University of Virginia student Brianna Stith had a little extra support after graduating from Richmond Community High School in 2008 and heading off to Charlottesville.
She earned a $2,000 scholarship from the Richmond African American Scholarship Fund, but the money wasn't the only award.
Stith, like all RAASF scholarship recipients, was paired with a mentor who was on hand anytime she needed something. As it turned out, Stith received valuable tips on writing résumés and preparing for job interviews.
"People don't sit down and tell you what a résumé should look like," the psychology major said last month during a workshop for scholarship recipients at Genworth Financial Inc.'s development center.
She said she's now confident about seeking jobs because she knows what to say during an interview.
"This is not something you get every day," she said about the help.
The scholarship fund was created in 2003 by the African American Forum, which provides professional development to African-American employees of Genworth Financial. The scholarship program's financial and administrative operations are run by The Community Foundation, a group that invests and administers charitable funds.
The program is open to eligible Richmond Public Schools graduates who are going on to a college or university.
Another goal of the fund, said RAASF Board Chairman Ted H. Warlick, is to promote the city as a place for college graduates to work. He said the program has provided more than $70,000 in scholarships and hopes to one day start a $500,000 endowment.
Terrence Austin, a Virginia Tech sophomore and a Richmond Community High graduate, said it's nice to know that there's someone who has been through the ups and downs of college life and can help guide others. He, like Stith, attended the workshop last month in which students talked about everything from money management to Greek life on campus.
"You don't have to do it on your own," Austin said. The mentors have been through the process and "can give you advice on anything."
Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or hprestidge@timesdispatch.com.
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