WCC students recognized for accomplishments and excellence
GOLDSBORO — Wayne Community College held its 15th annual Student Recognition Ceremony to honor its top students of the 2022-2023 academic year. During the event, 95 students were recognized.
Each year, WCC faculty members select one student from their program whose academic accomplishments best represent that program. Those students receive Outstanding Student Curriculum Awards.
In the Allied Health and Public Services Division, honored were Wendy Loa-Fonseca, Associate Degree Nursing; Savannah Parker, Dental Assisting; Lauren Edge, Dental Hygiene; Rosemarie Morgan-Parks, Early Childhood; Seth Kowalski, Human Services; Christy Hutcherson, Medical Assisting; Kia Xiong, Medical Laboratory and Shonisha Mayhue, Practical Nursing.
In the Applied Technologies Division, honored were Yeni Levi Barrios Gomez, Agribusiness; Percy Marshall, Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration; Kelly Setzer, Applied Animal Science; Adam Corey, Automotive Systems – General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program; Isabella Herb, Automotive Systems – Automotive Technical Education Program; Derrick Dabney, Aviation Systems; Randall Baldwin Jr., Business Administration/Operations Management; Catherine Gilmore, Collision Repair and Refinishing; Kaitlyn Brubaker, Computer-Integrated Machining; Michael Farmer, Forest Management; Phillip Parry Jr., Industrial Systems; Philip Rhodes, Mechanical Engineering; Paul Jordonne, Mechatronics; Timothy Jude Norris, Sustainable Agriculture; Tarina Ciotti, Swine Management; Julia Perry, Turfgrass Management and Christopher Acevedo, Welding.
In the Arts and Sciences Division, honored were Sophia Wallace, Associate in Arts; Dena Hill, Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation; Glendalyn Louise Bongala, Associate in Engineering; Oscar Lugo, Associate in Science and Sarah Brogneaux, Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation.
In the Business and Computer Technologies Division, honored were Rebecca Young, Accounting and Finance; Jami Parker, AI and Cloud Technologies; Jacquelyn Carmichael, Artificial Intelligence Engineer; Amanda Brand, Business Administration; Toni Ramirez-Miguel, Cybersecurity; Hayley Rabon, Entertainment Technologies; Justin DeVaughn, Game Art and Animation; Osvaldo Ochoa-Lara, Game and Automation Programming; Daniel O. Moore, IT Business Support; Skylar Maki, Medical Office Administration;; Derek Sparrow, Risk Management and Insurance and Caden Quimby, Software Development.
In the Public Safety Division, honored were Stephanie Goodney, Criminal Justice; Adrienne Armwood, Criminal Justice/Forensic Science and Crystal Hardin, Emergency Management.
The Academic Excellence Award recognizes a student not only based on academic achievement, but also community service and leadership activities. The Academic Excellence Award winner was Derrick Dabney and the finalists were Mason Bailey, Ashelie Jones and Zoie Outlaw.
The Honors Program of Wayne Community College focuses on academics, leadership and service as integral components of a well-rounded education. Students must have a 3.5 GPA to be admitted to the program and must maintain a 3.2 GPA to continue the course of study. Honors Program students for 2023 are Gamil Algharazi, Leavis Britt, Lydia Ruth Burroughs, Chantel Chestnutt, Grace Evans, Katie Annalise Fitzmorris, Jennifer Huerta-Ponce, Isabel Josephine Kitchin, Sara Elizabeth Rivenbark, Tyler Ruesch, Sophia Smith and Cyrus Stewart.
Phi Theta Kappa is an internationally-recognized honor society serving students in more than 1,275 community colleges around the world. Phi Theta Kappa’s mission is to recognize and encourage academic achievement of two-year college students and to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service, and fellowship activities.
The Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship recognizes students who are enrolled in Allied Health or Pharmacy Technician programs and intend to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam. Only 18 students are eligible to become a Phi Theta Kappa Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Scholar each spring. The PTK Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship recipient was Maribel Gonzalez.
The Phi Theta Kappa Golden Opportunity Scholarship recognizes the scholastic achievements of eligible PTK members and helps offset the cost of membership. As a Phi Theta Kappa Golden Opportunity Scholar, the following students received a scholarship waiver to cover the international and regional fees of membership into the organization. Recipients were Patrick Bail, Ashley Crawford, Mayra Herran and Haley Ortiz Salas.
The Wayne Community College Upsilon Chi Golden Opportunity Scholarship recognizes the scholastic achievements of eligible Upsilon Chi PTK members and helps offset the cost of membership. As an Upsilon Chi Golden Opportunity Scholar, the following students received a scholarship waiver to cover the international and regional fees of membership into the organization. Recipients were Glendalyn Louise Bongala and Sophia Smith.
The Scholars of Global Distinction program at Wayne Community College is a partnership with UNC World View. Students complete at least 15 credit hours of globally intensive courses, participate in eight international activities and dialogues, gain 30 hours of global experience in a study abroad or domestic intercultural experience and complete a capstone presentation related to their global learning experience.
Earning their Scholars of Global Distinction Certificate were Jo Bacia, Grace Evans, Mayra Herran, Caleb Mitchell and Sriya Patel.
Students that will earn their Scholars of Global Distinction Certificate in the spring and summer 2023 semesters are Gamil Algharazi, Mei Ingle, Ruben Quiroz, Sophia Smith, Estrella Sanchez, Leshelle Harris and Samantha Nash.
The Work-Based Learning Student of the Year Award was created to recognize students who have demonstrated extra effort and achievement in their Work-Based Learning experience. In addition to a superior work ethic and a strong command of employability skills, this year’s recipient, Belinda Epps, has demonstrated innovation and a passion for their field of study.
The 2022-2023 Student Government Association officers were recognized for their leadership and service to the college and student body this academic year. These are President Sarah Brogneaux, Vice President Maliq Daniels and Secretary Gamil Algharazi.
Wayne Community College Ambassadors are an honorary group of students who were nominated by faculty and staff to represent the college at special events on campus and within the community for one academic year. These students maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher and full time status for the whole year. Ambassador Award recipients were Chantel Chestnut, Madelyn Luethje, Alyssa Manley, Asia Pearsall, Frederick Tarpley and Nicole Trejo-Ramirez.
Each spring, campus clubs submit a Presidential Report to the Student Government Association to become eligible for the Presidential Club Award. In the report are campus fundraisers, on and off campus service learning projects along with community and campus events that each club participated in throughout the academic year. Reports are reviewed by the Student Government Association officers and winners were chosen based on their service to the College as well as the community. SGA Presidential Club recipients were first place, Student Multicultural Club; second place, Phi Theta Kappa and third place, WCC Associate Degree Nursing Club, Class of 2023.
The Student Government Association Advisor Award is given to a student leader that goes above and beyond the call of duty, leads by example, and never expects to be recognized or rewarded. This year’s recipient was Sarah Brogneaux.
The Dallas Herring Achievement Award recognizes a student who embodies the philosophy of Dr. Herring, one of the fathers of the community college system. The winner of the college’s award became WCC’s nominee for the award at the state level. The winner was Gamil Algharazi and the finalist was Alexys Higgins.
Renaissance is Wayne Community College’s annual creative arts magazine for campus writers and artists. The publication features students’ creative work, including poetry, fiction, non-fiction essays, and visual art in various media. Each academic year, Renaissance recognizes student artists and writers who contributed the images selected for the publication covers; one artist whose work merited special recognition; and the writers who submitted the best poetry and prose. The Renaissance Cover Award recipient was Katie Wagner, the Renaissance Art Award recipient was Alezen Paula Gevero Devicais, the Renaissance Poetry Award Recipient was Emma Padgett and the Renaissance Prose Award Recipient was Janelle Acevedo-Trejo.
The Beatrice K. Balkcum Renaissance Literary Award was established to honor the life of Beatrice K. Balkcum, her contribution to the Goldsboro community and her love for the written word. Balkcum taught English at Goldsboro High School for 15 years before teaching at Wayne Community College for an additional 20 years. After retirement, Balkcum continued to serve the college on the board of trustees for several years. This award gifts $1,000 to a college transfer student and emerging writer whose work is selected by the Renaissance editors as the most outstanding piece of writing in the magazine. This year’s winner is Emma Padgett.
Who’s Who is a local chapter which honors WCC’s leading students for their academic excellence and the contributions they make to the college and community. Only 1 percent of the students who attend WCC are selected for this honor annually. Selected were Gamil Algharazi, Yasmeen Alkanshli, Nathanael Benson, Glendalyn Louise Bongala, Sarah Brogneaux, Elizabeth Brown, Chantel Chestnutt, Maliq Daniels, Samantha Harlow, Gracie Hinnant, Dwayne Jones, Seth Kowalski, Madelyn Luethje, Skylar Maki, Alyssa Manley, Haley Martin, Kelly Nachbaur, Sydney Norris, Asia Pearsall, Roberto Carlos Ruiz-Lopez, Sophia Smith, Frederick Tarpley, Haley Toler, Nicole Trejo-Ramirez and Jodie Vance.
— From the Wayne Community College website
