Cool jobs
To give students an idea of life in the working world, we interviewed people from various professions in Virginia.

Student association helped launch a career
As a youngster, Heather Wilson dreamed of working on Wall Street. Now she’s doing just that. A partner in Knightsbridge Solutions in New York, a computer sciences company, Wilson consults with financial clients on a variety of issues, from technical concerns to regulatory constraints. Her work requires travel, with regular trips to Asia and Europe to serve the needs of clients.

Wilson developed an interest in international business while attending James Wood High School in Frederick County. “It was a powerful education,” she says. “People in the school system encouraged me.”

At 17, she was elected a national officer in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and later served as state president for Virginia. “I missed two to three months of school traveling around the country, acting as an ambassador for the organization,” she recalls. During that time she met governors Gerald L. Baliles and Charles Robb and President George H. W. Bush as well as many CEOs.

Wilson concentrated on international affairs while studying at Shenandoah University’s Byrd School of Business in Winchester. During her sophomore year, she won a Rotary Scholarship that allowed her to study in Japan for 16 months. The next year she spent nine months in Russia working in marketing for Coca Cola.

After graduation, Wilson accepted a position with one of the nation’s major accounting firms, working as a consultant, before later moving to Knightsbridge Solutions where she became a partner. “It was unusual to make partner at 29,” she says. “FBLA was a great platform.”

While studying in Japan and Russia, Wilson became fluent in Japanese and Russian. “I always loved different cultures,” she says. “That is why I could embrace the languages so quickly. When you go to a country to live and work, you take on that country’s language.”

Wilson, now 35, was working in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 when airplanes commandeered by terrorists hit the buildings. “I thought I was going to die.” She was pushed out of the building’s ground floor onto the sidewalk. The doorman that pushed her out died saving others. “It brought me back to Frederick County and remembering the people who give so much back. They are the reason that I [advanced] in my life. I want to use my vocation as a platform to help others.”

Principal enjoys new job leading middle school
As a college English major, Rashard J. Wright knew he wanted to influence the future and make a difference. Those aspirations lead him to education, where the ambitious 28-year-old has already risen through the ranks to become a middle school principal.

“I realized I wanted to influence students and influence people and the best way to do that was to be in leadership,” says Wright.

In July, Wright began his new role as principal of Spratley Middle School in Hampton. The job is a return to his roots. Not only was Wright born and raised in Hampton, but his first teaching job was as a middle school English teacher. “I really think I’m going back to my beginnings,” says Wright. “I do have the knowledge of the sixth through the eighth grade academically, and what they need in high school and the future. It’s been fun to return to where I started during my teaching years.”

Wright began his teaching career at Manchester Middle School in Chesterfield County, where he taught English for two and a half years. In 2004 he became an assistant principal at Peasley Middle School in Gloucester and a year later was hired as an assistant principal at Gloucester High School. At the end of July, Wright began his new job at Spratley Middle School.

Since starting at the school, Wright has adjusted quickly to his expanded duties as a school principal. “It’s been great walking into a new school building. The first goal is to establish a level of culture, and I think we have a new identity here and things are going very well.”

His days are filled with a wide range of responsibilities, ranging from balancing the needs of students, parents ,and faculty to ensuring the school building is functioning properly.

“Now my duties involve a lot more total school supervision,” says Wright. “You’re dealing with the unforeseen where you have to speak with parents, you’re doing a lot with the facility and status of your building, and there are a lot more teacher observations.”

As principal, Wright represents the school and tries to motivate students to achieve their highest goal. “Empowerment is key,” says Wright. “I’m really serving as the voice of the school. Everything comes through you as principal. Customer service is key.”

He’s also working on his own education by pursuing a doctorate in educational administration and policy at George Washington University. Wright graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Wright believes his success is due in part to his mentors – Billy Cannaday Jr., former superintendent of Chesterfield County schools and now superintendent of instruction for Virginia; Howard Kiser, superintendent of Gloucester County schools; and Patrick Russo, superintendent of Hampton schools. It makes sense — as Wright one day aspires to be a superintendent.

He relishes the defining moments of his job. “There’s not a day that goes by that I am not validated about why I do my job. I’m excited about it. Being an educational leader is the best job you can have because you are serving the community and the people.”

A job that really cooks
Gustavo Rios’ parents savor their son’s visits, because when he comes home, he cooks for the family.

Born and raised in Ensenada, Mexico, Rios and his family moved to Gloucester, when he was 12, four years after he began cooking. “I started by helping Mom around the house. She’s a great cook,” he says. “By the time I was 10, I really enjoyed it.”

Rios took vocational classes while attending Gloucester High School. “Our school was certified by the National Restaurant Association,” he says. “We had a café on campus, the International Café. We prepared food for teachers and students and also did some catering events for the county. I was blessed to have that program in high school.”

Eager to advance his career, Rios competed in state and national cooking competitions, winning second place in a national competition. Shortly thereafter, he had the opportunity to work at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, a luxury hotel in California. “I thought I would stay for three months but ended up staying for two years,” he says. “It was a great learning experience. I was both sauté cook at night and lead cook on the lunch line in the Belvedere, the main dining room.” An added plus: Rios saw lots of celebrities (Mel Gibson, Al Pacino and others).

He then moved back to the East Coast to work at his dream assignment — The Inn at Little Washington. “Ever since the 10th grade, The Inn at Little Washington has been in my mind,” he says. “I loved the place, but thought I wasn’t ready for it. It’s always been my goal because Chef Patrick O’Connell is so unique. He has a passion for the work. I never thought it would happen for me when I was 20.”

Rios, now 22, works with cold appetizers and serves breakfast at the Inn’s Presidential Retreat in Nethers. “It’s close to being a personal chef,” he explains.

For him the job is about making people happy. “It’s a good feeling, almost like a hobby. I have a lot of fun. One day I’d like to become an executive chef or own my own restaurant.”

Program provides smooth seas to a full-time job
by Christina Couch

Ready to get your sea legs? Rappahannock Community College is showing high school students how. In conjunction with the Tidewater Marine Trade Association, the school offers a new, two-year training program that teaches students the ins and outs of the boating industry, preparing them for an array of careers on and off the water.

“This is a great training program whether students choose to go to college or directly into the work force,” says Program Director Mike Drexler. “There’s nowhere else in the state of Virginia that has this.”

During the school year, the class meets five days a week and students work side by side with boating pro¬fessionals to learn the fundamentals of boat operation and maintenance, navigation, safety, engine mechanics, electrical and air conditioning systems, and marina operations, earning high school and college credit along the way. If taken for the full two years, students earn up to 24 dual enrollment credits (four full semesters) that they can apply toward both their high school and college diplomas.

“It doesn’t cost the student a dime, and they’re getting college credit,” says Drexler. “Students who graduate from this program are going to have some good basic skills, some college credit and probably a job offer waiting for them after they graduate.”

Students spend the first year in the classroom learning the foundations of the trade before going out into the field, where they’ll complete a paid apprenticeship with one of the hundreds of marine-related businesses in the area. If you hear the word “apprenticeship” and imagine a lazy summer spent fetching coffee and doing gopher work, think again, says Drexler. Students who go to the apprenticeship level can expect hands-on training in jobs ranging from fiberglass and wood repair to boat painting to installing marine engines. “These are the same things that an entry-level person in the boating industry would learn,” Drexler says. “But our kids are getting it for free.”

Do well in the apprenticeship, and you’ll be offered a job during the second year of the program as well as a full-time job after graduation. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences reports there are currently more than 500 marine industry vacancies in the Chesapeake Bay area alone, meaning you’ll not only be well-prepared, you’ll also be in high demand. “The employability is great and what makes it even better is that it’s local for these kids,” Drexler says. “They don’t have to go two hours away to find a good job. They’ll be able to find a good job close to home.”

Upon graduation, students will be rewarded for their hard work with free college credits, a résumé jam packed with work experience, and certification from the Atlantic Boat and Yacht Council that can be used to land better, higher paying jobs in the future.

Rappahannock Community College isn’t the only one preparing students for local marine-related employment. This past May, Tidewater Community College opened The Marine and Transportation Center designed to identify problems within the marine industry and find educational solutions. For students, that means access to top of the line equipment, courses in everything from metrology to industrial processes, and the ability to work with A-list employers such as BAE Systems, Virginia Port Authority, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Hampton Roads Maritime Association and Northrop Grumman.

If you’re ready to get your feet wet in a maritime or marine-related career, check out the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics career cluster as well as the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics cluster.

Why I chose the Liberal Arts
by Rachael Haas, sophomore, University of Richmond

What are you looking for in a college education? Are you interested in learning important skills that are valuable in any career field? How about having a degree that is in high demand by today’s employers? Do you want to learn how to think critically and have a broad understanding of how the world works and why?

If this sounds like your idea of a college education, then a liberal arts school is the way to go.

One of the key advantages of a liberal arts education is an emphasis on communication skills, both written and oral, which is valued in any career field. In fact, many employers today prefer to have graduates with liberal arts degrees because the wide skill base developed through a liberal arts program is often more versatile than a single skill set developed through a specialized aca¬demic program.

This is not to say liberal arts graduates have no focus or major; they definitely do. It is the way they select and approach their majors that is important. A liberal arts education typically gives students time to explore a range of subjects. At the University of Richmond, where I attend school, there are more than 100 majors, minors and concentrations available. That has allowed me to fully explore my varied interests before sel¬ecting my major, which I’ll do in the spring.

By taking classes in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, mathematics and more, students gain well-rounded knowledge and appreciation of the various aspects of their world. And, by debating and discussing their ideas, liberal arts students do more than just “take notes” in the classroom — they are an active part of the class, communicating their views with other students and professors, helping them to further understand and appreciate diversity of thought.

Another significant advantage of the liberal arts is personal attention. Because the class sizes tend to be much smaller, professors are on hand whenever you need them, and they actually know your name. This also provides access to tons of hands-on opportunities for every student in nearly any subject. Students often work one on one with faculty members who are leading scholars in their fields. Teaching and research are collaborative, and the learning is discovery-based, both in and out of the classroom.

You might think all of these advantages add up to a high cost for you. Not necessarily. Some liberal arts schools also offer incredible financial aid packages. At the University of Richmond, for example, one out of every 15 incoming students receives a full-tuition merit scholarship, and the average need-based aid package awarded this year was $30,640. Plus, any qualified Virginia student whose family income is $40,000 or less receives an aid package equal to full tuition, room and board.

So, if you are interested in the idea of an education for your entire mind, a liberal arts university is definitely worth checking out. You won’t be disappointed.

For more information on the University of Richmond, contact:
OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION
28 Westhampton Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173
(800) 700-1662 or (804) 289-8640
admissions@richmond.edu
www.richmond.edu