Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 12, 1990 TAG: 9005120375
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
During that time, Frazier has gone from a poor student who agreed with a counselor that she was not "college material," to an above average student and the Student Government Association president at New River.
What allowed Frazier to take her place among the 430 graduates was being identified as having a learning disability soon after entering NRCC a couple of years ago.
"The first semester I was here, I was in orientation," said Frazier, 26 and a resident of Blacksburg. "Jeananne Dixon and Louise Wade were up there talking about the programs at New River. They were talking about learning disabled students. And I felt like they were describing me."
Frazier turned her disability into achievements. She received her degree of associate in arts and science in education Friday.
And in the fall, Frazier will transfer to Radford University to major in education and minor in psychology.
Tests by the state Department of Rehabilitative Services showed Frazier was an audio-visual learner. That means she learns by hearing and seeing rather than by reading.
Because she learns differently, Frazier must listen to her books instead of reading them, have a note-taker in class while she pays close attention to the instructor, and take untimed tests.
Frazier showed her appreciation for the help she received Frazier from the Learning Achievement Program by dedicating her speech to Dixon and Wade, learning-disabled counselors, as well as her family.
"This gives the student the support they need in the academic environment," explained Dixon, the coordinator for the Center for Learning Disabled at NRCC.
"The program helps students to develop a solid self-image and self esteem," Wade said.
Her story touched commencement speaker Nellie B. Quander, a member of the State Board for Community Colleges.
Quander recited "The Bridge Builder" by Will Allen Dromgoole and told the students they should imitate the old man in the poem who builds a bridge for the young man who will one day follow him.
And she cited as an example all of those who built bridges for Frazier.
Almost half the degrees conferred were associates in applied science - 200 out of 430. This included 25 students receiving degrees in instrumentation technology.
Another 49 students earned associates in arts and sciences.
Also, there were 92 graduates in certificate programs, 78 in career studies programs, and 11 in diploma programs.
by CNB