Wayne Community College student Sabrina Blackmon has been selected for an outstanding leadership and service award from North Carolina Campus Compact.
Blackmon is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Student Award, which recognizes one student leader at each member school. Honorees have demonstrated a deep commitment to community involvement and the ability to inspire peers.
Campus Compact honored the recipients during a virtual awards ceremony on Nov. 13.
Blackmon has served as the vice president and now president of the of WCC’s Upsilon Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges. Under her leadership, the membership has grown and the organization has engaged in multiple service projects.
On Blackmon’s watch, PTK partnered with Wayne UNC Health Care to heighten breast cancer awareness on campus through “Pink Education” activities. Additionally, the club sold “WCC Goes Pink” T-shirts and gave the proceeds to Southeastern Medical Oncology Center and Wayne Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Other PTK undertakings have included a toiletry collection for the Southeastern Medical Oncology Center and a snack food drive for the families of patients at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
Blackmon is a lover of animals and is passionate about the welfare of persons with emotional and mental disorders. She volunteers at Stepping Stone Stables, a therapeutic riding program for persons with autism and disabilities, and for Wayne County Special Olympics as head equestrian coach. She also serves as the volunteer adoption coordinator for Crazy’s Claws N’ Paws rescue and shelter and helped Phi Theta Kappa host a “Four Paws Frenzy” campaign to gather pet supplies and food for local animal rescues and Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center.
Blackmon is a non-traditional student who, at the age of 45, decided to get her high school diploma through Wayne Community College’s Adult High School (AHS). She received that credential in 2017 and continued her education at WCC, earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in animal science technology.
She is currently working on a second degree – an Associate in Science – and plans to transfer to Texas A&M University at College Station for a degree in zoology. Her career goal is to work in a zoo or big cat refuge.
“Mrs. Blackmon has been ignited by the college environment. The adage that education opens doors has been true on many levels for her. With every success, she has pushed herself more,” said Tara Humphries, WCC public information officer and civic/community engagement coordinator, who nominated Blackmon for the award.
“She doesn’t just attend class, she is also engaged at the college. Beyond that, she is active in the community and also works part time and looks after her family,” Humphries said.
During the awards ceremony, the honorees were invited to share why engagement matters to them. “I truly believe that each one of us can make a change in our community and it is part of why engagement matters to me,” said Blackmon. “I’m hoping that with my impact on my community, it actually helps show other people how to get involved.”
About North Carolina Campus Compact
North Carolina Campus Compact is a collaborative network of 39 colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partner with communities for positive change, and strengthen democracy. Learn more at http://www.nccampuscompact.org/.
