A Reynolds Different Kind of Spring Break

This past March six Reynolds students embarked on a different kind of spring break. Although they had never met each other and weren’t quite sure what they would be doing for the week or where they would be sleeping they still jumped into a 12-passenger van on a gloomy Sunday and started their journey to Roanoke, Virginia to participate in Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge.

The students and I would assist with the demolition and construction of three houses over the course of the week. Our days were full of ripping the roof off of a house that had caught fire, building decks, installing a shower, painting foundations, pouring concrete and more! We spent our evenings at the First Baptist Church where we slept on the floor, made meals, worked out, reflected on the day’s experiences and got to know each more as individuals. We even had one sunny afternoon to explore Roanoke’s beautiful downtown market and visit the star at the top of Mill Mountain.

In the evaluations, one student wrote, “It has humbled me, making me devote an entire week to the benefit of someone that I will probably never meet. That to me is valuable and has impacted me deeply.”

Another student reflected, "I made some good friends. It motivated me to become a better person. And it made me realize that we all need each other to make this community a better place to live.” 

From left to right, Julius Sykes, Siedah Harris, Haera Seo, Catherine Diep, Cara Luyster (Counselor for Student Life), Devaun Jackson and Samah Nour.

 To see pictures of the trip, search for Reynolds Community College-Student Life on Facebook and maybe you’ll be motivated to join us next time.

The above blog was provided by Reynolds Counselor for Student Life Cara Luyster as six Reynolds students and her spent Spring Break in Roanoke participating in the first ever “Reynolds alternative spring break trip with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge.”

Reynolds Alum Wins Third Place in Business Competition

Roving report Dylan Chaplin recently interviewed Isaiah Ham, a Reynolds alum, and soon to be VCU graduate, who participated in the Richmond SCOREcard Business Model Canvas Competition with his proposed product “Ivy Oaks Analytics”. They discussed his time at Reynolds, the SCOREcard Business Model Canvas Competition, and his future as CEO of Ivy Oaks Analytics.

D.C - Are you currently a Reynolds student, or have you graduated? If you are still a student at Reynolds or another institution, what do you hope to do after graduation? If you have graduated, what are you doing professionally/employment-wise?

I.H - I graduated from Reynolds in 2014 and am in my final semester at VCU. When I graduate in May I will continue running Ivy Oaks.

 

D.C - What are/were your favorite classes at Reynolds and why?

I.H - I really enjoyed my TEDU classes at Reynolds. The professors were passionate and offered valuable insights. My assignments were often designed to encourage creative responses rather than recite definitions or facts. Reynolds does an excellent job of encouraging students to think outside the box and I think other academic institutions should follow Reynolds’ lead.

D.C - How did you get involved in the SCOREcard Business Model Canvas Competition?

 I.H - Two of my advisors are affiliated with the Richmond division of SCORE. They recommended that I apply to be a contestant. I was somewhat hesitant initially as there were 23 other companies accepted but ultimately it worked out well. 

D.C - How did Reynolds prepare you for the competition?

I.H - Reynolds helped me develop a strong sense of self-worth. Many inaccurately view going to a community college as somehow inferior to a four-year school, and while a Reynolds student I sometimes felt like the underdog. Waiting in the green room before the semifinal round, I noticed the six other finalists were much older with considerably more business experience. My time at Reynolds instilled a self-reliance that allowed me to disregard other competitors and remain focused.

D.C - Tell me about your proposed product “Ivy Oaks Analytics”

I.H - Ivy Oaks Analytics is working to reduce preventable injuries and diseases in summer camps and provide the public with a platform to locate areas where they are less likely to be injured. We do this in 3 ways:

·         We service camps monthly to reduce tick populations, eliminate poison ivy, and remove stinging insect nests. We have a lot of innovative tools including insect repellent paint, insect repellent trash bags, organic materials to reduce tick populations, and devices that prevent ticks from hosting. We gauge our effectiveness by measuring tick populations before and after treatments. We also gather data on the total number of campers that were bitten by ticks, contracted poison ivy, or injured from a stinging insect in the summer before our services. These totals are compared with the summer that our services are implemented. We anticipate great injury and tick population reductions this summer.

·         All camps we service are certified and listed on our website www.IvyOaksAnalytics.com. Our database is the first of its kind which allows parents, campers, and staff to find a summer camp that has prevention measures for ticks, poison ivy, and stinging insects.

·         We are working on devices to be patented that treat mice, squirrels, deer, and other tick hosts with a liquid which prevents ticks from hosting. The animals are in no way harmed and the liquid is applied as they eat feed. This process works similar to a pet owner putting Frontline on their dog to keep ticks and fleas off. In this way we can reduce populations at a low cost.

D.C - Even though you placed third in the competition, do you hope to still advance Ivy Oaks Analytics and if so, how?

I.H - Absolutely, there is a serious neglect of these hazards in camps and many kids are being injured. It is urgent we grow Ivy Oaks as quickly as possible because there are going to be kids that end up in the hospital this summer from threats we can prevent. We are currently raising money to fund our first year. Since the contest outside startup organizations have approached us to work together.

D.C - How proud were you about placing third in the competition?

I.H - It would have been nice to win first, but it was a great experience. The judges included the CEO of Virginia Biotech, a representative from Berkshire Hathaway, and a venture capitalist just to name a few. Having these individuals with extensive business success recognize the potential of Ivy Oaks was very encouraging. 

D.C - What advice would you give someone that wants to start a new business?

I.H - Don’t start a business to have a business because it’s going far more difficult than you ever imagined, especially if you’re doing something no one has done. However, if you see a problem in society that a business can solve don’t let anyone talk you out of it or discourage you. I am passionate about Ivy Oaks being successful because I was hospitalized as a child at summer camp for poison ivy and was a camp counselor where a camper contracted Lyme disease. 

D.C - What opportunities are you currently exploring?

I.H - I just returned from New York meeting with a tick-borne disease research group and a few summer camps in Pennsylvania. We should begin working with Dominion Innovation Resource Center to develop prototypes of our devices. I recently met with NBC12 who we will be working with to make parents aware of our database. Determining the appropriate avenues for funding is a major focus right now. A few people have suggested applying to be on Shark Tank but it’s a bit early for that.

Bess Littlefield, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, honored with Prestigious Nina Abady Award

Citing her breadth of work in philanthropy and fundraising to benefit J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Mechanicsville resident Elizabeth S. “Bess” Littlefield is the 2016 recipient of the Nina Abady Award presented by the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives (VAFRE).

“Her strategic vision for advancing our mission goes beyond fundraising,” said Reynolds President Gary L. Rhodes. “Bess is masterful at positioning the college’s strengths to increase access to higher education for all individuals in our community, regardless of circumstance.” 

Nina Abady was a Richmond icon known for her passion for supporting the arts. Downtown Presents, Friday Cheers, The Big Gig and the Second Street Festival were among the flagship civic events Ms. Abady founded before her death in 1993. The VAFRE award bearing her name is presented to a Virginia fundraising professional who has demonstrated excellence in the field of development.

“Development professionals are typically behind the scenes because we want our donors to be the ones who shine,” Littlefield said. “Having the spotlight on me is a little unfamiliar, but I am deeply honored to have my peers choose me for this award. Nina Abady was more than a fundraiser and founding member of VAFRE; she was a force. It’s special that, as a community, we can remember her inclusiveness and vision, and continue building upon it.” 

Littlefield has helped grow the endowment of the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Educational Foundation from a modest figure when she began her tenure in 1996 to more than $10 million in assets. The Educational Foundation provides approximately $1 million annually to support instruction at Reynolds, including upwards of $500,000 in scholarship funding for students each year.

Littlefield and husband Mike Edwards have lived in Mechanicsville since 1995.  Their son Jack Edwards graduated from Hanover High School before earning a degree from UVA. “Our two Corgis help fill up our recent ‘empty nest.’ I count them among my many blessings in life,” said Littlefield.