May 21, 2020 | The Clarion
ARTS & LIFE
Page 5
Senior Profile
Say goodbye to the Editor!
The Clarion s Zach Dickerson to graduate
By Carmen Boone
Copy Editor
Zach Dickerson is a senior at Brevard
College. His major is integrated studies in
communication and political science.
Dickerson is originally from Concord, North
Carolina and has lived there all his life. His
family is very important to him. His dad works
customizing and repairing cars, and his mom
works in banking and loans. His sister, three
years older, works in sales.
Dickerson also has an Australian shepherd.
She is a border collie mix that he’s had since
middle school. “1 love her so very much,” said
Dickerson.
Dickerson first heard about Brevard when his
sister’s friend played soccer for the college. He
looked a little more at Brevard College when
a college fair came to his area. “I had already
loved the region of Western North Carolina,
but, when I came to tour the campus, I loved
the environment and the look of it, how close
it was to parks and forests and Asheville,” said
Dickerson. “I also loved the small size of the
campus and classes and the ability to make
closer and more meaningful connections to
professors and others who worked on campus.”
He also toured NC State University with his
sister, where she went to school. He ultimately
decided Brevard was the better choice for him.
“I think the education that I got, the people I met,
connections I made, and experiences I had were
very much worth it and I don’t think I would
have been able to have it the same way if I went
somewhere else,” Dickerson said.
Some things that Dickerson enjoys are video
games, drawing, photography, spending time
with friends, hiking and just being out in nature.
He is also a big fan of film, so he watches lots
of television shows and movies.
Dickerson has been very involved on campus.
He was part of BC Serves his freshman year. As
a freshman, sophomore and junior he was in the
Diversity Pride Club. Since sophomore year, he
has served on the Chiaroscuro staff at least one
semester each year.
He has been the most invested in the Clarion
at Brevard. “I have been a part of the staff of the
Clarion since my second semester of freshman
year where I have served on the positions of staff
writer, Campus News Editor, Managing Editor,
and now Editor in Chief,” said Dickerson. He is
very proud of his work for the newspaper.
There are several awards Dickerson has
received over the years. He mentioned just a few
he is most proud of He gets an award every year
for his service to the Clarion, which he loves.
From Dr. Joshua Wilkey, he received an award in
“Reacting to the Past” for the French Revolution.
He also got an award in a class that he helped
start called “Banned Books,” taught by Dr. John
Padgett.
Some important influences on Dickerson that
have been the biggest help to him are emeritus
professor Dr. Ralph Hamlett and Dr. John
Padgett. “Both of them really treated me, and
other students, as people and more than just
students and were a big help with getting (and
staying) on track with academics and just talking
about life in general,” said Dickerson. “Hamlett
and Padgett helped to introduce me to my love of
all things communication and helping me grow
in that field.” They were a big help in putting
together and helping him complete his major.
Dickerson worked with Hamlett every
semester after his TA position in Hamlett’s
“Introduction to Communication” class second
semester freshman year. He took almost every
class that Hamlett offered until his retirement.
Padgett’s classes had a big impact on him as
well. “Padgett helped introduce me to my love of
newspaper and writing in general. I mostly just
took his communication classes, it wasn’t until
later on that I realized I also loved his English
literature courses as well,” said Dickerson.
He also mentioned Mary Harris and Cindy
from housekeeping as a joy to see every day.
He could escape to Harris’ office to just talk and
take a break from everything.
Of course Dickerson enjoyed every class
he had with Hamlett and Padgett, but he also
loves looking back on some other memorable
moments. “It’s hard to think of specific events
See 'Editor' on page 6
Zach Dickerson