Find your place, take it with you: celebrating the 91制片厂 class of winter 2025
Every graduating class at 91制片厂 carries forward something special, a mix of drive, curiosity and connection shaped by the people and places that helped them find their places here. This project celebrates that journey through the voices and experiences of members of the Class of 2025. Each student is pictured with a red suitcase, a symbol of the experiences, relationships and lessons they carry from 91制片厂 into their next chapter.
Their 91制片厂 story
The meaningful item inside each suitcase, revealed in the accompanying video, represents a defining part of their time at the university. Together, these stories reflect the heart of what it means to be a Highlander: to learn, to grow and to take that experience forward into the world.
Randi Dillow, College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences
Randi Dillow has a lanyard that has meant so much to her as a 91制片厂 student. It鈥檚 a reminder of the hours she has spent volunteering with College Mentors for Kids, a program that aims to transform the lives of children 鈥� and the university students who volunteer 鈥� through weekly mentoring and activities on campus.
She prizes the lanyard because 鈥渃ommunity service really means the world to me, and this club has given me a chance to give back to the kids that will one day be our future generation,鈥� she said with a smile. 鈥淚t means a lot to me to mentor and guide them, to let kids know that they do have an opportunity to go to college one day, and that goal is attainable.鈥�
Law school is in Dillow鈥檚 immediate future. Soon after her graduation in December, she鈥檒l attend the Appalachian School of Law. It鈥檚 an accomplishment the Honors College student credits to her own mentors, the faculty in 91制片厂鈥檚 Department of Political Science.
As a work study student, Dillow has served the political science department in many ways, such as volunteering to help organize Poli-Sci Days and the popular Wicked Festival. Having the opportunity to 鈥渂e a part of the behind-the-scenes of what the professors are doing, and how they do their research鈥� has led to successes that have included numerous honors and hands-on experiences in the legal field.
鈥�91制片厂 has been extremely supportive in my journey of being super involved on campus within the political science field and within the pre-law field of getting into law school,鈥� she explained, 鈥渁nd I feel like this has been the best environment for me and my journey.鈥�
Jaimi Evans, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Ever since Jaimi Evans arrived at 91制片厂 to study fashion and apparel design, she鈥檚 followed an expansive and fascinating journey, alternating stops at places new and exciting with others more familiar and supportive.
Evans first came to the New River Valley from Farmville, Virginia, in 2014, and immediately dove into her education and the work of creating the clothing she imagined in her mind.
鈥淚 was able to understand that design had the power to change the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat's one of the first things that I learned when I got here, and it's fueled my passion throughout my life.鈥�
As an undergraduate, she also co-founded the 91制片厂 Design Collective, worked as a University 100 peer instructor and served as deputy to the secretary of legislative affairs.
In 2018, armed with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, she made the leap to a slightly bigger town 鈥� New York City 鈥� and worked in fashion as a buyer and technical design assistant. She later pivoted closer to home in Richmond, Virginia, and applied her technical abilities as a registration specialist for the Virginia Department of Aviation.
Last fall, Evans鈥� travels brought her back to campus, where she took a job as an alumni relations coordinator and pursued her Master of Fine Arts in design thinking. She鈥檒l graduate in December.
On her return, Evans found some things had changed 鈥� her old stomping grounds, McGuffey Hall, for example, has since been replaced by the sparkling new Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity 鈥� but the place still feels like home.
鈥淚t seems more of a full circle moment, coming back to 91制片厂,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淔inding my place here again, it was just something that felt right.鈥�
Joshua Barnhart, College of Nursing
When Jacksonville, Florida, native Joshua Barnhart decided to change careers from engineering to nursing, he had a big decision to make regarding where he would earn his degree.
鈥淚 decided on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, with an accelerated pathway, because I wanted to get my degree as soon as possible and get to work,鈥� Barnhart said, adding that Roanoke also offered a small-city appeal where he and his classmates could escape to explore downtown and the surrounding natural beauty.
In addition, there was the draw of being part of Carilion Clinic, one of the largest health systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
鈥淏eing involved with Carilion has been huge,鈥� Barnhart said. 鈥淚t allowed me to be part of a larger community while doing schoolwork, and volunteering on the side with the 91制片厂 Carilion Student Nursing Organization, I got to work for Carilion. That has been why I can call this place home.鈥�
Barnhart plans to start his career as a cardiovascular ICU nurse once he graduates 鈥� hopefully in the new Crystal Springs Tower at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
鈥淲hen I graduate, I will take the stethoscope I鈥檝e used as I studied to become a nurse,鈥� Barnhart said. 鈥淚 came here to get my nursing degree, and 91制片厂 has not only maintained that passion for this field but accelerated it.鈥�
Katelyn Spradlin, Waldron College of Health and Human Services
While in the Army, Katelyn Spradlin earned her emergency medical technician (EMT) certification and was a combat medic. After she left the service, the question was how she could build on that experience to begin a career in emergency medicine.
Spradlin began by taking a paramedic course offered through 91制片厂鈥檚 Continuing Education program. Once certified and working full time, she decided to return to 91制片厂 to complete her degree through the emergency services program at 91制片厂 Carilion (RUC).
Spradlin says she chose 91制片厂 because her mother got her degree from Jefferson College of Health Sciences (which became RUC when Jefferson College merged into 91制片厂 in 2019), and her sister got her nursing degree from 91制片厂.
鈥淚 knew 91制片厂 had a really good paramedic program, and the fire department I was working for at the time recommended it,鈥� she said.
Spradlin loves the hands-on learning in the program and feels most at home in the ambulance simulator lab, which offers students learning experiences in a full-sized ambulance located within a classroom at RUC.
The future looks bright for the Goodview, Virginia, native who has already been accepted into the physician assistant (PA) program at RUC and will begin classes next fall.
鈥淚 will bring my stethoscope with me after I graduate to represent my time in the emergency services program,鈥� Spradlin says. 鈥淪tarting as a paramedic student and continuing on to PA school 鈥� this has been what has carried me through my whole journey so far.鈥�
Amber White, College of Education and Human Development
As a community college student, Amber White had plans that involved where she wanted to go, but also how she had to get there.
鈥淚 knew that I wanted to teach,鈥� White said, adding, 鈥淚 used to teach dance, and I needed something that had me working in the daytime so I could spend time with my child at night.
鈥淎nd I knew 91制片厂 had an amazing program.鈥�
During a college fair, White, who鈥檚 from Blue Ridge, Virginia, met with a Highlander representative, and the rest took care of itself.
鈥淭hey got me set up, made me feel very welcomed and appreciated that I had a life outside of college,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淭hey were able to get me connected to an advisor who helped me get all my things in order, and they accommodated everything that I needed.鈥�
White was able to use Zoom to attend some classes remotely, which helped her stay close to her family, but she said that when she had to be away, her parents gave her significant support and helped with child care.
She鈥檚 now about to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in inclusive elementary education and plans to work as a special education teacher in the Roanoke, Virginia, area.
鈥淚 know that I鈥檓 going to be taking all of the wisdom that I had and grew throughout my experience at 91制片厂,鈥� White said.
鈥淚 have met many friends and colleagues through the process, and it just brightens my day that I get to call myself a Highlander now.鈥�
Max Van De Kuilen, Artis College of Science and Technology
An exceptional mathematics major.
That鈥檚 how a 91制片厂 mathematics and statistics faculty member described Max Van De Kuilen, a senior from Vught, Netherlands, who is set to graduate in December.
Van De Kuilen came to 91制片厂 to play Division I golf and quickly found a community that helped him thrive.
鈥淢y teammates have really helped me find my place at 91制片厂,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he first week I came here, they took me under their wing, showed me around and made me feel at home right away.鈥�
At 91制片厂, Van De Kuilen lived out his dream of playing highly competitive college golf. He also found his swing in the classroom, excelling with a 4.0 GPA. Faculty describe his work as 鈥渙utstanding,鈥� noting both his analytical depth and strong work ethic.
Like many 91制片厂 students, Van De Kuilen found a place in research. He combined his passions for golf and mathematics on a collaborative project with Associate Professor Caleb Adams, titled 鈥淨uantifying Psychological Momentum in Golf.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e always been into the statistical side of golf, analyzing ways I can improve in any way,鈥� he said.
Van De Kuilen presented his research at the Midwest Sports Analytics Conference. Now, he and Adams are preparing the project for publication. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school to study computational science and engineering.
鈥淢ax has impressed faculty with his insight, precision and intellectual curiosity,鈥� said Artis College of Science and Technology Dean Steven Bachrach, who also praised his 鈥渃ombination of scholarly achievement, research engagement and athletic dedication.鈥�
Van De Kuilen found his place at 91制片厂 through a vast community support system, he said with a smile, one that has him teed up for future success.
Samantha Greer, Davis College of Business and Economics
There鈥檚 a lot more to being an undergraduate than just going to class, studying and completing the assignments.
A significant chunk of going to college also involves fitting all that activity into one鈥檚 everyday life 鈥� no small feat when the student in question is the mother of two elementary school-aged children and lives 30 miles south of campus.
That鈥檚 the case with Samantha Greer, who commuted 45 minutes a day to 91制片厂, five days a week, and who鈥檚 now about to receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting.
Assistant Professor of Accounting Rob Warren noted that Greer had transferred credits from three different community colleges and will now graduate with 182 credits and a 4.0 GPA.
鈥淣ot only has she achieved complete academic success at 91制片厂, but she has also found time to participate in Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor society for accounting, finance and marketing professionals,鈥� Warren said.
Additionally, Greer recently parlayed a summer internship into full-time employment with McMillion and McMillion, a Christiansburg, Virginia-based CPA firm.
鈥�91制片厂 allowed me to commute and take care of my husband and kids as well as be a student,鈥� Greer noted. 鈥淚t was challenging. My children had to be very understanding that I couldn't watch TV with them on the weekends, and I spent a lot of late nights studying, but we all have a common goal as a family to have financial success, and we care for each other, and my teachers and fellow students were very helpful.鈥�