Ashley Walters.

Ashley Walters of Princess Anne said that if she could have obtained her bachelor’s degree at Wor-Wic, she would have. “I sing Wor-Wic’s praises all the time, to anyone, no matter what their career path is,” said the elementary school principal.

A graduate of Washington High School, Walters said she chose Wor-Wic because she was an average student and anxious about college. She thought the transition from a smaller high school to Wor-Wic would be smoother. “With only 120 students in my graduating class in high school, everyone knew everyone,” she said. “I had the same feeling at Wor-Wic. I liked the close-knit community atmosphere. The staff and professors took a genuine interest in the students. They had a vested interest in me, constantly going above and beyond to ensure my success.”

Looking back, she said her grades could have been better in high school, but she was busy with sports and extracurricular activities. In college, however, she made the dean’s list and became a member of Wor-Wic’s Alpha Nu Omicron chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. Walters graduated with an elementary education transfer degree from Wor-Wic with high honors and a 3.935 grade point average.

She said that Susan B. Lloyd, assistant professor of developmental mathematics, who retired after 25 years at the college, “helped me with math and overall confidence, almost like a mother figure. She even went to the commencement exercises when I received my bachelor’s degree. You don’t get that in bigger institutions, that’s for sure.”

Walters said that she took advantage of the labs that were offered, and that really helped with the transition from high school to college and at her four-year institution. “The professors were available. There was always someone there to help with whatever it was — math, time management or just getting organized — anything really. I was never reluctant or hesitant to go to them. You don’t get that experience everywhere and that’s really what makes Wor-Wic stand out — the personalized touch.”

In fact, Walters even returned to Wor-Wic over the summer to earn credits for a minor while working on her bachelor’s degree.

After Wor-Wic, Walters earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. She started out as a classroom teacher, then transitioned into an instructional coach position, then to assistant principal. She was principal of Greenwood Elementary School in Princess Anne for five years, before her recent transfer to Deal Island Elementary School.