News Post

SCC Announces Student Educational Excellence Awards

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During the Spring 2020 semester, three students were nominated for state-level awards as part of the NC Community College System student awards. 

Dallas Herring Achievement Award 

Anthony Brown was selected as the 2020 Dallas Herring Achievement Award nominee. The award was established in 2010 by the NCACCP to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, considered one of the founding fathers of community colleges in North Carolina.  The award is presented annually to a current or former student who best embodies Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go. 

Brown graduated high school as an Early College student before enrolling at UNC Pembroke. A resident of Fair Bluff, Brown has defied the odds and persevered through two major hurricanes; Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018. Both hurricanes brought devastation to the town of Fair Bluff with heavy rains and floodingcausing Brown to lose his home. 

Brown was unable to recover fully from the impacts of Hurricane Matthew, and as a result, he was forced to withdraw from UNCP.  His untimely withdraw left him with a significant amount of college debt and no degreeHe enrolled at SCC in 2018 in the Mechatronics Engineering Technology program. In the Fall of 2018, Hurricane Florence hit Fair Bluff, again causing Brown to lose his home. “There was a lot to deal with. We lost our home, my replaced possessions from Hurricane Matthew, schoolbooks, and supplies. I was homeless,” Brown explained in his required submission essay. “I knew I could not be defeated by this again,” Brown said he knew the college was closed but chose to call anyways, hoping someone would answer and offer guidance. 

“When I returned to SCC, I had a stronger sense of resolve and wanted to help others on campus who had gone through what I experienced. I began volunteering on campus with SGA. I was determined to be proactive to ensure success in my life. SGA established a Pantry for students and employees who were struggling – just like me. Without clothes, home, or transportation, with the help of God and faculty and staff at SCC, I managed to receive the aid I needed to get back on track.” 

Brown finished his graduating year as the SGA secretary, on-campus tutor, and Skills-USA participant, also making the Dean’s List. He graduated with an Associate of Science in Mechatronics Engineering Technology in May 2020. 

“The first disaster brought me to SCC and the second pushed me to become someone I never thought I would be,” said Brown. “I’m doing things I never thought I would do.” 

Academic Excellence Award 

One student from each of the 58 community colleges receives the Academic Excellence Awards.  Students must be currently enrolled, completed at least 12 semester hours in an associate degree program, and have a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.25.  

Carlee Fulkerson is the 2020 Academic Excellence Award recipient at Southeastern Community College. Carlee first began her education at SCC as a Career & College Promise student while attending Whiteville High School. After graduating from Whiteville, she attended SCC as a full-time student.   

“I was nervous to begin college classes before even graduating high school, but from the very beginning, SCC made sure I knew that no matter what I had a team of supporters,” said Carlee Fulkerson. “Upon graduating from high school, I was five classes short from graduating with an Associate in Arts degree. Over the Summer, with the help of my advisor, I was able to complete the classes I needed to complete my degree. Upon receiving the Success Scholarship, I was able to receive my Associate in Arts debt-free.” 

Fulkerson plans to apply for admission into the SCC Nursing program in Fall 2020. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her time at SCC. 

 

Governor Robert W. Scott Leadership Award 

Chance Holmes-Snowden is SCC’s 2020 nominee for the Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award. The award, sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents, was created in 2004 to recognize student leadership on a statewide level while also honoring Scott, one of the earliest supporters of the NC Community College System and its president from 1983 until 1994.  This is an award designed to highlight outstanding curriculum student leadership and service. 

Holmes-Snowden attended SCC as an Early College student and served as Phi Theta Kappa Vice President from 2018-2019 and served as the President from 2019-2020. He graduated from SCC in May 2020 with an Associate in Applied Science in Broadcasting & Production Technology, an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science degrees.  

Chance highlighted his leadership experiences at SCC in his scholarship essay nomination submission. “The experiences and opportunities I’ve had pushed my limits, solidified my future, and broadened my horizons as an individual, student, and most importantly, a leader. My experiences here through technical and traditional academic organizations like SkillsUSA and Phi Theta Kappa shaped me into a goal-oriented, confident young man ready for the next big challenge.”  

Holmes-Snowden will further his education at Western Carolina University in the Fall of 2020. “In the end thanks to my experiences at Southeastern I can confidently go out into the world and continue my education because I am fully prepared, said Holmes-Snowden 

Ove the past 5 years, he has earned a variety of awards in SkillsUSA, National Honors Society, and held multiple leadership roles on campus. He served as a CCCA Graduation Marshall and SCC Graduation Marshall.

Pictured, from top to bottom: Anthony Brown, Carlee Fulkerson and Chance Holmes-Snowden