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The Randolph-Macon College class of 2008 senior speaker is Carter Pendleton Augustine of Richmond, Virginia. She is a psychology major with a minor in women’s studies and graduated with honors. Carter’s speech focused on the sense of family she has felt at R-MC and how that family connection between professors, staff and other students helped provide a strong support network.
“Our time at this institution has left us with something of the utmost importance: a family,” Carter told her fellow graduates. “It was in the everyday moments that we built something great; the laughs, the tears, the struggles, the successes, the e-mails, the all-nighters, the never-ending meetings, and of course classes.”
All 234 graduates have unique stories to tell about their experiences at R-MC. Below is just a sampling of some of those stories.
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Carter Pendleton Augustine | |
| Emma Ndegwa left Nairobi, Kenya 10 years ago with her husband and small child. They came to the United States with very little money and hoping to find a better life. Emma’s family grew and she later became a single mother, but that did not diminish her desire to get a college education. While working at the Ukrop’s grocery story in Ashland to support her family, Emma enrolled at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and later received a scholarship to attend Randolph-Macon College. On Saturday, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in education.
“This is a dream for me,” says Emma. “It would not have happened without the support I received from my professors, especially Dr. Brenda Gilman in the education department. She became family and I knew I could call on her whenever I needed anything.”
Emma’s family traveled from Kenya to attend her graduation. She plans to become an elementary school teacher.
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Emma Ndegma | |
Trang Le is from Hanoi, Vietnam. She came to America five years ago as a high school foreign exchange student. While living with her host family in Fredericksburg, Virginia, she applied to Randolph-Macon College.
“The small size of the school is what mostly attracted me to the college,” says Trang. “I love all of the professors. They were really accessible and students can go to them for anything. That really helped since I was so far away from home.”
Trang’s brother traveled from Vietnam to attend the graduation, along with her host family from Fredericksburg. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and international relations with a minor in economics. Trang has been accepted into UVA’s master program in accounting.
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Trang Le | |
Media interested in talking to one of these great seniors, or media planning to cover R-MC’s commencement ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2008, should contact Pam Harris Cox at 752-3712,
pamelacox@rmc.edu or Anne Marie Lauranzon at 804-752-7317,
alauranz@rmc.edu. Media parking will be available at the R-MC Welcome Center, located at the corner of Henry and England Streets.