Our Highlanders are using their education to do extraordinary things. In this column, we highlight some notable mentions from local, regional, national and international news media. Whether our students, alumni, faculty and staff are featured as subject matter experts in high-profile stories or simply helping make the world a better place, we’ll feature their stories.
Get “40”
Here’s a vocabulary word for the day: tricenarians, which refers to people who are between the ages of 30 and 39.
We point this out because The Roanoker magazine recently dropped its annual list of “40 Under 40,” highlighting exceptional professionals from around the area who have not yet spent a full 14,600 days on Earth, and the bulk of them are tricenarians.
Now here’s a bonus vocabulary word for the day: vicenarians, individuals between the ages of 20 and 29, which we bring up because six of the Roanoker’s “40 Under 40” are vicenarians.
One more salient point about this year’s list? An even half-dozen slots are occupied by Highlanders.
Each of their profiles on the magazine’s website offers a short biography of them plus a listing of some of their accomplishments, as well as a question-and-answer section about their lives and experiences.
This year’s Radford grads on the “40 Under 40” include:
Maiya Ashby ’09, director of communications for the Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative, and its subsidiary Bee Online Advantage.
Lindsay Collins ’08, D.N.P. ’19, vice president of medicine and oncology for Carilion Clinic’s acute care services.
Katie Conner ’09, senior destination development manager for the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Tyler Lee M.H.A. ’21, private banking officer at Ridge View Bank in Rocky Mount, Virginia.
Hunter Simpson ‘21, Hunting Hills Family Dentistry.
Ethan Sweeney ’21, deputy and Behavioral Case Manager and Re-Entry Coordinator with Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office.
“These young leaders represent the talent, passion and dedication shaping the Roanoke Valley today and for years to come, inspiring innovation, strengthening our communities and leaving a lasting impact on the region they call home,” the magazine’s editors wrote of the titular 40. “We’re lucky to have their talent and passions making positive impact for all.”
Good sports
Communications student Josh Poslusny may still only be a sophomore, but he’s been busy building an impressive writing resume and has recently published scores of articles through a subsidiary of the Sports Illustrated website.
Poslusny, who goes by “Poz,” started stringing for the Virginia Tech section of SI.com in late October, but has already amassed a steady collection of bylines with his coverage of Tech sports, particularly about activity in and around the student athlete transfer portal.
Other recent articles have also included pieces on basketball guard Izaiah Pasha, a lot of scouting reports and additions to various coaching staffs.
A native of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Poslusny is majoring in public relations because he said it incorporates both reporting and teamwork.
“I am learning under some incredible journalists,” he recently told us. “It’s been a blessing to work with them, and I have been able to make some close friends during my short time with them so far.”
Poslusny has previously written for the Tech Lunch Pail, Tech Sideline and Sons of Saturday, among other outlets. He also appears on the “Mostly Hokies” podcast, which recently partnered with Virginia Tech on SI.
“Life will unfold in chapters….”
The Roanoke Tribune, a weekly newspaper with a heritage that dates back nine decades, frequently sits down with community figures for 10-question interviews and for its Jan. 4 edition, it spoke to a Highlander, Tanisha Nash '02, M.S.W. '07.
Nash is a student support supervisor for Minnick Schools in Roanoke.
Nash’s interview starts off with the basics – first question: “Who is Tanisha Nash?” – and then delves into her childhood and education, her current occupation and hobbies, and her musical tastes and favorite Big Lick memories. In particular, the mother of two addresses the crucial roles that relatives have played in her life.
“Family means everything to me – especially my two phenomenal children,” Nash explained. “Both of my grandmothers showed me early on the importance of family and what it truly means to take care of one another. At the end of the day, we are all we have.”
She also tackles a question that rarely fails to intrigue: What advice would you give to your younger self?
“You don’t have to have everything figured out right now,” Nash said. “Life will unfold in chapters, so be patient with yourself.”
History via hip-hop
Over the five years Andrew Reedy '13 has taught U.S. history at Andrew Lewis Middle School, his students have come up with a nickname for him – Rap Teach Reedy.
That’s because he frequently incorporates hip-hop rhymes and flow into his lectures, including his latest composition, a lesson on 1900s immigration that’s modeled after “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
“I am the weird rapping teacher,” Reedy recently admitted, but explained that “if my classroom is a place where students can feel safe and loved, then I know they will learn.”
His unique approach to education may be one of the reasons Reedy was recently named Salem, Virginia’s 2026 Division Teacher of the Year.
Reedy first started teaching full-time in 2015 and worked for several years at Radford’s Belle Heath Elementary School. A Roanoke native, he now lives in the Beverly Heights region of Salem.
“I want to teach where I live because I believe there is no better way to help your own community than to teach in it,” Reedy said in a recent news release about his award. His designation was also covered in a Dec. 15 article in the Roanoke Times.
“Receiving this honor has been really emotional for me, because it means I have the support and trust of the incredible veteran teachers I work with each day,” he said. “This means the world to me.”
He and the school system’s other Teachers of the Year will be recognized with a reception at the city’s school board meeting on Jan. 13.
Travel photo
We'll close out this week's column with a quick photograph that was tweeted on Dec. 15 by @VCCS_SO, the account for Virginia's Community Colleges. It depicts a visit last autumn by a group of New River Community College students who toured Radford University's campus and got to enjoy some of last year's multicolored foliage.
"Here, the students gathered to take in the sights surrounding one of Radford's most iconic gathering spots - the fountain," the post reads.
Perhaps some of them will take advantage of Radford's Tartan Transfer agreement with New River, pursue their degrees on campus and join the official ranks of the Highlanders themselves.
