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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Afternoon Family and Friends<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope that this message finds you all well. As we approach the end of spring and the beginning of an exciting summer, I wanted to extend an invitation to an auspicious occasion. Many of our affiliate, chapter, and division members may remember that I began my college career after being selected as an NFB of Virginia scholarship finalist in the 2014 James F. Nelson scholarship process. At the time, I had just gone blind and was in the beginning of my training program at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the blind and Vision Impaired. I was not completely sure what it was I wanted to do in the future, but I was sure that I would need a college degree to accomplish it. I won a scholarship, joined the Richmond chapter that fall, and attended my first NFB convention in Hampton, VA as well. I began college courses in January 2015 and strived to accomplish the goals of an undergraduate degree that would qualify me to begin work in the field of rehabilitation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After 3 long, stressful years am happy to announce my graduation from Randolph Macon College. I cordially invite members of the Federation to join me in celebrating the great news and spend some time with me before I leave Virginia for continued graduate studies. Here is the information for the commencement:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Date: Saturday, June 2, 2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Location: The Fountain Plaza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Randolph Macon College<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>304 Henry St.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ashland, VA 23005<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Time: 10AM sharp.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The commencement begins at 10AM. But seating will be done at 9AM, so if you plan to attend please arrive early. After the ceremony, plans have been made to celebrate and let loose at the AMF Shrader Lanes Bowling company in Richmond. I have vouchers for free bowling and shoes rentals for 25 guests, so if you are interested in attending this event, please contact me directly. Below is the information about the bowling celebration: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Date: Saturday, June 2, 2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Time: 4pm-6pm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Location: AMF Shrader Lanes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8037 Shrader Rd.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Henrico, VA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I look forward to connecting with any of you next weekend. Thank you for continuing to be a strong source of support and inspiration for my academic journey.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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'>President, French Club<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Secretary, Caribbean American Student Alliance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Iota Phi Theta ‘07<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Phi Theta Kappa ‘15<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Alpha Phi Omega ‘17<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Alpha Kappa Delta ‘18<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><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>