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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal> Good Morning<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope that all of you are excited for convention. I remember my first convention in 2014. It was in Hampton and I was so scared and did not know what to think. It was the first time I had ever won an NFBV State Scholarship and I was new to the Federation. I can honestly say that I did not know what to expect. However, many fellow students, chapter members, and state affiliate leaders were so helpful and committed to making sure my experience as a scholarship finalist was a memorable one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is for that very reason that I write this email. Looking back at the confidence, commitment, and pride that I have cultivated with the help of this affiliate through the scholarship program, I implore all of you to take that same energy and apply it to some familiar voices and faces, for we have some homegrown scholarship finalists that I am so proud of. I have the unique experience of serving as a chapter and division President and, all 5 of these students have been a part of both my chapter and VABS. I have witnessed the growth in leadership, philosophical fortitude, and professionalism that warrants each of them to not only be in the running for this award, but to win it as well. I really do wish our scholarship program could honor more than three students per year, because we have an excellent group before us. I would like for you all to take the time to recognize and send some well wishes to:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Andrea Perry- VABS Treasurer, Richmond Chapter, Fredericksburg Chapter<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Naim Abu El-Hawa- VABS Fundraising Chair, Richmond Chapter, Fairfax Chapter, Potomac Chapter<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Marc Canamaso- VABS Member, Richmond Chapter, Prince William Chapter*<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Oscar Montiel- VABS Member, Richmond Chapter, Prince William Chapter*<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Emmanuel Finnell- VABS Nominating Committee Chair, Richmond Chapter<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal>**- Both Marc and Oscar are the individuals behind resurrecting and reinstituting the dormant Prince William Chapter, which will be up for reinstatement at convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please give them all some love and respect for the hard work they have put into the affiliate in the past year and the work they do in their individual colleges/universities. I could not see VABS being as active as we are without them. I also would like to recognize VABS newest member, Christopher Nusbaum, for his selection as a scholarship finalist. Chris is the President of the Maryland Association of Blind Students and currently attends Lynchburg College. It is always welcoming to have some variety in this type of setting. I wish all the finalists the best of luck and hope that everyone reading this buys their banquet ticket and supports our students.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best Regards <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Robert E. Parsons Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>President, Richmond Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>President, Virginia Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Randolph Macon College '18 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Phone: 804 801 7674<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>"Without struggle, there is no progress." -Frederick Douglass<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>