"Dr. Marshall Kamau Rashaad Crawford", Class of 1995 (Graduate) It is always with great honor that we present any of our Alumni Highlight stories to you, but we are especially excited and proud of the subject of today's feature story. (Keep reading and you'll see why.) Our Alumni Highlight for the day is none other than VCCS Alumnus Kamau Rashaad Crawford from the Class of 1995!! Kamau started attending VCCS in 1991 - just one academic year after the founding of the school in 1989. Throughout his years at VCCS, he was active in a number of extracurricular activities, including basketball, track & soccer. However, Kamau was also always very fond of the subjects Chemistry and Biology. In fact, well before even entering middle school, Kamau already knew that he wanted to be a doctor. "It was really the only career that I had every truly seen myself doing", he reflects. However, it was his undeniable focus, relentless work ethic, and willingness to apply his studies that ultimately fueled his desire to take his education in the classroom to the next level. His dedication enabled him to later graduate at the top of his class as valedictorian of the Class of 1995. This same drive and "commitment to excellence" - part of our motto here at VCCS - has continued to pave the way to success throughout his life. After graduating from VCCS in 1995, Kamau attended Tuskegee University, where he majored in Environmental Science. In 1999, he graduated from Tuskegee University and attended Wake Forest University School of Medicine. After graduating from medical school in 2003, he later completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital (now Moses Cone Health System) in 2006. And as if this wasn't a great enough milestone in itself [for most], Kamau was asked to stay as Chief Resident, where he served as a leader, mentor, and teacher for the other residents.  After working for a year as Chief Resident, he accepted a position at Moses Cone in Academic Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor / Attending Physician, where he continued teaching residents (and medical students) - a role he remained in from 2007 until 2009. While working in Academic Medicine at Moses Cone, Kamau successfully completed a fellowship in Faculty Development in General Internal Medicine at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He then left Academic Medicine to become a Hospitalist (a physician that only takes care of acutely ill hospitalized patients) in Albemarle, NC. After accepting this new position, he was asked to serve as the Co-Medical Director of the Hospitalist Group. He has remained in the role as Medical Director of the Internal Medicine Hospitalist Program at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle, an affiliate of Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) - Northeast in Concord, NC since 2009. As you can probably imagine, work keeps Kamau very busy, but in his free time, both he and his wife volunteer with his brother in law's (Dennis Reed Jr.) non-profit youth organization, Inspire the Fire, based in Charlotte, NC. Since his matriculation from VCCS, Kamau has managed to produce quite an impressive resume, studded with praise-worthy awards, certifications and accomplishments during his scholastic and medical career. Some of these include being the Local chapter president of both the Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society and the Golden Key National Honor Society; Benjamin Woods Environmental Science Achievement Award; Vice President's Scholarship of Wake Forest University School of Medicine; and Thomas B. Nolan Outstanding Resident Award. Other accomplishments include completion of an Internal Medicine Residency, Moses Cone Memorial Hospital 2003-2006 (Greensboro, NC); Internal Medicine Chief Resident, Moses Cone 2006-2007; Internal Medicine Board Certified 2006; and the UNC-Chapel Hill General Internal Medicine Faculty Development Program Fellowship (2007-2009). "Kamau's Reflections on VCCS" The Foundation: How do you feel VCCS may have aided you in becoming and staying spiritually grounded post-graduation? Do you feel that spiritual soundness and character development are important in this day and age? If so, how so? | "VCCS instilled a sense of spiritual purpose in the lives of its students. The Word was taught as a foundational message, resulting in a strong sense of who God is in our lives. VCCS taught us how to use the Word as a guide to overcome any challenges that may arise. This has carried with me even until this day. I have complete faith in God and His abilities in every aspect of my life. I see every situation in my life as an opportunity to give God glory, understanding that it is God's grace, not my actions, that allow me to succeed despite my faults. Knowing that I have a purpose on this earth, and striving to do God's will in fulfilling my purpose motivates me and keeps me focused on the task at hand." VCCS Memorable Moments | "Sports were always one of my main outlets at VCCS. Whether it was basketball, track, or soccer - I enjoyed staying active and involved. Athletically, we were generally successful at VCCS. In some sports, we were more accomplished than others. However, it is the bonds formed and experiences that remain with me to this day. Sports, for me, enhanced the sense of family embodied in VCCS."

Christopher "Brock" Fleming, Class of 2007 (Graduate)
Brock decided to continue his Christian education by attending Southeastern University, a Christian university in Lakeland, Florida. In 2011, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems. Just a few months after graduation, Brock was offered the position of IT Business Analyst at the corporate office of Badcock Home Furniture store located in Mulberry, Florida.

In his current position as an analyst for Badcock, Brock test a wide variety of programs and reports that developers write, and he also helps to identify different business unit's needs throughout the company's departments [such as accounting, human resources, etc.] so that the over 300 stores across the Southeast of the U.S. can operate most effectively as they perform their duties. In other words, Brock is one of the important men and women who you'd probably never see, that work behind the scene at corporations to ensure that the company constantly thrives technologically within it's most important inter-departments. When these departments succeed, so does the rest of the company and the greater the end product on the "show room" floor. This, in fact, is what truly makes any successful company great, and we know that Badcock is blessed to have him as a part of their company.

Kourtnei Brown, Class of 2007 (Graduate) 
Currently #90, Kourtnei Brown, DE for the Clemson Tigers
• ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week vs. North Carolina
• Football Writers Association National Defensive Player
  of the Week vs. North Carolina
• Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of
  the Week vs. North Carolina
• National Defensive Performer of the Week by College Football 
  Performance Awards vs. North Carolina
• National Defensive Lineman of the Week by College Football 
  Performance Awards

Joi White, Class of 1995 (Graduate)
Currently serves as the VCC Preschool Director and the Curriculum Director at VCCS. Joi is the recipient of the runner-up "Director of the Year" TEDDY Award. The TEDDY, which stands for Teachers Educating & Developing Dynamic Youth, is a parent-driven award that gives families the opportunity to recognize their child's teacher, family childcare home provider or child care center director. Nominees were judged on their activity plans, learning environments, professionalism, communication with families and positive guidance.

Roy Gene Huff, Class of 1994 (Graduate)
Research meteorologist at the University of Hawaii. Works on predicting volcanic smog based on weather patterns in Hawaii. (READ HIS "VCCS Alumni Testimonial")