Alamance Community College issued the following announcement on Feb. 24.
Three high-achieving students are Alamance Community College’s nominees for state awards sponsored by the NC Community College System.
2022 Academic Excellence Award Recipient
Logan White, 21, of Mebane, is on track to earn an Associate in Science degree this spring. She never intended to enroll in a community college as her career focus was on the performing arts. The pandemic changed those plans and she applied to Alamance Community College. Logan says enrolling at ACC was one of the best decisions she ever made. Over the past two years, she has seized new opportunities: participating in coding and cybersecurity competitions with the campus IT (Information Technology) Club, pursuing independent research through the Honors program, and becoming a NASA Community College Aerospace Scholar. While Logan is grateful for the opportunity to gain intellectual knowledge, her time at ACC has also taught her to manage time and responsibility, and to find balance between work and rest.
“My instructors have undoubtedly made the greatest impact in my life,” said Logan. “They believed in me when I wasn’t yet confident in my own skills and gave me a safe space to get answers wrong and learn from the experience. Because of them, I’ve become more assertive in my abilities and academic ambitions, and I will forever value their lessons.”
Logan plans to transfer to a four-year institution next fall to major in computer science and physics, confident that her time at ACC has prepared her for a future in academics and beyond.
The Academic Excellence Award is sponsored by the NC Community College System (NCCCS). One student is selected from each community college by faculty nomination and must complete an application process that includes obtaining references and writing a personal statement. The student must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours at ACC, and must demonstrate exceptional academic performance.
2022 Dallas Herring Achievement Award
Jeffery McClure, 20, of Mebane, is a first-generation college student who enrolled at ACC to pursue his career goal of becoming a high school English teacher. Managing his time on campus is important as Jeffery works part-time to provide for his family and care for a chronically ill parent. While pursuing an associate of arts degree, Jeffery has obtained his substitute teacher and assistant teacher certifications to better prepare for his career. His interest in a teaching career was sparked when he took an independent study during his senior year of high school as a teacher aid. He worked alongside struggling students and helped them learn the importance of effectively expressing themselves through writing. As a teacher aid, he gained important skillsets and a new perspective that led him to his career choice. At ACC, Jeffery has explored various teaching methods to better engage students. Through a variety of courses, he has learned how language serves as a bridge that stretches beyond cultures to bring individuals together to share personal stories.
“Education has provided me with personal freedoms,” said Jeffery. “I want to help others discover such freedom so they may also pursue their own ambitions. At ACC, I have become part of a second family of hardworking, caring individuals who have helped guide me down the path of becoming an effective educator. I know that by continuing to pursue my education and teaching interests, I can become not only a positive influence within the lives of my future students, but be a positive change within the world.”
The Dallas Herring Achievement Award was established by the North Carolina Community College System and honors the late Dr. Dallas Herring, whose philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go” is the guiding principle of the community college system.
2022 Governor Robert W. Scott Leadership Award
Ruth Mann, 18, of Burlington, is a graduate of home schooling who completed her high school experience as a College and Career Promise (CCP) student. She will earn her associate in arts degree this spring two years earlier than most of her peers. This year Ruth has served as a Student Ambassador, partnered with the Relay for Life Luminary event, and provided campus tours while representing the College and students at public events. As Chair of the Executive Board for the Student Government Association, Ruth uses her platform to advocate for her peers, recruit other students for ACC leadership opportunities, and strategize ways to get students engaged and connected. As a member of the College’s Board of Trustees and liaison for students, Ruth develops and presents monthly reports, updating the board and administrators on student involvement. Ruth delivered a speech on behalf of ACC students during a groundbreaking ceremony for the College’s new Student Services Building in which state representatives, county commissioners, and community members were present.
“I have treasured every moment of being in a position to lead others and be a role model for other students,” said Ruth. “Leadership has allowed me to grow both individually and alongside my peers. I have learned how to step up and take on more responsibility and how to step back and let someone else have their moment.”
Ruth will graduate from ACC in May of 2022 and plans to transfer to a North Carolina university to study psychology and criminal justice.
The NC Association of Community College Presidents created the Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award in 2004 as a way to recognize student leadership on a statewide level. The award is named in honor of former Governor and NC Community College System President Robert Scott. Each NC community college may nominate one student for the award.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Alamance Community College
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