Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Daphne April Jones named Valley Proteins Fellow

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College student Daphne April Jones of Henrico County, Virginia, has been named as one of ten outstanding students selected by The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to be part of its second class of Valley Proteins Fellows.  The Valley Proteins Fellows Program was created to celebrate and enhance the leadership capacity of students who have demonstrated great potential. 
What makes one student’s potential stand out from others?  In this case it is not just the 3.90 grade point average that Daphne has been able to maintain while a student at JSRCC.  The fact that she earned the almost perfect GPA as a single mother raising 4 children gives one a little more insight into her character.  Then you find out that in addition to her four children, Daphne also has full legal custody of her 17-year-old brother Eric, who has special needs and requires 24-hour supervision and you begin to understand her strength of character.  With all this, she still finds time to be involved with the schooling of her children, lending a hand to their teachers. 
Daphne will begin her second year this fall at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and she has a goal in mind.  In fact, she has several goals in mind.  The first is to earn an Associate degree in Nursing at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.  The next is to transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  Once that is complete, she wants to earn a Master’s degree in Nursing and ultimately become a Nurse Practitioner.  Daphne is willing to do whatever she has to do to achieve her goals and she knows it will not be easy.    
The Valley Proteins scholarship will certainly help.  In addition to covering the students' full tuition and fees, the Fellows participate in a unique leadership curriculum and receive individualized assistance in obtaining financial aid and transferring to four-year institutions.  
According to Daphne, “This fellowship means so much to me.  It gives me the flexibility to concentrate on my studies, and not worry about the financial aspect of going to school.  The most exciting part of the fellowship to me is the 40 hours of community service each semester.  I look forward to giving back and hope to volunteer in area homeless shelters.”  
“The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education is dedicated to expanding opportunities by leveraging partnerships,” Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, noted. “This program is a great example of the synergy that comes from joining together employers that are vested in the quality of tomorrow’s Virginia workforce and the community colleges that elevate it every day.”
Valley Proteins is a family-owned business that has been in business for more than 50 years and currently operates 12 plants in 7 states, including Virginia.  The management is committed to outstanding corporate citizenship, excellent customer service, technological innovation and support for the community college mission.