Each year, WCC faculty members select one student from their degree and diploma programs whose academic accomplishments best represent that program. Those students receive Outstanding Student Curriculum Awards.
Following are the students honored with Outstanding Student Curriculum Awards and the program recognizing them.
Allied Health and Public Services Division
Shonisha Council, Associate Degree Nursing
Sheili Arreaga Puac, Dental Assisting
Chelsea Taylor-Akers, Dental Hygiene
Zhabriya O’Neal, Early Childhood Education
Emily Poppe, Medical Assisting
Skye Britton, Medical Laboratory Technology
Sacoria Farmer, Practical Nursing
Kirelle Segers, Social and Human Services
Applied Technologies Division
Ben Lytle, Agribusiness Technology
Bladen Jones, Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology
Kenzie Ward, Applied Animal Science Technology
Harmony Rizor, Automotive Systems Technology (ATEP)
Noah Snyder, Automotive Systems Technology (GM-ASEP)
Drew Magill, Aviation Systems Technology
Natalie Fulghum, Operations Management
Joshua Morales Macario, Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology
Joseph Aunspach, Computer-Integrated Machining
Hayden Howard, Forest Management Technology
Jacob Smith, Industrial Systems Technology
Tyian Butler, Mechanical Engineering Technology
Gavin Simons, Mechatronics Engineering Technology
Shelby Watson, Sustainable Agriculture
Emanuel Santibanez-Castaneda, Turfgrass Management Technology
Jonathan D. Lamm, Welding Technology
Arts and Sciences Division
Walter Correll, Associate in Arts
Michelle Harrelson, Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation
Ely Charqueno, Associate in Science
Christina Turner, Elementary Education Residency Licensure
Business and Computer Technologies Division
Edgard Jimenez, Accounting and Finance
Aidan Crowley, Artificial Intelligence Engineer
Abigayle Bradley, Business Administration
Andrew Juarez-Cabrera, Cybersecurity
Jean C. Reyes Chervony, Entertainment Technologies
James Moore, Game Art and Animation
Okey Dutton, Game and Automation Programming
Elijah Pipkin, IT Support and Services
Gabrielle Palmer, Medical Office Administration
Emilyn Paredes, Office Management
Brianny Lewis, Risk Management and Insurance
Carlos Eduardo Brandt Cevallos, Software Development
Public Safety Division
Cody Vaughan, Criminal Justice Technology
Jude Bartlow, Forensic Science
Bryson Brock, Emergency Management
Kristen Wood, Emergency Medical Science
Academic Excellence Award
The Academic Excellence Award recognizes a student based on not only academic achievement but also community service and leadership activities.
Academic Excellence Award Finalists
Max Harrison
Diamond Simmons
Academic Excellence Award Winner
Kelly Nachbaur
Honors Program
The Honors Program of WCC 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.
Following are the students in WCC’s Honors Program for 2026.
Sara Kay Lynn Roush
Edward Acorn
Maritza Marely Camacho Chiquito
Isabella Castillo
Justin Fu
Yellena González
Joelia Beth Henn
Kendall G. Henson
Sylvia Rose Jernigan
Caroline Joyner
Leah Lawhorne
Oscar Lugo
Amber Hanuel Mason
Mae Olszyk
Autumn Pearce
Ingrid Ramirez-Miguel
Jalysa Lauren Renee Timothy
Johnathan Velazquez-Trejo
Kaelyn C. Young
Selena Zheng
Phi Theta Kappa Awards
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an internationally recognized honor society serving students in nearly 1,250 chapters around the world. PTK’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 PTK Golden Opportunity Scholarship recognizes the scholastic achievements of eligible PTK members and helps offset the cost of membership. As a PTK Golden Opportunity Scholar, the following student received a scholarship waiver to cover the international and regional fees of membership into the organization.
PTK Golden Opportunity Scholarship Recipient
Jerrica Hinson
The Bison Opportunity Scholarship recognizes the scholastic achievements of eligible members of WCC’s Upsilon Chi chapter of PTK and helps offset the cost of membership. As a Bison Opportunity Scholar, the following students received a scholarship waiver to cover the international and regional fees of membership into the organization.
Bison Opportunity Scholarship Recipients
Charity Anderson
Jennifer Gallo
Kinda Gregory
Leah Gross
China Hall
Oscar Lugo
Mya Mason
Diamond Simmons
Scholars of Global Distinction
The Scholars of Global Distinction program at WCC 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.
Following are students who will earn their Scholars of Global Distinction Certificate in the Spring ’26 semester.
Brianna Clark-Evans
Annaelle LaCossade
Oscar Lugo
Julianne Reyes
Sara Roush
Work-Based Learning Student of the Year Award
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 has demonstrated innovation and a passion for their field of study.
Work-Based Learning Student of the Year Award Recipient
Quetzaly Vera-Sanchez
Student Government Association
The 2025–2026 Student Government Association officers were recognized for their leadership and service to the College and student body.
President: Mario Lopez
Vice President: Hannah Rhodes
Secretary: Oscar Lugo
Chairperson: Keyandre Sutton
Student Club and Organization Awards
Several clubs and organizations on campus were recognized for their achievements.
WCC 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.
2025–2026 WCC Ambassadors
Abigayle Bradley
Hannah Johnson
Kelly Nachbaur
Yahaira Rojas Bautista
Molly Sullivan
The Student Ambassador Advisor Award is given to a student ambassador who is always willing to help at various activities and events on campus and within the community. This year, the award was given to two students.
Ambassador Advisor Award Recipients
Abigayle Bradley
Molly Sullivan
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, and community and campus events that each club participated in throughout the 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.
Student Government Association Presidential Club Award Recipients
1st Place: Upsilon Chi Chapter of PTK
2nd Place: Wayne Community College Association of Nursing Students (WCCANS)
3rd Place: Multicultural Club
The Student Government Association Advisor Award is given to a student leader who goes above and beyond the call of duty, leads by example, and never expects to be recognized or rewarded.
Student Government Association Advisor Award Recipient
Hannah Rhodes
Dallas Herring Achievement Award
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.
Dallas Herring Achievement Award Finalists
Kelly Nachbaur
Diamond Simmons
Dallas Herring Achievement Award Winner
Molly Sullivan
Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award
The Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award recognizes outstanding student leadership and service. The winner of the College’s award became WCC’s nominee for the award at the state level.
Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award Finalists
Jared Barwick
Diamond Simmons
Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award Winner
Hannah Rhodes
Renaissance Awards
Renaissance is WCC’s annual creative arts magazine for campus writers and artists. The publication features students’ creative work, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction essays, and visual art in various media.
Each 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. This year, the magazine’s editors also recognized a writer who contributed some of the editors’ favorite works of both poetry and prose.
Renaissance Cover Award Recipients
Gwyneth Terrell
Joshua Oakley
Renaissance Art Award Recipient
Gwyneth Terrell
Renaissance Poetry Award Recipient
Hannah Burroughs
Renaissance Prose Award Recipient
Tammy Taylor
Renaissance Editor’s Award Recipient
Tammy Taylor
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 WCC 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.
Beatrice K. Balkcum Renaissance Literary Award Recipient
Hannah Burroughs
Who’s Who among Students at WCC
Who’s Who is a local chapter that honors WCC’s leading students for their academic excellence and the contributions they make to the College and community. Only one percent of the students who attend WCC are selected for this honor annually.
Lonnie Atkinson
Abigayle Bradley
Carlos Brandt Cevallos
David Brumley
Nicole Bryant-Alvarado
Raheem Crawford
Cailyn Davis
Scott Holloman
Edgard Jimenez
Hannah Johnson
Samantha Johnson
Cloey Jones
Kelly Nachbaur
Haley Ober-Ennis
Maria Olague Rodriguez
Gabrielle Palmer
Emilyn Paredes
Hayden Robertson
Yahaira Rojas Bautista
Sara Roush
Riley Ryan
Molly Sullivan
Keyandre Sutton
Gavin Williams
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