alumni awards

Jun 28, 2021

Wake County’s Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher of the Year Valerie Ahrens ’20MAT Recognized for Building Connections, Focus on Strengths-based Perspective

When faced with the challenges of remote learning, elementary school teacher Valerie Ahrens ’20MAT rose to the occasion. Her ability to build connections and her focus on a strengths-based perspective led her to be named a Wake County 2020-2021 Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher of the Year. 

Jun 22, 2021

#WhyIChoseEducation: ‘A Quality Education is a Game Changer for All Children, But is a Dire Need for Children in Poverty,’ Says 2021-22 CCRESA Regional Superintendent of the Year Valerie Bridges ’02MSA, ’10EDD

When Valerie Bridges '02MSA, ’10EDD was growing up, she witnessed firsthand the impact a teacher could have on the lives of students through her mother, which inspired her to become an educator. As superintendent of Edgecombe County Schools, Bridges, who was named the 2021-22 CCRESA Regional Superintendent of the Year, shares why she chose education, why she chose the College of Education and how education has shaped her. 

Jun 7, 2021

N.C. Council for the Social Studies Student Teacher of the Year Talia Laing ’20MAT Hopes to Facilitate Diplomatic Discussion and Create Opportunities in Her Classroom for Students To View Historical and Contemporary Issues from Other Perspectives

As an undergraduate student studying archaeology, Talia Laing ’20MAT had the opportunity to participate in overseas excavations, which magnified her love of history. She plans to bring those experiences into her future classroom, teaching students how to learn history from different angles -- a philosophy that helped earn her the 2020-2021 N.C. Council for the Social Studies Student Teacher of the Year honor. 

Jun 1, 2021

‘My Purpose in Life is To Help Others Achieve their Highest Potentials and the Education Field Allows Me to Do That Daily,’ Says Granville County Principal of the Year Courtney Currin ’12MSA

For Courtney Currin ’12MSA, being an educator has always been her life’s purpose. And it shows through her work as principal of Tar River Elementary School, where she was just named the 2020-2021 Granville County Public Schools’ Principal of the Year. 

Apr 26, 2021

Nash County Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year Leo Nieves ‘18MSA: ‘It is My Goal to Help Make the Educational Experience for All Involved a Positive One’

As a first-year teacher, Leo Nieves ’18MSA was afraid to ask for help because he didn’t want to look like he didn’t know what he was doing. That was the biggest mistake he ever made. Now, as assistant principal at Benvenue Elementary School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, he wants to help other teachers be successful. 

Mar 31, 2021

Nash County High School Assistant Principal of the Year Megan Bain ‘18MSA: ‘I Am Passionate About Supporting Teachers and Helping Students Pursue Their Own Pathway to Personal Success, Happiness and Productive Citizenship’

For Megan Bain ‘18MSA, education was not her intended career. She sort of fell into it. After earning her bachelor’s degree in international studies and Arabic, Bain joined Teach for America after witnessing the experience of one of her best friends in the program. Today, she is the 2020-21 Nash County High School Assistant Principal of the Year. 

Mar 22, 2021

Nash County Elementary School Principal of the Year Yolanda Wiggins ‘12MSA: ‘I Never Saw Myself as an Educator. Others Saw it in Me and Encouraged Me to Take My Love of Literacy into the Classroom to Inspire Students’

Yolanda Wiggins ‘12MSA worked as a news reporter in Halifax County for five years. During that time, she was encouraged by the Halifax County Schools’ superintendent to try teaching. She went through North Carolina’s lateral entry/residency license program and became a middle school English teacher, which was the start of her 23-year long education career. 

Mar 16, 2021

‘I Had Great Teachers Growing Up Who Inspired Me With Curiosity and Encouraged Me to Do Whatever I Wanted in Life,’ Says NCSTA Ann and Dr. Bill Palmer Science Administration Distinguished Service Award Winner Cliff Hudson ‘16MSA

Moon Man, The Rock Guy and Science Guy are just a few of the nicknames that students have given to Cliff Hudson ‘16MSA, the 2020 NCSTA Ann and Dr. Bill Palmer Science Administration Distinguished Service Award winner and K-12 science/STEM coordinator for Martin County Schools. 

Dec 1, 2020

C. Neill McLeod ‘72MS, ’74EDD Named NC State College of Education’s 2020 Distinguished Alumna

C. Neill McLeod ‘72MS, ’74EDD has always gone after what she wants — even if it means breaking down barriers. And she’s done just that. She was honored for her many accomplishments as the NC State College of Education’s 2020 Distinguished Alumna. 

Nov 18, 2020

Wake County Assistant Principal of the Year Monica Sawyer ‘99: ‘Being Able to Partner with the Largest School District in the State for Observations and Student Teaching Experiences is an Asset that Most Other Education Programs Cannot Offer’

When Monica Sawyer ‘99 graduated from the NC State College of Education with her bachelor’s degree in business and marketing education, she landed a marketing job with the NC State Athletics Department. That experience was the launching pad for her education career.