March 18, 2026

On March 19, 2026, Forsyth Tech will host a Professional Clothing Pop Up Shop at Rhoades Conference Center. This partnership between Forsyth Tech and Goodwill offers students a chance to shop for free professional clothing to wear to career fairs and job interviews. 

One of the showcased shops will be Jewelry from Jojo, a non-profit started by Sara Singleton, Associate Vice President for Governance and Strategic Innovation, to provide students with jewelry and accessories for the workplace. Sara conceived of Jewelry from Jojo as a way to honor her mother who passed away last August. Sara’s mother Sharon “JoJo” Singleton was the matriarch of her family, loyal to a fault and loved by her grandchildren—three grandsons, including twins born on her birthday. The first of her family to graduate from high school, she met Sara’s father while she was a student at Beaufort County Technical Institute, which is now Beaufort County Community College and after college they began farming. When farming became difficult in the 1980s, Jojo started working as a secretary for the county manager in Beaufort County earning just $12,000 a year. She worked for the county for 30 years and retired as assistant to the county manager—all accomplished with just one credential from community college, professionalism and work ethic. As a mark of her contribution to the county, when she retired Jojo received the North Carolina Order of the Longleaf Pine from the governor. 

Jojo was also a passionate collector of jewelry and accessories and when she passed away, she left a large collection to her family. After the family chose pieces to keep in her memory, Sara created Jewelry for Jojo as a way to share her mother’s love of jewelry with college students and honor her legacy of hard work and dedication to the community. In addition to providing students with jewelry and accessories, this non-profit will also accept jewelry from other families who may be looking to honor family members when they pass away. Sara says that what she loves most about Forsyth Tech are the ways that people care for each other and is happy to report that many in the Forsyth Tech community have already donated pieces to Jewelry for Jojo. 

“Every day I am amazed by the work being done at Forsyth Tech and amazed at the way everyone pulls together”.

Sara reflects that it is easier to talk about the wonderful memories she has of her mother than of the sadness of losing her, and she is excited to share Jojo’s story and honor her through the non-profit. Make sure to check out Jojo’s Jewelry at the pop up and for further information about making donations, contact Sara Singleton at: jewelryfromjojo@gmail.com.