Elizabeth “Lizz” Yimer found her footing to become a leader and scholar at Virginia Peninsula Community College. She graduated in 2021 and passed the baton.
Her sister Emily is a 2023 graduate, and their sister, Sarah, is following in her big sisters’ footsteps. The 18-year-old enrolled this fall, launching the first leg of her college education.
The Yimers grew up in Yorktown and attended Grafton High School. Lizz graduated in 2018, Emily in 2021 and Sarah graduated this year. They each saw VPCC as the natural choice for college.
For them, community college is more than a place to earn a degree. It’s part of their family story. Lizz certainly influenced Emily.
“I know she had a good experience. She really flourished, and I was very inspired by her success,” said the 23-year-old.
The inspiration for taking the community college path runs even deeper. The sisters proudly note their parents attended community college.
“My mom and my dad have gone through the community college system here in Virginia, and I know how it has helped them,” said Emily. “I’ve seen them work very hard, and so we’ve always known about the success of community college.”
“We’re all very inspired by our parents in this way … not to take education for granted, but to really appreciate it and the opportunities it will bring,” she added.
That’s what kept Emily on track as a social science major at VPCC with most classes online and some in person toward the end of her studies. With keen interest in history and anthropology, she earned a spot in a competitive STEM-focused research program called Bridges to Baccalaureate Dreams to Goals in 2023. The six- to eight-week summer program in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University provided hands-on experience in various aspects of biomedical research.
Emily completed a second phase of Bridges to Baccalaureate in 2024 as a VPCC alumna and transferred to VCU. She majored in anthropology, minored in psychology and received a bachelor’s degree in 2026. Lizz’s advice, “take every opportunity,” stayed with her through it all.
She shared that same advice with Sarah, who she is confident will do well at VPCC.
Family ties weren’t the only reason Sarah chose VPCC. She was in the dual enrollment program during high school. She admits continuing her education at the College made sense.
As a bonus, her big sisters’ support, especially Lizz’s guidance, helped ease the transition.
“She tells me what to look out for,” said Sarah. “So, I have that comfort knowing I’m not going into it blindsided.”
Majoring in visual arts, Sarah plans to transfer to VCU after earning an associate degree. While she enjoys exploring different forms of art, Sarah believes she’s most adept in one.
“I’m very versatile. I like to try it all, but I think what I flourish most in is probably graphic design,” Sarah beamed, adding she’s considering careers in art direction or marketing.
For now, Sarah is settling in at VPCC. She knows she has big shoes to fill, but her game plan is simple. Sarah wants to build her communication skills, take advantage of opportunities and become more comfortable asking for help.
“I want to gain different experiences.talk to people. I want to be just as impactful as Lizz was when she was at the College,” she said, admitting inspiration and pressure come with that goal.
“There’s a little bit of pressure to get to the same level. But it’s also inspiring to see she flourished,” she Sarah, a new VPCC cheerleading participant.
Lizz served as vice president of the Student Government Association before becoming president for the 2020-21 academic year. She also participated in the College’s award-winning ballroom dance team.
The VPCC experience helped Lizz develop as a student, leader and scholar. She said her growth beyond academics included learning how to build connections, advocate for others and seek resources.
“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities. It really helped shape my path in building my skills, connecting with community, kind of giving me the tools to set myself up for success and work on areas that I might not have had an opportunity otherwise,” she said.
Lizz transferred to VCU, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. She completed a two-year post-baccalaureate program at Harvard University and briefly explored studies in biomedical sciences afterward. Today, the 26-year-old is changing her direction and weighing career options while out of state
Lizz insists she didn’t want her sisters to feel obligated to duplicate her path.
“What works for me is not going to work for everybody,” Lizz said. “I want Sarah to flourish in the fact that she is different.”
Along those lines, her advice for Sarah as the freshman charts her course at VPCC is simple: “try everything.”
Even before classes started, Sarah took that advice. She attended orientation at the Hampton Campus despite being nervous.
“I met so many cool people at orientation. It’s such a nice feeling knowing people will have my back because they know Lizz,” said Sarah.
In other advice, Lizz also encouraged Sarah to ask for help when she needs it. It’s a lesson Lizz said she continues working toward.
“There is always somebody, especially at VPCC, who is willing to help you,” she said. “There are resources available to you. You just have to ask the right person.”
Sarah’s arrival at VPCC brings back memories. Lizz recalls bringing her to campus over the years and showing her around. When they walked around campus during orientation, Sarah noticed Lizz recognizing familiar places and reminiscing about her own college days.
“It was really special,” Sarah said. “It’s really comforting knowing that I’m not alone, and I have somebody who knows exactly what I’m going through.”
Lizz acknowledged the significance, too.
“There’s something so special about watching a place that helped shape me become a part of my sister’s story,” she said. “To see both of my sisters connect with the place I found super valuable in my studies is a full circle moment.”
“I have no doubts that (Sarah’s) going to do incredible things at VPCC and wherever she goes after that,” Lizz said.
Emily agreed, emphasizing she hopes Sarah’s VPCC experience is fruitful.
“The transition from high school to college isn’t easy,” she said. “I just told her to explore the campus, explore all the opportunities, familiarize yourself with your teachers and everything will fall into place.”
“She’s very outgoing, and she’s very driven. I’m excited to see where she goes with it,” added Emily, who fresh out of college is still figuring out her next move, hoping for an entry-level position in her field.
The Yimer family’s VPCC connection may not end with Sarah. There’s 10-year-old baby sister Isabella in the wings. Partly joking, Lizz and Sarah agreed Isabella could eventually become the next family member to enroll.
