RALEIGH:  When the North Carolina Community College System paid tribute to individuals who have contributed significantly to the System, a UNC-Chapel Hill student was among the honorees.

Daryl Mitchell, a transfer student from Durham Technical Community College (DTCC), was presented the President’s Leadership Award on Friday, November 16 at the Day of Recognition Luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Research Triangle Park. In addition to this award, several other individuals received special honors.

The President's Leadership Award was established to honor students who have helped to improve campus life for their fellow students and have made significant contributions to their colleges and surrounding communities.

Daryl Mitchell, a recent graduate of DTCC is now majoring is sociology and psychology at UNC-CH. While at DTCC, Mitchell was student body president and president of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (N4CSGA). The latter position also placed Mitchell on the State Board of Community Colleges as student representative. Mitchell was a leader in the critical student campaign on behalf of the Higher Education Bond Referendum. He is a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, the Phi Beta Lambda national business fraternity and the Nation Council of Black American Affairs – Southern Region.

Mitchell is a former detention officer with the Wake County Sheriff’s Department and a part-time student recruiter for DTCC. He is involved in the community as a board member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Durham and Orange County and has volunteered for the Durham Crop Walk for Hunger, Meals on Wheels and the Special Olympics.

Mitchell says his most important role is that of single father to his nine-year-old daughter. He currently conducts a fatherhood support group through the Fatherhood Initiative Program at the Durham County Department of Social Services.

In addition to the President’s Leadership Award, the State Board of Community Colleges presented the I.E. Ready Award, the System’s highest honor, to three outstanding individuals: former State Treasurer Harlan E. Boyles, former United States Senator James T. Broyhill and Joseph W. Grimsley, who was President at Richmond Community College at the time of his death.

Phyllis Caviness, a nursing instructor at Richmond Community College, received the Excellence in Teaching Award.

-NCCCS-

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