What's new in the news?
Rambo quoted in Brain Track
May 20, 2013 Pam Rambo was quoted in the Brain Track
Blog article on summer options for students. Read more at:
Pam will be featured in an upcoming article on college majors in Yahoo Education later this month.
Toasting the Virginia Chapter of the National Speakers Association
April 15, 2013 Williamsburg job expert Bill Holland, civility expert, radio personality and tv producer Cathy Lewis and educational consultant Pam Rambo have been invited to speak at the Toastmasters International state convention in Virginia Beach, Va. on May 11, 2013. The focus of their presentation will be the value of the training program offered by the National Speakers Association Chapter in Virginia to people with exceptional speaking skills. Lewis is a Past President, Rambo is current President and Holland is a new member enrolled in the academy and author of the critically acclaimed book Cracking the New Job Market.
Key Leader Training for Teens in Virginia
April 14, 2013 Virginia Kiwanis Clubs offer Key Leader leadership training for teens every year. District 23 is offering the first camp of 2013 from April 19-21, 2013 at the 4-H Educational Center in Jamestown, Va. Pam Rambo, President Elect of the Colonial Capital Kiwanis Club, will be among the instructional staff for the event. Students do not have to be involved in Key clubs to participate in the three day leadership training program.
Math Help for Kids at Blayton Elementary
March 18, 2013 Pam Rambo joined Kiwanians of the Colonial
Capital as a math tutor at Blayton Elementary School this spring. The project lasted six weeks and helped over 60 children. The goal of the project, which involved over 300 volunteer hours, was to help children master math skills with which they have struggled. Students and Kiwanians enjoyed the project.
2013 Super Saturday At William and Mary
January 26, 2013 Pam Rambo joined VASFAA members at the College of William and Mary to provide free FAFSA help to Williamsburg James City County families.
Santa Plause Visits the Colonial Capital
December 14, 2012 Pam Rambo hosted the annual NSA Virginia holiday party at her home this year. Thirty five members of NSA Va attended the event which featured a photo shoot to update their professional picture and an auction of treasures donated by NSA colleagues from around the country. Barb Upchurch and Jim Gordon were in charge of the auction that raised over $1000 for NSA Va. A surprise visitor to the event was Santa Plause who looked suspiciously like Tom Davidson from Leadership by Nature.
Kiwanis of Colonial Capital New Board Member Induction
October 1, 2012 Chris Snyder assumed the leadership of Kiwanis of Colonial Capital this month. Pam Rambo will be assisting as President-Elect and Maloy Jones is serving as Vice President. Kiwanis of Colonial Capital provides educational programs and support to families and children in the Williamsburg James City County area.
Rambo Joins WCF Scholarship Committee
July 1, 2012 Pam Rambo began serving on the Scholarship Committee of the Williamsburg Community Foundation in 2012. Her primary efforts will be in the area of support to fund raising and providing outreach to area organizations.
Pam Rambo Steps Up to NSA-Va Presidency for 2012-13
June 15, 2012 Pam Rambo assumed the presidency of the National Speaker's Association Virginia Chapter in June 2012. She served the association as Treasurer in 2011 and President Elect in 2012. Rambo follows Coleen Kenny from Richmond who was President in 2011-12. Jim Gordon will succeed Rambo as president for the 2013-14 year.
Rambo to Lead Secondary School Relations Effort in 2012-13
May 20, 2012 Pam Rambo will lead the Secondary School Relations efforts for the Virginia Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators for another year. The Secondary School Relations Committee is responsible for providing all of the federal financial aid regulatory and process training to high school counselors in Virginia.
Financial Aid 101 for Parents Offered on May 7, 2012
March 30, 2012 College Financial Aid 101 has been a hit in the past with parents of high school students who would like to an insiders view of the college financial aid process.
Pam Rambo is a retired college financial aid director still active in her profession. In just 45 minutes, she demystifies financial aid process and helps parents understand what to expect, how to get ready and what is available in 2013 to help parents pay for college.
This program is offered free every year for parents. The program begins at 6pm and is held at theWilliamsburg Chamber of Commerce at 421 N. Boundary St. in Williamsburg in the first floor conference room. Register by calling Pam at 757-903-6511 or by sending her an email at pamela.rambo@cox.net or click on the registration button on the parent page, which is page 7 on this website.
Rambo Speaks to Parents at Local EventsFebruary 15, 2012 Parents in Virginia will hear Pam Rambo speak in February at Providence Classical School in Williamsburg on February 16, 2012 and at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Offices in an event co-sponsored by Met Life in Richmond on February 23. Rambo speaks to the parents of children of all ages about preparing for college, the college process, how college admissions processes are changing and steps they can take to support their children, improve admission outcomes and secure resources to pay college costs.
Super Saturday Team to Serve Local Parents and Students at January 28, 2012 Event
January 16, 2012 Every year the Virginia Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators hosts a Super Saturday program throughout the state of Virginia from the Eastern Shore to the mountains of Virginia. The program provides professionals in the financial aid field to help parents and students prepare FAFSA's for the fall of 2012. This free program helps parents and students file their FAFSA forms accurately in a timely manner in order to meet the priority deadlines at colleges in Virginia. Pam Rambo will be one of the financial aid professionals available to help parents at the event being held at the College of William and Mary January 28. Information on other Super Saturday locations and dates is available at
www.vasfaa.org
Guidance Counselors Learn about 2012-13 FAFSA at VASFAA Seminars
December 13, 2011 The Virgniia Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA) hosts 12-14 workshops each fall for high school guidance counselors to prepare them for financial aid season. The free workshops are offered throughout the state by colleges and private sponsors.
Pam Rambo is the 2011 chair of the Secondary School Relations Committee for VASFAA. In addition to arranging hosts and sites throughout the state, she hosted a program in Williamsburg at Alumni House at the College of William and Mary on December 12. Counselors rated the program 3.9 out of a possible score of 4. Guest speakers included Michael Turner, Student Services Coordinator for the Virginia Community College System and Ed Irish and Pat Kelly from William and Mary financial aid.
VASFAA financial aid workshops for counselors end in January. January is also the month that VASFAA supports Super Saturday events throughout Virginia that provide support to parents as they complete the FAFSA. For more information about Super Saturday, visit
www.vasfaa.org. There is a local Super Saturday site near you. If you are a Williamsburg family, consider attending a Super Saturday at the College of William and Mary.
Rambo Attends Camp NSA to Prepare for NSA Va LeadershipNovember 18, 2011 The National Speaker's Association conducts a three day camp in Tempe, Arizona each year to prepare incoming state presidents for leadership. The camp, which features some of the best trainers in the industry, covers leadership, programming, finance and organizational growth for future leaders of state chapters. Pam Rambo attended for the Virginia Chapter and enjoyed re-connecting with NSA friends Steve Lishanski from Vermont, Todd Cohen from Pennsylvania and many others. In addition to seeing old friends, she enjoyed meeting new friends from the US, Canada and Singapore. Pam is looking forward to following in the footsteps of great Virginia NSA leaders as she assumes her role in the summer of 2012. She is thankful for the support of current NSA Va President Coleen Kenny and Treasurer Jim Gordon and Past Presidents including Tom Davidson, Dorothy Erlanger, Cathy Lewis and Gloria Thomas.
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VCCS 2011 Student Leadership Conference Includes Lesson on How to Pay for College with Other People's Money (Scholarships) November 5, 2011 The Virginia Community College System holds a weekend leadership conference each year for student leaders to enhance their leadership skills. This year the event, held at the Williamsburg Marriott, included a concurrent session on scholarships by Pam Rambo. Students said they were attending the standing room only event to get pointers on how to find and apply for private money to pay college costs. Students were particularly concerned about covering the higher tuition they will face as they transfer to four year colleges. They were not disappointed. Pam showed them where the scholarships are, how to compile a scholarship tool kit and manage scholarship applications. To demonstate the types of scholarships available, she gave attendees a spreadsheet of scholarship opportunities for students from first grade through graduate school. There were many questions about financial aid from students who were unsure about how the grant process works. Pictured in the upper left corner is Daniel Turner, current TNCC sophomore who is the AV and IT consultant for the conference.
Rambo Research Keynotes Montgomery College Scholarship Conference at USG
October 22, 2011 The sixth annual scholarship conference hosted by the Transfer Student Coordinating Committee (TSCC) at Montgomery College was held October 22, 2011 at the Universities at Shady Grove center in Rockville, Maryland. The conference included speakers and representatives from 9 colleges and universities as well as independent scholarship foundations and offered 18 breakout sessions on topics including:
* How to Write a Winning Essay.
* Transfer Scholarship Winners-Student Panel
* Scholarships and Other Educational Funding for Adult
Students
* Transferring to Four-Year Schools: Understanding the
Process
* Paul Peck Applied Science and Technology Scholarship for
Biomanufacturing Students
* Scholarship and Other Funding Opportunities at UMBC
* The Competitive Edge: Learning About Merit Scholarships
at the University of Maryland, College Park
* College Scholarships for Science, Technology,
Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) Student
Dr. Pamela Rambo, keynote speaker for the event, said: I was so impressed by the the conference planners and the people who greeted students at the event. They carried off a flawless event and the students and their families clearly felt so welcome. I particularly enjoyed speaking to the students in-between sessions and sitting with some of them to talk about the mechanics of constructing effective scholarship essays. If every community would follow their example, many more students would achieve their dreams of college success.
The conference was planned and executed by the innovative and dedicated TSCC group including Dr. Debra Bright and an army of faculty, staff and students at Montgomery College as well as some public school students earning their volunteer hours. The event is held annually to encourage students to reach for their goals by showing them how to get the resources necessary to cover college costs.
Rambo Research Joins the College of William and Mary and Union First Market Bank as September 2011 BLING Sponsor
September 4, 2011 Rambo Research and Consulting LLC signed up with BLING, Business Ladies Industry Networking Group over a year ago to host the September 2011 event. As an education based business, Rambo Research owner Pam Rambo was encouraged by BLING member Karen Reinthaller to consider an education venue and theme. Pam did not know if Alumni House at William and Mary was available so she called and found that BLING was already at Alumni House in the form of Cindy Gilman. Gilman, an administrator at William and Mary Alumni House who had attended BLING, joined Rambo as a host and made wonderful arrangements to make September BLING a success. A BLING event is a big undertaking, and Gilman won't be in town the evening of the event. And Pam looked for another partner sponsor. The first person she thought of as an education related sponsor was Tina Lester at Union First Market Bank. Pam met Tina at BLING and they talked many times about ways that Union First Market Bank was helping families cover education costs. Tina brought an amazing background to the trio of sponsors as event planner extraordinaire. Tina had the organizing ideas and catering connections to make the event a hit for women who attend in September. And so a trio of local businesses and organizations came together to plan what promises to be a wonderful event Thursday evening, September 28 from 6-8 pm. Guest bartenders for the event will be Jerry Ketchmark, George Rambo and Mike Turner. The event is free but registration is required. Register at www.blingwomen.org.
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Pam Rambo Wows Audience at Self Esteem Institute Program in RichmondAugust 13, 2011 Richmond women and men gathered at Embassy Suites on West Broad Street friday night to share challenges and work on their self esteem. Self Esteem Institute Director and fitness guru, Shirley T. Burke, presented a powerful program that brought attendees to an awareness of where they really are in their lives right now. She brought in consultant Dr. Pamela Rambo to explain the science behind self esteem. Rambo, whose doctoral dissertation was on the subject, illustrated how self esteem develops in humans by sharing her own hilarious journey in public education and how it affected the way she looks at herself today. The event was a huge success according to Burke who credited Rambo with keeping them laughing even as she talked about serious issues people can develop with self esteem. Burke plans to host another event this year in December at the beautiful Jefferson Hotel. For more information on Shirley T. Burke and her amazing self esteem workshops go to www.esteeminstitute.com.
Rambo Research Helps Kick Off DC Meeting Planners Board Retreat
July 29, 2011 When the Society of Government Meeting Planners, National Capital Chapter Board met at Kings Mill in Williamsburg to kick off the 2011-12 leadership year, they invited Pam Rambo to lead them in a half day team building program. The board leads a large organization of meeting professionals. Rambo led them through the science of human relations and ways that leaders connect with each other and with the people they serve. Members of the board enjoyed applying team building principles to how they will accomplish their mission this year. Rambo was honored to be selected to kick off their program and looks forward to future opportunities to interact with them. According to Rambo, "the leadership of NATCAP SGMP is an amazing group of professionals with a challenging mission. They work miracles every day and make it look easy."
2011 College Prep Camp Outcomes Surprise Students, Parents & Grandparents
July 25,2011 On July 18, 2011, rising juniors and seniors reported to the Herron Payne Center in Williamsburg for their first day of college prep summer camp. Most students did not know anyone at camp. Some students knew one person because they enrolled with a buddy. What they all had in common was that they were facing the same big decisions about college and college majors. And someone in their family had enrolled them in college prep camp.
Student skepticism was quickly replaced with enthusiasm and new ideas as they worked with a staff of six experts, completed personal assessment programs and learned many things they did not know about college...and themselves.
By the end of the week, they had a much better idea of where they wanted to go, what they wanted to do and how to pay for it all. And the same students who were reluctant to enter on the first day of camp...were reluctant to leave their new friends on the last day.
"Family feedback has been very positive" according to camp director and college expert Dr. Pam Rambo. "Parents and grandparents alike are reporting increased levels of enthusiasm, discovery of new directions and increased skills for the process."
The most rewarding statement to summer camp staff came from a grandfather who told them: "You changed my grandchild's life."
College Prep Summer Camp has been so popular this year that some slots for next year are already spoken for. Only 10 students are accepted into the college prep camps to allow maximum individual attention.
But parents don't have to wait until summer if their child is now a senior and needs the experience right away. Rambo Research will offer College Prep Seminars on weekends this fall, beginning September 10 and again in November, to help high school seniors who need help getting ready for the critical November 1 and January college admissions priority deadlines. Additionally, a January scholarship seminar series will be held in 2012.
College Boot Camp a Hit with Parents and Grandparents
July 12, 2011 Parents and grandparents of rising high school juniors and seniors enjoyed an evening of college boot camp on July 11, 2011 at the Herron Payne Meeting Center in Williamsburg. Dr. Pam Rambo from Rambo Research and Consulting took parents on a tour of the decisions students face and the information that they need to support students as they move through the college decision making process. Parents learned about types of colleges, college entrance minimums, college admission and financial aid deadlines and college choices that can reduce overall college costs. A key element in the boot camp presentation was how to reduce stress for students during the process. Dr. Rambo presented things that parents and grandparents can encourage high school students to do ahead of the fall of their senior year. In addition, Rambo provided information about the college financial aid application process and where to find scholarships. She debunked myths and explained how things really work so that parents and grandparents would know what to expect. Armed with this information, families were encouraged to work with their children and their financial advisers to prepare for the process. Dr. Rambo was impressed by the dedicated parents and grandparents who participated. "They graduated from boot camp with gold stars", she beamed.
Douglas Joins Rambo Research Instructional Faculty in 2011-12
July 5, 2011 A highly regarded professional from the field of international business joins the faculty at Rambo Research and Consulting for programs during the year 2011-12 and for College Prep programs in the summer and fall of 2011. Suzanne Douglas, a veteran marketing and professional image professional will teach students how to ace any college, scholarship or job interviews they will face. Ms. Douglas was educated at the University of North Carolina and Duke and worked in Europe for Saatchi and Saatchi seventeen years. She is scheduled to teach at College Prep Summer Camp that begins July 18, 2011 and the College Admissions and Scholarship Series that begins on September 11, 2011.
Rambo awarded for service to NSA-VA
June 12, 2011 The Virginia Chapter of the National Speaker's Association awarded Pamela Rambo the prestigious Chapter Member of the Year award at its' June 10, 2011 meeting in Richmond, Virginia. Rambo served the association as treasurer in 2010-2011. The award, presented by association president Cathy Lewis, was for exceptional service to the association in multiple roles. State chapter members of the year will be recognized at the annual National Speaker's Association conference in Anaheim, California this year in August. Rambo will serve the state association as president-elect in 2011-12.
Financial aid training program gets underway for Virginia High School Counselors
May 15, 2011 The Secondary School Relations Committee of the Virginia Financial Aid Administrator Association (VASFAA) provides annual training in each region of Virginia for public and private high school guidance counselors and college access program professionals. VASFAA is the state chapter of the National Association for Financial Aid Administrators which plays a central role in advising the federal government and private scholarship programs regarding the needs of families, students and colleges and the impact of federal regulations on students and colleges. Pam Rambo will chair the committee in 2011-12. She last chaired this committee in 2004. This term leading Secondary School Relations Committee will make her fourth season leading this critical program to keep public and private guidance counselors and college access professionals trained in current federal and state financial aid regulations and processes. In 2010 Rambo planned curriculum and provided training for New Aid Officers at colleges and universities in Virginia at a pre-conference training program held in conjunction with the 2010 VASFAA Conference in Hampton, Va.
Rambo Research Provides Emcee Services at Burden Bearers Family Day in Upper County Park
May 1, 2011 Rambo Research provided emcee services at the April 30, 2011 Burden Bearers Family Day in the Park in Upper County Park just above Norge in James City County. Six local bands entertained the crowd at this free day of concerts from 10 am to 5 pm. Featured musical entertainment included popular regional musicians including the Three Jolly Coachmen, Anthony Wood and Nine degrees of Roguery. The event was a fund-raiser for Burden Bearers, a local ministry. Funds were raised through an amazing array of food being sold including Boone's Barbeque. Many local businesses supported this effort including Chic-fil-a and Marriott. Brock Reggi, the quiet but powerful mastermind behind this free community ministry that provides moving services to people who cannot afford them, is still accepting donations on the burdenbearer.org website.
Rambo Joins Burden Bearers on Local TV Show to Promote Family Day in the Park
April 13, 2011 Pam Rambo joined Brock Reggi and three members of the crew from Burden Bearers, a local non-profit group on a visit to the Hampton Roads Show on April 11, 2011. Burden Bearers matches volunteers with skills to local residents who need help moving or repairing things at home. The group performs such services at no charge. The appearance, arranged by Burden Bearers Marketing Crew Carol Turner and Sheryl Buckner, let area residents know about the free family day in the park event to be held April 30, 2011 from 10 am to 5 pm at Upper County Park in Norge. The day will feature seven local bands and a wide array of non-profit and vendor booths to visit. An amazing variety of food will be for sale from local restaurants and caterers. This is a no muss, no fuss family picnic. No prep needed. Just grab a lawn chair or blanket, get in the car and come up to Upper County Park for music, fun and great food for a wonderful cause. Learn more about Burden Bearers on the web.
Rambo Research Sponsors Full Court Press!
March 31, 2011 Rambo Research and Consulting LLC was honored to be a sponsor of the 2011 Full Court Press event at Lafayette High School. The event, hosted by the Virginia Gazette to raise money for a local family, was a slam dunk showcase for middle and high school hoop talent in Williamsburg, James City County, York County and the surrounding area. Parents and students crowded into the Lafayette High School Gymnasium at 6pm to browse the displays provided by other sponsors which included The Virginia Gazette, State Farm Insurance Agencies, Chick Filet, Replay Sports, International Exchange Student Programs and other local businesses and organizations that offered giveaways, food for sale and contests. Rambo Research and Consulting also provided free college information for parents and students and held a drawing for a basket of gourmet chocolate and a gift certificate to the Nike outlet. The basket was won by Ms. Denise Smith of Williamsburg. The hoops contest was not only fun for the students but provided local area high school and college coaches in surrounding cities and counties with a preview of the talent coming their way next year. See amazing action videos from the competition on the Virginia Gazette website.
Boot Camp Parents Learn What's Coming and How to Prepare
March 12, 2011 Parents of local area high school students completed college boot camp for parents on March 11, 2011. They learned what to expect with regard to college admission, financial aid and scholarship processes for the college bound high school juniors and seniors in their families. Dr. Pamela Rambo, a veteran college financial aid director, college admissions director and scholarship program director presented the BIG PICTURE for parents and explained how to avoid some of the relationship land mines that can occur in families during the college planning process. Free local college boot camp for parents are held quarterly. For information about upcoming events and to register, contact Pam Rambo.
Business Office Location:
3101 Parkside Lane
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Group Program Locations:
Evening and Weekend programs meet at the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism building at 421 North Boundary Street in Williamsburg accross the street from Williamsburg Regional Library.
Summer Camps held on weekdays in June, July and August are held at the Herron Payne Meeting Center at 107 D Bulifants Blvd. in Williamsburg in Michael Commons Office Park accross Mooretown Road from Williamsburg Sentara Hospital.
Hours:
Mon - Fri: 9AM - 8PM
Sat: 10AM - 6PM
Sun: 2PM - 5PM
