Student at SVCC Site Graduates With Honors and Bestows Them, Too

Steven C. Stanley, a student at ODU's site at Southside VA Community College, Christanna campus, will graduate with honors iin Fall 2005.

With each commencement ceremony, Old Dominion invites one honor graduate from each college to select a university staff member who has inspired him the most during his period of study at the university.

This year, Mr. Stanley, representing the College of Business and Public Administration, selected Betty Oakley, Assistant Site Director at the SVCC Christanna site as his most inspiring mentor at Old Dominion.

Mr. Stanley achieved a 4.0 GPA at Old Dominion, while simultaneously meeting the demands of his full time job and the needs of his family, including 3 small children.

There was a luncheon in honor of both Mr. Stanley and Betty Oakley on December 17 at the Norfolk campus.

"I am honored and thrilled that Steven would select me as the individual who inspired him the most during his studies at ODU. This is both rewarding and humbling," said Ms. Oakley. "Steven is an outstanding student and his academic record speaks for itself."

Ms. Oakley, who has been employed by Old Dominion for seven years, began her own journey in higher education at Southside Virginia Community College, where she obtained her Associate's degree and took classes with Mr. Stanley. She transferred to Old Dominion at SVCC and earned her bachelor's degree, becoming the site's first TELETECHNET graduate. She went on to earn a master's degree from Longwood.

Ms. Oakley says that contact with students is the main reason she enjoys her work so much.

"My reward is seeing the end result for so many students who wouldn't have an opportunity for higher education if it were not for the Old Dominion University Distance Learning Program," she said. Academic success of students like Steven is just the icing on the cake for me."

Dr. John J. Cavan, Southside Virginia Community College President, recognizes Steven Stanley (center), Old Dominion University honor graduate, and Betty Oakley (Right), ODU Assistant Site Director at SVCC, who was chosen by Mr. Stanley as the ODU staff member who most inspired him during his studies at ODU.