2017

2017

Jana Carver

When thinking about the best thing for her future Jana Carver decided to enroll at Guilford Technical Community College.  Having never attended public or private school going to college terrified her since her prior education was taught at home.  Being homeschooled in an unstable home caused her

Melissa Anne Myers

I moved to Cherokee County from Charlotte seven years ago. I was a single mother to three children under the age of ten: two daughters with Down’s Syndrome and a son barely leaving toddlerhood. At the time I had no friends or family to serve as my support system.

Dr. Jeff Hockaday

One of the pioneers of the Community College movement in North Carolina, Dr. Jeff Hockaday was instrumental in laying the foundation for the North Carolina Community College System that we have today.   Dr.

Ric C. Balanay

Working as a laboratory assistant was the starting point of Ric C.

Kimberly Sheppard

Not having taken classes for the past 15 years made going back to school very scary for Kimberly Sheppard.  Entering Richmond Community College at the age of thirty-three was a decision that would change Sheppard's life and also her perspective on life itself.  The reason for the delay in getting

Yosimar Vargas

Who would think that a dirty-faced 8-year-old child roaming the streets selling bleach would earn the Durham Tech Academic Excellence Award!?  At age 8, I was already working in my hometown of Tulua, Colombia, while going to school in the afternoon.

Brittany Whitaker

Brittany Whitaker is an Associate in Science student planning to graduate in spring 2017. She aims to transfer to UNC-Charlotte or University of South Carolina to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology or exercise science.

Amanda Vick

The experience at Martin Community College has changed Amanda Vicks in ways she never thought possible.  Bring a part of this institution has given her a pathway that she credits with allowing her to reach her goal of being an accountant.  Vicks is very active in MCC serving in the Student Govern

Emily Furey-West

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska Emily West-Furey at the age of 19 moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina in 2010 with her husband.  For the next 5 years, she devoted her time to building and focusing on a family and raising her daughter while her husband was deployed.  In 2015 Fuery-West decide

Kenneth Boney

When I enrolled at James Sprunt Community College in the Fall of 2014 I began with one goal in mind.

Charles White

Charles White is Cleveland Community College’s 2017 Academic Excellence Award winner.

Joshua G. West

Being diagnosed with asthma and anxiety disorder cut short the military career of Marian Corp Veteran Joshua G.

Chris Combs

After his 20-year retirement with the United States Navy, Chris L.

Toni Gorzkowski

In August of 1998, I enrolled into my first year of college. This was exciting to me because I became the first of my mother's children to enroll into college. Unfortunately, I decided to discontinue my pursuit of a degree when I became pregnant.

Shakyra Davis

Shakyra Davis knows what she wanted and chased after it starting at the age of 13.  One of the hardest challenges she has faced was transitioning from middle school to Rutherford Early College.  She wanted the challenge and has learned how to balance high school classes, college classes, and part

Austin Todd

Making the decision to attend early college program at Southeastern Community College gave Austin Todd the best opportunity to achieve the long-term goals he had set for himself.  Transferring to the main campus while still a junior in high school he began working on a two-year associates degree

McKenzie Sandoval

I have begun to fulfill my career dreams here at Craven Community College in acquiring skills through the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Marco Leonardo Chumbimuni

As the first college graduate in his family, Marco Leonardo Chumbimuni knows the importance of his accomplishment. Not just for himself, but also for his younger brother and his relatives in his parents’ native country.

Daisha Jordan

All Daisha Jordan could think about her senior year of high school, was what college or university she was going to attend.   Campbell University offered Jordan admission and an academic scholarship and Jordan attended with hopes of being a part of the women's basketball team.  Unfortunately, Jor

Taylor Ross Sarks

It is an honor to be Montgomery Community College's nominee for the NCCCS Academic Excellence award. I owe a lot of my success to MCC, so it is great to represent my school.

Irene Bantigue

Native Filipino, a British citizen, and a U.S. permanent resident Irene Bantigue moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina in October of 2014.  The relocation with her family was not easy as they faced heavy relocation expenses and were surviving on one income.  Irene did not think she would be able to afford a college education until she called Forsyth Technical Community College.

Ryan Booth

In chemistry, there exists a concept titled potential energy. This concept is characterized by the accumulation of potential to exert a maximum amount of energy by a body due to its surrounding conditions.

Toledo Kemmer

I knew it was time for a new chapter in the story of my life.  A position became available at Sampson Community College in the Continuing Education Division and after much prayer and seeking direction and guidance, I knew that’s where God was leading me.  I am a true believer that actions speak l

Philomena De Piante

Philomena De Piante's education started with two goals.  To receive her Associates in Arts degree then transfer to a four-year university.  She soon realized that Central Piedmont Community College had more to offer than just an excellent education.   For Philomena CPCC provided an environment of

Raydeijah Morning

Failure was never an option for Raydeijah Morning.  Struggling to select whether to go to a university or a community college Morning decided to enroll at Pamlico Community College.  Morning states that attending Pamlico CC has left her with no regrets and the staff is amazing.  Working two part-

Teresa Denis Ennis

Everyone has a story and those stories have common themes; indeed, the human condition requires such. All humanity experiences love and hate; joy and consternation. Each and every soul shall encounter daunting obstacles in the pursuit of every endeavor.

Mary Green

I quickly discovered that Roanoke-Chowan Community College was like another family. The one aspect I enjoy the most about being a student at R-CCC is the closeness that is encouraged between individuals on all levels. I also appreciate that the faculty and staff will listen to my ideas.

Angel Andrade

Angel Andrade had a passion, and that passion was football.  His love for football didn't make Pitt Community College a top priority in his education plans after graduating high school.  Andrade, however, had come to a realization that completing his Associates in Arts, and transferring to a high

Madelyn Welch

In August of 2015, I enrolled in the Career & College Promise program at Western Piedmont Community College. When I look back now, I realize the amount of growth from then to now. Deciding to enroll at WPCC has allowed me to excel in numerous ways.

Tiffany Monique Gee

My time here at Central Carolina Community College has been nothing short of life changing. Like many adults or returning students, obtaining a college degree has been a lifelong desire of mine.

Cammie McMahan

In May, I will graduate from College of The Albemarle with three Associate degrees and 101 college credits, a week before I graduate high school (J.P. Knapp Early College).

Lou Smith

Ecclesiastics 3 states there is “a time to every purpose under heaven”; yet, time stands still for no one. 

Laura Caitlin Ritchie

Laura Caitlin Ritchie finally discovered that her true calling was nursing.  Having to balance work, school, finances, family and life in general, Ritchie saw how affordable Carteret Community College was and the scholarships and financial aid offered through the financial aid department.  The fa

Aaron Humphrey

Aaron Humphrey thought that completing college was something that was impossible for him to achieve.  Struggling in areas such as math in high school Humphrey did not receive very high grades.  Instead of college Humphrey started working in fast food restaurants and worked himself up to managemen

Beverly Carter

I began my journey to Wilson Community College to acquire a degree in Accounting. I was a nurse for approximately sixteen years and worked diligently at doing so. Due to battling cancer for the last thirty-one years, my immune system would no longer allow me to work in this field.

Zachary Rhyner

In March of 2013, Zachary Rhyner was a soldier in the military.   In this month things for Rhyner changed after being struck by an enemy bullet during an assault against enemy combatants in Afghanistan.  The wound left by the bullet was extensive, leaving a femur to be repaired, a severed sciatic

Nichole Medlin

Nichole Medlin graduated from high school in 1991.  After 20 years away from school to be a devoted stay-at-home mom and wife Medlin decided it was time to pursue her future.  With her daughter now gone from home to pursue her own career, Medlin knew that she needed the right tools to compete in

John "Bryant" Ballance

Born on in Wilson County, and raised there on the family farm John "Bryant" Ballance has developed a passion for agriculture.  Working on the family farm throughout high school and being involved in Farmers of America Ballance decided to enroll at Wayne Community College and earn a degree in Agri

Anna Ekis

I had a young child that my family cared for during the time I was incarcerated.  Upon my release, I was determined to make a good life for myself and my son and felt the first step towards reaching this goal would be to go back to school.

Jennifer Liebelt

Having a hard upbringing Jennifer Liebelt knew that for her future she wanted to break the cycle of poverty and substance abuse.  In 2012, Liebelt made the decision to enroll at Cape Fear Community College to get her degree and make something of herself.  Just after being enrolled Jennifer was fa

Anthony Kennedy

Working with a computer system that controls two manufacturing plants was giving Anthony Kennedy the influence to return to school back in 2015.  Gaining roles that included IT management, he knew that he would have to improve his skills to be successful at the task his job required.  He was able

Anh T. Nguyen

In 2012 Ahn Nguyen immigrated from her native Vietnam to America to be with her husband and to make a better life for herself and their children.   After her husband's disability changed their plans she decided to work and studied English for three years.  During this time she found an educationa

Mark Phillip Rubianes

I walked into Blue Ridge Community College with a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve. What I didn’t expect was the level of encouragement and assistance I’d receive from the faculty.

Constance Morse

"I don’t know yet. I just want to help people!" I told the career coach instead of admitting that I had always wanted to be a family physician. That childhood dream seemed unreachable.

Cristian McLaughlin

A small vignette on the front of Piedmont Community College's student planners describing the Student Government Association caught the eye and interest of Cristian McLaughlin.  After e-mailing the advisor of the SGA and conversing back and forth McLaughlin jumped in the "deep end" and ran for SG

Paul Caroline

Paul Caroline, a senior at Franklin County Early College High, attends VGCC in a dual-enrollment program. The support from faculty at the high school and college has been transformative, and he has found that learning not only yields the power to better oneself, but the world as a whole.

Swarnadurge "Durga" Sivamani

Before I was a student at Wake Tech, I was unable and unqualified to work in jobs that gave me the satisfaction of being a valuable team member to create something amazing.

Lena Effler

Lena Effler began her education journey at McDowell Technical Community College in 2011.  For her it has been a long road, but says that it was well worth it in the end.  Getting married after high school at eighteen, Effler decided to get a job and raise her son.  Everything in Effler's life see

Debra Jean Cumbie

A mother who raised her son alone, 2014 was going to be a challenging year for Debra Jean Cumbie.  In May of that year she lost her husband to cancer, and two weeks after his death she lost her job.  She realized that it was time for a change and she needed to chase her dreams of becoming a nurse

Erin "Peyton" Jones

Erin Peyton Jones many times has found herself reflecting on the words of Thomas Edison: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.

Kimberly Ogle

 I began to work at a minimum wage job straight out of high school, without any plans to continue my education, because that just wasn’t what people in my family did. The fact that I had even graduated High School was a bit of a miracle for us.

Kimberly Johnson

Over the years I have been blessed with many exciting opportunities in my life and chances to lead and inspire others.

Tammy Small Cox

For Tammy Small Cox her biggest regret was not going to college.  She didn't think that it was possible to pursue her degree until she received a little encouragement.  That encouragement came from her daughter, and with a little research, Cox realized that her regret could finally become a reali

Olga Diaz-Rios

My experience with Rockingham Community College has helped me to be successful. I am a firm believer that if students feel comfortable in an institution, they are more likely to succeed. In my case, I feel a sense of “belonging” because the staff cares about me.

Nassar Ali Hill

Attending at Edgecombe Community College has been a wonderful experience for me.

Sierra Tuttle

Sierra Tuttle made the decision two years ago that she wanted to change her life.  After seven year break from school, she decided to enroll at Catawba Valley Community College.  With huge support from her family and her fiance Jeremy, she was able to stay on track and continue her studies.  Tutt

Sarah Elizabeth Shepherd

In during her senior year in high school, Sarah Elizabeth Shepherd made the decision to become dually enrolled in the RIBN Program through Wilkes Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne University.  Taking several WCC classes during high school did not prepare Shepherd for how involved she could becom

Kirsten Faith Stovall

"(Kirsten) is one of my advisees and is just an awesome young lady,” said Grey Lane, RCC’s division chair for Arts, Social Sciences & Public Services.

Najma Hasan

My name is Najma Hasan and I am proud to be a student in the prestigious nursing program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. It is a challenging program, but I am working very hard. Today, I know my future is bright. But it didn't always look so bright.