Hayden Burns of Rockingham is a former dual enrollment student who received the RichmondCC Guarantee in 2016 and paid zero tuition for two years at RichmondCC. He graduated with an Associate in Criminal Justice and transferred to the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He is now an E-5 Sergeant in the Army and stationed in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Lillie.

How did receiving the RichmondCC Guarantee influence your decision to start your college education at Richmond Community College?

The biggest thing that stood out to me about RichmondCC Guarantee program was the affordability of the education provided. Times are tough and education at the college level is very expensive depending on where you go. For me, I didn’t know if college was for me. With that being said, having the ability to go for two years at little to no cost helped set me up to further my education at a four-year university. 

Did you feel like you were well prepared when you got to UNCP?

Absolutely, without a doubt. The biggest takeaway from my success at RichmondCC, and then Pembroke, was the ability to have a personal relationship with your professors. Having smaller classrooms allows students to have that one-on-one with their professors, which helped me grasp information a lot better. Also, the professors I had at RichmondCC had real-life experience with the courses they were teaching, which in my opinion is imperative when teaching these classes. 

Do you feel like you had a well-rounded college experience?

Yes. My experience at RichmondCC was great, and I would recommend going to anyone. 

Did you or your family save money by starting at RichmondCC and then transferring?

Yes, we did. With the RichmondCC Guarantee program and the transfer program with Pembroke, my family was able to save a lot of money on my college education. 

Why would you recommend to someone attend RichmondCC first versus going straight to a four-year university after graduating high school?

I would recommend going to RichmondCC prior to a four-year university because it allows you to see if college is something you want to do. Some people go to college not knowing what they want to do for a career, and that’s fine by all means. Attending a community college like RichmondCC allows you to get a feel for college and complete the prerequisite classes needed if you decide to transfer to a four-year college.