Three facts about RJ Reynolds High School:
* When looking at the graduating classes (for quite a while), almost 9 out of every 10 seniors goes on to some type of further education.
* Almost 4 out of every 5 graduates goes on to a 4-year college or university.
* If you compare the students that enter in the 9th grade to those that graduate, RJR ranks only 7th out of 13 public Forsyth County high schools.

MORE MENTORS ARE NEEDED FOR CURRENT MEMBERS OF RJR'S SENIOR CLASS!

In an effort to drastically increase the overall graduation rate at Reynolds High School, an initiative supported by the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce has been started at Reynolds...called "Graduate. It pays." Part of the scope of this initiative is to try to pair up a mentor with a Senior who needs to pass each and every class in order to obtain his/her graduation diploma.

To hear a 4-minute "article" by local radio station WFDD (that aired in 2011...but which is still VERY relavent) that gives the merits of this initiative: click here ( * ).

Harry Corpening (Class of 1968, and President of the "RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends" organization) was a mentor for a male senior for one year, and then aq nentor for a female senior the next year (...and both of these students earned their diplomas). If you live in Forsyth County: why don't YOU consider being one also?

To go to the "Graduate! It pays." website (to get more information): click here ( * ).

Should you wish to be a mentor, or if you have questions you would like answered: contact Tina Long (tlong@winstonsalem.com, 728-9204) or Jennifer Cobb (jcobb@winstonsalem.com, 728-9219) at the Chamber of Commerce.

Click here ( * ) to return to the Alumni homepage.