at the Melrose Library and partners with organizations such as United Way of the Roanoke Valley and LewisGale Medical Center to host free community health clinics and engagement opportunities. Participants also take part in enrichment experiences, including summer programming at Howard University.
Reece Masri, 17
Christiansburg High School
Reece Masri pursues Industrial and Systems Engineering with a focus on optimization and innovation. He has developed concepts to improve airport efficiency by balancing security with passenger flow and applies this systems‑based thinking to hands‑on projects. Reece has designed automated props for school productions and led technical projects during Virginia Tech’s C Tech² camp. His certifications include a Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot License and Autodesk Certified User (Inventor 2025).
Reece serves as Team Captain of FIRST Robotics Competition Team 401, where he manages team operations, sets agendas, meets deadlines, and oversees the manufacturing of 120‑pound competition robots. He is also President of the Technology Student Association, guiding peers in applying technology to community‑focused service projects.
Reece contributes to STEM education through volunteer service. He mentors FIRST Tech Challenge Team 20675, dedicating more than 90 hours to teaching middle school students robotics. He has served as a Camp Invention Counselor and as a referee and judge for FIRST Lego League. His involvement also includes BETA Club, National Honor Society, and Key Club, supporting school and community events such as science festivals, parades, Trunk or Treat, and homecoming activities.
Reece has earned placement on the President’s List and Dean’s List at New River Community College, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and was named a FIRST Robotics Competition Dean’s List Semifinalist, recognized for “Gracious Professionalism.”
Ryan Muse, 17
Franklin County High School
Using music as both a professional skill and a form of service, Ryan Muse is currently employed teaching children music at Second Mount Airy Church, where he works directly with students to develop musical understanding and performance skills.
In addition to teaching, Ryan plays piano at multiple churches, including Tabernacle of Praise and Red Valley United Methodist Church, providing live music for worship services.
Ryan demonstrates leadership through academic achievement and musical representation. He has been on the honor roll for four consecutive years during high school and received the English 11 Academic Honor Award.
This year, Ryan was invited by his principal, Mr. Deskins, to perform at the Ken Tilley Youth Leadership Conference, where he represented his school through music. He plans to pursue a future as a musical educator, combining instruction and performance.
Ryan is actively involved in his community through long‑term musical engagement. He has played piano for nine years and has performed at a wide range of venues throughout Southwest Virginia. His performances span church services, conferences, and other public events, where he regularly shares his music with diverse audiences.
Through teaching, performing, and continued involvement across multiple settings, Ryan remains consistently engaged in the communities he serves.
Riley Price, 17
Glenvar High School
Riley Price is involved in business and media through academic competition and professional experience. She is a member of FBLA at the Burton Center in Roanoke County, where she placed 4th in the state of Virginia and competed at the national level in 2025 in the category of Broadcast Journalism.
Riley also works as a media intern for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, assisting with advertising efforts and helping engage the community during games.
Riley demonstrates leadership through service, mentorship, and athletics. She earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a project focused on the mental, physical, and emotional health of elementary students. She is a member of Mentor’s Club and Beta Club at Glenvar High School, where she participates in school‑based service activities, including peer tutoring. Riley also serves as a captain of the varsity girls tennis team.
Riley is active in her community through multiple outreach organizations. She serves as a Tudor House Teen Ambassador, working to raise awareness around mental health issues, particularly among teenagers. She is also a member of the Youth Mission Team (YMT) for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Virginia. Through both organizations, she participates in outreach events throughout the year focused on service and community engagement.
Riley plans to attend Princeton University in the fall of 2026, where she intends to study English with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a scientific journalist.
Luke Rawlings, 17
Christiansburg High School
Luke Rawlings found platform diving and made it a priority to introduce the sport to other young athletes. Once experienced enough, he began coaching a Summer League diving team alongside his neighborhood pool’s swim team. He now manages recruitment, registration, and coaching for the program and has increased participation each year, with several athletes choosing to move on to year‑round competitive diving with his club team.
Luke demonstrates leadership within New River Diving, where he has served as the oldest athlete on the team for two consecutive years. He regularly sets the tone during practices, demonstrates dives, and serves as a visible role model for younger teammates. He has also served as Travel and Events Coordinator, communicating with parents about team travel and organizing team‑building activities that included service collections for local organizations.
He volunteers as a coach and judge for middle school dive teams and summer AAU dive meets, helping make competitions possible by meeting the need for certified judges. He has also volunteered through his youth church group building beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and serving at the RAM House.
Luke is a two‑time Class 3 state champion and state record‑holder, an All‑American (2025), AAU RWB 2025 National Champion on Platform, and a three‑time USA Diving Junior National Qualifier. He will dive for Virginia Tech next year.
Rebekah Roberts, 16
Blacksburg High School
Rebekah Roberts demonstrates initiative and organization through her leadership of group fundraisers across multiple student organizations. She has led fundraising efforts for Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and her Girl Scout troop for the past six years, helping generate support for club activities and service projects. Through planning and organizing these efforts, she has played a central role in sustaining programs and opportunities within each organization.
She is a member of Mentor’s Club and Beta Club at Blacksburg High School, participating in peer tutoring and other school‑based service activities. In group settings, she takes ownership of both individual and collaborative tasks, working to ensure participation and accountability across teams.
Rebekah is also a captain of the varsity girls tennis team and is a member of the All‑State Girls Indoor Track team and the Girls Cross Country team. She volunteers with RunAbout Sports, assisting with race preparation and event‑day operations for local races, including the Shamrock 4‑Miler, Hokie Half Marathon, and Blacksburg Classic 10‑Mile.
Rebekah also participates in environmental and humanitarian service, including planting trees for Earth Day at the Blacksburg Community Center and earning her Girl Scout Silver Award after completing over 50 volunteer hours at the Salem Hospital Birthing Center.
Atharva Sathe, 14
Cave Spring High School
Atharva Sathe consistently engages with challenging academic material, particularly in mathematics, and works through difficult problems to reach understanding. Over time, he has adjusted his academic focus to pursue opportunities that align with his interests and goals, including coursework connected to the Burton School. He has also refined his career interests, shifting from a specific focus on game design toward a broader emphasis on software while continuing creative projects outside of coursework. His interests span science, technology, and the arts.
Atharva demonstrates leadership through action and consideration for others. He has been involved with Mathnasium since 2022, where he participates consistently and engages respectfully with instructors. During fundraising events, he donates all earned reward cards to support charitable efforts. In school activities, including drama productions where he worked as part of the stage crew, he actively encouraged peers to participate by sharing flyers and inviting classmates to attend.
Atharva is involved in multiple community and school‑based activities. He has volunteered at the Hindu temple since age 12 and is a member of Science Olympiad, Debate Club, Robotics Team, and Academic/Quiz Bowl. He also participates annually in the Festival of India, performing as part of a choreographed group dance. Each year features new choreography spanning approximately seven minutes, requiring rehearsal and coordination as part of a large ensemble.
Aubrey Snead, 16
Salem High School
Aubrey Snead serves in multiple leadership roles. She is President of HOSA–Future Healthcare Professionals at Salem High School, where she has expanded membership and engagement and increased interest in health science coursework. She was selected to serve as Prom Chair for the 2026 prom based on her organization and leadership skills. She is also Co‑Vice President of Interact Club, sponsored by the Salem Rotary.
At First United Methodist Church, she served as social media chair for the youth ministry and was selected as one of two youth representatives on the church’s inaugural Leadership Board. Aubrey demonstrated initiative by proposing and helping organize a large indoor yard sale as a fundraiser for youth service mission trips through her church. Working with the youth ministry director, she helped coordinate donations from more than 60 congregation members. The sale raised just over $5,000 to support two service trips during the following summer to Costa Rica and one to Pennsylvania.
Aubrey has participated annually in mission trips since 2021, serving communities in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Illinois through projects such as building wheelchair ramps, working in food pantries, and leading Vacation Bible School outreach. She has volunteered each summer as a Vacation Bible School assistant since 2021 and has served as a counselor at Jill’s Buddy Camp since 2022. Aubrey also volunteers weekly as a one‑on‑one helper with Darby’s Dancers, supporting adaptive dance programming for children with special needs.
Hannah Staley, 17
Patrick Henry High School & ROTEC
Hannah Staley has been a member of the Teachers for Tomorrow (ToT) program since her freshman year of high school. During classroom field experiences, she designs and leads instructional activities for peers and younger students, adapting lessons for different age groups and learning needs. She also completes additional professional development opportunities and earns certifications beyond program requirements.
After completing three years in ToT, Hannah was selected to participate in the program’s Leadership track. She supports peers, assists with instruction, and works directly with preschool and elementary students. She has represented the program at local and state events and earned first‑place recognition in state‑level competitions.
During her junior year, she presented a speech at the Educators Rising State Competition on teacher retention following a semester‑long independent study that included research and interviews. She has also taught Junior Achievement lessons to elementary students and served as a host at Junior Achievement events.
Hannah balances advanced and dual‑enrollment coursework with participation in multiple athletic activities, including cheer, gymnastics, and travel sports. In addition to school‑based teaching, she participates in service activities through her church and works regularly with families and community members during outreach events.
Sky Standley, 17
Blacksburg High School
Sky Standley co‑organized an independent student art exhibition in downtown Blacksburg to create public exhibition opportunities for high school artists. Working collaboratively with Sage Stern, she helped secure gallery spaces, coordinate exhibition logistics, and support participating artists. The exhibitions expanded from a small group show in 2025 to a larger student exhibition featuring approximately 13 artists in 2026.
Sky’s individual artistic practice centers on sculpture and three‑dimensional work. She has exhibited widely in group and solo exhibitions, including shows at the Alexander Black House, XYZ Gallery, Salem Museum, and the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley.
Her sculptural installation work Sleepy’s earned a Silver Medal in the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Expanded Projects category in 2025. She has also received multiple regional Scholastic Gold and Silver Keys and was awarded a Virginia Merit Scholarship from Virginia Commonwealth University.
At school, Sky serves as an officer in the Ceramics Club and Vice President of Art Club and has participated in organizing student exhibitions and community art events. She also works as a baker and cashier in Blacksburg and contributes to community service activities through school art programs.
Sky has been accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University’s BFA Sculpture program, where she will begin studying this fall.
Sage Stern, 17
Blacksburg High School
Sage Stern co‑led the organization and curation of an independent student art exhibition in downtown Blacksburg, working with Sky Standley to create a professional gallery experience for high school peers. Her responsibilities included curating student work, coordinating exhibition setup, promoting the event, and helping organize opening receptions. The exhibition grew from an initial 2025 showing to a 2026 gallery presentation featuring approximately 13 student artists.
Sage’s artistic work spans both two‑ and three‑dimensional media, with a primary focus on painting and design. She expanded her practice by enrolling in AP 3‑D Art after independently preparing through summer studio work and workshops in woodworking and design. Her work has earned extensive recognition, including multiple Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Gold and Silver Keys, a Gold Key Portfolio award, Honors and High Merits in the Blick Celebrating Art Contest, and AP Scholar with Distinction status.
In addition to her exhibition leadership, Sage serves as Vice President of SkillsUSA, earning second place in the Virginia Graphic Design competition. She is also active in National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, and Theatre Arts, and competed as a varsity tennis letter winner. Beyond school, she operates an online clothing resale business and has participated in design and architecture programs nationwide, including Pratt Precollege and Bamboo U in Bali.
Sage plans to study Industrial Design and is finalizing her college choice.
Garrett Vernon, 17
Marion Senior High School
Garrett Vernon has operated small businesses since age 15. He runs a seasonal lawn care service each spring through early fall, maintaining up to eight residential properties in his community. He recently expanded into technology services by launching Vernon Electronics, a computer repair and custom‑build business.
Garrett has been elected Class President for four consecutive years and serves as President of Key Club and President of the Class of 2026. He is Percussion Captain and Manager of the Marching Band, Team Captain for Scholastic Bowl and Speech/Forensics, and Improv Captain for the Performing Arts Club, where he also drafted the club’s constitution. He is a member of the School and National BETA Club and has served as both a Student Ambassador for Virginia’s Environment and Smyth County Student Ambassador.
He has completed more than 300 hours of local community service, including organizing clean‑ups, cutting and delivering firewood for families in need, and coordinating a countywide river clean‑up. He has also completed more than 250 hours of youth missionary service through projects in Jamaica, North Carolina, and Smyth County and will continue this work during a mission trip to Costa Rica.
Academically, Garrett has maintained a GPA above 4.0, completed dual‑enrollment coursework through Wytheville Community College, and earned multiple regional and state recognitions in Scholastic Bowl and Speech and Forensics. He will attend Harvard University in the fall.
The story above first appeared in our July/August 2026 issue.
