RCC Student Honored With Academic Excellence Award
Jan 26, 2015Michael A. Matthews, of McLeansville has been selected as the 2015 Academic Excellence Award recipient for Rockingham Community College. Matthews, whose academic average is currently a 4.0, is on track to earn an Associate in Science this spring. Each year one student is chosen at each of the state’s 58 community colleges to receive the prestigious award.
Matthews graduated from Vandalia Christian School in Greensboro and explained that RCC was the right choice for him after high school graduation because he could continue to play baseball and enjoy the benefits of being part of a team while getting an education. Both his brother and mother were RCC graduates, so Matthews felt comfortable knowing the atmosphere on campus would be welcoming.
“I have built friendships with a couple of my instructors during my time at RCC and they have been able to give me helpful advice regarding the path that I should take in the near future,” said Matthews.
When nominating Matthews for the honor, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Developmental Mathematics, Melissa Totten, wrote, “In my class, Michael consistently had the top average, performing excellent in class and in the lab setting.”
Totten describes Matthews as a dedicated student-athlete who spends several hours per week on the field, in the gym, and traveling for games, all the while gaining the admiration of his teammates for his dedication on the field and in the classroom.
When he is not in the classroom or on the baseball field, Matthews works in RCC’s Learning Center as a biology and chemistry tutor.
After graduation, Matthews plans to continue his education at a 4-year university and pursue a career as a physician’s assistant.
