It’s always great to have good news to share regarding our students. In today’s column, we salute Crystal Drake of Courtland, recipient of The Holt M. Livesay Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship for 2009-10.

This special scholarship is named each year for the person most recently selected for the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. PDCCC’s 2009 recipient of that award is Holt Livesay, in recognition of his many forms of support of the college, which include serving as President of the PDCCC Foundation.

Commonwealth Legacy Scholarships

The Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship Program was established through the generosity of a number of private donors to the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE). According to Dr. Jennifer L. Sager, vice chancellor for institutional advancement for the Virginia Community College System, “This program designates scholarship recipients who in each successive year will become mentors to a new class of scholars — providing a legacy for years to come of community college graduates extending opportunity to future students. What better way to honor the history and the future of Virginia’s community colleges and the students and families they serve.”

Given to first-time college students at each of the 23 colleges in the VCCS, the Commonwealth scholarships are applied to tuition, books and fees. Students selected for the scholarships have demonstrated academic excellence during high school as well as a commitment to developing their leadership skills.

Recognition Luncheon

A special luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 10 in Richmond, where Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship recipients from across the state will be recognized. On hand to applaud Crystal will be Doug Boyce, PDCCC President; Holt Livesay, PDCCC’s 2009 Philanthropy Leader for whom this year’s Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship is named; and Meredith Felts, chair of the local college board. Members of Crystal’s family will also be attending.

Leadership conference

In addition to receiving the scholarship, each Commonwealth Legacy recipient participates in the annual VCCS Student Leadership Conference, which this year will be held Nov. 6-8 in Roanoke. The conference will be filled with opportunities for leadership development, personal growth, and peer interaction, with special segments for Commonwealth Legacy Scholars, including breakfast with the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.

Legacy Scholar: Crystal Drake

Graduating 10th in her class at Southampton High School, Crystal began the fall semester at Paul D. Camp Community College in August, and is pursuing a nursing degree. During her time at Southampton High, she was inducted into the National Honor Society and was a member of the FCCLA. She made Honor Roll during the 2006-07 year, followed by the Principals List from 2007 to 2009. Drake also volunteered at The Village at Woods Edge, assisting the residents with their mail, games and activities.

Blackwater Ecological Preserve

Celebration

The 25th anniversary of the Blackwater Ecological Preserve in Zuni, owned by Old Dominion University, will be commemorated Oct. 29-30. Anniversary events, sponsored by PDCCC and ODU, start with a series of lectures and presentations on Thursday, Oct. 29, at PDCCC’s Regional Workforce Development Center on the Franklin Campus. The day’s agenda includes a coffee/social at 10 a.m., a welcome at 10:30 a.m., presentations on research and use of the preserve from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., lunch from 1 to 2 p.m., and a reception at 5 p.m. – and at 6:30 p.m., two special lectures about the biology of longleaf pine and its restoration program in Virginia will be presented by Carl Garrison III, Virginia state forester, and Dr. Cecil Frost, retired botanist and coordinator of the N.C. Plant Conservation Program. On Friday, Oct. 30, a field trip is planned to the preserve from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vans will be leaving PDCCC and ODU at 8 a.m.

There is no charge for any portion of the program; however, pre-registration is required by today. Call or email John Patterson, assistant professor of biology at PDCCC: (757) 925-6338, jpatterson@pc.vccs.edu.

For information on options available at PDCCC, call 569-6700, or visit the college Web site at www.pdc.edu.