Zachery Stooksbury
July 3, 2017
By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer
Roane State was a transformative time for this new alumnus, who said his future brightened during his college experience.
“I think it was the right choice for me,” said Rocky Top, Tenn. resident Zachery Stooksbury. “Coming out of high school into college, I bloomed in college; I really excelled.”
Stooksbury, who graduated with an associate of science degree May 6, will be attending UT-Knoxville in the fall and plans to major in geology.
Going into Roane State, “I planned on doing nursing but found it was not for me. I decided to explore different classes, and geology caught my eye.”
“I liked the outdoor fieldwork and also liked the lab work.”
Now, he’s considering geochemistry and is mulling “whether to lean toward oceanography or planetary science.”
On his way to compiling a 3.89 grade point average at Roane State, Stooksbury said that much to his surprise, he enjoyed chemistry, a subject he didn’t like while an Anderson County High School student.
That’s what prompted his interest in geochemistry, and Stooksbury credited Roane State Professor Ron Sternfels for that inspiration.
Geology Professor Arthur Lee was also a great teacher, and Lee said Stooksbury was a memorable student.
“He’s an exceptionally intelligent young man who will become a very successful geologist,” Lee predicted. “He earned an award for ‘Geology Student of the Year’ by having the highest test scores amongst almost 200 of my students.”
Lee said Stooksbury “gets along well with others, and I look forward to helping him along with his education and career goals.”
Stooksbury said Roane State was the ideal choice for him because “it gave me an idea of what college would be like, but it’s not so much of a university-type thing.”
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