Julie Gaven

Julie Gaven — an ambitious and accomplished LFCC graduate — who graduated from LFCC in May 2007 with degrees in education and liberal arts with a communication specialization.

Her classes are only part of Julie‘s story. She also teaches a Sunday school class at her church; works as a patient support volunteer with Blue Ridge Hospice; serves as an assistant coach/trainer for the Special Olympics equestrian team; and contributes to the Girl Scouts‘ Iraqi Children Assistance Program service project, which provides school supplies for children in poor Iraqi villages.

“I really enjoy helping others, especially donating my time and energy to worthy causes that are important to me,” Julie said. “It‘s so important to give back to others who are less fortunate than yourself, so I try to give back as much as I can.”

If that weren‘t enough to fill her life, she spends time playing the piano, harp and violin; is a member of a chamber orchestra; sings in a performance choir at Shenandoah University; acts and assists in technical behind-the-scenes activities for local community theater productions; plays soccer; and enjoys horseback riding.

Julie does all of these things while maintaining her status as a president‘s list student, meaning she has achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.8.

This sounds like a lifetime‘s worth of achievements. But the incredible fact is that Julie just turned 17 — she began taking classes at LFCC while a home-schooled student through the College‘s Dual Enrollment Program. After graduating from high school, Gaven began attending LFCC full time.

“The transition from home-schooling to a community college was very smooth and felt like a natural step up in my academic career,” Julie said. “It is nice that I can still live at home and go to college at a much more affordable price for two years before I transfer to a four-year university.”

- Written Aug. 3, 2006