Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia, Cynthia Hudson, spoke to college-bound students and recipients of Outstanding Youth Awards and scholarships Sunday during an event held by the Farmville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The event was held at the Robert Russa Moton Museum.

Hudson has served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General since 2014, and is responsible for managing legal services to the Office’s state agency and state officer clients.

Her message to students was setting a personal GPS, making sure that their goals aligned with their values and the things in their lives that matter most to them.

Hudson grew up in the Town of Crewe, and described, following various localities’ decision to implement Freedom of Choice, which let parents choose to send children to all white or all black schools, her parents chose to send her to a majority-white schools.

Hudson said she had been the only black student in her grade for second and fifth grade, and attended an integrated school in sixth grade.

She said to reclaim the experience of a majority-black education, she attended Howard University, later transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to be closer to her family and change majors from nutrition to mass communications.

“You grew up quickly in my day,” Hudson said, “and you made decisions, and you learned very quickly that your decisions had great impact, and impact immediately.”

She said her decisions, from studying at law school, to practicing law, to working for the City of Hampton to later being appointed as Chief Deputy Attorney General, came as a result of making sure her decisions reflected her values and goals.

She encouraged students to pursue values that would best serve them, including truth, integrity, education, health, self-respect and family.

“Don’t just let life happen to you,” Hudson said. “You can’t control everything, obviously, but control what you can by making the best decisions that you can.”

Approximately 28 students from six localities received the Outstanding Youth Award and eight students received scholarships. The number of scholarship recipients has increased from three last year to eight this year.

Hudson said she was excited to see the number of students who had already received associate’s degrees, dually enrolling in community college and high school, and said she had confidence in their futures.

During the event, audience members and members of the chapter prayed and read rites of passage for the youth, and prayed that they would make good decisions and stay with their values.

“As they experience the difficult task of becoming adults, guide them in the pursuit of faith, identity and purpose,” audience members read during the program.

The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides “assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.”