The University of Virginia has selected a recent graduate who’s also a Nansemond River High School graduate for a position in which she will work with students who otherwise might not consider college an option.

Shanice Hardy, 21, has been named a member of the Virginia College Advising Corps, according to UVA spokesman Matt Kelly. She’s been assigned to Pittsylvania County Public Schools.

In her application, Hardy said her college adviser at Nansemond River inspired her to shoot for the advising corps.

“I applied to the program, because I had a really good college adviser in high school who really helped me navigate the college application process,” she wrote.

She enjoys working with youth, she added, and hopes to help youth just as her adviser helped her.

Hardy is one of 19 in the program for 2015-2016, according to Kelly.

In Pittsylvania County, she’ll work in the counseling offices of Dan River and Tunstall high schools, helping students with financial aid questions, arranging college visits and helping with college preparation.

“Over the period from 2008 to 2013, our partner high schools saw an average increase in their college matriculation rate of 9.9 percentage points,” stated Joy Pugh, the program director.

“This is an exceptional increase and amounts to thousands of Virginians going on to post-secondary education who wouldn’t have without the support and assistance of a college adviser.”

“The Virginia College Advising Corps has achieved an impressive record over the last several years increasing the share of lower-income, first-generation students that successfully enroll in college,” said

According to Ben Castleman, assistant professor of education and public policy at the Curry School of Education, the advising corps has achieved an impressive record since it started at UVA 10 years ago.

“The gains in enrollment at the high schools served by the advising corps are a testament to the dedication and skill of the advisers, and highlight the importance of this advising model for reducing long-standing inequalities in college access and success,” Castleman stated.

Hardy graduated with a degree in women, gender and sexuality.

“I hope that this position furthers my experience working with youth, which will be a part of my future career in social work or anything else I choose to do,” Hardy wrote.