Goldsboro, N.C. – Wayne Community College (WCC) English instructor Deniz Tuck has been named the recipient of the 2025 George E. Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award, the college’s highest honor for instructional excellence.

Tuck received the award during the college’s second spring commencement ceremony, where she was presented with a framed certificate and a monetary stipend in recognition of her outstanding contributions to education and the WCC community.

Now in its 40th year, the George E. Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award was established by an anonymous donor through the Foundation of WCC to honor the legacy of George E. Wilson, a dedicated trustee and civic leader remembered for his lifelong service to Wayne County and the state of North Carolina.

Tuck was selected for the honor by a committee of community leaders. As this year’s award recipient, she will also serve as WCC’s nominee for the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the State Board of Community Colleges.

Colleagues praised Tuck as a transformative educator who brings passion, empathy, and innovation to her work.

“Deniz fosters a classroom where students are not only engaged—they’re invested,” one colleague noted. “She creates a learning environment grounded in dignity, respect, and personal connection, even in virtual spaces. Deniz prepares students not just for academic success, but for meaningful participation in the wider world.”

Beyond the classroom, Tuck’s leadership has extended to collaborative projects and professional development initiatives. She participated in a leadership program in partnership with Nash Community College and co-developed a faculty course on artificial intelligence literacy. She and her husband, Dean Tuck—also an English instructor at WCC—co-lead the college’s International Travel Program, broadening students’ global perspectives.

A WCC alumna, Tuck earned her bachelor’s degrees in English and history from East Carolina University and her master’s in English from North Carolina State University. Before joining the WCC faculty full-time in 2014, she taught as an adjunct instructor at both WCC and North Carolina Wesleyan University.

Tuck’s dedication to her students and her profession continues to reflect the values and vision that the George E. Wilson Award seeks to honor.