Student Profile

Helping When You’re the Ones Who Need Help

“It's been a huge challenge for our ESL students to learn remotely,” says Reynolds ESL Reading and Writing Instructor Judi Moy. “Many lack technology skills and come from countries where they never had computers or keyboarding.” 

But that minor detail didn’t stop Judi, or her students from continuing their classes to complete the spring semester online. Knowing she needed help to move to an online format, Judi asked for volunteers to be “Tech Reps” in her ESL 52 reading and ESL 41 Writing classes.

Help came immediately from three students.

Bismillah Kamgar

Bismillah Kamgar volunteered to serve as a Tech Rep in ESL 41 Writing. “Initially,” Judi said, “I had difficulties in learning how to administer tests in Canvas. I would send trial runs to Bismillah to review. In addition to helping to get everything set up, he also contacted several students to explain how to complete assignments online and send them to me. A few didn’t know how to convert their essays to Word documents. Bismillah came to their aid again. He helped them install the app on their phones since many do not own laptops. He was extremely generous with his time, and went out of his way to help me and his fellow students.  Even in the evening, if I had a problem, I could phone or text him for advice.” Bismillah is from Afghanistan. He was a translator for the U.S. Military, and has impressive English and technology skills. Unfortunately, due to the current crisis, Bismillah is out of work, but optimistic about the future. 

Sara Isaac Hanna

Amir Youssef and Sara Isaac Hanna volunteered to serve as Tech Reps and "teaching assistants" in the ESL 52 Reading class. “Sara was my proofreader and editor as she possesses excellent reading, vocabulary and writing skills. She also advised if tests on Canvas were correct in content” Judi said. “Amir and Sara took mock tests and provided advice on format, content, and other details. They provided feedback on how well certain Canvas features worked, or didn't work for our online class sessions. They were my proofreaders, tech troubleshooters (Amir) and student helpers. They also took the lead when we met at DISCUSSIONS on Canvas to discuss lessons such as an assigned novel. They encouraged their classmates to participate, and were always willing to give advice and help.” Amir is from Elminia, Egypt.  Sara is from Alexandria, Egypt. She lives in Henrico with her husband and two children. She works in the child watch at the YMCA, but it is closed now due to the crisis. Her family is still in Egypt. 

Amir Youssef

“I am ineffably grateful for their kind assistance in helping to ease the transition into online learning. These students are outstanding academically and possess the qualities of a model Reynolds student: perfect attendance, being team players, respectful, courteous, mature, and responsible.”

Judi Moy

Even in the midst of a global crisis, these students who themselves need help, are willing to stand up and lend a hand, and share what they have: their technical expertise. 

Judi is right. These are some special students, and Reynolds is pleased to call them ours.

Faculty Profile

Reynolds Faculty Serve the Commonwealth

During COVID-19 Crisis

There's a new face on the podium with Governor Ralph Northam as of his Press Conference, Monday, April 13.

Reynolds ASL&IE adjunct faculty Laura Hill takes over from previous interpreter, Reynolds ASL&IE faculty Carrie Humphrey (featured in the last edition of Reynolds Cares - read her story here). Laura and Carrie are part of an interpreting team serving the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 crisis.

Laura moved to Richmond last summer and joined Reynolds for the fall 2019 semester.

In case you were wondering why interpreters are present during important press conferences, Reynolds ASL&IE faculty Carrie Humphrey put together some background information detailing how the interpreting teams program got started and how it works. She writes:

The 5-decade old profession of ASL-English (sign language) interpreting continues to grow and mature. A relatively recent innovation is the incorporation of Deaf-Hearing interpreting teams. These teams are typically of two interpreters:

• one interpreter is what the public is used to seeing - a person who can hear that is trained in working between the ASL and English to convey content and spirit; and,
• one interpreter who is Deaf (DI = Deaf Interpreter) - who is a native user of ASL.

While this is not a new concept, the "how, when, and where" a team is used has gradually expanded. Initially, teams were used in legal situations to ensure a Deaf person's rights were protected. The use was expanded to life or death situations, particularly in the medical or mental health settings.  

As far as televised announcements during public safety emergencies, the trend to shift to incorporating Deaf-Hearing teams, where the DI is on camera, occurred in the wake of SuperStorm Sandy coverage (fall 2012). 

The "hearing interpreter" continues to do his or her job, and the DI accesses the information by interacting with the "hearing interpreter". As a native/primary user of ASL, the DI has crafts "a particular set of skills" intended to convey critical information, particularly in instances where the broad and diverse Deaf audience (some native ASL users others with varying ASL fluency) has limited time to comprehend critical and complex information and direction.

Initially, the interpreters at Governor Northam's press conferences were limited to adhering to "Social Distancing" protocol. Over the last several weeks, the plan was formulated to conform this public safety message to the norm of these interpreting teams.  Hence the new face ...

Student Profile

She's Like Water Moving Around Rocks

Left to Right (facing): Marcus Dansou, Dr. Pando, 

and Margaret Aquino, at Dr. Pando's 

January 8th visit with ECA students at DTC. 

Contributed by:
Kristin Hott, 
M.Ed., VCCC
ECA Career Coach/
Adjunct Instructor
Early College Academy - DTC

Margaret Aquino is a full-time Reynolds Early College Academy student in her 2nd semester of the AS in Social Sciences degree. But that's not all, Margaret is also a Richmond Public School junior, a volleyball player, an older sibling and a mentor to friends, AND a part-time cashier at Cook Out. 

Whew that's a full plate! Margaret is a go-getter, to say the least. When she learned her high school would be closing on Friday, March 13th and that all Reynolds classes were moving to the virtual space the following week, Margaret knew she had a challenge ahead of her. 

Not only would she need to continue to head out to work, while others were sheltering at home, she quickly realized how hard things would now be not having internet access in her home. 

Her parents tackled the logistics of getting things set up with a local carrier, but Margaret had assignments due...but she found a way to make it all work. Since then, she has been going in early or staying late after a shift at work, using the free wifi at her job to complete online quizzes, post to a discussion board or upload a paper completed offline. Her supervisors were and are supportive and make sure she puts her school work first. 

COVID-19 may have placed some barriers in her path, but Margaret's indomitable spirit and focus on her future has triumphed. Like water moving around rocks in a stream, she has discovered new ways to accomplish work and stay motivated. She can see beyond this health crisis to the next phase of her life and she knows the effort she makes now will pay off in the future. Since learning of her connectivity challenges, her school system and Reynolds ECA coaches have been updating her with new information and potential solutions, including the "hot spots" at Reynolds' downtown campus and our laptop loaner program. 

While many things may still be uncertain during this time, what is for sure is that solution-minded students like Margaret give us hope for a brighter future. 

Student Services

Reynolds at Work - Virtually

Student Loaner Laptops

The Reynolds Community College Educational Foundation has provided funding for much needed loaner laptops for Reynolds students so they can keep up their studies online. And, the Reynolds IT Department has been hard at work prepping those laptops for students to pick up.

As of Thursday, April 9, 71 laptop applications have been submitted, and 62 laptops have been loaned. Reynolds faculty and staff have stepped in to help, and have donated additional funds to support laptop purchases. Pictured here are Reynolds IT staff prepping student laptops.

Reynolds Parking Lots are Hot!

All Reynolds campus parking lots now have Wi-Fi. With so many organizations going virtual, rounding up the technical resources to accomplish this task was only possible with help from our partners and friends. We’d like to thank JTCC for an initial loan of equipment while Reynolds' permanent equipment was being shipped.

Student Resources Virtual and Expanded

Reynolds went to work immediately to organize a COVID-19 Response webpage complete with student resources and links to essential services. Here students can quickly find answers, and most importantly, find help with laptops, and other vital needs.

Here are the web stats as of Friday, April 10:

6,575 Sessions (Session = when a user is active on the page)
Average Time on page: 2:24 minutes

Most used resource:

1. Latest Updates
2. Student FAQs
3. Virtual Academic Resources

Reynolds Cares - Covid

Reynolds Respiratory Therapy Program 

Steps Up With Equipment Loans

The email chain started at 8:30 pm, Tuesday night, March 31. Reynolds Respiratory Therapy Program Head, Nakia Austin had a request from a local hospital. She emailed Dean of Nursing and Allied Health, Patricia Lawson. 

The request was this: The Respiratory Care Director from HCA CJW wanted to borrow three of Reynolds mechanical ventilators used for training. COVID-19 had been projected to “ramp up” in the next two weeks, and the hospital was calling for Reynolds’ help to prepare. 

Nakia was okay with the loan. Dean Lawson was okay with the loan, too. If the college was able to reopen in the summer for hands-on classes, the ventilators still wouldn’t be needed until later in the session. They’d worry about that later.

Next in the email chain were Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Kim Britt and Vice President of Finance and Administration, Amy Bradshaw. The loan of a Fixed Asset would have to be arranged. 

By 9 a.m. the next morning, the necessary approvals were in, and Nakia had the “okay” to process the paperwork and set the loan in motion. 

The following day the ventilators were packaged and ready to go. They were picked up at 11:30 a.m.

Every moment counts in a crisis, and Reynolds faculty and staff didn’t waste a second of it. 

Reynolds Cares - Covid

Reynolds Rolls:

What's Happening Virtually 

Reynolds Faculty Serve the Commonwealth
During COVID-19 Response

"I am humbled by your interest in my interpreting," Carrie Humphrey wrote at the beginning of her email. 

As part of the Commonwealth's COVID-19 Response, Reynolds ASL&IE Faculty and Program Head, Carrie Humphrey is one of two interpreters chosen to stand on the podium with Governor Ralph Northam as he delivers his video news briefings during the COVID-19 crisis.

Carrie took time to answer a few questions by email about what it's like to serve as an interpreter during a crisis situation. Read her answers.

* * * 

Reynolds Mobilizes Resources for COVID-19
to Meet the Commonwealth's Desperate Need

If your classes have been moved online, and your labs are now conducted virtually, what do you do with your unused resources? 

Resources that are urgently, no desperately, needed NOW to battle the COVID-19 crisis that's daily closing in on our community. 

You pack them. And, you send them. Read the whole story.

* * *

Reynolds Culinary Arts Department Empties the Kitchen to Help Meet the Needs of the Richmond Community

With classes going online, Reynolds Culinary Arts program had a host of items on hand . . . eggs, cheese, fruits, vegetables, bread . . . so they quickly got in touch with FeedMore and emptied out the kitchen. 

Within one day, the items were sorted, counted, boxed, and delivered. See a list of what was sent.

* * *

Reynolds Professor Creates an Audio Diary 

to Document the COVID-19 Crisis

During the COVID-19 crisis Assistant Professor of Paralegal Studies Melissa Ansley Brooks has been keeping an audio diary that was recently featured on VPM.

VPM is Virginia Public Media, the local PBS station.

Read an excerpt from Melissa's audio diary.