Congratulations 2015 RAASF Recipients!

Jasmine Cousins

Jasmine Cousins is a 2015 advanced studies graduate of Richmond Community High School and is regarded by teachers, look guidance counselors, and peers as mature, kind, well-respected, organized, and focused. Jasmine pursued a rigorous course of study including honors and advanced placement courses, maintained a 4.7 GPA, and earned her rank as salutatorian.

Not only is Jasmine committed to giving her best in the classroom, she also devotes time to extracurricular and community service activities. She served as Vice President of the National Honor Society, and was an active member of Partnership for the Future, Future Business Leaders of America, the Key Club, Sisters With An Intuition mentoring program, the Environmental Club, and the Richmond Community High School Book Club. Jasmine also volunteered more than 100 hours with the Chippenham Hospital Volunteer Services Program.

Jasmine’s compassion for others spreads beyond her volunteerism with a local hospital. She has read books to children at the YMCA, supported programs that fed the homeless, and served as a facilitator for the Prejudice Awareness Summit which helps to promote awareness and acceptance of ethnic and cultural differences among middle-school students. Additionally, Jasmine worked at St. John’s Church Foundation the summers preceding her junior and senior high school years.

Jasmine has a profound interest in writing and has aspirations to enter the literary industry. In 20 years, Jasmine envisions receiving the Michael L. Printz award, which is an award granted for the current year’s “best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit.”

Jasmine will attend the University of Richmond in the fall.

Chelsea Crawford

Chelsea Crawford is a 2015 advanced studies graduate of Richmond Community High School and is regarded as an engaging, pleasant, humorous, and well–respected teen among fellow students and staff at Richmond Community.

In addition to balancing a demanding course load and earning a 3.9 GPA, Chelsea devoted a great deal of time to school and community based activities. Chelsea served as a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, the German Club, Podium Magazine, and Student Ambassadors. She also held leadership positions such as President of her junior class and President of the Richmond Community Book Club. Additionally, Chelsea received numerous accolades including, but not limited to, the Counselor in Training Award from Mayor Dwight C. Jones, and the University of Richmond Math and Science Investigators Award.

Chelsea also contributed over 150 combined service hours in support of Richmond Community’s school beautification program, both J.E.B Stuart and G.H. Reid Elementary School reading tutorial programs, Lucille Brown Middle School math tutorial program, the Richmond SPCA, the Richmond 10k run, and Bellemeade Community Center after-school activities for children. Chelsea’s demonstrated record of community service exemplifies her aspiration to enrich the lives of others by doing what she loves to do best which is giving back. Chelsea believes that positive social and educational change is achieved by people like her, who decide to give back to the community to ensure that each generation has a fair and defined chance to achieve their goals.

Chelsea will attend James Madison University and plans to study biophysical chemistry.

Lamar Greene

Lamar Greene is a self-motivated, goal-oriented 2015 advanced studies graduate of Richmond Community High School. Lamar is the esteemed valedictorian of his graduating class earning a 4.9 GPA. He sets very high expectations for himself, uses good judgement, and is very committed to everything that he undertakes.

Lamar has proven himself to be a very well-rounded, mature student. While at Richmond Community, he not only excelled in the classroom but also in his extracurricular activities. Lamar served as the Honor Council Co-Chair; Key Club Secretary and President for his junior and senior years, respectively; the Richmond Community High School Yearbook Editor in Chief; Future Business Leaders of America Treasurer and Parliamentarian for his sophomore and senior years, respectively; and was an active member of Partnership for the Future.

As a result of his efforts, Lamar has received numerous accolades including the Harvard Prize Book Award, Partnership for the Future Model Student Award, and Boys and Girls Club Jr. Youth of the Year Award. He was also inducted into the National Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. Additionally, Lamar had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a United States Senate Page in Washington D.C. in fall 2013. His contributions were impactful and he earned the Page School Citizenship Award, which is an award given to two students in the Page class in recognition of being a productive and caring member of society. Lamar also received the Page School United States History Award which recognizes two students in the Page class that performed the best academically in United States history throughout the entire semester.

In addition to all of his other activities, Lamar served as an intern at Health Diagnostics Laboratory during the summers preceding his junior and senior years. As of November 2014, he has worked as a merchandise associate at Marshalls department store.

Lamar will attend Emory University in the fall as a first generation college student. He plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in public health and subsequently a graduate degree in healthcare administration. Lamar aspires to promote disease prevention and improve the state of our healthcare system through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Miah Hardy

Miah Hardy is a true academic and servant leader among her 2015 graduate peers from Richmond Community High School. She has an excellent scholastic record graduating with a 4.6 GPA. This future teacher knows her calling and has laid the groundwork for her future career. Having successfully scored high marks on Advanced Placement English Language & Composition and US History, Miah is well equipped to educate our future leaders of tomorrow.

Miah stays active working with several children as both a mentor and a tutor at two different elementary schools. She is very involved in her school and community, serving in a multitude of leadership positions and with countless time given to volunteer and help others. Miah has served as a longstanding Girl Scout, while being an officer for the past three years. As a Girl Scout leader she served as a role model for the younger members.

Her personality precedes her wherever she goes and she has a zest to learn as much aspossible.

In her school, she has also served as President, Vice President, Vice Mayor, and Secretary of several different organizations in which she belonged. Miah has been extremely active with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) where she served as both secretary and president on the local and regional level. During her senior year, she was the Virginia Vice President representing the Capital Region. In these leadership roles, she had different responsibilities including, but not limited to, organizing workshops, reactivating inactive chapters, and networking with business owners around the area to obtain sponsorships.

Due to all of her hard work academically and in the community, Miah has been recognized and honored by the VCU Alumni Association for the Monroe Scholars Book Award. This award is given to high school juniors who demonstrate engagement in service within the school and community, scholarship, and leadership. She was also recognized for Exceptional Performance in the Mayor’s Youth Academy. This award is given to students who are in the Mayor’s Youth Academy and demonstrate high performance in their placement area.

It comes as no surprise that with her expertise in mentoring, tutoring, and parents as teachers, Miah will align her college career to become an elementary school teacher while at Spelman College.

Christian Lawrence

Christian Lawrence is a 2015 advanced studies graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. She is an excellent student, an athlete, and a leader who is highly regarded for her untiring efforts with motivating and helping others.

Christian successfully balanced her academic responsibilities, extra-curricular involvement, and community volunteerism while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Christian served as Vice President of her senior class, Co-Captain of the Thomas Jefferson Vikings Girls’ Basketball Team, and an active member of organizations including the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Thomas Jefferson Vikings Marching Band, and Partnership for the Future. Additionally, Christian volunteered over 208 combined service hours with the Boys and Girls Club and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts via its Museum Leaders in Training Program (VMFA MLiT).

While volunteering at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Christian was introduced to the work of artist Kehinde Wiley. Christian was intrigued by Kehinde’s choice of colors and how he used his art to depict young African American men as heroic men of distinction, royalty, and purpose; thereby elevating his subject’s esteem. As a result of this experience, Christian began to conceptualize how to bridge her interests in visual art and working with children. She began to think about the lives of so many people… and how things might be different if they believed they could be great.

Christian aspires to change the world by helping children recognize their potential at an early age. She wants to offer youth in her community an opportunity to articulate their emotions through art and help them see their greatness through their own design.

Christian will attend James Madison University in the fall where she plans to pursue her interests in  communications and art. She also aspires to study abroad and travel the world to learn about other cultures.