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Sherneice Roper (in wheel chair) with Good Samaritan Calvin Griffin and Chef Antony Osborne are recognized at Virginia College staff meeting. Both students received a certificate honoring their efforts as well as a hand crafted chef knife donated by local firm.

When Calvin Griffin witnessed an accident on a busy freeway recently, he immediately recognized one of the people involved in the wreck.  It was Sherneice Roper, a fellow student of Griffin's at Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College.  He pulled his own car out of harm's way and rushed to try to help his classmate.  Ms. Roper had a badly injured leg and was unable to get out of her car without assistance so Griffin helped her, walked her to the side of the roadway away from passing traffic, and stayed there with her, comforting her until emergency services arrived on the scene. 

Surprisingly, Ms. Roper showed up for class at Culinard bright and early the next morning, despite having a leg in a cast and having to get around on crutches.  And she continued to attend class until her physician advised that she required surgery for her injured leg

Culinard Academic Dean Chef Antony Osborne says, "We count ourselves most fortunate to have such dedicated and compassionate students at Culinard and Virginia College.  We are extremely proud of Sherneice for her dedication, and to Calvin for his compassion for his fellow student."

Both Culinard students were recognized at the school's regular staff meeting, with each receiving a certificate recognizing their dedication and efforts.  They also received a beautiful handcrafted chef knife donated by Bresco, a Birmingham restaurant supply firm.

Osborne also gave another example of the dedication of his students at Culinard.

"One of our final term students has a child who is very ill at Children's Hospital," he says.  "Still she manages to balance her culinary classes each day with her commitment to her son and the rest of her family."

Osborne notes that this student is a strong example to others who might allow small inconveniences to keep them from class or assignments, and notes that Virginia College and Culinard are doing all they can to help support the student during this trying time.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family," Osborne says.  "This is exactly what makes Virginia College and Culinard different from other schools, and it shows in the quality of student we have in class and that we are able to provide to employers when they graduate."