The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 29

40 UNDER 40

Sarah Gayle Early, 35

Alicha Grubb, 29

Kate Hailey, 34

Eboni Harrington, 29

Safety and Health Manager, BAE
Systems - Radford Army Ammunition
Plant

Commercial Litigation Attorney,
Gentry Locke Attorneys

Teacher, Green Valley Elementary
School (Roanoke County Public
Schools)

Math Teacher, Lucy Addison Middle
School (Roanoke City Public Schools)

" We have access to the very best
of nature, entertainment, and
most importantly, community
and people. "
Having served in the United
States Army Reserves with
15 years of service (five on
active duty), Sarah Gayle Early
is now a First Sergeant of
the 343rd Medical Ground
Ambulance Company and a 2019
Honor Graduate and on the
Commandant's List for the Army
Master Leadership Course. She
has received one Meritorious
Service Medal, four Army
Commendation Medals and
11 Army Achievement Medals.
A certified EMT and personal
trainer, she is an instructor for
programs including the US Army
Suicide Prevention and Assistant
Training, US Army Sexual
Harassment and Response
Prevention Instruction, and
US Army Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion. " I have the distinct
opportunity of helping to serve
and support others. In the
military, I counsel and support
other service members, many
of whom are integral parts of
our local community, " she says.
" In my civilian career, I help
to ensure that our employees
return home safely to their
families while performing their
daily roles. ... I am blessed with
the opportunity to help others in
our community. "
*	 Earned Bachelor of Science
in Exercise Science, minor
in Management, Radford
University, 2013
*	 Earned master's degree in
Public Health, Virginia Tech,
2015

TheRoanoker.com

" Roanoke is a great town for
young professionals to thrive. "
Alicha Grubb is a highly
motivated commercial litigation
attorney, graduating Cum
Laude with a bachelor's degree
from Bob Jones University in
2013, as well as earning her J.D.
from Wake Forest University
School of Law in 2016. She is
also a graduate of the Batten
Leadership Institute from
Hollins University in 2019 and
recently became part of the
Leadership Roanoke Valley's
Class of 2020. She speaks fluent
Spanish, serves on the Board of
Directors and as a tutor for Blue
Ridge Literacy and is involved
in local programs to help the
underprivileged in our region.
She brings vision and action to
the area as chair of the Roanoke
Neighborhood Advocates. " I
work with neighborhood leaders
and City officials to determine
how best to effectively engage
Roanoke's citizens and ensure
all voices are heard, " Grubb
says. " I spend my time trying
to make my neighborhood
(Mountain View) a better place
by connecting with neighbors,
working on neighborhood
projects and working with the
community on an overall vision
to bring success to our corner of
the world. "
*	 Leadership Roanoke Valley,
Class of 2020
*	 Serves on Board of Directors and
as a tutor for Blue Ridge Literacy
*	 Flipped her entire home in SW
Roanoke (even the plumbing!)
*	 Member, Wake Forest Journal
of Law and Policy (2014-2016)
*	 CALI Award for Trial Practice
(2015)
*	 North Carolina Advocates for
Justice Award (2015)

" ...people are so quick to offer
help and support to those in our
community...I truly cannot imagine
a better place to live and work. "
Kate Hailey is a Henrico County
native, earning her bachelor's
degree in Communication Studies
from Christopher Newport
University before moving to the
Roanoke area in 2008. Hailey
overcame postpartum depression
after having twins and is an
advocate for young mothers
seeking help. She worked as a
Special Education Aide at Highland
Park Elementary while earning
her Masters in Teaching degree
at Hollins University. In the
classroom, she plans special days
for her students such as " Glow
Day " and Multiplication Madness,
as well as a virtual " field trip " to
WSLS10 studios. She also served
as coach for Girls on the Run
and collaborated with a team to
collect over 500 pairs of socks for
" Socktober " to benefit Ram House.
Hailey joined the Junior League
of Roanoke Valley in 2014, serving
in various leadership roles, and
currently serves as President.
" Whether it's as a staff member at
school ... or helping to raise money
to give back to the community with
the JLRV, I've worked hard to focus
my efforts to make a sizable impact
within my classroom and the
Roanoke community, " Hailey says.
" I want those who have worked
with me to know that I connected
with them and cared about their
well-being in order to leave our
community just a little bit better whether that's in the classroom or
in the nonprofit world. "

" They say Virginia is for lovers
and I believe the love starts right
here in Roanoke. "
You might recognize Eboni
Harrington from her " Work
and Progress " video that she
recorded for her students
during the COVID-19 virtual
learning experience, which
garnered over 100,000 views
and national attention. She is
the lead teacher for her grade
level at LAMS, cheer coach, an
active member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a
math tutor with Taylor Tutoring
Company and owner of So Math
About it, a tutoring company
for grades three through
eight. Harrington was a 2020
Impactors of Excellent Recipient
and was instrumental in the
" End Racism Now " mural that
highlighted Campbell Avenue,
which developed into The Urban
Arts Project. She is an activist for
education and at-risk youth and
a board member of The Humble
Hustle Company. " My passion is
to uplift and inspire black youth, "
she says. " Our community will
one day be run by our youth. My
ability to instill values and be an
example of a moral character and
leader will help to shape their
minds and instill values that'll
push for a better tomorrow. "
*	 Earned B.S. in Applied
Mathematics, Norfolk State
University, 2015
*	 2020 Impactors of Excellence
Recipient
*	 Successfully ran a girl's
empowerment group, Aspire to
Inspi(HER), for 2 consecutive
years at LAMS

*	 Raised money through Donors
Choose to attend Ron Clark
Academy for Professional
Development

JAN/FEB 2021 29
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The Roanoker - January/February 2021

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