Launching into the future: George Mason Elementary School students look up with excitement at Amos Miles, an education specialist with the Science Museum of Virginia, during the launch of the Brothers United mentoring program. Richmond Public Schools launched the initiative Saturday to pair African-American children with African-American male mentors. Officials hope to expand the pilot program in the future to all city schools. (Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press)

This $28 million addition to the Virginia War Memorial is just months away from completion. Begun in the summer of 2017, the two-year development will expand the shrine to recognize Virginians killed in the Global War on Terrorism, add a gallery to honor Virginians who have received the Medal of Honor, provide more exhibit space, create a 350-seat lecture hall and a studio for recording oral histories and provide 170 parking spaces underground. Public money and private donations are funding the project that will double the size of the nearly 70-year-old memorial at 621 S. Belvidere St. (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Robotic ruckus: Students from Richmond’s Lucille Brown Middle School compete in the “Rover Ruckus FIRST Tech Challenge” held at Richmond Community High School last Friday. Teams of 12 students from the city’s middle schools, Franklin Military Academy and Community High designed, built and programmed a competition robot from a kit without instructions. Then, using remote controls, the students had 2½ minutes to maneuver their robots to pick up as many different shaped objects as possible and place them in a container. The robot placing the most objects in the container during the time limit was declared the winner. Results of the competition: Community High, 1st place; Franklin Academy, 2nd place; and Elkhardt-Thompson Middle School, 3rd place. (Ronald E. Carrington/Richmond Free Press)

Japan ‘Sister City’ recognition: Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney greets several students from Saitama, Japan, last week during their visit to City Council chambers to recognize the 20th anniversary of Saitama’s partnership with Richmond in the Sister City program. The high school students and two teachers from Urawa Municipal High School spent a week in the Richmond area through the scholastic exchange program. The students visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Maymont, where there was a welcome ceremony in the Japanese Gardens. Saitama and four other cities in Mali, Namibia, China and England have Sister City relationships with Richmond. (Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press)

Camellia on sidewalk in West End (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)