At the luncheon, graduates of the Great Expectations program at John Tyler and at J. Sargeant Reynolds were congratulated by Director Anne Holton, Chancellor Glenn DuBois, and presidents and GE Coaches at the two colleges.

Director Anne Holton and Chancellor Glenn DuBois (left) congratulate a Great Expectations graduate as JSRCC Coach Dedra Hampton and President Gary Rhodes look on (right)

Thomas Wise, center, is the first associate's degree graduate from the Great Expectations program at John Tyler. Shown with, left to right, Director Anne Holton, Chancellor Glenn DuBois, GE Coach Vicki Muensterman, and JTCC President Marshall Smith.

Great Expectations student (center) from TCC with event sponsor Virginia529 Director Mary Morris and VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois

More photos are on the VCCS Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vccs/sets/72157633613773311/

Friday May 9^th Virginia Highlands Great Expectations program had two students walk across the stage at graduation.

VHCC Great Expectations Graduates Troy Erskine and Cassandra Stinson

Troy Erskine will actually finish his last two classes this summer and will complete an associate’s degree in HVAC. Cassandra Stinson graduated with her associate’s degree in human services.

For more information, see Building the Bond.

Great Expectations Coach Sheemeca Berkley, left, with students Whitney Sun and Frisley Lopez, meet with Second Lady Jill Biden and Director Anne Holton at a reception in McLean. Shawn McLaughlin, Virginia529 event sponsor, center.

Great Expectations student Wendy Ramirez with Director Anne Holton and former Governor Gerald Baliles at a reception in Charlottesville.

Holton, a former first lady of Virginia, a former juvenile court judge and a long-time advocate for families and youth, now directs the Great Expectations program, dedicated to helping current and former foster youth overcome the challenges of getting a college education.

 From left is Sheemeca Berkley, Great Expectations coach at Northern Virginia Community College; Shawn McLaughlin, Virginia529 event sponsor; student Frisley Lopez; Anne Holton, program director; Biden; student Whitney Sun; and Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.

Check out the information here to find out more about the GE Awareness Tour, coming in May to a city near you.

To celebrate five years of Great Expectations success, Director Anne Holton will be conducting a three-stop tour of Virginia to visit with communities who have embraced the program and to share more about how this program can serve Virginians going forward.

To learn more about this program, attend one of three luncheons in Charlottesville on May 1; in  Norfolk on May 23; or in Richmond on May 29. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required and space is limited.

Find out more – or REGISTER – here:  www.vccs.edu/GETour

For more information check out the special web site for the event.

Great Expectations Director Anne Holton Congratulates VHCC on announcing the Songwriting Festival

Virginia Highlands Community College announced the creation of a songwriter’s festival, to take place on May 18, to benefit its colleges Great Expectations foster youth.  Singer-songwriter Richard Leigh will headline the event, which will include a jam session with songwriters from Nashville, a 5K run, a songwriting contest and a concert.  For more information check out the special web site for the event.

Great Expectations students from Virginia Highlands Community College, Tidewater Community College, SWCC, Danville Community College, John Tyler Community College and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College had the opportunity to attend the second inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden thanks to the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.

The Bristol Herald Courier featured the Virginia Highlands group in this article this weekend.

An exciting time for these students!

Former Virginia First Lady Anne Holton (right back row) with Great Expectations students and coach at an Education Forum.

RICHMOND — Former Virginia First Lady Anne Holton is being hired by Virginia’s Community Colleges to work as the program director of the VCCS Great Expectations program.

The Great Expectations program began in 2008 to help the commonwealth’s current and former foster youth pursue and earn a postsecondary credential and is funded almost entirely by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE).

Read the full news release here.

And, the Richmond Times Dispatch featured the appointment in the news this morning.

Holton has been involved with Great Expectations since its inception and has been a featured speaker at Education Forums held for the program each year.

“I am a passionate fan of the Great Expectations program and of Virginia’s Community Colleges generally,” said Holton. “I am excited about the possibility of helping take the program to the next level. It has the potential to serve more young people and to serve them more effectively. It also has the potential to be a national model.”

The award-winning program has since served more than 1,000 students. Great Expectations is available at 16 of Virginia’s 23 community colleges.

A total of 22 potential mentors attended, including PHCC faculty and staff, as well as members of the Martinsville/Henry County community. All trainees became certified mentors in the Great Expectations Mentoring Program, making them eligible to serve as mentors for foster youth.

The most important thing you can give a person is your time and we thank you for joining our team as we strive to provide consistent and positive encouragement in the lives of our foster youth.

Margaret Mead said it best when she said,

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Mentors trained at PHCC

-- Posted by Christy Yaple, PHCC Middle College Director

Check out the Lynchburg story here:  http://www.wset.com/story/19102394/cvcc-to-start-program-to-help-foster-kids

CVCC to Start Program to Help Foster Kids

www.wset.com

Lynchburg, VA-Statistics show teens in foster care are less likely to finish high school, let alone graduate from college.

In May 2012, in recognition of Foster Care Month, a Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Great Expectations Program student, Maria C., spoke at a Blue Ribbon ceremony on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall.

Also, on May 30th the PVCC Great Expectations Program was featured on the front page of The Daily Progress, the local Charlottesville newspaper.  Please check out the article: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/may/29/pvcc-program-helps-former-foster-care-students-ar-1951187/

In addition, the PVCC Great Expectations Program is making plans to co-host with Project Life a summer activities program for foster care and Great Expectations participants ages 13 – 24. The dates for the summer program are June 26, and July 24, 2012.

We are anticipating a wonderful summer and look forward to a spectacular fall semester all with… GREAT EXPECTATIONS!

Constance Cromartie is Great Expectations Coach at Piedmont Virginia Community College.

On May 4^th, one of our PVCC Great Expectations students spoke at the Blue Ribbon Ceremony at the CitySpace Downtown Charlottesville in recognition of Foster Care Month.

Also, keep an eye peeled for an article in The Daily Progress (a local Charlottesville, Virginia community newspaper) in recognition of National Foster Care Month featuring the PVCC Great Expectations Program and its accomplishments.

The Ladder to Independence has been a 4 part workshop for children ages 14-21 in the foster care system. The workshops have provided information on health and wellness, educational opinions after high school, financial management, and independent living skills. On June 21st, the coalition members, students, and foster families will celebrate their success towards independence with a cookout and award ceremony

Click here for more information to sponsor a GE student in the race and find out other ways to support our program!

Pledge forms and checks must be submitted to Jennifer Sayegh in
Institutional Advancement by June 1.  Questions? Contact Jennifer at
804-819-4961 or jsayegh@vccs.edu

On, May 18, 2012 the Richmond chapter is holding a “Speak up, Speak Out, Speak Now” event to promote foster care awareness.  The event will include a panel discussion featuring some of the students who participated in our Great Expectations forum last month. The flyer below explains more of the event details.