Vonda (Williams) Blue received a partial scholarship to A.C.C./Barton under then-Head Women’s Basketball Coach Mark Tobin in 1987.

“He (Mark) invited me for a school tour and to come play with the team,” said Blue. “I loved the experience and the fact that it was close to my home. It was a small environment, so I felt I was a person and not just a number.”

From the start, she learned a valuable lesson. “I found out I was short for college basketball because I was only 5’10” so I played the guard position. I was used to playing center in high school so this was a change for me and not an easy one.” Blue was an honorable mention All-State player at South Johnston High School
in Four Oaks, N.C.

No matter, Blue found success at A.C.C./Barton, and she gives a ton of credit to the people surrounding her in school. “I owe my success in college to my coaches and teachers. I would also like to thank my teammates for pitching in when I questioned myself about my assignments on and off the court. It made me more responsible and brought about a level of maturity.”

Blue was a two-time All-Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree (1989-90 and 1990-91). In 1990-91, Blue helped lead the Bulldogs to a 22-6 record, the CIAC Championship, and a berth in the NAIA District 26 Semifinals.  Blue finished her collegiate career with 1,419 points and was named the league’s
most valuable player in 1991.

Blue doesn’t take her college experience for granted. “My fondest memory at A.C.C./Barton was coming back over the Christmas period and having the campus to ourselves. We had to figure out what we were going to eat if the cafeteria was not open. That was bonding time with my teammates off the court.”

Blue, a native of Smithfield, N.C., graduated from Barton in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  Blue, who works as an officer at Fidelity Bank, resides in Benson, N.C., with her husband, Devlin, and two sons: Jaylan and Jawuan.