DARDEN AWARDS

Celebrating contributions to regional leadership

Darden Awards for regional leadership

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

 

Details of this event will be announced soon!

 

Submit your 2026 Darden Awards for an Individual and Corporate Awardee in the link below!

Submit a Nomination

2025 Darden Awards Honorees

Aubrey L. Layne, Jr.

Individual Darden Award

A native of Hampton Roads, Aubrey has dedicated his career to advancing the well-being of our community through both public and private sectors. His tenure as Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation and later as Secretary of Finance under Governors Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam, respectively, showcased his adeptness in overseeing complex agencies and budgets, directly influencing infrastructure and financial policies that benefit our region.

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In his current role as EVP, Chief Administrative Officer at Sentara Health, Aubrey continues to champion initiatives that foster community growth and health. Notably, under his leadership, Sentara contributed a $500,000 grant to Nauticus, facilitating the creation of a new STEM Discovery Lab aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for area students.

Aubrey’s dedication to education is further exemplified by his longstanding involvement with An Achievable Dream in Newport News. Serving as President and later as a Foundation Board Member, he and his wife, Peggy, sponsored the Class of 2013, providing mentorship and funding annual merit college scholarships for each student, thereby directly impacting the lives of young individuals in our community.

Aubrey L. Layne Jr.’s extensive service and leadership have significantly advanced the Hampton Roads region’s infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development. His visionary approach and unwavering dedication make him an exemplary candidate for the Darden Award for Regional Leadership.

WHRO Public Media

Corporate Darden Award

WHRO Public Media was built to serve Eastern Virginia. Founded in 1961 to bring learning into homes and classrooms, the name – Home Room One – reflects that mission. They are the only public media station in the nation owned by a collaboration of 21 local public school divisions, making them a vital part of the region’s educational and cultural fabric. 

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Today, WHRO is the largest nonprofit media organization in Eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. They operate five public television and five public radio stations, reaching over 1.7 million people each month with trusted journalism, music, arts, and educational content.

WHRO also powers eMediaVA, a digital learning platform used in classrooms across the Commonwealth. “For more than 60 years, WHRO has helped our community feel smarter and happier through the power of nonprofit media which makes them the natural next choice for the Corporate Darden Award,” says Dr. Mary Kate Andris, President and CEO, of CIVIC Leadership Institute.

About the Darden Awards

The annual Darden Awards welcomes over 550 regional executives and community leaders to celebrate the honorees’ contributions to regional leadership.  Established in 2005, the Darden Award for Regional Leadership is named for CIVIC Leadership Institute’s Founder Emeritus, the late Joshua P. Darden Jr. 

Each year an individual and a corporation from the Hampton Roads region is selected to receive the award.  Those honored have delivered extraordinary service on boards, commissions and as community volunteers. They worked to create sustainable efforts toward the betterment of life for the people of the Hampton Roads Region and demonstrate exceptional leadership in the pursuit of regional cooperation.

Darden Award RECIPIENTS

    • 2025 Individual Honoree: Aubrey L. Layne, Jr.
      2025 Corporate Honoree: WHRO Public Media
    • 2024 Individual Honorees: Richard and Carolyn Barry
      2024 Corporate Honoree: Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters
    • 2023 Individual Honoree: Robert W. Cross
      2023 Corporate Honoree: LifeNet Health
    • 2022 Individual Honoree: Gilbert T. Bland
      2022 Corporate Honoree: Sentara Healthcare
    • 2019 Individual Honorees: David and Susan Goode
      2019 Corporate Honoree: Kaufman & Canoles
    • 2018 Individual Honoree: Harvey L. Lindsay, Jr.
      2018 Corporate Honoree: Ferguson
    • 2017 Individual Honoree: George Y. Birdsong
      2017 Corporate Honoree: Dollar Tree
    • 2016 Individual Honoree: John R. Lawson, II
      2016 Corporate Honoree: Landmark Media Enterprises, LLC
    • 2015 Individual Honorees: Joan and Macon Brock
      2015 Corporate Honoree: Newport News Shipbuilding
    • 2014 Individual Honoree: Jane Parke Batten
      2014 Corporate Honoree: Norfolk Southern Corporation
    • 2013 Individual Honoree: John O. “Dubby” Wynne
      2013 Corporate Honoree: TowneBank
    • 2012: Vince and Suzanne Mastracco
    • 2011: Dr. Deborah M. DiCroce
    • 2010: Jack L. Ezzell, Jr.
    • 2009: Harry T. Lester
    • 2008: Paul O. Hirschbiel, Jr.
    • 2007: G. Robert Aston, Jr.
    • 2006: J. Robert Bray
    • 2005: Joshua P. Darden, Jr., Founder Emeritus

Darden Awards Sponsors

Thank you for the support of our generous sponsors. We are especially appreciative to our Title Sponsor, TowneBank, for their commitment to the Darden Awards. For more information about sponsoring the Darden Awards for Regional Leadership, please contact executiveprograms@civichr.org.

Title Sponsor

Visionary Sponsor

Icon Sponsors

Table Sponsors

Impact Sponsors

Friends of Civic Sponsors

Mentor Sponsors

CIVIC Partner

Media Sponsor

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