Andrea Ryans is thanked for her work helping students choose the right college. The letter writer's son Jordan applied and was accepted to Fort Valley State University, thanks to Ryans' guidance two years prior. While Jordan was accepted elsewhere, Ryans eased concerns about affordability and emphasized the benefits of an HBCU experience. The letter writer praises Ryans' personable approach in genuinely caring for applicants' choices, beyond just promoting Fort Valley State. Jordan's graduation from Fort Valley State in 2016 is offered for Ryans to attend.

1. From the Desk of: La’Vonna Taylor
5648 Rock Springs Road, Lithonia, Georgia 30038 678-793-1951
Andrea Ryans
Fort Valley State University
ryansa@fvsu.edu
Dear Ms. Ryans
I would like to thank you for the wonderful work you are doing to assist young people with
deciding on the right college. After meeting you at a college fair, more than two years ago, it has
been a pleasure to know you in a professional and personal capacity.
I was impressed working with you as the High School Graduation Coach at my school. Your
personable manner of dealing with the students and parents was like nothing I had seen before.
Many of the young people you counseled with expressed their thanks, to me, for making it
possible for them to meet you and learn as much as they did about opportunities to study at The
Fort Valley State University.
Now that my own son has applied and been accepted to The Fort Valley State University, I am
even more thankful that our paths crossed. I must say, it wasn’t what we learned from you about
the college that made the difference, it was the way you presented what we learned from you
about the college.
When I expressed my concerns about not being in the financial position to afford to send my
son out of state to his first choice college, you eased my mind about making the right selection
for an instate institution. Although Jordan had already been accepted to Georgia State
University, Southern Polytechnic State University and to Georgia Perimeter College (as a
backup plan), the information you shared with us about HBCU experience and Fort Valley State
made it easy to decide to pursue it.
I really wanted to say to you, Ms. Ryans. You are more than a college recruiter, you’re like the
auntie who wants to see young people make the right choice for college. Even if that choice
should happen to not be Fort Valley, your way of putting the information out there – as if you are
genuinely concerned for the applicant is unique and you should be commended on the job well
done.
Thank you, again. Please mark your calendar and look to be invited to Jordan’s graduation as a
member of the Fort Valley State University Class of 2016.
Sincerely, For Real
La’Vonna Taylor