“I failed the first time out,” Grace Swal says candidly about her first attempt at college ten years ago. “This is my second chance.” And, what a second chance it is for her. Grace was accepted into the Reynolds Honors program, has maintained a 4.0 grade point average during her time at Reynolds, and now in her second year has been selected as a Valley Proteins Fellow. Perhaps what Grace views as a failure is at the root of her amazing success.
What was different on Grace’s second try at college? First, Grace was different. And, second, the college she chose was different. “My experience at Reynolds has been amazing from the git-go,” Grace said. She credits the Reynolds Honors program and Professor Ashley Bourne-Richardson with helping her develop the confidence and maturity she needed to pursue her dreams. “The Honors program has made all the difference for me. It gave me the opportunity to explore my options. It challenged me in ways I never expected. It made me realize I could shoot higher.”
Shooting higher has become Grace’s mantra: “I don’t just want to be in the field. I want to be an expert in the field,” she repeats this frequently and without hesitation. Her “field” when she graduates from Reynolds will be Business Administration and Social Sciences. Her “field” when she goes for her bachelor’s degree, then her master’s degree, and ultimately her doctorate, is Public Administration and Gender Studies. Her list of four-year colleges is long and includes the top institutions. Harvard? “Why not,” she asks, “the worst they can do is say no.”
“Being chosen as a Valley Proteins Fellow is incredible. It will give me an opportunity to prove myself as a leader and to develop my networking skills. My goal is to gain the knowledge and confidence to be an expert, to be able to look another professional in the eye, stand my ground and feel comfortable leading discussions and sharing information in my field.”
The Valley Proteins Fellows program is made possible by the generous support of Valley Proteins, Inc., a Winchester-based rendering business operating for over 68 years with 15 plants in eight states. Valley Proteins management is committed to outstanding corporate citizenship, excellent customer service, technological innovation and support for the community college mission.
President of Valley Proteins, Inc. Gerald Smith, Jr., said, “My brother and I are pleased to support the Valley Proteins Fellows program because it provides us with the opportunity to develop a more educated and competitive Virginia.”
The core mission of the Valley Proteins Fellows Program is helping promising, second-year students at Virginia’s community colleges pursue their academic goals and strengthen their leadership skills. The scholarship, combined with professional development, travel, and cultural opportunities, has an approximate value of $15,000. Fellows receive full tuition, book expenses and fees, and participate in a unique curriculum of intellectual and cultural activities. They also volunteer 80 hours of community service during the academic year to strengthen their leadership skills and develop a strong foundation for future success. Fellows are required to maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average.
Congratulations to Grace Swal. Keep shooting higher.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is the youngest and third largest of 23 community colleges in Virginia and serves over 16,000 students annually. The College operates three campuses easily accessible to residents in the City of Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan and Louisa.
