Three students—Christopher Bobb, Elena Salamo, and Peyton Turner—were recognized by the Cumberland School Board at the meeting held on September 4, 2025.
Cadet Christopher Bobb, a senior at Cumberland High School, was recognized for successfully completing the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge held at Camp Eagle, located on Fort Barfoot near Blackstone. Camp Eagle is a challenging leadership camp that pushes cadets beyond their comfort zones, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Throughout the week, Cadet Bobb participated in a wide range of activities, including team-building exercises, leadership scenarios, field training, and physical fitness challenges. He demonstrated resilience, discipline, and strong leadership under pressure. According to Sgt. Chumley, “This experience not only helped him grow as a leader but also reinforced the core Army values we emphasize in our JROTC program. His performance was a great representation of Cumberland High School, and we look forward to seeing how he applies these lessons during the upcoming school year.”
Elena Salamo, a sophomore at Cumberland High School, was recognized for attending the summer program at the Longwood SEED Innovation Hub, which was run by Longwood University and the Southside Regional Governor's School. The SEED program explored a variety of topics, such as STEM, entrepreneurship, 3-D printing, starting your own business, and engineering. Salamo stated, “This one-week program immensely enhanced my creativity, critical thinking, and my passion for business and marketing. Not only was I able to work with something that would solve many people's problems and everyday struggles, but I also was able to think like an entrepreneur!”
Salamo stated that during the SEED program, the students had the opportunity to walk around the Longwood University campus and inquire of individuals what resources or items they do not currently possess but believe would make their lives easier. When hearing this question, one person mentioned to Salamo that it would be great to have something useful for their pets. This gave her the idea to create Pet Tracker, an app designated to locate a pet when it is lost. Salamo added, “Pet Tracker has a hidden GPS inside of the pet's collar to find your pet safely without worrying that it might fall or get taken. The app also has reminders for your pets such as feeding them, taking them to the vet, and giving them medicine and shots. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of this program, and would suggest it to any high school student who wants to pursue a business career and get a good head start.”
Cumberland High School junior Peyton Turner also made the most of her summer, and she was recognized by the School Board for several achievements. Turner recently completed the prestigious Longwood University Summer Scholars Program, where she conducted impressive scientific research. Her culminating project, "Using Moon Jellyfish Collagens to Accelerate Wound Healing," explored the use of jellyfish-derived collagens compared to saline solutions and bovine collagens. Her findings suggested that jellyfish collagens may offer an edge in healing fresh wounds. “I have learned a lot about scientific research and how to present my findings. It is a very well-rounded program, and we have heard from professors of all different subjects,” Turner shared. But her summer of growth did not stop there — she also participated in the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Program (HOBY) and took part in the Southside Regional Governor's School Summer Learning Program.
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Christopher Bobb attended JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge held at Camp Eagle.
Elena Salamo and Peyton Turner both attended prestigious summer camps.