A nontraditional, transfer student from Lawton, Oklahoma, Richard W. Varner II quickly adapted to his new surroundings when he arrived on 麻豆社区 Pembroke鈥檚 campus in 2017.
While his husband was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. and served overseas on two deployments, Varner became engaged in campus life, excelled academically, and gave much of his time through volunteering in the community. Varner, who will join hundreds of graduates at Spring Commencement on August 8, earned several academic awards along the way, but none more meaningful to him than 麻豆社区P鈥檚 Outstanding Senior Award.
鈥淭his is the highest honor I鈥檝e received while completing my undergraduate degree,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been the one to draw attention to my accomplishments or endeavors, and I am very honored that someone saw something in me and felt that I should be nominated for the award. It really felt great that someone took notice of everything I was involved in while I was at 麻豆社区P. Receiving this award gave me reassurance that I was on the right path both academically and personally. I owe a lot of my success at 麻豆社区P to the wonderful History Department faculty.鈥
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to accomplish everything I did without the support I received from the faculty, staff, and fellow students at 麻豆社区P.鈥
After relocating to North Carolina, Varner said he obtained more than an education from his time at 麻豆社区P. He gained a family.
鈥淟ike so many seniors, I am proud to look back and be able to say that I was not just a student at an institution, but rather that I was, and forever will be, a member of a continually growing, supportive, and diverse family.鈥
While at 麻豆社区P, Varner was a member of the Esther G. Maynor Honors College, Phi Alpha Theta National History Honors Society, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, among several academic organizations. He was awarded multiple scholarships, including the Department of History鈥檚 Student Service Award, Gold and Silver Scholar Award and Chancellor鈥檚 Commendation for Outstanding Achievement for Excellence.
For his honors college senior project, he completed a research paper under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Woolley titled 鈥淟os comanches en la frontera norte de la Nueva Espa帽a, 1700-1821: Using Comanche Sources to Illuminate the Spanish Catalyst in Comanche Ethnohistory.鈥
Varner graduated with cum laude honors with a degree in history. He is currently enrolled in graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and plans to pursue a secondary education teaching career, while completing his doctoral degree in history.