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RCC announces Presidential Scholars

ASHEBORO — Five outstanding Randolph County high school students have been chosen in a competitive process as Presidential Scholars at Randolph Community College for the 2020-2021 school year. Luna Corona and Alberto Olivarez, both from Asheboro High School; Josie Parrish from Eastern Randolph High School, Rose Catherwood from Uwharrie Charter Academy, and Jeremiah Hodge from Wheatmore High School will receive two-year RCC scholarships through the Presidential Scholars program funded by the Randolph Community College Foundation.

Luna Corona
Corona
Alberto Olivarez
Olivarez
Josie Parrish
Parrish
High school students from public, private, and home schools throughout Randolph County were invited to apply for the scholarships. Students who met the preliminary requirements were invited to attend a Presidential Scholars Day at RCC on March 10, where they learned more about the College and were interviewed by a committee of faculty and staff members. Finalists were chosen and invited back for a second interview with RCC President Dr. Robert Shackleford Jr., who made the final choice of five recipients.

Students’ academic records and extracurricular/community activities weighed into the selection of recipients, as did the interviews.

RCC Presidential Scholars receive a $2,500 scholarship for their first year of study ($1,250 for fall and $1,250 for spring) that is renewable for their second year of study. The students have the opportunity to serve as Ambassadors for the College, and meet regularly with President Shackleford.

Rose Catherwood
Catherwood
Jeremiah Hodge
Hodge
Luna Corona of Asheboro plans on going into the health science field. A varsity athlete, she is also president of the AHS Key Club and is a member of the AHS GlamourGals and AHS Chick-fil-A Leader Academy along with holding a job at Cinemark Theater. She has volunteered at Lindley Park Elementary School, the Randolph County Public Library, the OneBlood Blood Drive, and Christians United Outreach Center.

Alberto Olivarez of Asheboro plans to work on a college transfer degree and study business. He has been a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America and the AHS Yearbook Staff, along with working at Bojangles and Food Lion. Olivarez is Venture program, financial literacy, and Word and PowerPoint certified.

Josie Parrish of Franklinville is pursuing a nursing degree. At ERHS, she is involved in Beta Club, Junior Civitan, National FFA Organization, while playing tennis and managing the football team. Parrish has worked at Sagebrush and Central Bakery, and is a fourth-generation firefighter with the Ramseur Fire Department.

Rose Catherwood of Asheboro is pursuing a degree in elementary education. She has been involved in Beta Club, student government, the dance team, her church youth group, and the American Red Cross Blood Drive; teaches at Pointe South Dance and Tumble, is a school flex day volunteer, and is a teacher’s assistant. Catherwood also works at Chick-fil-A.

Jeremiah Hodge of Thomasville is working on a college transfer degree with the hopes of studying marketing. He has been the president of the Junior Civitans Club, vice president of the Beta Club, and the senior representative on the Student Council while volunteering at his church. Hodge also has worked as an umpire and as a cashier/crew member at Cook Out.

The RCC Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides a margin of excellence for Randolph Community College by building a strong relationship with the local community, acquiring and managing contributions, and funding activities that support the College.
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