Pamela Northam, the First Lady of Virginia, stopped by the E. C. Glass Beacon of Hope Future Center to learn about the Stay Close, Go Far Promise and hear directly from students how it will impact their future.
Mrs. Northam listened while students talked about how this promise—which will invest up to $8,000 per student over two years to attend Central Virginia Community College or a like amount over four years to attend any of the other area schools—will inspire many of them and their peers to pursue post-secondary education. Students shared that this promise helped them realize that their education doesn’t have to stop with a high school diploma. “I’m going to be something,” one student said when talking about how he learned about all the opportunities he has available to him now that he plans to attend CVCC after graduation.
Mrs. Northam, a former high school biology teacher, spent about an hour at the school engaging with students and staff.