Seeds of Determination
1963 - 1988

Born in 1963 as the youngest of nine children, April was raised by a single mother in rural North Carolina in a home with a wealth of love but limited in financial resources. During her junior year of high school, her guidance counselor told her the best she could do was work at the town's local mill factory.

    Against overwhelming odds, April earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in School Guidance and Counseling from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 1985 and 1988, becoming one of the first people in her entire family to earn a degree, and later the first to earn a master's degree. She dedicated the next few years of her life to becoming the counselor she never had—proving that with support, potential knows no boundaries.

Growing Through Adversity
1988 - 2000s

April began her career in education while building a life with her college sweetheart, whom she met during freshman year at NCCU. Starting her career in the New Jersey school system before finding her perfect home with Norfolk Public Schools, She would later rise to become chairperson of guidance at Lafayette Winona Middle School in the early 2000s.

    It was around this same time that she received her first cancer diagnosis. In spite cancer treatments, April maintained outstanding attendance. Each month while April was fighting breast cancer, she was still guiding dozens of students toward futures they never thought possible—proving that regular commitment creates extraordinary outcomes. Many of the coworkers she worked with didn't know of her diagnosis for months, but knew her for unwavering belief in every student's potential.

Bearing Fruit
2000s - Present

April spent much of the 2000's growing and making an impact. In 2006, she obtained her Postgraduate Professional License in Administration and Supervision from Old Dominion University(ODU). She would later go on to hold the position of Adjunct Professor in the department of Counseling and Human Services at ODU. Counselors Association, and Virginia Counselors Association to name a few. In 2014, April was awarded “Counselor of the Year” by the Virginia Counselors Association. Her impact still continues by way of her family.

In May 2023, eight months after April's passing, her husband and two daughters honored her legacy by establishing a $30,000 scholarship endowment at North Carolina Central University's School of Psychology—ensuring her passion for helping the next generation of leaders would continue to transform lives. By May 2024, April's family felt called to honor her commitment to local education. In just seven weeks, they organized a memorial walk on what would have been her 61st birthday, creating a space for the community to celebrate her remarkable life.
    What began as an idea for a modest gathering to share stories and memories of April blossomed beyond all expectations, raising over $10,000 and revealing the profound impact she had on countless lives. These heartfelt contributions planted the seeds that bloomed into what is now "Bloom of Promise: The April C. Harmon Foundation" and launched wha is now the "Part of the Promise" Scholarship Program—transforming grief into opportunity and carrying forward April's lifelong commitment to educational excellence.