RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2006
CONTACT: Public Affairs
Students recognized for academic achievements
Blue Ridge Community College student receives Jack Kent Cooke transfer scholarship
The Academic Excellence Awards Luncheon at the Hilton North Raleigh on Thursday was full of emotion for many. One student learned she will receive the largest scholarship available for transfer students.
One hundred sixteen
community college students from across North Carolina received
special recognition for their academic success at their respective
community colleges. Three students were selected to share their
personal stories and represent all the students who were honored,
each with an equally compelling story.
Vontella Dabbs,
(far left) a Cleveland Community College Business Administration graduate
entered Pembroke State University in 1984. She left the college
after two years. She planned to enter another four-year
institution, but that didn’t happen. She worked, lost jobs, and
realized she needed more if she was to succeed. She entered
Cleveland CC in 2003. There, she found support and a great
education. “Due to the quality of education I received,” said
Dabbs, “I’m better prepared to move on to a four-year
institution.” She has been accepted at Gardner-Webb and will begin
work toward a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in the fall.
Metzi Hopkins (center, above) credits the education and support she received at Montgomery Community College for her success. Her life was a mess. She was the product of a dysfunctional home where she was constantly told she was worthless. She was married at 14 and divorced with two kids at 19. Now happily remarried with four children, she entered Adult High School four years ago and graduated with honors. She then entered the Associate in Arts program as a college transfer student. Though she said entering college was difficult for her, she thrived. “I’m proud of what I’ve done, but it wasn’t all my doing,” said Hopkins. “They know me at Montgomery by my first name, attention made the difference,” she said. Hopkins has a full scholarship to attend Phieffer College in the fall.
Roger Portis (far right, above) will graduate from Surry Community College with an AA in Information Systems/Networking Administration & Support next month. He said it took him four years to complete his two-year degree, but he does so with a 4.00 GPA. He worked in the hosiery industry, but lost two jobs to foreign competition and a third to downsizing. He realized his livelihood was disappearing and he needed a new set of technical skills. He gained them at Surry. “I learned how to learn,” he said. “That’s the most important skill.”
| Terressa Matthews, a student at Central Carolina Community College was recognized as the first recipient of the Robert W. Scott Leadership Award presented by the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents. It was named for the former governor and former president of the Community College System. Matthews was selected from 28 nominees and six finalists. She received a trophy and $500.
Terressa Matthews (right) holds her Robert W. Scott Leadership Award trophy |
 |
Blue Ridge Community
College student Cindy Blount received the best news of all at
the event. System President Martin Lancaster told the AEA recipient
that she will receive the largest scholarship in America for
transfer students - $30,000! Cindy is one of 38 selected by the
Jack Kent Cook Foundation to receive the Undergraduate Transfer Jack
Kent Cooke Scholarship. There is no larger scholarship, or one
involving such intense competition, available to community college
students. Cindy will receive her AA in Computer Programming &
Internet Technologies this May and plans to transfer to East
Carolina University.
Cindy Blount (above) is surprised by announcement from President Lancaster.
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