Students and staff from Bear Creek Academy, a therapeutic day school in Cumberland for students ages 11-18, which serves students from Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edward and Powhatan, recently visited Gov. Terry McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe in Richmond.

The students presented the governor with a leadership award for exemplifying skills, such as perseverance and worth ethic. The governor met the student delegation in his cabinet room where he answered questions about leadership, while also sharing his personal story on how he has succeeded in life. The students confidently engaged the governor and had several questions about his job and his career path.

The governor ended the meeting with motivational advice to the students, “Dream big, do something you love. Go for it and don’t stop until you reach your goals.”

The students also met with the first lady and learned about her life. The students were inspired and excited in sharing this special day with the governor.

Before meeting with McAuliffe, the students toured the historical capitol and learned about veteran’s affairs.

The students had lunch with Matthew Leslie, director of Housing Development for Veterans in Virginia. The students had been learning about challenges of veteran homelessness in the nation and Leslie was able to further educate them and explain how Virginia has just led the nation in functionally ending veteran homelessness.