Promoting
eXcellent Communities, Education, and Leadership |
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The XCELerator: Gala Edition
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A Night of Xcellence:
Reflections on Our Annual GalaÂ
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Charlene (our Executive Director) with her family and Reivan Douglas (the MC, standing)
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Dear Friends & Supporters
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What an incredible evening! On April 11th, the Blue Heron in High Point was transformed into a hub of celebration, style, and—most importantly—gratitude. From the moment our "tailored and tuxed" guests checked in by scanning a QR code on their personal phones to access a form, it was clear this year’s gala would be a landmark event.
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🌟Leadership Spotlight:
Angie Williams |
left to right: Dexter (Angie's son) & Angie
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Before we dive into the night's festivities, we must give a huge shout-out to our new Development Director, Angie Williams.
Angie had just joined the team when she was thrust into the helm of spearheading the gala preparation. From sponsorship and donation solicitations to overseeing the communications, marketing, and administrative tasks, she was the engine that made this success possible. Angie, we are so proud of you! Your determination to succeed and the grit with which you approach every task are commendable and certainly haven't gone unnoticed. Thank you for all you do to help keep this ship afloat and on course!
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📸 The Red Carpet Experience
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The glamour began immediately with Red Carpet Interviews hosted by Valerie. She spoke with the people who make Operation Xcel flow—from our Executive Director and board members to parents, students, and community members. These interviews provided powerful "verbal imagery" of the milestones and the deep impact our mission has on everyone's lives in our community.
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 🥂 "Pinkies Up" & The Raffle |
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| From 5:00 to 6:00 PM, guests mingled on the terrace, in the gardens overlooking a lovely pond complete with new blooms, and on the patio.
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The Bites: A delicious spread of pimento cheese, hummus, and salsa served with crackers, toast, and chips.
- The Sips: Our signature cocktails/mocktails—Community Crush, Xcellence, Education Libation, and Leadership Lemonade—were back by popular demand!
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The Raffle: For just $5 a ticket, guests used our "bag system" to bid on amazing prizes. We saw plenty of excitement over the Wet & Wild and Triad Bowling packages, Breakout Games passes, and the elegant wine-and-dinner basket with gift cards from Bravo Italian Cucina.
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🍽️ A Feast for the Senses |
At 6:00 PM, Pepper Moon Catering served a spectacular four-course
meal. Throughout the program, DJ Rudd set the perfect mood with a wonderful mix of Pop, Smooth Jazz, Latin, and 80's and 90's hits.
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| Course | Offerings |
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First Course
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Fresh salad greens with a choice of balsamic or ranch dressing | | The Main | Chicken Marsala, Beef, or Quinoa Stuffed Bell Pepper | | On the Side | Fresh seasonal vegetables, roasted potatoes, and warm rolls | | Dessert | Cheesecake Parfait or Chocolate Mousse Filled Cake |
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Once the formal program concluded, the energy shifted—the dance floor truly "jumped off" as guests celebrated a successful night of giving!
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🎓 Student Spotlight:
From Operation Xcel to Aggie Pride |
We were honored to welcome back Jeremiah Pettyjohn, a former Operation Xcel student and current Freshman Honors Marketing student at North Carolina A&T State University, as our guest speaker at this year's gala.
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Jeremiah’s journey is a powerful testament to what happens when we invest in the potential of our youth. Reflecting on his time with the program, Jeremiah shared that Operation Xcel was more than just a place for homework help—it was the launchpad for his leadership.
"I didn't just participate in my environment, I pursued leadership within it," Jeremiah told the audience. "Operation Xcel didn’t just prepare me academically; it prepared me to lead, to speak up, and to step into rooms with confidence."
During his high school career, Jeremiah served as student government president and president of National Honor society. He credits the "discipline and accountability" he learned at Operation Xcel for giving him the resilience to navigate the challenges of a competitive university environment.
As he looks toward a bright future in marketing, Jeremiah’s message to our supporters was clear: “You are not just funding programs. You are shaping futures.” We are so proud of this Aggie and cannot wait to see the "extraordinary outcomes" his intentional actions continue to produce!
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👇Learn More About Jeremiah's Journey 👇 |
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🏆 The Xcellence Awards |
We were proud to recognize the students, community influencers, and parents who make our vision a reality.
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Across our seven campuses, these students represent the spirit of Xcellence, Resilience, and Creativity:
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| Ahou Tieba | Jeremiah Dunn | Paisley Williams | | Amariah Amo Kuffoud | Johan Kornegay | Phoenix Wright |
| David Carter |
Juliet Williams | Quinn Collins | | Dylan Jones | Jy’Larren Haizlip | Samari Cooper | | Ethan Navarro
| Kayden Oliver |
Va’Shawn Garrett | | Forrest Bowman | Kenji Price | Xavier Carrera | | Ginni Wang | Lynnlee King | Zach Cormier |
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Parent, Staff, & Community Xcellence |
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Staff Recognition
(Lori Walton): |
 Lori (Family Engagement Specialist) was recognized for her creative
and person-centered approach
and her unique gift for putting
others at ease while encouraging
them to be their best selves.
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For the first year, we recognized parents with appreciation awards. Because of their instrumental support, this will now be an annual tradition. We honor: Dora Campo, Nicole Peoples, and Toni Jones-Mossi.
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| Community Xcellence Partners |
- Steve Palcsak (Board Member)
- Dr. Pamela Palmer (Consultant)
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Pastor Ed McKinney & Stokesdale UMC (Site Host)
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Relive the Memories: Stay tuned! The gala page on our website will soon be updated with a full gallery of pictures from the event.
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Get Involved: Inspired by this year's success? We would love to have you! If you are interested in joining the planning committee or working with the development team on future events and solicitations, please reach out to us..
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To our staff, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and students: Thank you for making the April 11th Gala a night to remember!
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Operation Xcel
PO Box 412
Stokesdale, NC 27357
(336) 644-3530
EIN - 26-3948215
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PO BOX 412 | Stokesdale, NC 27357 US
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