6/13/25
The Patrick & Henry Community College Foundation honored eleven P&HCC graduates as distinguished alumni at an awards dinner on Friday, June 13, 2025 at Chatmoss Country Club.
Each year, P&HCC recognizes alumni who have brought distinction to themselves through academic achievement, career success and community involvement. Alumni who have graduated with a degree or certificate or have completed a minimum of twenty-four credit hours at P&HCC, have demonstrated success within their field of expertise, and have provided significant service in local, state, or national organizations are eligible for nomination.
This year’s award recipients are: Jake Abell; Jerri H. Crews, RN; Jeanette Frazier, OT; Alfredo Huerta; Eric W. Hunt; James Keaton; Rita McBride, RN; Craig O’Der; Andrew C. Palmer; and Beverly Belcher Woody.
Abell graduated from P&HCC with his Associate’s degree in Small Business Management/Entrepreneurship in 2022. He continued his education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Leadership from Liberty University in 2023. He also completed a Beer Brewer Professional Certificate from Virginia Tech and the University of Richmond. Abell is the owner and Brewmaster at Scuffle Hill Brewing Company. A graduate of Bassett High School, he has served as Military Police in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a decorated Corporal. Abell completed the GROW MHC program of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and is Vice-President of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society Board of Directors.
Crews earned her Associate’s degree in Nursing from P&HCC in 1996. She serves as a school nurse with Henry County Public Schools at Meadow View Elementary School. A graduate of Laurel Park High School, she also works with Health Connect providing health screenings and instructing diabetes and chronic health classes. Crews is an Emergency Medical Technician under Henry County Public Safety and is a CPR, First Aid, and AED Instructor with the American Heart Association. She and her siblings and their families own and operate The Legacy at Hatcher Farm, a wedding and event venue on the family farm in the Leatherwood community.
Frazier earned her Associate’s degree in General Studies from P&HCC in 1996. She continued her education at Jefferson College of Health Sciences, earning an Associate’s Degree in Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in 1996 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2003. Frazier is an Occupational Therapist at Bassett Physical Therapy. A graduate of Laurel Park High School, she had previously worked as an Occupational Therapist at SOVAH Health, Stanleytown Health and Rehab, and Professional Therapy of Roanoke. Frazier is the consulting Occupational Therapist at Tackfully Teamed Riding Academy and a member of the board of directors. She is also an active volunteer at Edwards Adult Day Care Center and at Kearfott Memorial Church.
Huerta graduated from P&HCC in 2015 with his Associate’s degree in General Studies and a certificate in general education. He is scheduled to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Aerospace Management, Flight Operations in the summer of 2025 from Averett University. Huerta is a police officer with the Martinsville City Police Department and the School Resource Officer at Martinsville High School. He has received a Crime Stoppers Award and a Co-Life Saving Award. Huerta has also obtained his commercial pilot’s license. A graduate of Bassett High School, he has worked as a sales specialist with The Brick Running & Tri Store, a tutor for English Language Learners with Henry County Public Schools, a Press Operator with Packaging Products, Inc., and a temporary worker with Ameristaff Employment Agency. Huerta is the assistant coach for the Martinsville High School Girls Varsity Soccer team and has served as a track and cross country coach for several high schools and elementary schools in Henry County. An avid runner, he has completed nineteen triathlons, three full Iron Man events, and thirty-six marathons, including five appearances in the Boston Marathon.
Hunt earned his Associate’s degree in Business Administration from P&HCC in 2005. He went on to complete an Associate’s of Funeral Service Education in 2007 from Fayetteville Technical Community College. Hunt is the founder and wedding officiant of Myrtle Beach Wedding Officiant, LLC. A graduate of Stanleytown Baptist Academy, his professional background includes serving as operations manager and licensed funeral director/embalmer at Bassett Funeral Service, guest services manager at Brittain Resort Management, assistant banking center manager at Bank of America, property manager at Jennings & Company, Inc., and digital brand manager at Berry Financial Group, Inc. Hunt has served on the boards of Focus On Youth CASA and was a founding board member of the Jesus Jam Foundation. He is a member of the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants, an ambassador for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association.
Keaton graduated from P&HCC in 1993 with an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. He continued his education at Radford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1995. Keaton currently serves as a police officer at Patrick & Henry Community College. A graduate of Fieldale-Collinsville High School, he served as a Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Officer in the United States Navy during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and later in the United States Navy Reserves. Keaton was a deputy sheriff with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, a technician with Martin Furniture and Cabinetry, a technician with GCS Electronics, and a technician/certified fire, water & mold specialist with ServPro. While in the United States Navy, he earned multiple medals. Keaton was also an Officer of the Year with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and earned the Director’s Award for the Piedmont Criminal Justice Training Academy. He is a certified CPR & AED Instructor. Keaton serves as an Elder at Stone Memorial Christian Church.
McBride earned her Associate’s degree in Nursing from P&HCC in 2009. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Averett University. McBride is the Director of Critical Care Unit at SOVAH Health. A graduate of Fieldale-Collinsville High School, she began her career as a pharmacy technician at SOVAH Health when it was Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and advanced to Unit Secretary of the Critical Care Unit while enrolled in the nursing program at Patrick & Henry Community College. After graduation, McBride worked as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. She then became clinical manager of Critical Care Unit before being named the director of the Critical Care Unit, PICC, and Dialysis. McBride is an active volunteer at Day Star Ministries where she works with the children’s ministry, vacation bible school, and children’s productions.
O’Der earned his Associate’s degree in Administration of Justice in 2016. He continued his education at the British National Senior Investigation Officer Academy/Metropolitan Police Crime Academy at New Scotland Yard in London, England. O’Der currently serves as a special agent with the United States Department of Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and is the mayor and town manager of Ridgeway. A graduate of Fieldale-Collinsville High School, he was a Seargeant in the United States Army before joining the Henry County Sheriff’s Office as a Criminal Investigator, Master Deputy Sheriff, the first School Resource Officer at Bassett High School, and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program instructor in elementary schools. O’Der then served as an Inspector General Law
Enforcement Special Agent and Polygraph Examiner with the Virgina Department of Corrections and the Office of the State Inspector. He is a member of the Virginia Municipal League and Martinsville & Henry County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the of the Piedmont Masonic Lodge and the American Polygraph Association. O’Der is a former soccer official with the Virginia High School League and General Manager of the High Point Thomasville HiToms Baseball Organization’s developmental teams program.
Palmer earned an Associate’s degree in Business Technology–Management from P&HCC in 2013. Palmer is the Vice President of Lester Properties and the President of Lester Development Corporation. A graduate of Bassett High School, he was a materials handler at Heritage Home Center, owner of Palmer’s Golf Cart Sales, owner/franchisee of Sears Hometown Store, collector at Wells Fargo Bank N/A, and commercial leasing manager at The Lester Group. Palmer is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Colonel George Waller Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, a member and former president of the Martinsville/Henry County Lions Club, a member of the Knights of Pythias, a board member of the Fuller Center of MHC, and the vice chairman of organizational improvement for the Martinsville/Henry County Chamber of Commerce.
Woody earned her Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies from P&HCC in 2000. She continued her education at Old Dominion University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Specialization in Professional Writing in 2010 and a Master of Science degree in Education from Regent University in 2021. Woody serves as a U.S. History teacher, Student Council advisor, and Speech and Debate Team coach at Martinsville Middle School. A graduate of Patrick County High School, she worked in textiles at Bassett-Walker, Inc., Spencer’s Inc., and Pluma, Inc. After an internship with Henry County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, Woody worked at the Franklin County Circuit Court clerk’s office and the Henry County General District Court clerk’s office. She then served as a long-term substitute teacher and remediation tutor at Franklin County Public Schools. Woody was named Teacher of the Year in 2024 and District Teacher of the Year in 2025 for Martinsville City Schools. She is a member of the Virginia Educators Association and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She is the regent of the Patrick Henry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Woody is on the board of directors of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society and the Patrick County Historical Society & Museum. She writes a weekly local history column called “Patrick Pioneers” for the Stuart Enterprise newspaper and authored a local history book Patrick Pioneers Part One and has helped to narrate the PBS documentary Rock Castle Home.
For more information about the Patrick & Henry Community College Distinguished Alumni Awards program, please contact the P&HCC Foundation at 276-656-0250.
In the photo (L to R): Alfredo Huerta, Beverly Woody, Eric Hunt, Andrew Palmer, Craig O’Der, Jeanette Frazier, Rita McBride, Jake Abell, James Keaton, Jerri Crews
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