Pathways Academy celebrates student success and community support
Students learn valuable life skills – from first aid to 401ks – and tag along with local professionals
The RCHS Pathways Academy concluded on June 28 with a luncheon to celebrate the students' journey during the month-long education seminar and thank the many people in the community who shared their time, knowledge, and expertise. A collaboration between Rappahannock County Public Schools and Rappahannock Center for Education, the program is designed to better prepare students for life after graduation while providing opportunities to learn about different career paths through workshops and job shadowing experiences.
“The initial concept was to design a summer program where students could spend time learning a lot of different life skills while meeting people in the community that could tell their stories about how they found their careers,” said Jenny Kapsa, RCPS Profile of a Graduate Coordinator. “Often students worry that they have to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. But when they start talking to adults they realize it’s not always as simple as going from A-B. Hearing other peoples’ stories can be comforting.”
The innovative program has three main themes: education, experience, and support. The educational component consisted of more than 25 workshops and hands-on activities to teach students a variety of valuable skills to both prepare and inspire them. Topics included interview skills, resume writing, budgeting, understanding work benefits, the importance of having medical and life insurance, car maintenance, basic first aid, smart grocery shopping, dining etiquette, presentation skills, basic cooking, sewing a button, car buying, self-defense, managing money, financially investing in their futures, and more. Additionally, the students visited local business owners to learn about the ins and outs of their businesses while hearing their stories about how they found their career paths and the steps they took to become successful.
In the second part of the program, students gained valuable experience during a 10-hour job shadowing opportunity based on their career interests. One student rode along with Deputy Fincham to learn more about law enforcement; another who is interested in politics shadowed Keir Whitson, Vice- Chair of the Board of Supervisors; another student spent 10 hours at the Clifton Institute assisting with tracking kestrels (birds similar to falcons) to learn more about the preservation of the species. For some Pathways stu
dents, these experiences were more than insightful; they were life-altering. One was offered and accepted a job at Patty O's at the completion of her 10 hours of shadowing. Meanwhile, another continues regularly volunteering at the Food Pantry after being greatly inspired by the experience.
"There was a student last year who, at this point (in the academy), wasn't sure what she wanted to do for a career; she thought she might want to be a chef,” said Jenny Kapsa. “After her job shadowing experience at The Inn at Little Washington, she began working there full-time and has excelled as a server.”
The third area, support, continues beyond the conclusion of the academy. Each participant was paired with an
advisor, who will check in with them quarterly throughout the upcoming school year to discuss their career interests. The advisors serve as a valuable support system if they have questions or need career advice.
The academy, generously funded by the PATH Foundation and The William and Mary Greve Foundation, provided students with a $1,000 stipend for attending the immersive experience. Additionally, each student had $100 to open a ROTH IRA account, and another $100 to purchase interview clothing. Similar to a job interview process, all tenth, eleventh, and twelfth-grade RCPS students had an opportunity during the spring semester to apply and interview to participate in the summer program.
Workshops were mostly held in Sperryville at the Rappahannock Center for Education (RappCE), which offers numerous adult workforce certification courses and programming. Shauna Volmrich, who serves as Director of Operations for RappCE, spoke proudly of the joint partnership to offer this unique educational programming for students.
“We loved being a part of this summer program supporting our local youth. It is remarkable to see the growth throughout the program and the amazing full community support.” She added, “I think though, I get more out of it than I could ever give. The students continue to teach me life lessons and delight me with their perspectives.”
Emily Loy, a rising fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, served as the Pathway Academy intern. A Frederick County native, she shared an outsiders’ perspective on the community’s impact on the students throughout the academy.
“I hope you all realize what a unique community this is,” said Loy as she addressed the luncheon attendees. “Being someone from the outside, I see what a close knit community this is, how much people care, and how much they want to work together to make the community great and uplift all the youth growing up in Rappahannock.”