GTCC’s annual Student Excellence Awards Ceremony honors over 100 students for achievements
Published on: April 29, 2026
Guilford Technical Community College recently honored over 100 students at its annual Student Excellence Awards Ceremony, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, and contributions to GTCC and the surrounding community.
“GTCC is proud to recognize students who consistently go above and beyond,” said GTCC President Anthony Clarke, Ph.D. “Their paths are often filled with obstacles, yet they continue to persevere and achieve extraordinary results. Their success is both inspiring and worthy of celebration.”
The following is a breakdown of those awards.
North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award is presented to one student in each of the 58 North Carolina community colleges. Recipients have completed at least 12 semester credit hours in an associate degree program, maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, participated in GTCC activities outside the classroom, and are progressing toward educational goals. This year’s winner from GTCC was:
- Crystabelle Nwameme – Associate in Science in Human Services & Public Safety
The Dallas Hering Award is also presented to one student in each of the 58 North Carolina community colleges named after the late Dallas Herring, Ph.D. Herring was one of the state's earliest advocates for community colleges and this award is presented to a student who embodies Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” This year’s winner from GTCC was:
- Latisha Hamilton – Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology
The Community Service Award is awarded to students who are nominated by faculty or staff, maintain a program GPA of 3.0 or higher, are currently taking curriculum classes within a program of study, and regularly participate in community activities. This year’s award winners were:
- Gretta Bowen
- Valeria Transeau
- Rahana Aristide
- Frank Forehand
- Kahlan Davis
The Perseverance Award honors students who are nominated by faculty or staff, maintain a program GPA of 3.0 or higher, are currently taking curriculum classes within a program of study, and have overcome a significant challenge while enrolled at GTCC. This year’s award winners were:
- Brittannie Lombardo
- Tangoleke Kajangu
- Katelyn Huss
- Stephanie Kelly
- Latisha Hamilton
The Student Excellence Award recognizes students who have received a faculty or staff nomination, earned a program GPA of 3.0 or higher, are currently enrolled in curriculum classes within an associate degree program, participate in activities outside the classroom and are progressing toward educational and/or career goals.
- Hunter Spradling – Aviation
- Peter Raig – Aviation
- Rahana Aristide – Business, Creative and Performing Arts
- Melinda Wallace – Business, Creative and Performing Arts
- Kelly Spencer – Health Sciences
- Rhonda Dunlap – Health Sciences
- Toshia Gatling – Industrial, Construction, and Transportation Technologies
- Grady Barnes – Industrial, Construction, and Transportation Technologies
- Aniya McMannus – Human Services and Public Safety
- Destiny Christa – Human Services and Public Safety
- Taylor Brown – Humanities
- Mason Burghart – Humanities
- Crystabelle Nwameme – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CTE)
- Micah Buck – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CTE)
Model UN Awards are giving to outstanding delegates demonstrate effective caucusing strategies, public speaking, and resolution writing in a simulation of United Nations procedures:
- Crystabelle Nwameme – Outstanding Delegation Award
- Thomas Roberts – Outstanding Delegation Award
- Kianna Almodovar – Outstanding Position Paper Award in the Human Rights Commission
- Nizar Kafaf – Outstanding Position Paper Award in the Human Rights Commission and Distinguished Delegation Award
- Alexander Barnett – Outstanding Position Paper
- Emma Haislup – Outstanding Position Paper
- Haitam Laanaigri – Distinguished Delegation Award
N.C. Global Scholars of Distinction is a global honors program created in conjunction with UNC-Chapel Hill’s World View program. Students earn at least a 3.0 GPA in five globally focused courses, attend eight hours of international campus events, complete a 30-hour study abroad or global-focused service learning project, and give a capstone presentation to receive this distinction on their transcripts and diploma.
- Ambar Abad
- Ashley Anglemyer-Anderson
- Alexander Barnett
- Erahlyn Bingham
- Soren Blue
- Mason Burghart
- Danna Ceron Diaz
- Shaylin Flores
- Zoe Langley
- Jeralyn Mosqueda
Club of the Year Award:
- Biology Club
Club Advisor of the Year
- Tom Riddle – Advisor to Model United Nations, Co-Advisor for Environmental Awareness and the Book Club
SkillsUSA National & State Awards are given to those who place in state and national SkillsUSA championships that involve industry evaluating student performance to identify the best career and technical education students.
National Winners
- Logan Zellers – Aviation Maintenance Technology – 2nd Place
- Amanda Starr – Collison Damage Appraisal – 10th Place
- Keesha Jazzlyn Go – Computer Programming – 5th Place
- Diana Arreguin – Criminal Justice – 11th place
- Josue Yahir Escalante Torres – Mechatronics – 8th place
- Devante Cuthbertson – Mechatronics – 8th place
- Taylor Rayna – Plumbing – 5th place
- Meredith Costner – Restaurant Service – 6th place
Skills USA State Winners 2025
- Elijah Butler – Auto Refinishing Technology – 3rd place
- Tristen Loria – Auto Service Technology – 3rd place
- Logan Zellers – Aviation Maintenance Technology – 1st place
- Amanda Starr – Collison Damage Appraisal – 1st place
- Keesha Jazzlyn Go – Computer Programming – 1st place
- Mack McCall – Computer Programming – 2nd place
- Diana Arreguin – Criminal Justice – 1st place
- Lia Nigh – EMT – 2nd place
- Brendon Strader – EMT – 3rd place
- Ethan Waldrop – EMT – 3rd place
- Camden Leonard – HVAC/R – 3rd place
- Josue Yahir Escalante Torres – Mechatronics –1st place
- Devante Cuthbertson – Mechatronics –1st place
- Taylor Rayna – Plumbing – 1st place
- Caleb Oates – Plumbing – 2nd place
- Austin Gelinas – Plumbing – 3rd place
- Meredith Costner – Restaurant Service –1st place