Joshua Basham, a senior at the Academy at Virginia Randolph, received a surprise gift recently from his associate principal, Adria Mayo, courtesy of an educator and motivational speaker named Hamish Brewer who had spoken to HCPS staff members before the school year.
The gift? A brand new skateboard and personalized gear.
"You were the first person that came to my mind when he said I have a skateboard I'm giving out," she said.
Brewer is known as the "Tattooed Skateboarding Principal," and his talks encourage educators to be "relentless" in empowering students, particularly in how they engage with their lives and passions.
Mayo learned about Joshua's passion for skateboarding that came from his father and how he often uses it to get to and from home, so when Brewer offered a skateboard to be given to a student, she jumped at the opportunity to do something special for the AVR senior.
“I introduced myself to Mr. Brewer, shared Joshua's story and his positive journey, and without hesitation, Mr. Brewer invited me to send my details so he could send a skateboard for Joshua,” she said. “When the new school year began, I couldn’t wait to find Joshua and let him know something special was on the way.”
In late October, Joshua watched a video of the former principal riding his skateboard through school halls before Mayo presented him the new deck — from Brewer's own "Relentless" brand — and a shirt with his nickname on it.
They shared a hug, and Joshua thanked his associate principal and left a video message thanking Brewer.
Brewer also left brand new skateboards and gear behind for several students at Fairfield Middle School. Counselor Masia Jones presented the boards and helmets to five girls with a "skateboard party" in the gym, a reward for their resilience and courage.
"That's Mr. Brewer's message to all educators, to all students: to be 'Relentless,'" she said. "To be relentless in your pursuit of mental health, of mental wellness, of just being yourself — and just excellence.”