GRASP News
August 2019
Meet GRASP Alumna Olivia Simmons
What is the best thing GRASP has done for you? GRASP helped me prepare for college financially and mentally.
What are you doing now? I started as an RN at Chippenham Hospital in July 2016. Over the past year I have worked on a professional development program through HCA Healthcare and received Clinician III in 2019.
What one piece of "educational advice" would you give to high school students? Take advantage of classes that give you training as a high school student. Even though I only completed the first year of the LPN program at Chesterfield Technical Center, it definitely helped me prepare for nursing classes once I started college courses.
What is the biggest life challenge you faced relative to your educational path?
The biggest challenge was staying positive when I felt overwhelmed with courses or when giving my best didn’t seem enough. But those moments have shaped and prepared me to be a better nurse. If you love doing something enough, your passion will keep you going!
Bringing Hope for the Future
Thirty-five years ago, an educator saw a need. Athletes and affluent students were guided to college by coaches and parents, but others were left behind. Virginia’s Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP) emerged to help those students and their families reach their educational goals, regardless of their financial circumstances. From our beginnings in Richmond to our latest expansion into Charlotte, Isle of Wight, Martinsville, Patrick, and Williamsburg-James City, our persistent presence has inspired students to pursue futures they had not known were possible.
Ensuring career and college access for all
Email: info@grasp4va.org
Website: www.grasp4va.org
Location: 4551 Cox Rd., Suite 115, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Phone: (804) 527-7726
Facebook: facebook.com/grasp4virginia
Twitter: @GRASPFlash