Dennis Carter

For 20 years Dennis Carter has worked as a contractor and a Fire Alarm Technician for many different companies, but he now works for Carilion Hospital. Mr. Carter also attends First Baptist Church every Sunday and even teaches a Sunday school class as a deacon. Mr. Carter is 52 years old and loves to do anything that involves the outdoors and he loves to watch wrestling. Mr. Carter is married and has three great kids. Mr. Carter has volunteered at the Rescue Mission in downtown Roanoke for over 12 years. He started with “our church group, usually it’s our Sunday school class… we try to go about once every two or three months,” he said.

Mr. Carter is hard-working when it comes to helping the Rescue Mission. He feels strongly about how important his work is and said, “I feel good when I go and help out the people there and share the kindness the Lord has given me onto them.” Mr. Carter develops personal relationships with homeless people and loves to give them advice for the future. The jobs he helps with are cooking the food, helping serve food, washing dishes, helping clean up, and talking with the homeless folks about their problems and just listening to what they have to say. Mr. Carter said, “With my church and my background, I think it’s something that the Lord wants us to do… I think it’s an extension of Jesus’s hand,” is why he volunteers at the Roanoke Rescue Mission. He feel like his actions at the Rescue Mission make a positive impact on the community. Mr. Carter hopes that the Rescue Mission one day, will be overflowing with volunteers from all over the Roanoke Valley.

Dennis Carter loves what he does for his family and for his community. He is a godly, hard-working, caring individual. Mr. Carter is a great father that loves his wife and kids. For these reasons, Dennis Carter is our Hidden Hero.

Jake Brabham

    Jacob Brabham is a 22 year old planning to devote his life to teaching.  Right now, Mr. Brabham is a special education aid at Hidden Valley High.  He went to Roanoke College and graduated last year with a degree to teach physical education. He is looking to teach physical education but for the time being he is working with Special Education students. He also coaches soccer and wrestling. He coaches at Hidden Valley High School.

    Mr. Brabham really enjoys working with students. He works at Hidden Valley High School but has decided he would rather work at a middle school because he has been in all school settings and he thinks the middle school kids are more active and playful. He decided to teach because when he was growing up his mom told him she thought he would be a good educator.   He is caring towards all of his students. It is easy to see that Mr. Brabham’s heart is fully dedicated to educating students.  Mr. Brabham is very passionate about teaching. This is evident when he talks.  He feels the experience as a special education aid has helped him to be a teacher.  He said that many people only see the students for what they can’t do but he has found special qualities in each of them. 

   Mr. Brabham feels teaching is important.   Physical education and sports are about being a team and this is important to Mr. Brabham. He said, “If I can help them learn to get along with their other classmates, I feel like I have done my job.” Mr. Brabham will go far as a teacher and inspire many young people.

Randy Polito

Randy Polito is a World Geography and history teacher who likes to cook, loves comedies, and likes to coach girls’ lacrosse. Mr. Polito grew up in Florida and got his undergraduate degree at University of Central Florida in Orlando, and his Master’s Degree at Hollins University. He taught history in Florida for 6 years, and started coaching lacrosse there when one of the coaches quit and he stepped in to help. His previous experience was with soccer. Mr. Polito taught and coached at Hollins University and Patrick Henry High School for several years before coming to Hidden Valley High School this year.

         Mr. Polito wanted to coach girls’ lacrosse because he feels as if he has a great opportunity. Mr. Polito said that when he is coaching at practices or during a game he likes to build relationships with his team. He said, “I like to see the fun that the girls have with each other on the field.” When he is under a lot of stress he likes to be outdoors and to go kayaking. Mr. Polito is dedicated to his teaching and to his role as a coach, and he enjoys seeing his athletes succeed on the field and in life. A quote Mr. Polito likes is “Passion defines reason,” which means that when a person has passion for something, that passion will define their success. Mr. Polito hopes to see his students succeed in life.

Mr. Polito is a hero because he makes a difference to students. He teaches students in a fun way, and is always available to give advice. Mr. Polito is a hero because he is a dedicated teacher and coach.

Lisa O'Neill

         Lisa O’Neill had been rescuing and helping animals at Angels of Assisi since 2003. She went to Illinois Wesleyan College and has a bachelor’s degree in Science and Nursing. She went to school originally to become a nurse and help people, but she has gone in a different direction when she started volunteering at Angels of Assisi. As she started working with animals, her nursing career slowly became less and less important. Mrs. O’Neill lives in both Botetourt County and locally in Roanoke. She has two children, 22 year old Jame and 18 year old Macy.

         Mrs. O’Neill works very hard to rescue the animals because she sympathizes with both the animals and the people. “I think I really brought the nursing part into Angels of Assisi by helping people. You can’t help animals without helping people too,” said Ms. O’Neill. “A lot of people are really big into animal rescue and say that ‘Oh, I hate people. People suck!’ but you can’t have this mindset because people are going to be the ones to save the animals.” Mrs. O’Neill doesn’t consider working for Angels of Assisi a job or a career, but a hobby, and a passion. At a young age she has cared for animals, and growing up her goal in life was to help people. “I’ve always loved animals and helping people, and you can really help people through animals too.”

        

         What separates Lisa O’Neil from other people is how committed she is reaching her goal, and that is to help people and animals. Her sympathy towards people and their pets is what inspired her to help them in a lot of ways.

Kenneth Stanley

Kenneth Stanely is a hidden hero because he was in the U.S. Navy for 8 years, and risked his life in the Korean War. Mr. Stanely, a country boy from Bedford County, said that he went into the Navy at only 20 years old. He first started out in boot camp in Michigan. After boot camp he was stationed in New Orleans, and they put him in the boiler room. He was stationed in several places including Jamaica, Port au Prince, Hawaii, Haiti, and Ireland. Mr. Stanely was put on a small destroyer and was the only one sent to New Orleans from the men who were with him in boot camp.
Mr. Stanley was brave during the Korean War. His ship searched for mines and protected battleships. Mr. Stanley served in a dangerous part of the ship. He worked in the boiler room. If his ship was hit, his chances of survival were little to none. Mr. Stanley said that he did not really think much about going to Korea. “The only time I was scared was when I was put in California and there was a submarine down below them that shot at them,” he said.  

Mr. Stanley was also dedicated and loyal.  He stayed in the Navy for longer than he had to. He stayed eight years instead of the required three. He talked a lot about his fellow sailors. He said he has kept contact with most of the men.  Mr. Stanley said he would be honored to be a hidden hero. He served our country and risked his life with honor. THANK YOU, Mr. Stanley.      

Gene Nervo

Gene Nervo served in the United States Marine Corps for 32 years, and started and now runs an outdoor adventure camp called Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing. He started his military career in the Marine Corps Reserves in New Jersey and continued from there to go through the Marine Corps boot-camp. His Marine career started as a regular officer, and then he served as a legal officer, transport, infantry, and Battalion commander of Battalion 16, and Commander of a landing support battalion. He was deployed twice during the Vietnam War.

Mr. Nervo is a very passionate and dedicated leader. He spent 32 years of his life serving his nation and after that started an outdoor adventure camp for youth, which he still runs to this day at the age of 76. “The most rewarding thing that has happened to me is that I received a Bronze Star when I was in Vietnam and I have a wonderful family”, said Mr. Nervo. He led many groups of young boys through Vietnam during his two tours and only had one casualty. “We were ambushed by the Vietcong, but we were successful. I had a very good unit. They were well trained so they knew what to do immediately”, said Mr. Nervo. He loves spending time with his grandchildren and other kids at his outdoor camp. Mr. Nervo said the things you learn from the military are, “developing character, work ethic, respect, communication skills, and a positive attitude.” He said, “I think everybody should take a shot at it, because you learn so much in that short period of time that you’ll take with you for the rest of your life.”

         Gene Nervo Is a very kind and motivated man. He puts all of his focus and effort into any projects he starts. “I enjoyed the military. Even when I started in the Marine Corps I knew I wanted to make it a career. I love the respect of the military,” said Mr. Nervo. His dignitary actions in the Marine Corps, such as strategically leading those young boys through Vietnam and ensuring the safety of their lives, is what makes Mr. Nervo a hero. His willingness to run an outdoor camp, when he could be retired, to benefit youth and introduce them to the outdoors, is what makes him so gallant. He raised a family of seven children and loves to spend time with his kids and 16 grandchildren. Gene Nervo’s love and dedication for his country, his family, and youth in the Valley are what make him a hidden hero.

Elias Clizbe

Elias Clizbe currently age 29, was in the military for five years. He started 2009. When he was 6 years old, he knew he wanted to be in the military. When he was in active service he was stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Clizbe goes to Virginia Western now and lives in Roanoke. In his free time he likes to go to the firing range and play video games.

Mr. Clizbe credits his strong mental attitude with helping him succeed in the military. He said, “It is just a mind game.” He was also smart minded working in the gun room. “I used to take apart guns and put them back together,” he said.

Mr. Clizbe was a dedicated person in the military. His ranks were rank specialist and administrator. He misses the military because they paid for almost everything and he knew a lot of people but he doesn’t at the same time because they had to get up really early most of the time. Because of his service in the military, he is a Hidden Hero.