alumni awards

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.

Nov 11, 2020

A-B Tech Community College President John Gossett ‘02EDD Receives I.E. Ready Distinguished Leader Award

John Gossett ‘02EDD, president of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, says that throughout his career, he has sometimes felt like Forrest Gump -- always lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and surrounded by extraordinary people. But his work has paid off, as he received the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leader Award during the virtual Dallas Herring Lecture on Nov. 10, 2020.

Sep 2, 2020

Nash County Teacher of the Year Jessica Richardson ‘15, ‘22MSA: ‘No Other Institute Will Prepare You for Having a Depth of Content Knowledge, Classroom Management and Instruction. At NC State, You are Truly Part of a Family’

Through her experiences at NC State, Jessica Richardson ‘15, ‘22MSA recognized the importance of community. And her commitment to providing a safe, inclusive community for her students at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School is one of the reasons she was named the 2020-21 Nash County Teacher of the Year.

Jul 20, 2020

Wilton Elementary Principal Sheila Atkins ‘12MSA honored as 2019-2020 Granville County Schools Principal of the Year

Wilton Elementary School Principal Sheila Atkins ‘12MSA began her career at Granville County Schools as a teacher assistant and bus driver. Now, she is the 2019-2020 Granville County Public Schools Principal of the Year.

Jul 2, 2020

Catie Burnette ‘17MSA Celebrated as 2019-2020 Wake County Assistant Principal of the Year

When Hilburn Academy Assistant Principal Catie Burnette ‘17MSA was named 2019-2020 Wake County Assistant Principal of the Year, she had the opportunity to experience her school’s unique celebration.