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Personal stories will serve to inspire others

  • Originally published June 3, 2010 at 4:54 p.m., updated June 3, 2010 at 5:05 p.m.

On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of Victoria College, I'd like to express my sincere thanks to the Victoria Advocate for recently publishing a two-week series of guest columns that featured "What's Your Story?" student essays.

We asked students at VC to tell us how attending college here has changed their lives. Nearly 40 students answered that question by entering the "What's Your Story?" essay contest, each submitting their own unique story.

I'm so pleased that the community has had this opportunity to read about the impressive students who attend Victoria College. I consistently hear remarkable and unfailingly inspirational stories about the difference education makes in the lives of our students.

What is also remarkable is that the stories the Advocate has published are just a few of the stories about how VC has changed people's lives in this community. Every student who attends VC has a story, a dream, a goal to reach and success to achieve and we are proud of every single one.

VC is our community's college. We are here to educate, enrich and improve the lives of all students, from all backgrounds and with every dream that can be dreamed. Our students are your children, your neighbors, perhaps even you! In helping to fulfill the dreams of individuals, our students become successful, and our work improves the entire community.

Achieving success is a team sport. Who can truly say their accomplishments were achieved without the support of others? Many of our students are the beneficiaries of community members who have supported their dreams financially. Those who donate to the VC Foundation and make scholarships such as the essay contest scholarships possible are responsible for supporting the dreams of our students.

Thanks to all the donors who contribute to VC, and who make even more success stories possible.

I extend special congratulations to the four amazing students who each received a $1,000 scholarship for their winning essay: Mina Hegaard and Beverly Ham of Victoria, Veronica Lopez of Edna and Manuel Macomo of Shiner. Thank you for sharing your stories with us and with all of Victoria. You, and your stories, will surely prove inspirational to other students who have dreams just as you have.

Dr. Tom Butler is the president of The Victoria College.