Student Events

Let's get the word out to Reynolds students:

Apply Now for a Summer of STEM at JMU

The Summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates), is a three-year grant funded partnership between Reynolds and JMU that began in the summer of 2021. This coming summer of 2022 will be year two. This program is specifically for community college students and is open to a variety of disciplines.

The purpose of the program is to help community college students progress into STEM programs at four-year colleges and universities. It is open to all Reynolds STEM students (AS degrees in Engineering (all specialties), Science, Math, Computer Science, Math/Science Teacher Prep, and the AAS in Information Systems Technology). 

Students in other programs, like the General Studies AS, may also be eligible, even if they’re not in one of Reynolds STEM programs.

Students spend 10 weeks over the summer at JMU. They receive a $6000 stipend, free on-campus housing and food, as well as travel support. In addition to their research activities, they participate in other workshops, social activities, and field trips. Two Reynolds students participated last year and said they had an amazing experience. Even better, JMU faculty were very impressed with our students.

Applications for the program will be taken until March 13, 2022. Let's get the word out to Reynolds students now so they can start planning their summer. 

Contact Janet Adams, Professor of Biology, at jadams@reynolds.edu for more information.

Student Profile

Felicia Vaughn: Never Give Up!
Spotlight on REV Scholars

By Ambria Ingram / REV Coach

Reynolds Community College prides itself on being the college “where outstanding careers get started!” After meeting Felicia Vaughn, we can also add “where outstanding learners get to follow their career passion!”

“If you want to go back to school, don’t give up! Just keep pushing yourself and never give up,” says Reynolds student Felicia Vaughn. 

Felicia Vaughn, 25 years old is from Hopewell, Virginia. She is a graduate of Ultimate Medical Academy which is a private healthcare vocational school in Tampa, Florida. Felicia took online classes at Ultimate Medical Academy and earned her Associates degree in Health Care Management. However, she decided to switch paths and attend Reynolds Community College with plans to become a registered nurse. 

Felicia is grateful that Reynolds provided her financial assistance by paying for her tuition for one semester through the REV (Re-Employing Virginians) Program. The REV grant is offered through the State of Virginia to support Virginians in upskilling and pursuing new career paths due to their employment being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The grant was needed because Felicia lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently taking pre-requisite classes for the nursing program at Reynolds with the REV grant funds. Her goal is to receive her Nursing Associate of Applied Science degree in spring 2024 as well as her Health Science I Career Studies Certificate in fall 2022. 

One of the reasons Felicia decided to become a registered nurse is having the experience of taking care of her grandmother. Felicia’s grandmother is one of her great supporters. Her grandmother constantly motivates and encourages her to push through the nursing pre-requisite classes at Reynolds. 

“My grandmother is excited that I am going to be the first nurse in the family, and she is rooting for me to get this nursing degree since I’m a first-generation college student, says Felicia.

Felicia’s grandmother who battles a health condition sees the potential in Felicia to become a great nurse. 

In addition to her grandmother’s support, Felicia admits her routine would not be possible without her professors accommodating her busy work schedule. 

“The professors communicate better with me than other community colleges I previously went to, and I have great professors! My professors give me due dates for assignments that I feel comfortable completing and they totally understand my situation” she noted. 

Felicia mentions the faculty members at Reynolds “answers all my questions and are helping me succeed at Reynolds, and the advisors and financial aid office, they are on it! Reynolds is my support system for sure!” 

While Felicia takes care of her grandmother, she has other responsibilities that she juggles in her life as well. Felicia is a full-time customer representative with Anthem Health Keepers. As a single mother of two children, Felicia enjoys being a mother, while also homeschooling her children due to the COVID-19 pandemic, working a full-time job, and taking classes at Reynolds is a full load for her. 

Her routine to accomplish all her responsibilities consist of her working from 9:00 am-5:30 pm every day and once she gets off from work, she starts doing her nursing schoolwork. Felicia’s children are homeschooled by her and her family support system. Felicia has Saturdays and Sundays off from her full-time job, allowing her to finish her nursing schoolwork. 

Currently. Felicia is inquiring about the G3 tuition assistance program at Reynolds that supports students financially to pursue a high in-demand career. The G3 grant makes up the difference between what federal or state financial aid pays for and the cost of tuition, fees, and books.

Moreover, Felicia recommends Reynolds Community College for future prospective students. “Yes, most definitely, Reynolds is a great school, and they have amazing staff people. My perspective on Reynolds is that the classes are great and are reasonable, and you can go at your own pace, or you can go on campus. They work around my work schedule and that is very important to me.” Felicia is excited to further her nursing career and she cannot wait to see how her degree will open the doors for more opportunities!

Fun Facts about Felicia: She is the youngest sibling of her two older brothers. She loves shopping at Bath and Body Works and enjoys eating her favorite sausage and potatoes dish from Olive Garden called the “Zuppa Toscana Soup.” She enjoys playing basketball and started playing the sport in seventh grade. Felicia has a French and Spanish background. In high school, she took French classes in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade and then added Spanish classes in ninth grade. Felicia’s language background does help her translate phone calls in French and Spanish during her full-time job at Anthem Health Keepers. 

CCWA

Network2Work = Job Ready

For several years CJ worked in marketing and billing in the Richmond area. When the pandemic took her job, she decided it was time to look for other, more solid employment opportunities.  

She had always been interested in the medical field, but wasn’t drawn to patient care. While exploring her options she found CCWA’s Medical Coding class, and it seemed like a good fit - especially since as a Virginia resident, her tuition would be covered, two-thirds through a FastForward grant, and the rest through another training grant.  

CJ took advantage of the program and enrolled in CCWA’s online Coding class. While in class, she connected with a CCWA Career Coach who helped her develop a resume, practice for interviews, and research careers in Medical Coding. 

CJ finished her class and immediately joined a study group to prepare for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential exam. Within months she passed her exam and earned her CPC credential.   

But CJ’s Career Coach didn’t leave her there. Her Coach continued to work with CJ, getting her enrolled in the new Network2Work job search platform and helping her identify potential employers. By completing her coding course, earning her CPC credential, and being in the N2W network, CJ’s status became “Job Ready” – exactly what employers are looking for.

CJ then chose a job track for a Patient Access Representative position with Bon Secours. She submitted her resume, and her “Job Ready” status drew the attention of the Bon Secours hiring manager. Two interviews later, CJ accepted the Patient Access Representative position. 

CCWA is opening doors for hundreds of Virginians through programs like N2W. 

What is Network2Work?

Network2WorkRVA connects skilled job seekers with employers looking to fill vital roles within their company. The program helps potential employees find a job that pays a living wage and leads to a fulfilling career. The N2W "connection" involves training, support and resources that put Virginians on a path to success.

"As the name implies," said Mary Jo Washko, Director of Coaching and Career Services for CCWA, "Network2Work (N2W) is a technology-based networking platform designed to connect job seekers to the training and support resources needed to be 'job ready' for the opportunities listed in our employer network."

A little history: When Reynolds Middle College moved to CCWA it became CareerStart. The program was then further transformed into CCWA's Coaching and Career Services department. 

"In addition to becoming coaching services," Mary Jo explained, "we also took on a new initiative called Network2Work. We no longer offer GED services, but through Network2Work, we connect students to GED providers and more than 150 other services in the community through our 35+ provider network." 

The program had a soft launch in June 2021, but is now available for students and the general public. For more information visit the N2W site. 

Faculty Profile

Stephanie Daniel
Associate Professor of Education and Early Childhood Development

Where did you grow up and what was it like?

I grew up here in Richmond, Virginia as an only child. Growing up, I was the neighborhood big sister which was a lot of fun. I would take the younger children in the neighborhood out to play at the community playground. I think that’s when I knew I would one day work with young children. 

What brought you to Reynolds?

A year after graduating high school, I enrolled in the Information systems technology program at Reynolds, while also working at a childcare center part-time. After my first semester, I changed my major to early childhood development, and I have been in the field ever since. 

You are a “New Face” at Reynolds. What were you doing before coming here?

Before becoming a full-time faculty member, I taught as an adjunct for 12 years. While also teaching as an adjunct, I worked with several different organizations and agencies, with CAPUP, formerly known as RCAP being my last job before joining Reynolds full-time.  

As an Associate Professor what are your greatest rewards of teaching? Greatest challenges? 

My greatest teaching reward is seeing learners excel in a field I am so passionate about. I love being that support system that helps learners make it to the end of the semester even when they thought they weren’t going to finish. In my 12 years of teaching, I can’t think of any challenges. I guess when you love what you do, you don’t really see the challenges that someone else may see.  

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

I love spending time with my family, shopping, playing basketball with my husband and son, and loving on my two beautiful grandkids. I have also added writing children’s books to things I like dong when I’m not working.  

What is your favorite book, movie, or TV series, and why?

My favorite book is the “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfisher, my favorite movie, is “Look Who’s Talking,” and my favorite TV series is NCIS. I’m a big kid at heart and still love all things early childhood. The “Rainbow Fish” book teaches little ones how to be a friend, the movie “Look Who’s Talking,” is my all-time favorite because it focuses on the life of a little boy from conception to about one year of age. It confirms all of what we are teaching in our ECE classes. As for NCIS, I love trying to figure out who did the crime before the end of the show. Also, I love special agent Gibbs. I’m kind of sad that he isn’t on the current season, but it’s still a TV show I watch on Monday nights. 

If you won $100 million in the lottery what would you do with the money? 

The first thing I would do with $100 million is to tithe 10% and give an offering to my church, payoff all my student loans, provide scholarships for students who can’t afford to go to college so they don’t have student loans once they are done, develop and fund sites for the homeless, share a little with family and close friends, and invest some. I’m pretty sure there are other things I would do with the rest of the money, but it’s best to start with baby steps.

Employee Profile

Jessica Anderson
Student Outreach/Recruitment Specialist

Where did you grow up and what was it like?

Virginia is home. Dumfries, Virginia is where my heart is. I grew up near Quantico Marine Base, helping Grandpa (a very proud veteran) run a small convenience store on the base, in addition to a local ice cream truck and side newspaper delivery hustle! For as long as I can remember, my cup has always been filled with the invigorating energy of meeting new people. 

What brought you to this area, and to Reynolds?

A grant funded position (3PL) with the VCCS brought me to Richmond back in 2013. I eventually transitioned from the James Monroe Building to Armstrong High School where a gracious colleague helped re-connect my passion for serving high school students with post-secondary opportunities at Reynolds.

What were you doing before coming to Reynolds?

I have always worked in education. From 2014 - 2019, I was very fortunate to serve the students and families of Armstrong High School as the coordinator for the Freshman Academy Program; a partnership between the faith-based community and the East End. 

Tell us about your work here at the college. What is a typical day like for you?

I am the High School Outreach Specialist for Reynolds. In short, this means I get to do what I absolutely love - which is to bridge our young people with the resources that support their academic and professional aspirations! My day is always in motion - either on the road visiting schools or in conversation with colleagues to soak up new knowledge. I enjoy telling students, high school counselors and community partners about our wonderful college. 

What are your greatest challenges in your work? Greatest rewards?

The greatest challenge to my work is the "four year vs two year" conversation with prospective students. I value my four experience (GO HOKIES!) and subsequent time studying at the University of Georgia (GO DAWGS!) and am always exploring new ways to convey to high school age students that community college is a very viable, attractive option. 

The greatest reward is showing up for a high school presentation to find a room full of students willing to listen and consider the option. 

You’re a busy lady. How do you keep all your tours and site visits organized?

I am still working on the organization part! Needless to say, time management is also one of my greatest challenges, but thanks to multiple calendars, colorful post-it notes, binder clips, boxes of materials in my vehicle and an awesome team of co-workers, we get the job done.  

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

I am open to anything that involves food and being outside (on a warm day!). When the stars align, my 13 year old son and I enjoy spending time with my two nephews (ages five and eight) and taking family trips with my mom, dad and two younger sisters. 

What is your favorite book, movie, or TV series, and why?

Coming to America, the original movie, is my all- time favorite. I also enjoy the idea of reading, curled up in a sun filled spot, but then again, that usually leads to a very rewarding nap!

If you won $100 million in the lottery what would you do with the money?

I would host a HUGE celebration on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. I would invite everyone, including my entire extended family and all of the students I have ever worked with plus their families. There would be an unlimited taco bar, desserts, live music, and of course, fireworks!