Highlander Highlights: Week of Nov. 2, 2026
November 06, 2026
Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Student volunteers work on trail over fall break
Seven Radford University students spent fall break helping restore a wilderness trail near Mount Rogers, gaining hands-on experience with traditional trail maintenance tools and techniques.
During the Oct. 9-10 Restoring Appalachia alternative break trip, students partnered with sociology Associate Professor Aysha Bodenhamer, acting director of Appalachian studies; History Professor Brock Cutler; the Appalachian Trail Conservancy; and Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) to maintain Mullins Branch Trail in Smyth County.
The group cleared sections of the trail damaged by Hurricane Helene. Because the work took place in a wilderness area, power tools were prohibited. Instead, students used crosscut saws, offering a rare opportunity to learn a traditional trail-maintenance technique.
“It gave me a greater appreciation for the amount of work, dedication and collaboration that goes into maintaining and preserving our trails,” said Trinity Roberts, a junior biology major from Radford, Virginia.
Students stayed overnight at the historic Konnarock Volunteer Camp, which hosts crews working on Appalachian Trail maintenance. Rain and wind on the second day shifted the work to camp, where students learned to use drawknives and hatchets to strip bark from locust logs. The resulting posts will be used for blazes and signs along the Appalachian Trail.
“It was a great experience overall, and I think the students really had a good time,” Cutler said.
Roberts said the experience also strengthened camaraderie among students and gave them a sense of accomplishment.
“Working toward a shared goal allowed us to strengthen our connections with one another while contributing to something that will benefit the community and future trail users,” she said, also praising Bodenhamer and Cutler for creating hands-on learning opportunities that foster environmental stewardship.
“Their commitment to creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences has given us memories, skills, and a greater appreciation for environmental stewardship that we will carry with us long after the trip!”
Nursing students support National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Students and faculty from the Roanoke chapter of Radford University's Student Nurse Organization (SNO) joined community partners on Saturday, Oct. 24, to support the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the Berglund Center in Roanoke.
The DEA sponsors national take-back events each April and October to encourage the safe and responsible disposal of unused and expired medications. SNO members partner with the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC) to support local collection efforts and promote medication safety throughout the community.
Proper disposal of unused medications helps prevent accidental access by children and reduces the potential for medication misuse. These efforts also protect local water supplies and the environment by keeping medications out of household trash and wastewater systems.
Adam Neal, director of RAYSAC, said he was grateful for the ongoing collaboration with Radford University and SNO for these events.
“The volunteers worked very hard to ensure each participant was taken care of and provided with plenty of education and information on medication safety and proper disposal,” said Neal.
The event was a resounding success, with the Berglund Center collection site gathering an impressive 254 pounds of medications. Across the nine collection sites throughout the Roanoke Valley, community members turned in a combined total of 1,248 pounds.
Through their participation, Radford nursing students demonstrated their commitment to community health and public service, helping make the Roanoke Valley a safer and healthier place.
Three-time alumna receives honorable mention for Carnegie award
The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate Dissertation in Practice Award 2026 Committee has awarded Erica Hazelwood ’06 , Ed.D. ’25, an honorable mention for her dissertation titled “Unveiling the Inclusion Illusion: Exploring the Underperformance of Students with Disabilities in the General Education Setting.”
The committee commended Hazelwood for her ability to uncover an underlying disparity within the educational system. “Your dissertation reads as more than a professional endeavor,” they said. “It reflects a genuinely humbling and empowering commitment to taking responsibility for a problem you had the standing, and the courage, to name.”
“Receiving honorable mention for the CPED Dissertation in Practice Award is deeply meaningful because this work is so personal to me,” Hazelwood said. “I began my career as a special education teacher, and advocating for students with disabilities has remained at the heart of my work.”
The CPED Dissertation in Practice Award is designed to recognize research that is directly applicable to the field – addressing an issue, putting the research into practice and continuing to build on the solution. The CPED does not often award honorable mentions, underscoring Hazelwood’s exceptional work and contribution to the field of education.
“I am so grateful to CPED for this recognition and to Radford University, particularly my dissertation committee, for the guidance, encouragement and support that challenged me, strengthened this work and helped me grow as both a researcher and an educational leader,” Hazelwood said. “It means a great deal to be able to share this honor with the Radford community.”
Hazelwood is a proud three-time graduate of Radford University; in addition to her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees, she earned a Master of Science in 2019. She currently serves as a high school principal at Central High School in Lunenburg County, Virginia.
We Are Radford winner for November 2026
The We Are Radford employee recognition program is a monthly honor recognizing an individual whose daily interactions with students and colleagues represent the best of the Radford University experience. The winner for November 2026 is Sarah Rakes, Bachelor of Social Work coordinator and associate professor of social work.
“Dr. Rakes has always been there to help students, both academically and as an academic advisor,” her nominator wrote. “Any ideas a student may have presented to her, she has helped foster and make happen, no matter how many barriers may be faced along the way.”
Employees who have served at least one year at Radford are eligible to be recognized for upholding the university’s core values.
This week’s Highlander Highlights was written by Sean Kotz, Jordan Richardson and Pam McCallister.