ACE MIGHTY
conquers
the KNIGHT SCHOOL
by Faith O’Neil & Dr. Jerry Wallace Illustrated by Robert Ullman
This knightly tale of perseverance, overcoming obstacles, achieving goals, and defying the odds is dedicated to the people who have done it best – the incredible Students, Faculty, and Staff at Danville Community College.
Special thanks to President Emeritus, Dr. B. Carlyle Ramsey, our Wise Wizard.
Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, there was a brave pup named Ace. Ace loved nothing more than hearing stories about brave knights and their heroic deeds. He dreamed of one day attending Knight School and becoming a knight himself.
One day, while Ace was practicing with his wooden sword in the forest, his sister, Pippa, approached him.
Pippa teased, “What are you doing, Ace? You’re too small to be a knight. Knights have to be big and strong, not tiny like you.”
Ace frowned, “I’m not too small! I can do anything I put my mind to.”
Pippa laughed, “Sure, Ace. Keep dreaming.”
Ace felt disheartened, but he didn’t give up on his dream. He spent his days studying, training, and practicing in secret. One afternoon, while Ace was practicing, a wise wizard named Carlyle appeared out of thin air.
Carlyle the Wizard observed, “You have a great deal of determination, little one. What is it that you seek?”
Ace replied excitedly, “I want to become a knight, but my friends say I’m too small and weak.”
Carlyle nodded, “I see. Well, I think you have what it takes to be a great knight. With a bit of help, you can achieve your goal.”
Ace couldn’t believe his ears.
“Really? Can you help me?”
Carlyle smiled, “Of course. I can help you get into Knight School. With hard work and perseverance, you can become a great knight.” Ace was overjoyed, “Thank you so much!”
Carlyle replied, “Just remember, the road ahead will be tough, but if you never give up, you’ll make it.”
With Carlyle the Wizard’s help, Ace was able to enroll in Knight School. He soon realized that it wasn’t going to be easy keeping up with the bigger, stronger students. However, he refused to give up.
One day, during a training session, one of the students in Knight Class laughed at Ace’s size.
Ace retorted, “Size doesn’t matter! What matters is heart and determination.”
The student sneered, “Well, we’ll see about that.”
Ace was determined to prove his classmate wrong. He spent extra hours in the training yard, lifting weights and practicing with his sword. He read books about famous knights and studied their techniques.
One day, a fiery dragon attacked the kingdom. When the knights were called into action, Ace knew this was his chance to show everyone he could be a mighty knight.
Ace joined the other knights in the battle against the dragon and fought bravely.
“Come on, everyone! We can do this!” Ace shouted
Despite the odds stacked against him, Ace never gave up. He used his quick thinking and agility to dodge the dragon’s flames and strikes. “Keep pushing! We can beat this dragon!” Ace cried.
With his bravery and skill, Ace was able to slay the dragon and save the kingdom.
All the kingdom’s knights were amazed by his courage and determination.
Pippa, who had once made fun of Ace’s dream, came up to him.
“Wow, Ace. You were amazing. I never knew you had it in you.”
Ace smiled, “Thanks, Pippa. I worked hard to get here.”
Pippa replied, “I can see that now. You truly are a great knight.”
From that day on, Ace was no longer a student at Knight School. He graduated and became one of the kingdom’s mightiest knights. He overcame his obstacles to achieve his dream and was a true hero.
About the Authors
Faith O’Neil
Faith O’Neil has worked as the Director of Public Relations & Marketing at Danville Community College since April 2020. Prior to accepting the role at DCC, Faith O’Neil worked as a PR & Marketing executive in both the Healthcare and Technology industries. She was born and raised in Southside Virginia and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Dr. Jerry Wallace
Dr. Jerry Wallace began serving as president of Danville Community College in July 2022. Prior to his arrival in Danville, Dr. Wallace served three years as the Hastings campus president at Nebraska Central Community College in Hastings, Nebraska. Dr. Wallace was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan and is a life-long learner. He earned his Doctorate of Education from St. Thomas University, Master of Arts from Western Michigan University, and Bachelor of Science from Grand Valley State University. Dr. Wallace returned to college and received his second Master’s degree, a Master of Business Administration from Maryville University in St. Louis.
Ace Wallace
Ace, who inspired this book, is a 5 year old Yorkshire terrier who belongs to Dr. Jerry Wallace and his wife, Allyson. Ace takes his work as the Presidential Pup very seriously and can often be found on campus creating content for social media, socializing with students and staff, or playing with as many paper balls as the PR & Marketing Staff can throw at him. In his downtime, Ace can be found watching over his human sister Kennedy Wallace, or hanging out with his canine sister, Pippa, who was also featured in this story.
