Reaching Out Now, Shenandoah University Partner To Launch Shenandoah Leadership Scholars

Shenandoah University is helping Reaching Out Now, a local nonprofit that provides assistance and resources to underserved youth, expand its reach by collaborating with the organization to launch its new Shenandoah Leadership Scholars program.

SLS is a two- to three-year college and career leadership program designed to identify academically promising, financially eligible eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade students in Warren, Frederick, Clarke and Rappahannock counties and the city of Winchester, and provide these students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, career readiness and academic resilience.

The collaboration between Shenandoah University and Reaching Out Now, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, also aims to create more successful college outcomes for local students, build deeper career understanding and strengthen local community partnerships.

One of the things that makes Shenandoah University special is our commitment to building relationships and creating opportunities for students to succeed. Our partnership with Reaching Out Now reflects that commitment to investing in the next generation of students and leaders within our community. By connecting students with meaningful mentorships, hands-on learning opportunities and experiences that introduce them to college and career possibilities, we hope to inspire confidence and help students envision a future filled with opportunity. We are proud to partner with Reaching Out Now in supporting students as they explore their potential and take important steps toward their future.”

Amy Sine, Ed.D., Dean of Student Engagement and Success at Shenandoah University

To support the SLS program, Shenandoah University students will serve as “near peer” mentors and conduct monthly group mentoring sessions with SLS cohorts. The university will host quarterly network social breakfasts – featuring networking and mentorship access between SLS students and community professionals – in Hazel-Pruitt Armory, home of the Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs (HIVE), and facilitate staff and faculty participation in networking events and community outreach programs, including 10-minute “flash talks” or industry spotlights during the quarterly social events. 

Additionally, Shenandoah will help guide SLS students through the college application process, providing dedicated admissions and financial support to graduating high school seniors by assisting them with their applications and completion of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA).

SLS’s year-round programming will include monthly workshops focused on areas such as leadership, cybersecurity, AI literacy, financial literacy and public speaking, as well as internships, experiential learning opportunities and community service projects.

“These programs are tailored specifically to how today’s college students learn and thrive, creating clearer pathways to success for high school students throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley,” said Shenandoah University Vice President for Student Affairs, Enrollment Management and Athletics Yolanda Barbier Gibson, D.A., who serves as RON’s board chair. “Through Shenandoah Leadership Scholars, students can position themselves for success and gain a better understanding of the college experience thanks to on-campus workshops, tours and mentorships with Shenandoah University students who know what it takes to excel in college.”

SLS builds upon Reaching Out Now’s existing programming, which includes the Youth Empowered for Success (YES) Program, a similar leadership development initiative for middle and high school-age students in the Shenandoah Valley. RON partners with Shenandoah University and other community organizations for its YES Leadership Conference, which is held on Shenandoah’s main campus in Winchester, Virginia, each year.

The sixth annual YES Leadership Conference, themed “Stepping Into Purpose,” took place on Oct. 20, at Shenandoah University’s Halpin-Harrison Hall.

We are deeply grateful and humbled by this partnership with Shenandoah University. It is a gift to extend our leadership program and walk alongside students as they discover their purpose, shape their goals, and recognize their potential. At Reaching Out Now, we believe in being a bridge of hope – encouraging young people to dream boldly, embrace their strengths and become the best version of themselves. Together, we have the opportunity to plant seeds of hope that will grow into a lifetime of possibility.”

Samantha Barber, Founder and CEO of Reaching Out Now