Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Rusty Graham

Name: Rusty Graham

Hometown: Monroe, NC

Rusty arrived in Vinton on January 8, 2013 to begin his 11-month service as a Team Leader for NCCC’s Class 19 Oak 4. He is going to be leading a team of 10-12 members on a number of service projects throughout the North Central Region starting mid-March.

Rusty has four years of management training to help him this year as a Team Leader. He also was a Corps Member previously out of the Perry Point campus. There, he spent two rounds as the Assistant Team Leader and also served as the Community Council President.

“I needed a catalyst in creating a brighter future for myself,” Rusty said. “NCCC was the answer.” Before NCCC, Rusty was working dead-end jobs and not having much success with school. He wanted to change his life for the better, so he committed to doing not one, but two years of service.

Upon completion of his NCCC term of service, Rusty plans on moving to Knoxville, Tennessee. He would like to attend the University of Tennessee to get a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and Logistics. With that degree, he would like to see work in volunteer coordination or management. Rusty graduated from Parkside High School in 2007.

“Serving in AmeriCorps NCCC was the best experience of my life,” Rusty said. “I learned so much about myself, leadership, teamwork, and giving back to the community. I'm extremely passionate about NCCC, and cannot wait to use the things that I learned to lead and develop my own team of Corps Members.”

Some fun facts about Rusty:

Q: What was your first job? Buffet stacker at Cici’s Pizza

Q: What is your favorite movie? Ponyo!

Q: What will be your first words of advice for your team members? “Be flexible and manage your expectations.”

Q: What is one place in the world that you really, really wish you could visit? Alaska.

Q: What is your favorite candy? Gobstoppers win the candy war.

Q: If you could come back as an animal which animal would it be and why? A monkey. (A cute monkey, not an ugly one.)

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Sleep. And walk outside. And play video games.

Q: Could you give us one reason to join AmeriCorps NCCC? Travel to new places. (And service, of course.)