When Milford High School junior Rebecca Buck first opened her email, she thought she’d been chosen as Student of the Month in her Exercise Science and Sports Medicine lab at Live Oaks Career Campus. But when she arrived at the recognition ceremony, she quickly learned it was much bigger than that.
Her instructor, Mr. Scott Proscia, announced that Rebecca had been selected as the program’s CT Excellence Award winner, which is essentially the Student of the Year for all juniors in Exercise Science. The honor recognizes exceptional students in Live Oaks’ Allied Health programs who demonstrate outstanding skill, work ethic, and professionalism.
“This is probably the earliest I’ve ever had to submit a name,” said Proscia, now in his 18th year teaching at Live Oaks. “I had only known her for four or five weeks, but her diligence, curiosity, and interest in the content stood out immediately.”
Rebecca’s day begins with a mission. She walks into the lab, grabs her binder, notebook, and laptop, and gets straight to work.
“We work in three-week cycles,” she explained. “Three weeks on the foot, then the ankle, then the knee. But I usually finish everything within the first week, so I spend the next two reviewing or helping others.”
That self-motivation caught her instructor’s attention almost immediately. Proscia noted that Rebecca’s questions early in the year showed how eager she was to understand, and that the number of questions has dropped only because she has grown more confident with the material.
“Her initiative was extraordinary,” Prosia said. “She wanted to be sure she was 100 percent correct before moving on. That kind of focus is rare, especially in a first-year student.”
The Live Oaks program emphasizes hands-on learning and career readiness, treating students like professionals while preparing them for healthcare and fitness fields.
“We learn things we will actually use, like writing résumés, building career skills, and developing accountability,” Rebecca said. “Everything we do gears us up for the real world.”
Outside the classroom, Rebecca is also a four-time JROTC national champion, balancing discipline, service, and academics. After graduation, she plans to study psychology at East Tennessee State University and hopes to serve as a mental health specialist in the U.S. Army. “I came to Live Oaks to explore another career pathway,” she said. “Now I’m mastering the physical side before I move on to the mental side.”
