J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Darrell, a junior at John Marshall High School, has been a member of the Northside YMCA for four years. That is where he met Corey, a community-based career counselor for J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College who he now considers to be a trusted mentor and a friend. With a geographical twist on “outside of the box” thinking, Corey helps students like Darrell envision their own path to a brighter future. “We only know what we learn. That’s why it is important to give these young people ‘outside of the blocks’ experiences,” says Corey.
With Corey’s encouragement, Darrell is thriving. He is actively involved in community service through the YMCA, coordinating a recycling program with other nonprofits. He has taken advantage of career exploration camps at Reynolds. And he recently won a statewide t-shirt design competition, which will allow him to compete in Kansas City this June. After visiting several colleges and universities with Corey, Darrell is committed to furthering his education.
For students who do not have this same level of support, Reynolds provides programs that help them appreciate the need for a college education. In high school, Laneisha was more interested in what was happening on the street than in the classroom. As a junior, she became pregnant and dropped out. When Laneisha later learned about Reynolds’ Middle College program, serving students who desire to receive their GED and continue with college, she enrolled because she wanted to be a good role model for her children. Today, she is a graduate of the program and is studying towards an associate’s degree in Reynolds’ nursing program.
The third largest of Virginia’s 23 community colleges, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College has become an essential part of the educational pipeline for our community. Over the past decade, Reynolds has been swift in its response to growing enrollment as students seek more affordable options in higher education. It has also been innovative in its ability to develop new educational and certificate programs that better reflect the modern workforce. TCF donor advised grants help support this growth through student scholarships and funding for educational programs. And through our community grants program, TCF has supported J. Sargeant Reynolds’ efforts to reach out to students like Darrell and Laneisha. Together, we are a catalyst for their future.