SCC’s JoAnn Bellamy Recognized as Nominee for Statewide Dallas Herring Achievement Award
WHITEVILLE, NC – Southeastern Community College (SCC) is proud to announce that JoAnn Bellamy, a courageous and resilient student from Whiteville, has been named SCC’s 2025 nominee for the Dallas Herring Achievement Award, one of the North Carolina Community College System’s most distinguished honors.
The award, established in memory of Dr. Dallas Herring, celebrates students who embody his philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” Bellamy’s inspiring life journey—from overcoming unimaginable hardships to becoming a voice of hope for others—reflects the heart of that mission.
“JoAnn’s story is one of remarkable perseverance and transformation,” said Dr. Chris English, President of Southeastern Community College. “She represents exactly what Dr. Herring envisioned for community colleges—to be a place where people can reclaim their future, no matter where they start.”
Bellamy’s life began in poverty in 1960s Whiteville, where she became the first in her family to graduate high school in 1975. However, her path soon turned harrowing after moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where she endured years of abuse and captivity in an abusive marriage. With courage and determination, she eventually escaped and returned to Whiteville to rebuild her life. Facing homelessness as a single mother, Bellamy lived in a storage unit while working to provide for her daughter.
Her turning point came when she enrolled at Southeastern Community College, earning her associate degree in Business Administration in 2005. “SCC gave me more than an education—it gave me the confidence to believe in a better life,” Bellamy shared. “It helped me see beyond survival toward purpose.”
Fueled by her passion to help others, Bellamy co-authored Reclaiming My Life: A Collaboration of Stories by Courageous Chain Breakers, sharing her survival story and encouraging others to overcome adversity. Her journey led her back to SCC in 2024 to pursue a second degree in Audio and Video Production, equipping her with the technical skills to launch a podcast and media platform designed to inspire survivors of abuse and homelessness.
“JoAnn’s story exemplifies the transformative power of education and the vital role community colleges play in lifting people up,” Dr. English added. “She is not only changing her life but reaching back to help others do the same.”
Through SCC’s supportive environment and workforce-focused programs, Bellamy is turning her vision into reality—proving that no obstacle is too great when opportunity meets determination.
For more information about SCC’s programs and how the college empowers students to achieve their goals, visit sccnc.edu.
