Celebrating Community College Excellence

NC Community College System, State Board, and Foundation host prestigious event to honor the pinnacle of achievements among students, faculty, staff, and business partners

The North Carolina Community College System, State Board, and Foundation co-hosted the NC Community Colleges Awards Dinner and Celebration on Wednesday evening, April 17, 2024, to honor the pinnacle of academic excellence and collaborative achievement among community college students, faculty, staff, and business partners. 

“Tonight, we celebrated the students, faculty, staff, and industry partners who play pivotal roles in shaping the future of our communities,” said System President Dr. Jeff Cox. “Community colleges are truly the heart of North Carolina’s workforce development and it is an honor to recognize all of these award winners and their contributions to excellence across our state.”

About the Award Winners: The event, emceed by Lena Tillett, Weekday Evening Anchor at WRAL, included three award segments: Student Excellence, Faculty and Staff Recognition, and Workforce Development Pinnacle Awards.

Student Excellence

• One student from all 58 institutions received an Academic Excellence Award prior to the event – the highest academic honor the System bestows on its students.
• The Dallas Herring Achievement Award to Ms. Lillia Kathryn Diez of Alamance Community College, presented by Wells Fargo. [See Award Video]
• The Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award to Mr. Toby Neal of Stanly Community College, presented by the NC Association of Community College Presidents. [See Award Video]

Diez, an automotive technology student at Alamance Community College, credits the College for changing her life.

“When you’re the one living through hard times, it’s just life. I didn’t realize working hard to make a better life was something to be proud of until I started to share more of my story with other people, who found inspiration in my perseverance,” Diez said. “I feel incredibly fortunate, not only to be here tonight, but to have made the choice to attend Alamance Community College.”

Faculty and Staff Recognition

• The President of the Year Award to Dr. Jack Bagwell of College of The Albemarle, presented by the John M. Belk Endowment. [See Award Video]
• The Excellence in Teaching Award to Mr. Jere Miles of Wilkes Community College, presented by Lenovo. [See Award Video]
• The Staff Person of the Year Award to Ms. Christy Lefevers of Catawba Valley Community College, presented by Duke Energy. [See Award Video]
• The System Office Staff Person of the Year Award to Ms. Jonnell Carpenter of NC Community Colleges, presented by North Carolina Biotechnology Center. [See Award Video]
• The I.E. Ready Lifetime Achievement Award to President Kenneth Boham, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (retired), presented by NC Rural Center. [See Award Video]

The Faculty and Staff Awards segment was introduced by Board Chair of the Foundation, Donny Hicks.

“As you know, North Carolina was voted the best state in the nation to do business two years in a row. So many blue-chip companies have relocated and are growing here, and they need talent. Our System is playing a critical role in building talent pipelines, especially in the most in-demand industries, and our Foundation is supporting our System to meet this moment and accelerate success,” Hicks said.

Award winner, Christy Lefevers, Associate Dean for Workforce Connectivity at Catawba Valley Community College, accepted the award for Staff Person of the Year.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to the North Carolina Community College System for laying the bedrock of my educational journey. As I reflect on my beginnings at Western Piedmont Community College as an 18-year-old, unaware of the existence of state staff awards, I am overwhelmed with joy at my journey to this moment,” Lefevers said.

Workforce Development Pinnacle Awards

• Northern Regional Hospital and Surry Community College were named an Apprenticeship Champion, presented by Randolph Community College. [See Award Video]
• Smithfield Foods and Wayne Community College were named an Apprenticeship Champion, also presented by Randolph Community College. [See Award Video]
• The Innovative Leadership Award to Cape Fear Valley Health System with Bladen Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Sandhills Community College, and Central Carolina Community College, presented by the NC Chamber. [See Award Video]
• The Business of the Year Award (<500 Employees) to Parker Offshore with Carteret Community College, presented by the Golden LEAF Foundation. [See Award Video]
• The Business of the Year Award (>500 Employees) to Lilly with Durham Technical Community College and Wake Technical Community College, presented by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). [See Award Video]

The Workforce Development Pinnacle Awards debuted this year, which recognize exemplary employers, businesses, or industry groups that demonstrated engagement and commitment to the education and professional development of its employees and/or the development of North Carolina’s workforce through partnerships with community colleges. 

“It is imperative that we recognize employers who have taken ownership for student success,” said Tom Looney, Chairman of the NC State Board of Community Colleges. “Today, we are seeing our colleges and employers innovate at an accelerated rate. This innovation must be recognized, celebrated, and replicated across North Carolina. It is our responsibility to effectively tell these stories and inspire other employers to enthusiastically join our effort.”

About the event: More than 230 esteemed guests gathered at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary to celebrate community college excellence. Many sponsors contributed to the production of this special event, including a musical performance by the Fayetteville Technical Community College Student Jazz Ensemble directed by Professor Alec Powers, a wine tasting of Surry Cellars award-winning wine by the Surry Community College Viticulture and Enology program, videos of the award winners produced by Oh Shoot Productions, photographs by Portraits with Purpose™ by Christer Berg, table centerpieces by Once Gathered, and the swag bags by Identify Yourself.

The event would not have been possible without the support of all the generous sponsors:

• Program Sponsors: Wells Fargo, North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents, John M. Belk Endowment, Lenovo, Duke Energy, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, NC Rural Center, Randolph Community College, NC Chamber, Golden LEAF Foundation, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and Capitol B Creative Studios.
• Supporting Sponsors: ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., Kane Realty Corporation, MAKO Medical, and Oh Shoot Productions.

• Contributing Sponsors: AT&T, Biltmore Farms, Caterpillar Inc., Dominion Energy, ECS, Gaston County Economic Development Commission, IBM, Independent Insurance Agents of NC (IIANC), Monroe-Union County Economic Development Commission, NC Electric Cooperatives, Novant Health, Parker Poe, Portraits with Purpose™ by Christer Berg, Research Triangle Foundation, and Truist.
• Friends: Catawba Valley Community College Manufacturing Solutions Center, EdNC, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Griffin Estep Benefit Group Inc., Identify Yourself, Once Gathered, Pinnacle Financial Partners, PNC, Surry Community College Viticulture and Enology Program, Shirley Carraway, and The Honorable Terry Van Duyn.

About NC Community College System
The North Carolina Community College System is a state agency dedicated to improving the quality of life across North Carolina by opening the door to

opportunities that minimize barriers to post-secondary education, maximize student success, and develop a globally and multi-culturally competent workforce. NCCCS is the third largest community college system in the country and serves nearly 600,000 students annually. The 58 community colleges located throughout the state work to provide easy access to low-cost, high-quality educational opportunities and academic support that focuses on increasing employability.

About NC Community Colleges Foundation, Inc.
The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1986 to support the mission of the NC Community College System. The Foundation is governed by a diverse board of directors who, together with the executive director, steward the endowment; raise awareness and funds to develop and advance the System; manage several scholarship and award programs that honor excellence, and support public-private partnership programs that foster innovation. Going forward, the Foundation is engaged in a strategic planning process that will culminate in a comprehensive campaign to drive more student, college, employer, and system success; and deliver more community, economic, and workforce development value for the state. To engage with the Foundation and its mission, go to www.NCCCF.org.

About NC State Board of Community Colleges
The North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges is the policy-making arm of the NC Community College System. It oversees budgets, capital projects, curricula and more. The board consists of 22 members, who have either been appointed by the Governor, the State House or the State Senate. The Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, Labor Commissioner, and President of N4CSGA (Student Government Association) also serve on the board.