Allen Barnett, Class of 2001
As a Roan Scholar I learned many valuable lessons that have served me well. Two of those lessons in particular were to be confident and to have clearly established priorities. Thanks to the Roan Leadership Program I was exposed to a wide range of experiences. Whether at the Outdoor Adventure or job shadowing at a local bank, I was taught the importance of having confidence in my ability to act and make decisions. This was not a blind confidence, but a matter of doing the work before hand to justify my assurance. The ability to prioritize was impressed upon me as well. The Roan Program offered a plethora of opportunities I would not have had otherwise. This enabled me to better focus on my most important goals.
These lessons propelled me through the rigorous training of becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. I am now a Navy SEAL officer serving in Virginia Beach, VA. My primary duty is leading SEALs in combat. Every day, whether in training or on a real mission, I must have the confidence to make split second decisions in extreme conditions. Prioritizing ensures that these quick decisions work toward my larger goals. In each situation the decision process is the same one I was taught as a Roan Scholar not long ago. I admit, I thoroughly enjoy every miserable day of my job and am thankful to the Roan Program for preparing me for such an endeavor.
Tim Vanthournout, Class of 2005
The Roan experience is impossible to describe in so few words. As I have reflected on my undergraduate years I have noticed that the Roan family played a key role in my development as a person. This development was greatly assisted by the opportunities to travel provided by the Roan International Endowment. My time in Germany was an experience that influenced all four pillars of the Roan Scholarship. The opportunity to travel abroad with the "Roan Family" was a great experience and one in which many memories were made.
Amber Preston, Class of 2006
Most Roan Scholars are leaders before ever entering the program; but throughout college each are cultivated and refined to his or her own specialties. In my "real world" life post-graduation, I am coming into my own post-Roan leadership style, and remembering all the gems of wisdom revealed throughout my time in the program. Above all I realize the importance of service in a successful leader, the necessary humility that accompanies success and, that no matter how knowledgeable of a nurse I am, no amount of experience trumps the "soft skills" of compassion and personality. These essential characteristics are an integral part of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program.
Although I have "completed" the Roan Program, I will forever be a Roan Scholar. Its principles and connections exceed far beyond eight semesters; its valuable experiences and opportunities are never ending.
