Grateful for Support

Tracy Peacock stood outside the doors of the King George campus of RCC, a mix of nostalgia and gratitude washing over her. It was 2019, and she had just completed her Associate of Science degree, a journey that had begun two years earlier in the phlebotomy program. As she reflected on her time there, she couldn’t help but recall the challenges she faced along the way.

“I chose RCC because it was conveniently located in my home county, affordable, and had a small, family-like atmosphere,” Tracy shared. “Having a campus in King George was essential to my success.  I literally did not know what I wanted to go back to school for. I needed something affordable, a quick career path to help me be financially independent. Terry answered all my questions and suggested the phlebotomy career studies certificate.”

But the road wasn’t easy. In 2017, she was couch surfing with her two children, having escaped an abusive marriage in another state. “My biggest challenges were finding a stable place to stay and completing my program financially,” she admitted. Yet, it was amidst this turmoil that she discovered a supportive community at RCC.

“The staff were incredibly kind, even without knowing my personal struggles,” Tracy remembered. “From registration to the instructors, everyone was there for me.” One person stood out: Terry Abell, site supervisor and navigator at King George, who not only guided her toward the phlebotomy career studies certificate but also made her feel heard. “Terry listened to me and suggested something that checked all my boxes. It was as if she sensed my struggles, even though I hadn’t shared them with her.”

Tracy became close friends with several faculty members, including Professors Green and Olsen, and Karen Turner. “Terry encouraged me to finish my associate degree in Business, and Karen pushed me to apply for positions within RCC. That’s how I found my happy place working in Admissions and Records (A&R),” she said.

During her studies, she also participated in extracurricular activities, showcasing her skills at a community resource fair alongside her phlebotomy classmates. “We passed out information and answered questions,” she recalled. “It felt good to give back.”

As Tracy transferred to another school after RCC, she noted how seamless the process was. “It made me appreciate how well RCC prepared me for the next step,” she reflected. Tracy has a simple message for anyone considering RCC, “Come in person and feel the family atmosphere. Everyone truly cares about your success, both academically and personally.”

Tracy understands the vital role RCC plays in the community. “I absolutely love the Squall Stall food pantry,” Tracy said. “If I had that resource when I started, it would have made a world of difference for my children.”

Reflecting on her journey, Tracy has immense gratitude toward those who had supported her. “I want to thank Terry and Karen for changing my life for the better,” she said. “You have no idea what a kind word can do for someone struggling. Just remember, every interaction counts. We’re not just offering skills for future workers; we’re enriching our local community,” she explained. “By providing options for students to stay here, we make a real impact.”

“To everyone else, be that person who takes a few extra moments to encourage, support, and care for students, and coworkers around you. You have no idea what people are going through. Just a smile or a kind word can make all the difference. I would not be here today if it wasn’t for RCC!  I am truly blessed!  If you’re wondering if you make a difference or feel like you’re just paper shuffling just remember that someone in A&R I never met enrolled me in classes. Someone in advising made sure I was on the right track. Someone was cleaning the bathrooms I used to cry in wondering where my next meal was coming from or if my children and I were going to have to sleep on a new couch that night. You may not ever meet these students, but your jobs and contributions to RCC make it possible for them to move up and beyond!  Keep up the great work and as many of you who know me, I like to end my conversations with ‘Have a joyful day!’”

From RCC Student to Employee

Paris Nelson earned an associate in arts and sciences degree from RCC in 2019. “While I was a student here at RCC, it was some of the best times,” said Nelson. She took a mixture of online and in-person classes, and especially enjoyed coming to campus for classes because the student lounge was always filled with people either playing pool or ping pong or playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. Her favorite classes were in Biology. “The atmosphere was always welcoming and exciting.”

After graduating from RCC, Paris started taking classes at VCU and got a job in RCC’s testing center. She then transferred to working for the Student Help Desk as an Instructional Support Technologist. "I helped students get logged into their accounts to give them access to Canvas and their accounts is a vital step in completing course work,” she said. “I like helping the students and talking to them about what classes to take, what can transfer, and how to navigate the systems they need to use.”

Paris continues to learn and help students at RCC since she sees the value of going to a community college as the first steppingstone to advance one’s education.  She is now an Admissions and Records Technician, at the same time, just started her graduate degree at the University of Idaho studying Human Factor Psychology. In the Admissions and Records department, her favorite thing to do is help students who need to know what their first step is. Whether it's helping them apply to RCC or guiding them on what steps to take after applying. She remembers how intimidating it once was starting college, and no matter the age, those nerves are the same for all people.

“I like to help the next generation of students realize the value of learning new skills, whether it be for a certificate program, workforce, or getting their AA to transfer,” she said.

Burn Survivor Makes RCC Nursing Graduation a Full-Circle Moment 

This article was written by Sara McCloskey, VCU Health News Editor, is reprinted with permission.

Eyes full of pride watched as Kendra Yates, 27, walked onto the stage in January (2024). It was Rappahannock Community College’s pinning ceremony for nursing students, and among the crowd were her fiancé, Michael, and her boys, 5-year-old Joseph and 3-year-old Josiah, who was born just weeks before Kendra enrolled in classes.  

But she wouldn’t have been there if not for one of the people pinning her. Katherine “Katy” Davis, M.S.N., R.N., a nurse clinician at the VCU Health Evans-Haynes Burn Center, was on the comprehensive burn care team that oversaw Kendra’s treatment after a serious motorcycle crash seven years earlier. 

“Your life doesn’t end because a tragic thing happens to you, right?” said Kendra, who had dreamed of returning to school to become a nurse. “[Your life] can continue and you can still accomplish your dreams. Even if it looks a little different than what you wanted it to be in the beginning, you can still accomplish it.” 

Kendra invited Davis and Michael Feldman, M.D., medical director of the Evans-Haynes Burn Center, to her pinning ceremony at graduation. The compassionate care she experienced at VCU Health, Kendra says, inspired her unending curiosity to pursue nursing. Today, it serves as an example for the kind of patient-focused care she wishes to give to others. 

Growing up in Middlesex County, Virginia, Kendra envisioned a career in health care, but after trying out school for a few semesters, she realized she wasn’t ready. While taking a break from classes, her dreams were nearly extinguished. 

A lover of motorcycles, Kendra, then 20, fell off a bike while riding as a passenger. The asphalt caused massive abrasions and cuts to her skin. The road rash covered most of her body, the lifesaving equipment of her helmet prevented injury to her face. 

“You know what it feels like to have a skinned knee. Imagine having that all over – all over your body,” said Davis, the nurse clinician. "You’re also losing a lot of fluids. It’s a lot of pain. [Kendra] lost a lot of blood.”  

The injury, which Kendra estimates covered 80% of her body, was so extreme it felt like a third-degree burn. She was admitted to the VCU Health Evans-Haynes Burn Center. While it wasn’t the injury the center typically sees, the clinical team knew exactly how to treat it. Click here to read the original article. 

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