A Randolph-Henry High School graduate, Cheryl Feinman Vassar grew up in Keysville, Virginia. In addition to its convenient location, Cheryl chose Southside Virginia Community College for its intimate class sizes which allowed easy access to professors, when compared to large, four-year schools. She also noted, "I knew several of my high school classmates were attending SVCC and this would make the transition even easier.”
After graduating from SVCC with an associate's degree in education, Cheryl transferred to Longwood University and completed her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in Education. Cheryl then taught second grade in Prince Edward County for six years, followed by nine years in Charlotte County teaching third grade. While in Charlotte County, Cheryl was chosen by the Virginia Board of Education to serve on a committee of fifteen educators who reviewed Standards of Learning (SOL) skills to form guidelines used to educate and prepare students for testing in those skills.
After fifteen years of teaching, Cheryl is now the secretary and treasurer of her husband’s logging company, Reed and Vassar Trucking, Inc. She also maintains her teaching credentials by taking continuing education courses from SVCC and is looking forward to being involved in her granddaughter’s education in the future.
Looking back, Cheryl says, “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at SVCC. I learned a great deal and it prepared me to move on and be successful with my education. One special outcome of attending SVCC is that I made lifetime friendships that I have treasured!! Though I am not currently in a classroom setting, I am still a teacher at heart and my choice to major in Education was greatly influenced by the classroom setting and teachers at SVCC.”