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“I was super happy when my dad told me about this award,” says Radford High School sophomore, Tyrel Dobson. Dobson is ColorsVA Magazine Scholar of the month for May. “It’s good to work and do stuff and it’s good to be recognized,” says Tyrel. “Really, the Lord has blessed me and I want to follow His path to do the right thing and have a good name for myself,” he adds.

“He’s done an excellent job in the community, in school, work, and participates in several sports and he’s been successful in all of them,” says Isaac Dobson, Tyrel’s father. Tyrel is a hard worker and has set goals. He plans to leave the Radford area to attend college to further his education so he can become a school teacher just like his mother, Ranglette Dobson. “She inspires me to teach and to help young students be the best they can be. I just want to follow in her footsteps,” he says. Tyrel’s father also is an inspiration. “Both of my parents inspire me and my sister to be the best that we can be at anything we put our minds to. My sister goes to college and makes good grades. And I want to do the same thing. I want to make good grades in college as well,” Tyrel says.

“It’s an honor. I’m very proud of him. He’s an all-around good student and athlete. He puts God first in his life. He was raised in the church,” says his mother. “I think he has had important values instilled in him since he was a young age and he continues to have them even when I’m not around.”

Making the grade in college won’t be a tall order for this student-athlete. He’s a straight-A student with a firm 4.0 grade point average now. His former English teacher Tina Tapp, says he is a prime candidate for the ColorsVA Scholar of the month. That’s why she nominated him. “He has just been really compassionate and energized and always trying to help others,” says Tapp. Tyrel mentors young men through a group called Black Excellence that he helped to establish. “He’s given up his own study hall twice a week to come work with these boys and he was so good with them, they would just beg for him,” says Tapp. 

“I love helping young people and being a good role model for them,” he says. Tapp applauds those efforts. “Tyrel is one of the hardest working students I’ve had the pleasure to work with,” she says. Mentoring is important to Tyrel because he, too, has had great mentors. His dad, he says, is one of them. “We teach him to be honest and be pleasant and treat people the way you want to be treated,” says Isaac Dobson. “I am very proud of him for always doing the right thing and staying out of trouble.” 

Tyrel loves sports. “I play football, line-backer. I enjoy it. I also play the post in basketball,” he shares. “I love being involved in school.” Tyrel also plays for a travel basketball team, the Running Royals. His hobby rises to the top of the list of things to do – cooking. “I really enjoy cooking. I cook every Sunday with my grandmother. I am also starting to learn how to sew as well.” 

Tim Blassingame, a family friend who has watch Tyrel grow from a child to a young man says Tyrel is such an asset to the Radford community. “He’s a really good student and has friends of all races and he’s obedient. He’s just a good all-around kid. He’s respectful and I’m glad he’s a part of the community.” 

Many students, teachers, and community members agree. Tyrel Dobson deserves this recognition and honor for all he does. Congratulations Tyrel Dobson.