December 14, 2021
By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer
Big things are happening in Krista Plane’s life.
She’s about to graduate from Roane State in May, she’ll marry her fiancé, Conner Lampkin, in June, and she will enroll in the community college’s phlebotomy class at the Knox County Center for Health Sciences in August.
And while the barrel racing season is winding down, Krista will continue working with Rosie, a Bay Roan Quarter Horse, in the sport she’s enjoyed for five years. “I’m helping her get back in shape,” Krista said of the 18-year-old horse.
Krista had never tried barrel racing before until she took the reins in a competition several years ago. “I took to it very quickly,” the Knoxville resident said.
Since then, she’s competed in three Youth World competitions of the National Barrel Racing Horse Association. It’s an exciting, albeit sometimes dangerous event. “I’ve had a couple of scrapes and bruises,” she said.
Krista, 20, graduated from Gibbs High School in Knox County in December 2019.
She decided to enroll at Roane State because she “liked how it is set up academically and has great programs.”
She made a good choice, she said. “All of my professors have been great. I like that the online courses still have a lot of communication with the professors.”
Her academic plate was nearly overflowing this fall as she took on 18 credit hours in “very challenging” courses.
Associate Professor Matt Waters taught her class in fundamentals of communication. “Not only is he kind and helpful, but he gives good feedback when it comes to assignments.”
“He has a really great way to set up his classes that allows us to keep pace with assignments instead of rushing us,” Krista said.
Her instructor for anthropology, Associate Professor Jessica Dalton-Carriger, “is super, super cool,” she said. Dalton-Carriger “reminds students when assignments are due and is extremely helpful when it comes to keeping up with everything.”
All in all, “I think Roane State is a very good school, and I would definitely recommend it,” Krista said.
“The faculty members have been amazing, even through COVID. I love getting weekly updates about what’s going on on campus and the posts about job opportunities.”
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
