Philanthropy Makes a Difference 2015 The Impact Report IMPACT: Do it yourself? $2,140,933 raised in 2014-15 • increasing graduates • Can you recondition a diesel engine, make your own meeting workforce needs • realizing dreams wedding cake, or craft your own eyeglasses? What if you had to make your own dentures? Thank goodness, you don’t have to. Reynolds students are training to do that for you. A Nursing or EMT student can practice saving your life in the new Simulation Lab at the Downtown Campus, outfitted through philanthropy. Your investment in the Educational Foundation goes to work in ways you care about. 3 Supporters of the Educational Foundation provide a powerful gift to the region: an increase in the number of skilled Reynolds graduates for RVA’s workforce. In this Impact Report, you’ll meet some of the students preparing for a new economy, one in which we all benefit from their talents and abilities. At Reynolds, philanthropy helps outstanding careers, lives, (and sometimes cars) get started. 4 Michael Robinson and Dr. Gary Rhodes prepare for our graduation ceremony. IMPACT: Having Varina High School graduate and Super Bowl champion Fostering a winning spirit: Michael Robinson as this year’s Commencement speaker was a real The Educational Foundation “win” for Reynolds. His advice for the Class of 2015 underscored this will award a 2015-16 point: “To get better, talk to people at the top of their game.” scholarship in honor of Mr. Robinson had a stellar football career, but some of his best and Michael Robinson. most important work is still before him through his Excel to Excellence Foundation. To draw a parallel, Reynolds has successfully educated hundreds of thousands of students and evolved into a proven community workforce provider; yet, some of our most innovative work lies ahead. By Reynolds’ 50th anniversary in 2022, it is our vision to become the preeminent workforce pathway for RVA’s people, workforce partners, and our entire community. How do we get there? In plotting a strategic direction, I spent the year talking with stakeholders inside and outside the college. I asked CEOs what they expect from our graduates. What influences a high school student to choose Reynolds? What makes our donors feel confident and eager to support us? This feedback and independent research informs our strategic plan, “Reynolds 2022: Pathways to Prosperity.” Our four key focus areas are: (1) providing more help and opportunities for post-secondary 5 completion; (2) collegiate experiences that foster a sense of belonging and connection; (3) curricula aligned with workforce needs and an increase in the number of graduates with applicable credentials; and, (4) the development of Reynolds as a model for community leadership and civic engagement. Your support illuminates those paths. With you beside us, our students will find their way to career success and go on to chart new territory. Becoming RVA’s preeminent pathway to the workforce and degree attainment will not be easy, nor should it be. But by focusing on the quality of what we do, how we do it, and what we deliver, Reynolds will rise to the occasion and fulfill its promise: helping our students, regional workforce, and community thrive. Gary L. Rhodes, Ed.D. President, Reynolds Community College Ryan is photographed at the Goochland YMCA which shares a campus with Reynolds. 6 IMPACT: Keeping His Head “My Valley Proteins Scholarship Through donations to the Above Water let me focus on my academics, Educational Foundation, instead of constantly worrying more than $557,000 in Even at nine years old, Ryan about earning money. Some scholarship assistance was awarded to nearly 300 Pledger had a head for business. students are working more than students in 2014-15. Surrounded by Goochland’s one job to be here. The way I generous acreage, he started looked at it, I’d budgeted costs Green Grass Landscaping for the rest of my education. My Services in elementary school, scholarship helped me stay on Graduating with honors in May, creating its LLC status by 18. track for my first two years.” his landscaping business sold, As a high school senior, Ryan Ryan will enter the University Scholarships can provide had a choice. “I could stop of Virginia’s McIntire School something equally precious: a doing landscaping and go to a of Commerce this fall. “UVA little free time to experience four-year university, or I could is definitely going to cost. My what makes college so special. stay here, save on tuition and Reynolds scholarship helped “My first year, I just went to living expenses, and get my me focus on the long term. It school, work, and home. After business ready to sell.” also put things into perspective my scholarship, I joined JSR 7 about using the funds and the Lead, Phi Theta Kappa, and At a third of the price of the time I have in the best way became a member of the average public university in possible.” Virginia, Reynolds attracts savvy Student Senate. I made a lot students (and their parents) more friends and seized every eager to avoid an avalanche of opportunity I could.” college debt without sacrificing quality. For students, receiving a scholarship is a huge boost, not just financially, but academically Reynolds students and emotionally, too. who receive scholarships are nearly twice as likely to graduate as those who do not. VCU is a popular transfer choice for Reynolds students. 8 IMPACT: A Degree with Teeth Shauneal’s smile has a lot to do Reynolds alumni are critically with her decision to become a important for the region’s Shauneal Bobb suggested Biology major and a Ram. At workforce. meeting at VCU’s Student Huguenot High School, she Commons for this interview. participated in the dual enrollment “I’ve been learning my way Dental Assistant program around. I’m still exploring, but through Richmond Technical I’ve been to Shafer Court and Center. “I started to like dentistry the library. It feels big compared a lot. Since having my braces “Reynolds helped me in so many to Reynolds, but I like it.” put on, I’ve been considering ways. Taking the Human Anatomy orthodontics, but I’m also drawn class with Dr. [Danette] Young Having earned her associate to the variety of general dentistry. opened me up to dentistry or degree in Science, graduating It’s very competitive to get into even medical school. The tutoring with honors in May 2015, the VCU School of Dentistry, but center helped me, and then I Shauneal joins scores of Reynolds that’s my goal.” actually became a tutor in graduates who continue their statistics and technology. My education at Virginia A Reynolds scholarship recipient, advisor explained my GPA Commonwealth University, Shauneal is continuing her 9 requirements and gave me all making Reynolds one of the studies through a transfer grant. the information to come to VCU. largest feeders to VCU. Students in the Virginia I had my resume critiqued. And, Community College System can our Phi Theta Kappa ceremony; receive up to $2,000 annually that was the best day ever.” for tuition upon transferring to a public or private four-year With a great future ahead of her, institution in Virginia, if they Shauneal has plenty of reasons complete a transfer associate to smile, starting with her degree degree with a 3.0 GPA and meet from Reynolds. The majority of financial eligibility requirements. Reynolds graduates Students receive $1,000 for the remain in the academic year, with an extra Richmond area. $1,000 for undergrads majoring in STEM, nursing, or teaching. Sofia, photographed at the Virginia Aviation Museum, is a Reynolds Engineering student. 10 IMPACT: Critical Thinkers The currency of time is as The gap is significant Wanted precious as money. Advising between available industry helps students make the best use jobs and qualified applicants. Sofia Duarte is the first person of both. Reynolds is embracing Filling that gap requires instruction aligned with in her family to go to college in a more direct approach to marketplace needs. the United States. The benefit of realistically assessing a student’s Reynolds extends beyond her skills, devising a road map to own education. “If I didn’t come follow, and stepping in if the to Reynolds, my sister wouldn’t student begins to drift. That advice echoes the plea be able to go to college.” from business leaders in every Sofia is finishing up a graphic segment of industry: Send us design internship with the Sofia’s workforce pathway has recruits who can think, reason, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, its beginning at Godwin High and question, while maintaining and participated in the Virginia School. “I’ve always loved design, high standards for customer Space Grant Consortium’s 2015 but I began to understand what service. Reynolds is doing more Student Research Conference. I could do with it when I was on to prepare students to show up “The engineers we met were the robotics team. Engineering on Day One with the technical complimentary of community 11 was the perfect fit.” proficiencies to generate ideas and college students, because we’re solutions, and the communication At Reynolds, the emphasis on balancing school and work loads. skills to articulate them. career planning begins even They also stressed to us the before students enroll. Career importance of communicating Sofia is on her way to becoming Coaches embedded in local high effectively.” one of those graduates. “I really schools, help students identify like how my professors are their career interests and get guiding me to think of the next positioned for the right workforce step I’ll take after this.