Seniors Ashley Roane and Nathanael Swann are two students who have proven that hard work can lead to a successful college career. Both are Honors and Scholars students and are involved in campus life. They are among the top students at Virginia Wesleyan College because of their work ethic and dedication to learning.
Ashley Roane
Ashley is the daughter of Wendy (Walters) and David Roane, both 1987 graduates of Virginia Wesleyan.
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.
Majors: French and Religious Studies
Scholar-Athlete: Roane is a scholar athlete in the truest sense of the term. "I have been a student athlete forever it seems. I did three sports every year in high school, so doing it in college didn't seem to be that big a deal," she said. "I've always had the goal of being Academic All-American and that keeps me working just as hard in the classroom as on the track."
Pushing through the challenge of being a Type I Diabetic, Roane has distinguished herself as a runner and as co-caption of the cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams, receiving honors such as the Donald M. Forsyth Student Athlete Award, Outdoor Track 2006 Coach's Award, ESPN the Magazine/ CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, and being named to the 2007 Virginia Sports Information Directors Academic All-State team.
But that's not all…Roane also enjoys reading and community service, and is president of the Honors and Scholars Program. And last summer she was engaged in an independent research project comparing the portrayal of Christianity in Crusade movies to the Christianity of the time.
Running High: Roane uncovered her love for running in junior high, practicing with the high school cross country team as a seventh grader and running on the junior varsity team as an eighth grader. She says she was hooked. "I enjoy running because it's a release. I can be in the worst mood in the world when I start out, but by the time I'm done with my run the endorphins have kicked in and I feel great. Also, I enjoy the race environment. I am very competitive, and I just love the feeling of stepping up to the line for a race no matter the size."
Goals in sight: Roane already has senior status, but she's just entered her third year, and she plans to return for a fourth. That time will be well spent if things go according to Ashley's plans. "My hope is to be an Academic All-American, first team All-ODAC in cross country, and to qualify for the national cross country meet. I would also like to maintain a 4.0 GPA for the rest of my semesters at Wesleyan."
Following graduation in 2009, Roane would like to do mission work, either in the U.S. or overseas.
Nathanael Swann
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Majors: Communications and Political Science Campus
Campus Involvement: Home-schooled by his parents, this two-time president of the Student Government Association has done a bit of everything since arriving on campus in the fall of 2004, including positions in the First Year Leadership Council, the Wesleyan Activities Council and a stint entertaining Marlin fans as the College mascot, Bob Marlin. Although he says, "I've cut back because I realized I needed time to breathe," Swann is still active in a variety of activities, serving as vice president of Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity, a Resident Assistant for three years, a member of the Honors and Scholars Association, the student representative on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and an employee in the Jane P. Batten Student Center.
No. 1 Fan: There's no doubt that Swann is a Marlin through and through…some have even described him as "crazy" because he seems to be everywhere, all of the time. In one afternoon last fall, Swann's fanatic support of Marlin Athletics took him from a conference semifinal for women's volleyball in Lexington, Va., to the conference finals for men's soccer in Roanoke, Va. This dedicated fan also made the 12- hour drive to Orlando, Fla. to support women's soccer in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III tournament.
Up for a Challenge: Swann said he's most influenced by those professors who challenge him in the classroom. "I like to be challenged – I don't just like a breeze class." A double-major, he has lived up to the challenge of some of Wesleyan's best professors in communications and political science by making the Dean's List every semester. This fall, Swann plans to challenge himself with a ballroom dancing course… "It should be fun, but could be interesting because I don't know how to dance…no one really knows how to dance anymore."
Future Plans: Swann is still investigating his options, but plans to attend graduate school with a focus on higher education. This decision came when he realized he could do all the things he does now on campus for a career. "I love everything I do on campus, and would love to do it full time."