PCC Foundation Honors 50 of the College’s Top Students

WINTERVILLE�-The Pitt Community College Foundation honored 50 of the school�s best and brightest students last month during the annual Academic Excellence Awards reception.

Held March 27 in the Craig F. Goess Student Center, the event paid tribute to students for their academic achievements and volunteer service. Those honored during the event were nominated by PCC instructors and staff.

Adam Till, who served as the student speaker for the event, received a remarkable five nominations. A decorated Army Ranger who served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan before being honorably discharged in 2007, Till has a perfect, 4.0 grade point average and is studying to become a nurse.

Those who nominated Till for an Academic Excellence Award said he is an outstanding student who is always prepared for class. They noted his quiet demeanor and called him an example for his fellow students to emulate.

A 2003 Ayden-Grifton High School graduate, Till said he made up his mind to pursue a health career while serving in Iraq after watching Army medical personnel treat a wounded soldier.

Till, who volunteers with the Give2TheTroops effort, said he has enjoyed his Pitt education and said the college is helping him achieve his �goals and dreams.�

While each of the 50 students participating in this year�s reception received medallions crafted by PCC Machining Technology students, several special awards were also presented during the ceremony.

In addition to his speaking role, Till was chosen as one of two PCC students to receive an Academic Excellence Award from the N.C. Community College System. Fellow Ayden-Grifton graduate Keoshia Streeter Allen was also selected for the honor, and she and Till will both receive $250 as part of their award.

Representing the Arts and Sciences Division, Till was one of five students presented with a PCC Division Award during the reception. Also receiving the awards were: Geraldine Alexander (Business), Linda Bakley (Construction and Industrial Technology), Lisa Britt (Health Sciences) and Sonja Fox (Legal Science/Public Services). Each student will receive $250 as a division award winner.

This year�s President�s Scholarship for outstanding academics, leadership, volunteerism and service to the college went to Courtney Evans. A concurrent enrollment student, Evans will receive $1,300 for tuition and fees to help her in her pursuit of a nursing career.

Two students, Rachel Barnum and Heather Moore, were selected to receive this year�s President�s Award worth $500.

Barnum, a PCC Student Ambassador, is pursuing an Associate in Arts and has a 3.76 gpa. She has volunteered at numerous college events and helped the ambassadors raise more than $1,500 for Greenville�s Little Willie Center last fall.

Moore is finishing up an associate degree in Advertising and Graphic Design. The student speaker at last year�s Academic Excellence Awards, she has a 3.91 gpa with volunteer service that includes assistance with American Red Cross blood drives.

For the second straight year, special awards were presented to students for excellence in Development Studies courses. This year�s award recipients were Sandra Kissam, Jacqueline Myers and Esmeralda Rodriguez.

04/02/2009