Calvin Broyles Jewelers puts their heart in West Virginia and gives back to the state they love.
When third-generation jeweler Beau Broyles of Calvin Broyles Jewelers wanted to make a piece of jewelry celebrating West Virginia, he knew it would revolve around a heart. “We, as a family and a company, have a lot of love for our state,” he says. “Our heart is in the state of West Virginia.”
For more than 70 years, Calvin Broyles Jewelers has been one of the most trusted names in the jewelry industry. Beau says, “When my grandfather founded this store, he built it on honesty, integrity, quality, and personal service. And to this day that is our hallmark. We are a family that treats our customers like family.”
And to West Virginians, family and community are important. “West Virginians have a lot of pride in their roots,” Beau says. “And the ‘Heart in West Virginia’ necklace, which contains a gemstone heart in the outline of the state, is a perfect way to showcase that pride.” Each piece—available as a necklace or a bracelet in sterling silver, white, rose, and yellow gold—is customized by choosing the gemstone that is placed in the heart.
The “Heart in West Virginia” jewelry collection, which ranges in price from $115 to $475, has struck a chord with their customers. One such customer, Vonda Roberts, received it as a gift. She says, “Several years ago, my husband played in a golf tournament and, when given the option of a golf outing or a West Virginia necklace as a prize, he chose a necklace that is now one of my most memorable pieces of jewelry. It is certainly a memory of thoughtfulness on my husband’s part, but as a retired elementary school teacher, it also represents the artistic talent of one of my favorite former students, Beau Broyles! I wear my necklace frequently, and it continues to amaze me how many strangers comment on its craftsmanship, simplicity, and beauty.”
Jewelry is the perfect gift for any occasion. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, show the most special women in your life where your heart is. Need a unique graduation gift? “We sell a lot emeralds and blue sapphire hearts as graduation gifts,” Beau says. “People give it as a gift to show school pride. People buy it with birthstones for birthdays. It’s a way for our customers to remember where they came from.”
But the “Heart in West Virginia” story doesn’t stop there. In fact, its heart beats on and on. With every purchase, Calvin Broyles donates 15 percent to a scholarship fund to help deserving West Virginia students go to college.
“We are a West Virginia family and a West Virginia business, and we wanted to help our West Virginia kids stay in the state and go to college,” explains Beau. Every year, with proceeds from the “Heart in West Virginia,” Calvin Broyles Jewelers awards four graduating West Virginia high school seniors from around the state $1,500 each. Applicants must be graduating from a West Virginia high school, attending a West Virginia university, college, or community college, and have at least a 2.5 GPA. “Our minimum is a bit lower than most scholarships. But we believe that just because a kid might not have the highest grade point average doesn’t mean he or she won’t be successful, “ Beau says. “We really wanted to try and help those who demonstrated a need and those who sometimes fall through the cracks.”
One of the questions on the scholarship application form, available at calvinbroyles.com/scholarship, is to describe personal circumstances that might have challenged the student’s achievement in school. The selection committee also looks at work experience and community service. “We want to learn about them, especially if they’ve had to overcome some challenges or difficulties,” Beau says. “And some of these essays bring tears to my eyes. It makes the scholarship all the more meaningful to be able to help kids who really deserve it.” The students also have to submit one-page essays on what they hope to achieve in school, what their goals are, and why they chose to stay in West Virginia. Beau says, “We think it is important to encourage our young people to stay in the state—not that there is anything wrong with going out of state to college—but we are losing so many of our talented kids. This scholarship rewards those who can articulate why they want to stay in West Virginia.”
If you’ve been to one of Calvin Broyles’ three locations around the state—South Charleston, Teays Valley, and Beckley—you know that the customer service is friendly and welcoming and that their selection of quality jewelry, from diamonds and gemstones to watches and fine accessories, is vast. But one thing you may not know is that, by purchasing this special “Heart in West Virginia” line, you are putting your heart in West Virginia and helping our children step into the future. Doesn’t that make your heart skip a beat?
“Heart in West Virginia” Scholarship recipients share what West Virginia and the scholarship means to them.
Lauren E. Phillips, South Charleston
Lauren E. Phillips, of South Charleston, a 2018 “Heart of West Virginia” recipient, had played soccer since she was four years old. But in the fall of 2016, she suffered a life-changing injury. After several MRIs and a referral to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, it was believed that she had a rare condition called avascular necrosis and was facing a total hip replacement or core decompression of the hip. After a surgery, it was discovered that rather than avascular necrosis, she had a labral tear, but her competitive days of playing soccer and swimming were over. Although she was upset that she could not play sports her senior year of high school and compete for scholarships, she stayed involved by assisting her sports teams and joining other organizations, like the National Youth Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS), to learn more about sports and recreation injury prevention.
In Phillips’ scholarship application, she pointed out that her injury caused her to miss several days of school and, as a result, her grade point average suffered. But she was determined. “The injury that was defining my existence will not be the curve ball that strikes me out,” Phillips says.
Zane Pinkerton, Cottageville
Zane, a Ripley High School graduate, wants to be a dentist and is currently attending Fairmont State University. “I have chosen to stay in West Virginia to continue my education because I love this great state. I was born and raised here. I feel that my generation needs to take pride in West Virginia. It is up to us to gain the knowledge necessary to propel our state forward. We must be able to provide the skilled workforce of tomorrow. More and more people are leaving to find work elsewhere, but I think it is important to stay and become a part of the solution to improving the opportunities in West Virginia. My family goes back generations in this state as coal miners and power plant, steel, and trucking union workers. I am proud of that history and look forward to continuing my family roots in this great state that I call home.”
Caitlin Hardman, Buffalo
Buffalo High School graduate Caitlin, who attends West Virginia University, is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine and after college plans to remain in West Virginia and work as a large animal veterinarian. “West Virginia is a wonderful state to live in, despite what others may say. All I hear from others my age is that they can’t wait to leave this place, which I truly have never understood. When I attended Rhododendron Girls State, Senator Joe Manchin spoke to 400 girls and explained that our state needed strong leaders such as us. Hearing this made my heart grow bigger for West Virginia, because our state needs love and support to be great.”
“I feel so fortunate to have received the Calvin Broyles’ “Heart in West Virginia” Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship reminded me how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do. I also think it’s amazing the Broyles family is willing to provide assistance to so many students in West Virginia and make an impact on the ability of our state’s youth to receive higher education.” —Lauren E. Phillips, West Virginia University student
To apply for the “Heart in West Virginia” Scholarship visit calvinbroyles.com/scholarship.
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