The
air in the Lipman Auditorium will be filled with excitement on Friday, May 13 as
the members of the PAVE Class of 2016 are honored.
The
only one of its kind in the state of Virginia, Reynolds Program for Adults in
Vocational Education (PAVE) is a two-year vocational training program which serves students with intellectual, physical,
emotional, and learning disabilities.
PAVE provides students with tools to
become independent support professionals. Students
may earn career studies certificates in Child Care Assistant, Clerical
Assistant, Healthcare Assistant, and Food Service Assistant. The students work independently through an
unpaid, coordinated internship after completing academic, professional and social skills
training in the classroom.
This year’s PAVE class of 10 earned four Clerical Assistant Career Studies Certificates, four Food Service Assistant Career Studies Certificates, and two Child Care Assistant Career Certificates.
Anthony
(AJ) Saunders is one of the four students earning a Clerical Assistant Career Studies Certificate. AJ struggled through elementary and middle school. It was
only when he enrolled in Lord Botetourt High School at the beginning of his
junior year of high school that things began to change for the better. This
school, unlike others he attended, embraced AJ and his autistic brother
Brandon. AJ finally understood that although he learned differently than other
students, there were no limits to what he could accomplish. Beyond learning, he
made friends, participated in school activities, and joined student
organizations. All of his teachers saw how hard he worked in class and admired
the effort he put forth.
As for
academic achievement, despite his advisor’s recommendation that AJ set a goal
to graduate with a modified standard diploma because of doubt he could pass the
SOLs, AJ was determined to earn a standard diploma. He took and retook his SOLs
until he passed them all and earned the standard diploma.
After
high school AJ worked at Goodwill Industries and Bojangles, but his dream was
to attend college. He applied to Western Community College but was unable to
pass the entrance exam. A friend of his
grandmother learned of the PAVE program at Reynolds. He applied, was accepted
and the rest is history.
AJ has
been on the Dean’s List while in PAVE, the President’s Honor Roll, and was the
recipient of the John Augustine Boothe Memorial/PAVE Scholarship. He was also awarded for
service excellence by Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital while in his internship.
What’s
next for AJ? As a result of his internship at St. Mary’s Hospital he has been
encouraged to apply for a summer position as a Patient Service Representative.
In the fall he hopes to take some courses at Reynolds in hopes of pursing a
degree in Business Administration. If the past is any indication he certainly
has the determination and the drive to reach his goals.
Congratulations
to all the PAVE graduates!
