Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia have announced the 2025 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honorees and Student Creative Expressions Contest finalists. This annual program highlights African American business and community leaders who have faced challenges and made lasting contributions to the state. Over the years, the program has recognized individuals from various fields, including the military, engineering, medicine, education, literature, law, and public service.
Ed Baine, President Utility Operations & Dominion Energy Virginia, said in a statement, “This year’s Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honorees are trailblazers whose tireless efforts have created lasting change in their communities. We proudly salute these inspiring community leaders whose lives demonstrate the power of perseverance and service.”
Librarian of Virginia Dennis T. Clark., mentioned “We are deeply honored to join Dominion Energy in celebrating African Americans who have made remarkable contributions in their respective fields and positively impacted the lives of our Commonwealth’s citizens. This year’s honorees reflect inspiring success stories that embody legacies of excellence.”
A special event in Richmond on Thursday honored the 2025 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History awardees for their remarkable contributions to the state. This year’s honorees include Winsome Earle-Sears, lieutenant governor of Virginia from Winchester; Don Scott, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from Portsmouth; Damien Geter, a composer, conductor, and bass-baritone from Chesterfield; Kelly L. Knight, a forensic scientist from Fairfax; and Virginia Young Lee, a librarian from Roanoke, who was recognized posthumously. To further celebrate their achievements, the Library of Virginia will showcase a traveling exhibition featuring their biographies. This exhibit will be displayed throughout the year at schools, businesses, and community centers, allowing Virginians to learn more about these influential leaders.
The Strong Men & Women in Virginia History initiative began in 2013 as a collaboration between Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia, merging two long-running Black History Month programs to recognize African American excellence. As part of this initiative, Virginia high school students were invited to participate in a creative expressions contest, encouraging them to highlight extraordinary African Americans and share overlooked stories. Each finalist received an Apple MacBook Air laptop and funding for their school.
This year’s contest winner, Matthew Peng from Meridian High School in Falls Church, created a “found poem” titled Alone by reinterpreting The Crossover, a novel-in-verse by 2019 honoree Kwame Alexander, to emphasize the importance of inclusion. In recognition of his work, Matthew’s school received an additional monetary award. The 2025 Student Creative Expressions Contest finalists included Alvaro Lobo Arispe from Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Allison Arnett from Grafton High School in York County, and Nikhita Saravanan from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies in Richmond. Through this annual celebration, Virginia continues to honor both its influential leaders and the next generation of changemakers, ensuring their stories and impact inspire future generations.
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