Randolph-Macon College Graduates Share
Outstanding Commencement Stories
Ashland, VA - Approximately 225 Randolph-Macon College seniors will graduate at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at the R-MC Frank E. Brown Fountain Plaza on Henry Street. (In the event of rain, commencement will be held in the Randolph-Macon Brock Recreation Center, located at 400 N. Center Street, at 10 a.m.) And, while each of these seniors has a wonderful story, below are three students whose stories truly stand out among the rest:
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Sara Bremner -- Sara Bremner first came to Randolph-Macon in 1974; tuition, room and board were $3,400 a year at the time. During freshmen orientation, Sara met her now-husband – the two married and soon Sara found herself in Ashland – but not at R-MC – raising her three children. Now, some 33 years later, with tuition almost 10 times what is was when she first started, and after each of her three children finished college themselves, Sara will accept her diploma on June 2.
Sara was able to return to R-MC in 2000 and, although she said it was strange at first to be the “gray-haired woman sitting next to so many young students,” she soon broke the barriers of age and was just like any other Randolph-Macon student – ready and eager to learn. Today, she already is working as a tax associate at Keiter, Stephens, Hurst, Gary & Shreaves, and she’s looking into taking the CPA exam in the coming months. Sara truly is living proof of the power of dedication and perseverance.
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Michael Wallace -- At a time when soldiers are constantly being deployed overseas to Iraq, R-MC senior Michael Wallace hasn’t wavered in his decision to commission as a 2nd lieutenant the day before his graduation ceremony. Michael came to R-MC in 2003 with two interests in mind – football and Army ROTC. After his sophomore year, though, he found that football and his ROTC commitments conflicted, so he decided to give up football and focus on his future in the Army.
And on June 1 at 3 p.m. in Washington-Franklin Hall on the R-MC campus, Michael will stand before his father and grandfather, both retired Lt. Colonels, and be commissioned as an officer in the Army. His father will swear him in, and together his parents will pin on his “gold bars.” Ten days later, he leaves for Ft. Benning, Georgia, for the start of his officer training. While Michael
likely will find himself headed overseas in the coming year, he’s ready for whatever mission he’s assigned – and truly is a fantastic example of someone willing to put their life on the line for others.
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Shannon Davis -- R-MC senior Shannon Davis has loved, lost and persevered. She came to R-MC in 2002 from Tappahannock, the first to go to college in her immediate family. Just a few months into her freshman year, her uncle died. During her junior year, in September 2005, her grandfather died and one month later, her father was killed in a car crash. The following months were some of the most difficult Shannon had ever experienced, but she decided to remain in school at R-MC, fearing if she left she may never come back. She made poor grades at first, falling almost a year behind in her classes. Her living grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s so she spent each weekend at home taking care of him and her mother.
In 2006, as things were beginning to turn around for Shannon, her grandfather passed away, as did another uncle. This time, though, Shannon realized she needed and wanted to achieve her dream of a earning a college degree. She brought her grades up and this June 2, she’ll graduate with a degree in English. This one’s for her family, she said, and for herself. She truly has loved, lost and persevered – what an example of what you can achieve when you believe in your dreams.
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Media interested in talking to one of these great seniors, or media planning on covering R-MC Commencement 2007, should contact Anne Marie Lauranzon at 752-7317 or alauranz@rmc.edu. Media parking will be available at the R-MC Welcome Center, located at the corner of Henry and England streets.