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Family of College of Education Senior Sarah Daughtry ’22 Recognized with NC State’s 2021 Family of the Year Award

Sarah Daughtry and her family on the Carter-Finley Stadium field after being named NC State's Family of the Year

Sarah Daughtry ’22 has spent her whole life watching NC State football from Section 30 of Carter-Finley Stadium, where her family has had season tickets for nearly 50 years. Recently, she got to see the stadium from a new perspective when her family was brought onto the field to be honored as NC State’s 2021 Family of the Year. 

An annual tradition during Parents and Families Weekend, the Family of the Year contest provides students with an opportunity to honor their parents and family members for their dedication and support of the student’s higher education. 

Daughtry’s parents and grandfather all attended NC State University and her brother is a current student, so she always hoped that she would one day be able to recognize their zeal for the Wolfpack by nominating them for this award. 

“NC State is super important to my family. We’re a big Wolfpack family, and it just really means a lot to let us show our Wolfpack pride to everyone in the Wolfpack community, and it was really special to take part in this event with my family,” she said. 

Although Daughtry knew she would always follow in her family’s footsteps by enrolling in NC State, she is also following in their footsteps by becoming a teacher. 

Daughtry’s mother has been a first grade teacher for 25 years and she has several other family members who work in education. This spring, Daughtry will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of Education. 

Although her college experience looked different from that of her parents — the COVID-19 pandemic meant she spent several semesters of her college career learning through Zoom– Daughtry said she has made great memories and friendships with her peers in the College of Education. 

As she embarks on her student teaching semester this year, in a first grade classroom just like her mother, she also recognizes that the College of Education has prepared her well to lead a classroom.

“I’ve really seen a lot of the things that we’ve talked about in class being applied in my student teaching classroom, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot,” she said. 

Although Daughtry will graduate from the College of Education this spring, she says that she will continue to attend games with her family and hopes to eventually pass down her NC State pride to a family of her own.

“I’m going to pass down the Wolfpack spirit for generations,” she said.