Great Expectations Students Meet, Greet, and Eat

Author Devan Mitchell and Dedra Hampton, Great Expectations Coordinator

A group of about 20 J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s Great Expectations students gathered on Tuesday, September 24 to celebrate the success of one of their own and to explore a new mentoring opportunity.

Great Expectations Coordinator Dedra Hampton introduced guest speaker Davon Mitchell, a Great Expectations student and newly published author.  Davon spoke of his journey in foster care, the benefits of his participation in the Great Expectations program, and how he met Nina Wells, a publisher, at a Great Expectation forum a few years ago.  Ms. Wells, impressed by Davon after speaking with him, promised that she would help him publish the book he was writing if he stayed in school and graduated.  Mitchell is on track to graduate from Reynolds this year, and Ms. Wells recently delivered on her promise.  Copies of Mitchell’s new book were distributed to lucky door prize winners at the gathering. 

Dedra Hampton also introduced Sean Scott, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer working with the Great Expectations Program.  Sean has been charged with developing a new mentoring program to match volunteer mentors with youth to advise and accompany them through higher education and their everyday lives.  The group enjoyed refreshments while exploring and discussing the mentoring needs of Great Expectation students. 

For more information about the Great Expectations program, please contact Dedra Hampton at dhampton@reynolds.edu or 523-5294.

 

16th Annual Scholarship Luncheon

The annual J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Scholarship Luncheon is an opportunity for the College’s scholarship donors to meet the recipients of their generosity and is always a heartwarming affair. This year’s luncheon, on Thursday, September 26, was certainly no exception. More than 220 donors, students, board members and faculty took part in this year’s celebration.

The luncheon was the perfect setting for donors and student recipients to meet each other, many for the first time. Smiles and tears abounded as grateful scholarship students relayed the positive impact the scholarships have had on their lives and how they are now able to pursue their dreams.

For the last academic year, the J. Sargeant Reynolds Educational Foundation awarded scholarships totaling more than $434,000, opening the doors of opportunity for 387 students.

Students addressing the gathering included Joshua McVeigh, who spoke on behalf of the Reynolds Scholars, Margo Fairchild, a 2013 Valley Proteins Fellow, and Justin Terry, the first recipient of the Steven Ridley Memorial Scholarship.

 At the conclusion of the luncheon donors and recipients paired up for pictures to commemorate the day’s festivities. For more information about available scholarships, how to apply and important deadlines, visit www.reynolds.edu/scholarship.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College named as Military Friendly School for 2014

The fifth-annual Military Friendly Schools® list was released on September 10, 2013 by Victory Media, and once again J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College made the list.  The Military Friendly Schools® designation is awarded to the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation.

The 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools® was compiled through extensive research and a free, data-driven, survey of more than 10,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.

This year’s Military Friendly Schools ® list criteria also incorporate a survey of over 4,000 actual student veterans. This feedback provides prospective military students with insight into the student veteran experience at particular institutions based on peer reviews from current students.

The 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools can be found at militaryfriendly.com. 

There are 385 veterans enrolled at Reynolds this semester.  Patrice Jones, student success center coordinator noted, “We are pleased that J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s commitment to supporting and advancing educational opportunities for those who have served our country has been recognized and that our designation as ‘military friendly’ has been extended for 2014.”

For information regarding educational benefits for veterans at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (804) 523-5368.

Reynolds Information Center Celebrates One Millionth Call

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s Information Center celebrated its 10 year anniversary just last month, on August 5.  On September 4 the Center achieved another milestone - servicing its 1,000,000^th caller.  The Information Center staff fields calls for all of the three Reynolds campuses and the Ginter Park Center.  Frequently asked questions include questions about admissions, financial aid, registration and queries about special events.

(L-R) Terri Britt, Sidney Young, Dr. Gary Rhodes and Marianne McGhee

The lucky 1,000,000^th caller was Sidney Young of Henrico County who will begin classes at Reynolds in January 2014 planning to pursue a degree in nursing.  You might say that nursing is in her blood as she is following in the footsteps of her mother, aunt and grandmother.  With a 4 year-old son just beginning pre-school, Sidney decided it was time to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. 

On September 4 Sidney called the Information Center to inquire about the status of her financial aid application.  According to Sidney, she received a very prompt, concise and professional response to her question and then was asked to hold for one moment.   Information Center Manager Terri Britt came back on the line, amid a background of clapping and cheering, and congratulated Sidney on being the Information Center’s 1,000,000^th caller.  After finally convincing Sidney that the celebration was real, Sidney agreed to visit with the Information Center staff on Thursday, September 12^th to commemorate the milestone. 

To Sidney’s surprise when she arrived on September 12 she was greeted by Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes, Director of Development Marianne McGhee, Information Center Manager Terri Britt and many other staff members and a celebration that included cake, balloons, Reynolds giveaways, and a $1,000 scholarship.  Amid a few tears of joy, Sidney expressed her thanks and excitement at the prospect of beginning classes in January.

The Information Center is open from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Over the last ten years the center has grown from a staff of one full-time and two part-time staff members to eight full-time staff members that answer an average of 100,000 calls per year. 

Gubernatorial Candidate Terry McAuliffe completes tour of Virginia Community Colleges with visit to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

Senator Tim Kaine, McKenzie Carroll, Terry McAuliffe, William Quarles and Dr. Gary Rhodes

Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe fulfilled his pledge to visit all 23 Virginia Community Colleges with a visit to Reynolds on Friday, September 6 accompanied by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine.


Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes greeted the visitors and introduced Student Ambassador McKenzie Carroll who led the group on a brief tour of the Parham Road Campus.

William Quarles, Terry McAuliffe, Professor Deborah Neely-Fisher and Senator Tim Kaine

McAuliffe and Kaine visited Professor Deborah Neely-Fisher’s ecology lab where the candidate and senator joined students in examining micro-organisms through microscopes and emphasized the importance of acquiring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills.

The group also toured the new welding lab in the Workforce Development and Conference Center where they chatted with CCWA’s Assistant Vice President for Open Enrollment Natalie Meredith about the Growing America through Entrepreneurship (GATE) program and the Adult Career Choice program.  

The visit culminated with a roundtable discussion with college administrators on a variety of topics including distance learning, academic excellence, the importance of early childhood education, new academic programs, workforce programs and community college challenges. 

McAuliffe noted, “In order to fill jobs for the 21st century I have said consistently that the community colleges are your engines for workforce development. I believe I am the first candidate for governor to visit all 23 community colleges. I want you to know that as governor this is a top priority for me, to focus on these community colleges.”

Goochland project combines community service, art and history

Goochland artist Patty Rosner, who graciously painted the beautiful mural in the stairway of the main building on the Goochland Campus, is the inspiration behind a new project, “The Villages of Goochland, - Painted by District” which combines history, art and community service in Goochland County. 

Rosner began the project by researching the five historical villages of Goochland County and collecting a series of photographs from years gone by.  Her plan is to create five paintings, one representing each of the villages. The completed paintings will be donated to the county and will be housed in the Goochland Administration Building for the public to enjoy.

The community is invited to select the photographs that will serve as the inspiration for the paintings by voting on a Facebook page Rosner created.  The 5 villages with the most LIKES will be what she develops the paintings around. 

To help fund the project Rosner is selling reproductions of a piece of her work, an 1830's painting of the Goochland Courthouse, which is available in prints, matted prints, coffee mugs, decorative plates, note cards and canvas reproductions.  Any funds collected in excess of the actual project cost will be given to the Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services and Goochland Historical Society.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/villagesofgoochland or contact Patty Rosner at (804) 457-4676.

 

Fall Eyeglass Clinic

Need some new glasses or contact lenses?  Want some new shades for this winter?  The J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Fall Eyeglass Clinic opened for business on Wednesday, September 5 and is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

The clinic offers eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses, sports and safety frames, repairs, adjustments and cleanings. If you want to make a purchase, please bring a current prescription as the clinic does not offer eye exams.  The clinic is open to students, faculty, staff and family members.  This a great opportunity to purchase designer frames and premium lenses at cost! These are NOT retail prices!

For more information, please contact Kristina Green at 523-5415 or kgreen@reynolds.edu.