The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 26

Under
W

ith 130 nominations
this year, we could
not have asked for
a more impressive group of
young professionals in the
Roanoke Valley. It is so exciting
to know so many are doing
so much in our region! From
their career achievements,
community involvement,
accolades and more, choosing
only 40 was an incredibly
difficult decision for our
editorial team.
Meet our Class of 2021 and
learn more about them online
at TheRoanoker.com/
Classof2021.
We thank every single
nominator for their
submission, and encourage
them to submit again next
year. And of course, thank
you to every single nominee
making a difference in our
community. Keep up the
amazing work!

The Class of 2021 is listed in
alphabetical order by last name.

Brandon Alterio, 33

Margaret Ashburn, 31

Police Officer, Vinton Police
Department

Assistant News Director, WSLS10

" Roanoke is one of those places
that once you have to leave the
area, you can really appreciate
it, especially the Star sitting on
top of the mountain. It truly is a
beacon for this community. "
Brandon Alterio has always had a
passion for community service.
As a military veteran who served
multiple tours to Iraq, he still felt
a calling to serve, becoming a
Vinton police officer and earning
his master's degree in Criminal
Justice from Liberty University
in 2020. Alterio was awarded the
2020 Police Officer of the Year,
recognized for purchasing a bike
for a child whose bike was stolen.
On his days off, he is a substitute
teacher for Roanoke County
and is married to a special
education teacher. As servants of
the community, he and his wife
volunteer for many community
events in their spare time. " I try
to apply my passion towards the
needs of those who live in my
community everyday, " he says.
" My goal each day is that after
someone has called for my help,
after we are done speaking, they
feel as though their request was
fulfilled without a doubt. "
*	 2020 Police Officer of the Year
*	 Earned master's degree in
Criminal Justice, Liberty
University, 2020

" I love how this city continues to
grow in all the right ways. "
A Magna Cum Laude graduate
with a degree in Broadcast
Journalism from the University
of Georgia, Margaret Ashburn's
leadership has resulted in
numerous awards for WSLS10,
including a 2020 Emmy Award
for Outstanding Newscast. She
serves on the Junior League
of Roanoke Valley board as
secretary and organized the
first Carilion Toy Drive, while
also volunteering as the Ronald
McDonald House Committee cochair. She began virtual training
in May 2020 with the MakeA-Wish Foundation of Greater
Virginia to serve as a wish
granter and participates each
year in the Special Olympics
Polar Plunge by jumping in the
New River in early February
dressed as a penguin! She is also
a high school Sunday School
teacher for Second Presbyterian
Church. " Having the opportunity
to give back to the community
that gave me so much growing
up is the greatest honor, "
Ashburn says. " It's what pushes
me to continue to want to be
involved and do something for
others, no matter how big or
small the impact is. ... My drive
comes from holding this city so
deeply in my heart. "
*	 Graduated Magna Cum Laude
with a degree in Broadcast
Journalism, University of
Georgia
*	 Awarded the ABCD (Above and
Beyond the Call of Duty) Award
for 2020 by JLRV

TheRoanoker.com
http://www.TheRoanoker.com/classof2021
The Roanoker - January/February 2021

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