RCC Alumni

Alumni Spotlight: From RCC to Randolph-Macon College

For Layla Gaines, attending Rappahannock Community College was the perfect foundation for future success. While still in high school and enrolled in the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, she also completed an associate degree at RCC—a challenge that required balance, commitment, and determination.

“Attending RCC was a great experience! The flexibility of online courses and the amazing staff who helped explain my path to success allowed me to accomplish my goals,” said Gaines.

Balancing academics with athletics and high school commitments wasn’t easy. “The main challenge I overcame was time management. I had a goal to finish my classes in about two years, and between being a student athlete and a high school student, there wasn’t much time. However, with RCC’s faster semesters and online options, I was able to squeeze in classes during my free time and really thrive academically.”

Now a member of the Randolph-Macon College Class of 2026, she credits RCC for setting her on a strong academic path. “Because I attended RCC, I’ll graduate a year earlier from my four-year college. That means I can enter the workforce sooner and begin achieving even more of my goals.”

Layla is majoring in mathematics and recently completed an internship in New York City focusing on jewelry merchandising. “I’m considering a career in merchandising and would also love to use my mathematics knowledge to help tutor children who may struggle financially to pay a tutor,” she added.

From Incarceration to Inspiration: Tyrone Wheatley's Journey with RCC

Earning a college degree is a significant achievement for anyone, but for Tyrone Wheatley, the journey to higher education was filled with unique challenges. While incarcerated at Haynesville Correctional Center, Tyrone pursued his academic goals and successfully earned an Associate of Arts & Sciences degree from Rappahannock Community College (RCC).

Determined to expand his skills, Tyrone also completed the SHINE Solar Technician

 training program, which was held on weekends at Haynesville. These educational experiences provided him with the foundation needed to transition into a successful career upon his release.

Today Tyrone is proud to be gainfully employed as a contractor for a data company in Northern Virginia. According to his employer, with a college degree in hand, his opportunities for career advancement, particularly into management roles, are significantly increased.

Taking college classes while incarcerated presented many hurdles, particularly the lack of access to technology. Without computers, all papers and exams were handwritten, and digital literacy was not part of the curriculum. Despite these obstacles, Tyrone remained committed to his education, crediting the unwavering support of program coordinator Barb Schaab and dedicated professors like Jessie Fortune for helping him achieve his goals.

Among the courses he took, political science stood out as his favorite. Reflecting on his experience, Tyrone emphasizes the impact of RCC’s faculty and the power of education in transforming lives.

"RCC's professors believe in us and were always positive. Getting an education is so important, and I'm glad I overcame the obstacles to earning a degree,” he said.

RCC and Haynesville Correctional Center with the Department of Corrections have worked together to bring quality and life-changing educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals for 15 years.

Full Circle: RCC Alumna Monisha Golden Becomes First Recipient of Nursing Fellowship

At a recent luncheon, RCC nursing faculty member and proud alumna Monisha Golden met someone who helped pave the way for her success—Catherine Courtney, the trailblazer behind the region’s first nursing program. In 1974, Courtney launched the program at Rappahannock Community College, dedicating over 30 years to mentoring hundreds of aspiring nurses. Her legacy lives on through the Catherine Mooklar Courtney Endowed Nursing Fellowship, which was established to expand access to nursing education and strengthen public health in our rural community.

Golden is the first recipient of this distinguished fellowship.

“Thanks to the Catherine Courtney Fellowship, I am able to achieve my academic goals without the financial burden of tuition,” Golden shared.

Her journey is a testament to RCC’s mission: from nursing student to faculty member, Golden has truly come full circle. A 2019 graduate of RCC’s Nursing Program, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing in 2021. She’s now pursuing a master’s degree in Community Health Nursing at Liberty University.

“I find great joy in being back at RCC,” Golden said. “I’m passionate about cultivating the next generation of compassionate, skilled nurses.”

Her story is an inspiring reminder that with support, mentorship, and determination, RCC students can return to serve—and shape—the very communities they came from.

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