McDowell Technical Community College is excited to announce that nominations for the second annual MTCC Alumni Awards program are now being accepted. The Alumni Awards program seeks to honor and recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions and exceptional accomplishments in their chosen career; significant contributions to their community and to the lives of others; and/or exceptional service in support of the college. The nomination deadline for this year’s awards is 5 p.m. on April 11th.
“There are so many exceptionally talented, hard-working, community-minded individuals who have graduated from McDowell Tech and gone on to distinguish themselves in their chosen careers, or through civic engagement, public service, volunteerism, and service to the college,” said Dr. Brian S. Merritt, President of McDowell Technical Community College.
“In careers and in life, these individuals are the leaders of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Beginning this new tradition last year as a time to honor and recognize them for their personal and professional contributions and commitment to excellence was a highlight of our year in 2021.” he said.
Recipients will be chosen in three categories of awards: Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Divisional Alumni and Young Alumni. An “alumnus” is defined as a person who has been awarded a degree, diploma or certificate from MTCC sometime since 1964.
The Distinguished Alumni Award will recognize an alumnus who has served with exceptional distinction, has sustained, outstanding career success, and/or has earned a superior reputation within his or her career field, or made significant contributions to the college or to the local, state or national community.
The Outstanding Divisional Alumni Awards will be given to alumni from College Transfer, Health Sciences and Technical and Workforce Development programs for outstanding achievement and service in her or his profession, in civic and community affairs, and/or service to the college.
The Young Alumni Award will honor two categories of individuals: alumni 35 years of age or younger who have exceptional achievements in career, public service and/or volunteerism that brings honor to the college; and those who have graduated within the past three years who embody the late Dr. Dallas Herring’s system philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” Herring was one of North Carolina’s earliest community college advocates and is often referred to as the “Father of the North Carolina Community College System.”
The college received a significant number of excellent nominations last year for the first year of the awards program. “It was difficult for our selection committee to choose just one individual in each category from among so many worthy candidates,” said Merritt.
The inaugural winners in 2021 were:
- Distinguished Alumni Award: Dawna Ledbetter ‘01
- Outstanding Alumni Award (Career and Technical): Shirley Brown ’85 and ‘88
- Outstanding Alumni Award (College Transfer): Rodney Wheeler ‘00
- Outstanding Alumni Award (Health Sciences): Sharon Davis ‘10
- Young Alumni Award: Samuel Ray Robinson ’16 and ‘20
An Alumni Awards Selection Committee will review the nominations and award winners will be named at an awards ceremony on Monday, May 9th. The Selection Committee will be comprised of a diverse group of MTCC Trustees, MTCC Foundation Board Members, and faculty and staff of the college.
Current full-time employees, current MTCC Trustees, and current MTCC Foundation Board Members are not eligible for an alumni awards nomination.
For further information, contact Madalyn Gaito, Director of Development and MTCC Board Liaison, at msgaito41@go.mcdowelltech.edu or 828-652-0630.
