Created in 2021, the Early Childhood Champion Awards recognize the early education and childcare providers, preschool teachers, child development specialists, human service providers, healthcare professionals, librarians, policymakers, and advocates who have positively impacted the lives of the NRV’s youngest residents.
Nominations are accepted each spring, and the First Steps Leadership Team selects award recipients, who receive a cash prize from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley. This year, the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday, September 26. Register to attend this event, which is part of the Igniting Connections Symposium by September 12.
2025 Nominees
Wendy Baldwin
Founder, Imagination Library of Montgomery County
Morgan Boone
Lead Family Services Coordinator
Community Housing Partners
Emma Cook
Early Educator, Two-Year Olds/Floater
Radford Early Learning Center
Mackenzie Farmer
Early Educator, Two-Year Olds/Floater
Radford Early Learning Center
Crystal Fentress
Virginia Preschool Initiative Educator
Christiansburg Primary School
Ashley Hamann
Early Educator, Three-Year Olds
Heart ‘N’ Hand Early Learning Center
Shelby Kelley
Outreach Specialist
CHIP of NRV, a program of the New River Community Action
Dr. Julie Ligon
Director of Special Education
Montgomery County Public Schools
Amy Nast
Early Educator, Three-Year Olds
Children’s Nest
Cassidy Nelson
Art Educator
Spiller Elementary School in Wytheville
Sidney Nelson
Center Director
Radford Early Learning Center
Pearisburg Junior Women’s Club
Nonprofit organization serving Giles County
Linda Pospichal
First Grade Educator
Blacksburg New School
Radford Head Start Team
Lindsey Martin, April Smith, Susie Buracker, & Chassity Capretta
Jeanne Roper
Co-founder
Valley Interfaith Childcare Center
Becky Roseberry
Early Childhood Education Instructor
Pulaski County Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education Center
Leeanne Sallade
Four & Five Year Old Early Educator
Children’s Nest
Kristine Saunders
Youth Services Librarian
Pulaski County Public Library
Brittany Weber
Preschool Early Educator / Health & Safety Coordinator
Radford Early Learning Center