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Phillip Simmons '12 |
For
Phillip Simmons ’12, the opportunities available at R-MC are like music to his ears.
“I’m a
music major and a
religious studies minor,” says the Smithfield, Virginia native. “I love playing guitar and leading bands for worship, and I feel that's where my life will lead career-wise. After R-MC, I plan to attend seminary to get my Master of Divinity and then work as a worship leader at a church. I'd also like to travel with my own band.”
Instrumental Talent Simmons plays the guitar, “and I play a variety of other instruments as well, and sing,” he says. “I've loved music ever since I was a kid and I always dreamed of the big stage with lights and a huge crowd. I started playing in bands when I was 14 and that has led to what I do now.” Simmons is thankful to the professors in R-MC’s music department for their support. “They have encouraged me to become a better musician,” he says. “They really make me want to continue with music and be as good as I can be.”
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Getting Involved Simmons chose Randolph-Macon because of its small and close community, “which is similar to my hometown,” he says. “When I visited the campus, the staff, faculty and students were very welcoming and made an effort to make me feel comfortable. My first impression was that this was a place where I could really get involved and feel at home, and I loved the personal attention that I received.”
Simmons has been active in InterVarsity at R-MC for two years and currently serves as the worship leader of the group. “InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a group on campus that meets every Thursday night in Old Chapel,” he says. “I lead the band every week for what we call ‘InterVarsity Large Group.’ It's a time when anyone can come to worship through song and through a message. Our praise band leads worship music for the group to sing and then we have a speaker who gives a message. It's really just a relaxed time for people to get together and worship Christ and study Scripture. On occasion we do outreach projects for the campus as well.”
A Music Ministry Simmons is also a Bailey Scholar. The A. Purnell Bailey Pre-Ministerial Program for Ordained Ministry is a program that provides resources for prospective members of the clergy. Students receive financial support and are involved in at least two pre-ministerial internships with a church, church organization, hospital chaplaincy or college chaplaincy. The students are also part of Randolph-Macon College’s Honors Program. “For me, this is music ministry, as I plan to lead worship music as a career,” says Simmons. “It's great to have a group like the Bailey scholars to go to who have common interests, support what you do and intend to do something similar in ministry.”
For information on the A. Purnell Bailey Pre-Ministerial Program, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/academics/internships/SBailey.aspx For information on R-MC’s music department, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/academics/music.aspx For information on R-MC’s religious studies program, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/academics/religious-studies.aspx For more information about the breadth of programs and opportunities available at Randolph-Macon or to schedule a campus visit, contact our Admissions Office at (800) 888-1762 or at admissions@rmc.edu.