Graduate Team: Kevin and Yahtzee
About the Team: Yahtzee, a female black Lab; Kevin’s 1st guide dog
Hometown: Erwin, North Carolina
Training: July 2026 On-Campus
Kevin was born and raised in the historic seaport city of Portsmouth, Virginia, and raised in Virginia Beach. A self-employed artist, he has spent much of his career specializing in tie-dye artwork. At age 28, he was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic eye disorder, and in 2023 he was declared legally blind. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife of 20 years, Ashley, whom he met at a party when they were teenagers. They are the proud parents of a daughter, Sarah, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, who is a member of the honor society and serves as a cheerleader for the Braves athletic teams. Kevin has pursued higher education opportunities for himself as well. He graduated with high honors from Fayetteville Technical Community College, earning an associate degree in Fine Arts and Visual Arts. He is currently enrolled at Fayetteville State University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree and maintains a 4.0 GPA. After graduation, he hopes to further his studies by earning a graduate degree in the arts. Kevin is also an active member of his community, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Arts Council of Fayetteville. When he’s not studying, creating art, or volunteering, he enjoys exploring local art and music festivals.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Yahtzee is super sweet, very loving, and always comfortable with her surroundings and the people she meets. She prefers working indoors because of the southern summer heat, so we mostly go out, both in the morning and evening when it’s cooler.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I researched the different guide dog schools. To be honest, one of the reasons I chose Guiding Eyes was their responsiveness. They reached out to me promptly, whereas some of the other organizations I contacted never got back to me. Also, I preferred to do my training up in New York as opposed to going further south or out west.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having Yahtzee has put me on a schedule and provided a routine centered on caring for her needs. Before her, I never really had a schedule. Now, I love having one. It has changed my life for the better in every way. She brings purpose and joy to my days and has truly opened up my world.”
Were there any training highlights? “I loved everyone at the school. It was clear that the staff genuinely cared about one another, the guide dogs, and each and every student in my class of seven. My classmates quickly got to know each other, and we still keep in touch through an active group chat. Jenna, Michelle, Stephanie, and Ben were terrific instructors and had fun personalities, enabling the group to enjoy the training experience. The campus was top-notch, and the food service provided by Chef Rob and his assistant Craig went above and beyond all expectations.”
DOB: 12/8/2023
Litter ID: 3Y24
Color/Breed:
Gender: Female
Brood: Cora
Stud: Kirk
Littermates:
Region: Bay
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cindy Tait
Puppy Raisers: Nancy and John Maschmeier
Facebook: Bay Puppy Raisers
