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Dominion Energy Virginia and the Library of Virginia present Strong Men & Women in Virginia History. This program honors distinguished African-American leaders in Virginia, and features a student creative expressions contest.

The 2024 awards ceremony was held in February. The 2024 honorees are recognized for their important contributions to Virginia, the nation, and/or their professions. They serve as a testament to the determination and perseverance displayed by extraordinary people during challenging times.

2024 Honorees:

  • Captain Janet H. Days: Navy Commanding Officer, Norfolk
  • Dr. Erma L. Freeman: Dentist, Mecklenburg County
  • R. Tyrone Foster: Sheriff, Bristol
  • Gregory L. Robinson: NASA Project Director, Manassas

Student Contest

High school students across Virginia are invited each year to honor outstanding African Americans by participating in Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia's Strong Men & Women in Virginia History student creative expressions contest. Four winning entries are chosen, one from each of the four service regions in Virginia (Central, Eastern, Northern and Western).

The winners of the 2024 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History student contest are:

  • Bezawit Abate: junior, Potomac High School, Woodbridge
  • Justin Kidd Jones: senior, Richmond Community High School, Richmond
  • Katelyn Luu: freshman, Cosby High School, Chesterfield
  • Angelina Nair: senior, Grafton High School, Yorktown

Read student finalist submissions.

Dominion Energy and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) present Strong Men & Women In South Carolina History. Building on SCDE’s longstanding South Carolina African American History Calendar, which honors prominent African Americans in the state who have made noteworthy contributions, the Strong Men & Women in South Carolina History program will now feature an essay contest for high school students.

All South Carolina high school juniors and seniors are invited to honor outstanding African Americans by participating in the contest. Five Winning essays will be chosen from each of South Carolina’s five regions: Midlands, Upstate, Lowcountry, Pee Dee and Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

2024 Prompt

Mary McLeod Bethune's legacy of educational entrepreneurship and literacy has made a lasting impact on individuals across the Palmetto State and beyond, including South Carolina's very own State Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver. The little girl from Mayesville once stated, “The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.” In your words, write about an African American person from South Carolina who has positively impacted your educational journey.

Congratulations to the Following 2024 Student Writing Contest Winners

Winners From Previous Years

2023

2022

2021

Winners

Winning students and their school representatives will be invited to attend a ceremony to receive their awards.

Winning students will receive an Apple MacBook Air!

Winning students’ schools will receive an award of $1,000!

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