Keith Logan likely could have attended any college of his choice after graduating as valedictorian of his high school class. Instead, the 18 year old chose to begin his higher education closer to home — at Danville Community College in Danville, VA. He is the first in his family to pursue higher education with a goal of obtaining a degree.

Logan says he prayed for a “full ride” to college, so as not to burden his parents with the expense. He also spent summers working the late shift at a paper company to save for college. “I would come home many times with a sore back because I had to lift and stack boxes,” he says. He also missed time with his family because of his atypical work schedule. This experience only intensified his desire for a college education.

Based on his outstanding academic achievements, Logan received two academic scholarship awards, which allowed him to pursue his college education tuition-free at Danville. And because he received college credit for some accelerated high school courses as part of a dual-enrollment program, he will receive an associate degree in arts and sciences and transfer to a four-year college or university with junior status after just one year at Danville.

Logan admits to being very shy in high school and says he didn’t want to graduate No. 1 in his class. Being smart had its price. “I had to overcome the peer pressure,” he says. “People at school would talk about me because I wasn’t doing the things they did.” But he says he is gaining self-confidence, and he credits the support he receives from Danville faculty along with his strong religious faith. “I want to finish school, get a job and be happy while doing what God wants me to do,” he says.