LCC student excels on and off the play field - accepted at The Citadel
The love of baseball brought Zack Kramer of Florida to Lenoir Community College where he plays outfield for the LCC Lancers. He’s played baseball his whole life and he wanted to continue his career at the collegiate level. His older brother played for a junior college (JUCO) in Virginia and had a great experience there, so LCC seemed to be the right fit.
Exceling in the classroom with a 4.0 grade point average, he chose to study Criminal Justice and received the Dr. Frank Rocker, Jr. Scholarship. His dedication to the game and to his studies has landed him acceptance into The Citadel, South Carolina Corps of Cadets.
“I chose to apply to The Citadel because it is a great school academically,” he said. “It will also push me physically and teach me a lot about discipline and leadership. I come from a military background as well. My father was a Marine and both of my grandfathers and my great uncle were in the Army.”
When receiving the news, Kramer said he was very excited and proud. “It’s such an honor to be accepted. I also feel more motivated than ever to reach my goals,” he said.
He plans to continue his studies in Criminal Justice at The Citadel after completing his spring semester at LCC. “Law enforcement has always been an interest of mine,” he said. “I have many family members who have had various jobs in law enforcement such as police officer, detective, and attorney. I am also going to do Army ROTC with the goal of graduating as a commissioned officer with the rank of second lieutenant.”
Born in Baltimore, grew up primarily in Pennsylvania, and recently moved to Florida, Kramer said his greatest challenge while at LCC has been adjusting to the college life and “living without my parents. They are my biggest supporters and always push me to achieve my goals,” he said.
Kramer said LCC has been a great start to his academic journey. “LCC has prepared me academically to take the next steps at The Citadel,” he said. “Baseball has prepared me physically and mentally to overcome the many hardships that I’ll face.”
LCC Head Baseball Coach Gary Smith said Kramer was a positive influence. "Zack reflects positively on our baseball program and the College as a whole,” Smith said. “A student has to be very driven to be accepted to an institution like The Citadel. He is a favorite among his teammates," he said.
"Zack is a great student with very keen analytical skills. He strives to do well on each and every assignment, said LCC Criminal Justice Program Chair Dr. Terry Light Humphrey. “He participates in class and adds a level of excellence to our Criminal Justice Program."
In preparing physically for The Citadel, he plans to work out and train daily. “I also plan to attend The Citadel Success Institute this summer, a three-and-a-half-week residential transition program for incoming freshmen that helps students prepare for the rigors of their first year.”
Upon graduation from The Citadel in 2026, Kramer plans on joining the military and commissioning as an officer. “After spending time in the active military, I would like to pursue a job in law enforcement.”
Best advice to students who are in college or thinking about this next level would be to “always stay focused,” Kramer said. “Put in the work upfront and it will pay off later.”
There is no doubt that he has followed that philosophy as Kramer excels inside and outside the classroom.
“My biggest inspiration at LCC is Dr. Humphrey,” he said. “She is always teaching us new information as it relates to criminal justice and law enforcement. She also uses real world experiences, as well as her vast knowledge, to help us understand what she is teaching.
“My biggest inspiration at home would be my older brother, Jayson,” he said. “He is always there for me, making sure I’m not taking the easy route and doing everything the right way. He pushes me to be my best.”
