RCC Outstanding Student Named

With only a certificate in secretarial science issued to her in the 1970s from Danville Community College, Elizabeth "Libby" Young decided that it was time to upgrade her skills. In 2008, Young enrolled in the office administration program at Rockingham Community College. She will graduate in May with an associate degree in that program and as RCC's Outstanding Student of the year.

"I'm honored to receive this award and shocked," said Young. "I've talked with newly widowed individuals, those who have lost their jobs after putting their lives into a company, and others who have been through the same struggles as I have, if not more. Therefore, to receive this award is humbling."

Award nominations are based on criteria such as the student's maturity, reliability, academic success and potential (grade point average of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale), value to class, and college service. Faculty members consider the award special because it is someone they have tapped who exhibits hard work, talent, and dedication.

Young's motivation to succeed arose out of her difficulties: job loss, crumbling marriage, eventual single parent status. She had something to prove to herself.

That motivation did not magically smooth the rough spots.

"Sometimes I had trouble focusing in class," she said, "especially that first semester."

To boost her chances of success, she took online classes, reasoning that she could do class work at times when she was better able to cope and concentrate. She also took advantage of the student success resources on campus such as the AT3 lab. She took an eight-week employability skills workshop through the college's human resources development department. And she turned to people.

"The other students, my instructors, and my advisor were so encouraging," she said.

Eventually, Young became an AT3 lab tutor herself, citing that helping somebody else was a thrill. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Pi, RCC's chapter of the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa. She is an Alpha Kappa Pi officer and helped design its website. She is a Dean’s List student, has assisted in many college-related projects, is a member of the Rockingham County Naturalist club, has volunteered at Bethany Community Middle School and is transcribing a book for a Salvation Army major about her experience in setting up a post in Shelby.

In other words, Young is considered a truly outstanding student.