Commissioners Monday chose to send North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Richardson to the board and the city school board chose to send Roanoke Rapids native and North Carolina State University student Deans Eatman.

Knowing both these appointees, we feel safe in saying they will help shape the future of our local college in important ways.

Richardson is proving himself to be a self-made man, working in the stress-filled world of the road as a trooper while on his way to finishing requirements for a four-year degree at Chowan University.

His tenacity in pursuing this degree can serve as an inspiration to younger students who choose to get the early requirements of their education completed locally before moving elsewhere to finish their degrees. That same tenacity can also serve to inspire adults who want to finish their degree or even start on the track to getting one.

A Hollister native and proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, he is poised to be a role model for the youth of his home community as well as those from the other communities of Halifax County and beyond.

Eatman is one of the most ambitious and affable young men we have met.

Nearing completion of his degree requirements at NCSU, he is already an astute follower of educational issues such as the Leandro case which will have an impact on Halifax County students.

His understanding of these complex matters makes him a perfect choice for this position which will undoubtedly be the stepping stone for a promising and fruitful career in politics on the local and possibly state level or beyond if he should choose to pursue that course.

Our feeling is we need progressive and young voices, not only on the board of trustees for the community college, but for other appointed and elected positions in the county.

The perspective of youthful voices who have chosen, or have been chosen, to serve may lift our sometimes jaded blinders this area is doomed for mediocrity when all we have to do is learn how to tap into its raw potential.

We salute the county commissioners and members of the city school board who saw fit to fill these two important positions with youthful voices who are passionate about the future of the county we live and work in.

They were certainly key and sage appointments to help give guidance to the future direction of our community college — Editor