“The best thing about being a Yellow Jacket is the support students get from faculty, staff and alumni. Once a Yellow Jacket, always a Yellow Jacket.” Those are the words of Randolph-Macon College alumnus Jowann Holder ’20. From Johnston County, North Carolina, Holder chose RMC after taking a campus tour.

From Campus Visitor to Accepted Student
“I loved the lively atmosphere—it felt like home, the football program was awesome, and I liked the idea of small class sizes,” says Holder. At an Admitted Students Day event, Holder decided to major in communication studies after chatting with several professors and students. “It’s an area of study that I will use in every aspect of my life, both personally and professionally,” he says.

Leadership and Teamwork
A dedicated member of the RMC football team, Holder says, “The love that Head Coach Pedro Arruza and the assistant coaches and players have for the game and for each other is unbelievable. I learned so many life lessons—about leadership and teamwork—that I will never forget.” Holder played in 15 games across his career and collected seven tackles as a senior, his career-high for a single season.

Life Skills
The RMC experience—a strong liberal arts education combined with a tight-knit campus community—taught Holder important skills. “I learned how to communicate effectively, write well, and collaborate with others,” he says. “I also learned how to manage my time, which was filled with classes, projects, workouts, and community service.”

Giving Back
“Coach Arruza emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community,” says Holder, who for several years participated in the Lunch Buddy program at John M. Gandy Elementary School in Hanover County, Virginia. The program, which began in 2006, is for elementary students who need a little extra attention. Mentors, including RMC football players, serve as role models for the children, spending time with them each week during lunch or recess. “I was paired with the same buddy every year, so it was really cool to build a connection and watch him grow over the course of my college career,” says Holder.

A Passion to Serve
In early April 2020, Holder began working at a local police department, and later that month he started at the Police Academy at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He began these new ventures while also finishing up his last semester of courses at RMC.

“I decided to go into law enforcement because I have always wanted to serve,” says Holder. “I want to protect those who can’t protect themselves.” Holder, who is scheduled to graduate from the Academy in September, says proudly, “After I graduate, I will be sworn into a local police department as a patrol officer.”