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LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVIST NAMED MENTOR-OF-THE-YEAR

November 01, 2009

The highly-selective national scholarship providers at the Ron Brown Scholar Program (RBSP) today named Charlottesville community activist Ms. S. Sonjia Smith as the second annual recipient of the RBSP Mentor-of-the-Year Award. The award honors her personal dedication to Ron Brown Scholars and service to the Program itself.

Ms. Smith was chosen from over 10,000 guidance counselors, educators, and community leaders nationally. Ms. Smith is an alumna of both the University of Virginia and its law school. Throughout her professional career she has been a steadfast advocate for education at both the national collegiate level, and locally at Charlottesville High School.

Announcing the award, RBSP Executive Director Michael Mallory said, "Ms. Smith deserves this recognition and a lot more. We greatly respect the energy and time she devotes to cultivating and supporting individual RBSP Scholars -- the next generation of America's black leaders."

Established in 1996 by the CAP Charitable Foundation, The Ron Brown Scholar Program provides support, scholarships, service opportunities and leadership experiences for young African Americans of outstanding promise. The Program seeks to accelerate their progress into the mainstream of leadership positions, while instilling a dedication to leadership and service. Ms. Smith has been involved with the Program since 1999.

“I feel extremely fortunate to have Sonjia Smith as my mentor,” said Ron Brown Scholar Brennan Johnson. “She has been a tremendous resource with regard to networking in the community, and most outstandingly, she has been a constant source of kindness and encouragement.”

The Mentor-of-the-Year award was established in 2008 to recognize outstanding public servants who embody the Program’s commitment to the support of its Scholars. Ms. Smith joins 2008 honoree Mrs. Donna Cross, Lakeland, FL.

To read more about Sonjia Smith click below:

S. Sonjia Smith Biography