Christopher Newport University Community Walk travels to Hidenwood Elementary School
Posted: March 22, 2024
Neighboring Hidenwood Elementary School gave a warm welcome on a brisk day as Christopher Newport University President William Kelly's series of community walks continued on March 22.
Kelly, in his first year as CNU president, led members of the CNU community as they joined local education, law enforcement and civic leaders, including School Board member Rebecca Aman, in a short walk from CNU through the Hidenwood neighborhood to Hidenwood E.S. and then back to CNU.
This was the second Newport News Public Schools destination for the walks, which visited Riverside Elementary School on November 13 as part of their ongoing schedule.
Hidenwood Principal Megan Auman, a CNU alumna, welcomed the visitors from CNU in front of the school with music, students, and gifts of Hidenwood E.S. logoed sunglasses and water bottles.
"We're just really excited to see the community support this morning," Auman said, before mentioning other CNU groups who have visited the school. "We already have a great partnership, but we're really excited to extend that to include more community members. Thank you for being here; thank you for supporting us."
The school's Jam Joy xylophone student music group performed several selections. Aman presented gift of NNPS throw blankets to Kelly, who suggested they would come in handy as the wind kicked up on a typical spring day.
Kelly presented a cartload of sidewalk chalk as a gift for all Hidenwood students and a challenge coin for Auman inscribed "an exemplar energizes excellence" before posing for selfies with students and staff.
"It's great to be surrounded by Captains for life," Kelly said, referring to the alumni participating in the walk. "We have quite a few in the crowd here today. And it just reaffirms all the good and noble work that we are involved with day in and day out as we prepare our Captains for service and you are clearly serving.
"You are clearly doing that as you prepare these students for the world in everything that you do day in and day out."
