Recipient: Byrum Brown, Class of 2022

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This “summa cum laude” Ram has left us early to embark on his future and we are certainly glad that he has come back to celebrate his commencement and has given us the opportunity to recognize him, his achievements and contributions to the Rolesville community. A star athlete, innate leader and distinguished scholar this Ram has already matriculated at the University of South Florida and is studying in their business program. Clearly he has an eye to the future, but we will reflect just a little then, on his three and a half years here. Finalist for Mr. Football 2 years in a row, this quarterback alumnus holds all offensive records at Rolesville to include most yards rushed, most passing yards and most wins as QB. Two times all conference, one  time conference MVP and  one time offensive MVP. I quote Coach Samek here: “great kid, great leader, great player. He made the players around him better.” In regards to sportsmanship, this  Ram accrued  ZERO penalties  throughout his 4 seasons, and treated his opponents with the same respect he accorded his teammates. Mrs. Lassiter said of him: “Byrum is a blessing to everyone who has called him their student, athlete, family or friend. His soul is genuine and his love for  people is equally genuine. His commitment and work ethic are incomparable. His spirit is irrepressible; he will make his mark on and off the football field.” 

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“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” —Jim Rohn

Recipient:  Alberto Hernandez Alarcon, Class of 2022

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This class of 2022 Ram is a multifaceted, talented and impassioned student whose actions here during his 4 years made him a standout out among Legacy nominations. Considerable talents athletically, in the arts and a compassionate soul that clearly demonstrates concern for others is his hallmark and Rolesville High School is grateful for his dedication to all things Ram. A three season athlete and the first freshman at Rolesville to qualify for the state tournament, this student continued his dominance with the wrestling program during his four years here, with three of them in postseason competition. As well, he served as his peers’ captain for 2 seasons. Always piqued and ready to learn a new skill, this Legacy tried and honed his skills as well by participating on the Varsity Football and Track Teams.  Not to limit his considerable talent to sports only, this senior plays Bass clarinet with the Marching and Symphonic Bands, and served as head equipment manager in two of those years. Beyond athletics and the arts, this graduate also understands both the value and the gift that serving the community represents; he is an active member of the National Honor Society, and focuses on helping students of limited English in their studies as well as providing tutoring for those students registered in Spanish language classes. He serves as President of the RHS Hispanic Club and is a key player in the organization of the annual International Festival. He is the editor of El Informativo de Rolesville, a newsletter published weekly, with the purpose of keeping our Hispanic community apprised and informed of all news and events from the Farm. He is tireless, focused and resolved in his intent to serve and we are positive that as he moves on to Chapel Hill this fall, he will find his niche there too, to serve as well as participate. 

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 "There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." ~Nelson Mandela

Recipient: Peter Onuzulike, Class of 2022

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This Class of 2022 Legacy is so, both in service and stature. An active member as well as leader of several organizations, this student focuses his priorities on the maintenance and beauty of the campus in complement to the well being of his peers and school community at large. His tenure includes membership in National Honor Society, National Achievers Society, National Technical Honor Society, the Rolesville Coalition for Equity, the African Student Union and finally, Rambassador. Not just a club activist, this Ram is also a 4 year letterman with Rolesville’s Track & Field team and finished his last 2 years with them as Throwers Captain. Clearly these memberships demonstrate his giving of considerable time but they also represent dedication to collaboration with others, imagination and creativity in the endeavor to make Rolesville what it can be, what it should be. 

Through these committees you will see this student’s concern for the school community, from baking cookies for our custodial staff, to helping to paint “murals” in the commons areas, to providing tours for new Rams, he sees beyond the value of a complete resume and impressive transcript. He sees others. As a member of the Rolesville Coalition for Equity he participated in the campaign for menstrual equity and as well, inspired peers from RCE and NAS to walk along with him in the “Making Strides against Breast Cancer” walk in Raleigh. His service has not just checked a box, it has created tangible results and indeed has left a mark with our school community, another hallmark of legacy.

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 “Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others.” H.Jackson Brown, Jr.

Recipient: Umamah Quadri, Class of 2022

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This graduating Ram will leave a legacy of challenge for her classmates: challenge to lead, challenge to raise awareness, challenge to advocate, challenge to act. During her four year tenure at Rolesville High School this student has not only led her peers during the pandemic, she has led them out of it, participating in programs and creating fundraisers that were unprecedented in their success, even in the best and most stable of times. While possessed of a pin sharp focus in singular endeavors, this Key Club President raised funds for the hungry, contributed time and talent to Habitat for Humanity, aided other RHS organizations with financial and other support, and has broken all records  in raising more than $3,500 for Bike a Thon, a charitable cause and event near and dear to Mr. Myers’ heart. The projection for this year is more than double that record and with her guidance they are on track. Ultimately this student is working with school leaders to identify and secure a quiet space on campus for Muslim students to meditate during the school day. 

Her service and contributions are recognized with gratitude by the following organizations: National Honor Society, Key Club, Muslim Student Association, National Technical Honor Society, Science Honor Society, HOSA and the RHS Coalition for Equity in which she has been equally participatory and effective. This Ram will continue her journey as advocate for self and others as she enrolls this coming Fall at Appalachian State University, where she will focus her studies on medicine, again seeing the need and answering the call to serve others and planning a future in which she will do just that. 

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“All advocacy is, at its core,  empathy.” ~Samantha Power.

Recipient: Maurice Myers, Rolesville High School Teacher 2013 - present, RHS Teacher of the Year 2021

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It is often expressed in education that students not only need to advocate for themselves, but that teachers serve a critical role in supporting them as well, advocating for students and the community, serving as a voice for them. This Ram faculty is a voice like none other. During his tenure at Rolesville High School this teacher has served in multiple roles from the classroom to club sponsorships and is consistently a champion of all things RAM and committed to ensuring a positive student experience during their 4 years here. 

His nominator describes him as an exuberant and enthusiastic faculty who interacts positively with students on the daily, to include during lunch time, after school and even off hours. He is readily available to speak regarding any manner of topic from academics to club activities to special event planning and is responsible for either founding or sponsoring the following extensive list of organizations in which many Rams actively participate: Key Club, African Student Union, History Club, Outdoor Club, Photography Club, and Social Studies Honors Society. As well he is credited with being the founding sponsor of the Asian and Music Clubs.

A former Teacher of the Year, this faculty member is not just a club sponsor, but an active participant  in several school and  community projects. He assists with the International Festival on the day of the event, has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity (and inspired his students to join in), served as emcee for the 2021 Sr. Parade in Rolesville and ultimately sponsors, organizes and participates yearly in the Tour de Cure, a bikeathon whose goal is to  raise funds for diabetes awareness and research. He is more than sponsor, he is model.

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“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” ~ Maya Angelou

Recipient: Kelly Nilles, Rolesville High School Assistant Principal, 2015 - current

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This Legacy recipient’s word is “fortitude”, defined by Merriam Webster as: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage. In this particular individual however, I would hasten to include “with courage, grace, poise, and a smile.” This long term administrator has, during her tenure at Rolesville overseen or contributed to the most critical committees that make a school not only run but thrive. They include: master schedule design, registration, virtual academy in pandemic times, AP curriculum and communication to name only a few; but finally and most appreciatively by this presenter, the Graduation Committee. She is creative, open minded, proactive and unflagging in her resolve to find solutions for things that don’t work and further improve the things that do. 

An “almost” Ram Original this staff member has worked tirelessly with committees, student organizations and the community from early on in Rolesville’s first days to develop a sense of school pride and distinct culture, identifying those practices and protocols that makes us who we are at “the Farm”. From supporting the Rolesville Riot to school beautification to planning a memorable and dignified send off for Seniors in June,  her time invested is immeasurable with results that consistently shine. She is  self-effacing and possessed of a wonderful sense of humor that no doubt contributes to her ability to handle crises, last minute surprises, interesting failures and any other manner of interruption. But it is her calm in crisis that enables her to find the solution ultimately. Not only is this an impressive trait, but serves as well as inspiration to her committee peers everywhere and feeds a climate of proactivity and problem solving versus panic and inaction. 

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To reference and honor her own previous studies her quote reads from the Latin: “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam”. The translation being: "I will either find a way or make one." ~ Hannibal

Recipient: Timothy Stile, Rolesville High School teacher, 2014 - current

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This classroom teacher is widely recognized across campus not just as a friendly face and kind word but a person of action and advocacy. He is committed to and invested in both student success and well being and demonstrates it by his connection with students and their families beyond the bell and even beyond the tassel. 

This Ram is both role model and coach to many students at Rolesville. He teaches about work ethic, both in school and in future positions. He emphasizes integrity, accountability and professionalism as preparation for a career beyond the graduation stage. He is possessed of a keen sense of compassion, and reaches and connects with students of all interests. By their own description he is approachable and real. He establishes long term relationships that endure beyond a 4 year program and often reconnects with those successful graduates after they have entered and thrived in the workforce. He has been identified as a mentor of incredible impact who is not forgotten due to time or distance, the true mark of a Legacy.

Seeing an opportunity to share his students’ hard work and ultimate success, this vocation teacher sought to design a signing day, much like that of our student athletes, that  celebrates their selection for employment following graduation with local  businesses and enterprises. These students graduate work ready, with their first professional paycheck on the horizon. Additionally, his program provides the fundamental training in electrical trades, and many Rams earn certification, again increasing exponentially their career potential. In 2022 he organized, supervised and hosted at the Farm the first VOLT competition in which students from local high schools competed in demonstration of knowledge and skills in electrical trade  techniques. This premier event garnered much attention and enthusiasm across Wake County; it will certainly become a repeat event. All of this, and a sense of humor and humility. Faculty are gently reminded several times each year via email to “please disregard the students on the roof. They are training today, no need to call the Fire Department. Thank you.” 

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“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt. 

Recipient: Donald Fuller, Videographer for East Wake Television

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This Legacy from the Rolesville community IS part of the community, but serves and connects to several other neighboring as well. This gentleman dedicates copious amounts of time and talent in presenting to the Northern Area Conference all that is good, competitive and sportsmanlike at Rolesville High School. A talented videographer, this individual travels across Northern Wake county and covers all sports, which then are available for public and private view via EWTV22, also known as East Wake Television. His nominee states that not only do our students benefit from his publicity and shine in the spotlight that he provides, but that this community member has taken the time across the past several years to get to know our Ram athletes behind the camera. He attends multiple events, and greets student athletes because he knows them, not because he has an assignment. His interaction and support are borne more of interest and investment and not that of obligation. Through his “external” role, this community member is as much a part of the Farm as all who attend school and practice daily. Upon his arrival at the fields, one can hear our Rams chant “Fuller focus!!” as he prepares his equipment. Coach Barthelmess says that he is so dedicated to his craft and our kids that while he was invited to participate as a guest at the football end of year banquet, he chose instead to cover it. He understands and celebrates through the camera’s eye the true nature and purpose of interscholastic sports: that of promoting healthy competition, sportsmanship and community connection. 

Based upon the evidence of his nomination and the generosity of his spirit, no community member personifies compassionate action for the sake of his community better than Mr. Donald Fuller. We appreciate your presenting Rolesville High School in its most positive light, but more so for sharing in it.

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“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” ~Coretta Scott King.