College Board’s Wilson named Hanover Co. Superintendent

Hanover County Public Schools recently named Dr. Jamelle Wilson the new superintendent of schools. Dr. Wilson is a current member of the JSRCC College Board and has worked closely with the College to establish partnerships that serve JSRCC students as well as Hanover County K-12 students. For the past eight years, Dr. Wilson has served Hanover County as the assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. She has experience as a classroom teacher, a curriculum specialist and principal.

A native of Spotsylvania County, Dr. Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree from UVA, a master’s degree in Teaching from UVA, a master’s degree in English Writing and Rhetoric from VCU and a doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from UVA.

Reynolds utilizes Skype for peer advising

JSRCC used the Summer 2011 registration period to pilot the Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) program – an initiative that allowed the College to train four students and supply them with laptops and headsets so the students could provide online assistance to prospective students after normal business hours. The College launched its “Skype with a PAL” campaign, encouraging those in need of assistance to contact a College PAL via Skype, a free online chat tool, in the evenings after Student Success Centers were closed. For those new to Skype, easy-to-use instructions were posted on the College website. The program was funded through a VCCS Chancellor’s Innovation Fund and was designed to increase student retention, success and support.

“PALs is essentially an online component of the College’s Peer Advisors,” explained QEP Assistant Coordinator Meg Foster. “It’s able to provide services to students after hours so they can get answers to their questions in the comfort of their own home. And it is particularly attractive to our students and prospective students that are comfortable with technology.”

The College has agreed to support the PALs program for fall registration. PALs will be available for Fall 2011 registration via Skype beginning July 11 (when early bird registration begins). PALs will keep evening hours, Sunday through Wednesday each week, through the first week of classes.

10K honors fallen first responders

Debra Johnson, from JSRCC’s Office of Financial Aid, and her daughter Kelli, 14, participated in this weekend’s 10K memorial run honoring first responders that lost their lives serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. The race began at the University of Richmond and ended at the State Capitol building, where the Patriot Flag was raised. The Patriot Flag is a travelling tribute to the Armed Forces, first responders and second responders, the 9-11 families and the fallen of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. It also honors the public safety and military personnel on the job today that are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect lives and freedom. The memorial run was organized and scheduled prior to Osama Bin Laden’s reported death.

Johnson said although she did not have a personal connection to the memorial, she typically participates in 10K’s and other events in the City to show her support.

“We did it for the camaraderie and because it was a good cause,” she said. “We met a lot of great people who did have a personal connection to the cause and we were able to hear their stories. It was very emotional.”

Western Campus hosts 7th Gardenfest

The JSRCC Western Campus in Goochland County recently hosted its 7^th Annual Gardenfest in conjunction with the Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardener’s Association and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Gardening experts, including Reynolds Horticulture program faculty, offered information and advice on everything from bulbs and critter control to paver projects and composting. Presentations on attracting butterflies, container gardening and harvesting rain water were also popular. The day concluded with a panel presentation where attendees were able to ask experts and Master Gardeners general questions about gardening in the region.

The College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture Technology. Classes are offered at the Western Campus and are intended to prepare students for a wide range of careers in horticulture. The program offers hands-on laboratory work as well as classroom instruction in the design-install-maintain aspects of landscaping, in floral design, and in production of horticultural materials. Many graduates own and operate their own business, while others are employed by commercial or government entities. Individuals already in a "green" industry may also find the program helpful for improving or upgrading their skills.

Student Life hosts block party

The Office of Student Life at Reynolds is known to host events that celebrate a variety of occasions – the start of the semester, exams, college milestones – you get the idea. And sometimes, they host really great parties for no reason other than to remind students what fun it can be to hang around campus. This week Student Life hosted a block party at the Parham Road Campus with ice cream, pizza, caricature art and henna tattoos. A local radio station was also at the party, playing music and giving away prizes for our resident "cornhole" champions.