New RCC Foundation Ambassadors Named

ASHEBORO (June 15, 2009)

RCC Foundation Ambassadors for the 2009-10 school year are (from left) Sarah Elizabeth Blackwell, Susan Parent, and David Luther, all of Asheboro, and Jennie Stevens of Trinity

Each year, the Randolph Community College Foundation chooses four students who have demonstrated extraordinary academic excellence and have a commitment to achieving their educational goals to serve as Foundation Ambassadors. Through the Ambassador program, these students can give back to the College and their communities by participating in promotional activities for RCC. They promote and represent RCC on its campus, in middle and high schools, and in their communities. The Foundation Ambassadors for the 2009-10 school year are Sarah Elizabeth Blackwell, 19, of Asheboro; David Luther, 19, of Asheboro; Susan Parent, 33, of Asheboro; and Jennie Turner Stevens, 34, of Trinity.

Blackwell is a 2008 graduate of Asheboro High School, where she was a member of the band and served as an officer and drum major; a member of the Key Club, Beta Club, and Drama Club; and a member of North Carolina Teenage Republicans, for which she served as chairman and treasurer. While in high school, Blackwell received the Tillman Award, the John Philip Sousa Band Award, the Key Club Member of the Month Award, and the AHS Band Member of the Year award. In 2006-07, she completed internships for the North Carolina House of Representatives and for Congressman Howard Coble's office. Blackwell works part time at J.C. Penney at Randolph Mall and volunteers for the Family Crisis Center. At RCC, she is an Associate in Arts (College Transfer) major with plans to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to finish her undergraduate degree. Blackwell wants to go to the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law and eventually become a judge. She is the daughter of Brenda Blackwell of Asheboro.

An Associate in Arts (College Transfer) major at RCC, Luther graduated from Walter's Grove Christian Academy. In addition to his studies, Luther holds two part-time jobs, as a music instructor for Monroe's Music and as a laborer for Laco Builders. He plans to transfer to a four-year college and double major in psychology and sociology. Luther also plans to earn his master's degree; he is interested in the field of criminal psychology. He is the son of Jon and Trudy Luther of Asheboro.

A graduate of Wilkes Central High School, Cape Fear Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Parent is enrolled in Randolph Community College's Photographic Technology program. She served in the U.S. Air Force as a member of the Air Crew Life Support from January 2003 to May 2007. She completed Basic Still Photography training at the Department of Defense Information School and then served as public affairs photographer for the U.S. Air Force Reserves from May 2007 to March 2009. At RCC, she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and has photographed firefighter training classes for RCC's Continuing Education and Marketing offices. She volunteers with the American Red Cross as a disaster action team member, and she hopes to become a commercial photographer.

Archdale-Trinity native Jennie Stevens is a Business Administration major at RCC. She is on the Dean's List and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She attended Trinity High School and earned her GED from Guilford Technical Community College. Stevens is the mother of Jonathan Stevens, a 7th grader at Archdale-Trinity Middle School, and Savannah Stevens, a 5th grader at Trinity Elementary School. She is a member of the Wheatmore High School Athletic Booster Club and was named PTSA Volunteer of the Year at Trinity Elementary in 2007. Stevens is a substitute teacher for Randolph County Schools, working with elementary through middle school. She was formerly employed by SHOWPLACE in High Point, where she was project manager and traveled for several years to New York, Las Vegas, California, Georgia and Texas. She also formerly worked for Phillips Interest and GE Capital in High Point. Stevens was engaged last November and plans to re-marry this coming September. She is the daughter of Brenda Coates of High Point.

Associate degree students who have completed a minimum of nine credit hours in the fall semester with a GPA of at least 3.0 and who are enrolled for a minimum of nine credit hours in the spring semester are invited to apply for the Foundation Ambassador program. Foundation Ambassadors receive many benefits, including an in-state tuition scholarship for three semesters and a $200 book allowance.