We are resilient: the class of 2025

For sociology and criminal justice major Asia George ’25, graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne University has been about fulfilling a dream shaped by her family’s high hopes and their unwavering support.

“I’m a first-generation American. My parents are from Jamaica and St. Lucia, so the idea of the American dream was very present in my upbringing. I felt a lot of academic pressure growing up, but I also developed a unique perspective on life,” George shared. “My mom has been especially supportive of my journey. She only got as far as a high school diploma, so this truly feels like our degree.”

As a high school student in Garner, North Carolina, George first discovered Lenoir-Rhyne through an email she received. She felt an immediate connection on her first campus visit.

“I fell in love with LR,” she said. “I did the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in high school and got used to that smaller, more personal learning environment. I knew I needed something like that in college too.”

That connection between students, faculty and mentors has defined George’s time at LR. From classroom discussions to field research, she has found opportunities to lead and to grow.

She works as a shelving supervisor at the campus library – her favorite location at LR, where she has formed close bonds with the staff members. She also served as a peer mentor through BEAR Central, providing additional academic support for those who need it. She is an active member of the African Student Union and the Black Student Alliance.

But her proudest work has been in advocacy. As president of LR’s Pride Club, she has revitalized the organization, bringing energy, visibility and community to campus. One of her favorite events was a drag show that brought performers from Club Cabaret in Hickory to the Cromer Center dining hall.

“There were people who didn’t even know it was happening – just sitting down to dinner – and they had a great time,” she said. “We took a chance because it could have been highly controversial. We challenged the status quo in a good way. It turned out to be something new, something joyful that made a connection with our local community and highlighted a group that has had a profound influence on American popular culture.”

Under George’s leadership, the Pride Club extended its community impact by organizing the immensely popular Trunk or Treat at Halloween on campus. The group also collaborated with the LR Playmakers to raise funds for the Trevor Project during their production of “Fun Home” in fall 2023.

“My work with Pride Club makes me feel like I’ve made my mark at LR, and I hope what I started continues after I graduate,” she said.

 George’s academic interests also reflect her passion for justice. She initially considered social work but now sees her future in policy, law or non-profit leadership.

“Sociology is like an umbrella. I love that it lets me look at how systems work and where justice needs to happen,” she said. “Right now, I’m working with Dr. Katherine Gerlaugh on her research about deindustrialization, gentrification and uneven development in mid-sized cities like Hickory. It’s hands-on work that shows how people are affected by these issues.”

The path to graduation has been lined with challenges as well. George started college in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced a cultural shift coming to Hickory after growing up in the D.C. area and attending high school near Raleigh. Then in 2022, she took a medical leave from classes after being diagnosed with Lyme disease.

“That was hard in every sense. I was in chronic pain, fatigued, and trying to get back into things academically,” she said. “After that year, I feel the word ‘resilient’ really does describe me.”

Overcoming those challenges also gave George confidence to succeed in whatever comes next for her – whether that includes a career with a non-profit, graduate school or something entirely different.

“I feel prepared to do whatever I decide to pursue now,” she said. “I have a strong foundation in study, but experiential learning and personal experience has shown me I’m capable of great things.”