CCCC academic departments honor top students at annual ceremony
SANFORD, N.C. — CCCC honored nearly 100 students from across the college during its Academic Excellence Awards ceremony held April 23 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Cxenter in Sanford.
“We know how hard you’ve worked,” CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said. “We know how important you are to our communities.”
Ramon Gomez was honored as CCCC’s top student of the year with the 2026 Academic Excellence Award for Central Carolina Community College, bestowed by the North Carolina Community College System, State Board of Community Colleges, and North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation. He also received CCCC’s Cary C. Todd Award for Mathematical Excellence.
Kayle Maxfield was recognized as the Region 4 winner and finalist for the statewide Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award. Shelton Strider was honored as the college’s nominee for the Dallas Herring Achievement Award. Dominique Small received the Larry Talton Excellence in Business Award.
CCCC’s Academic Excellence Awards recognize students for academic achievement and other outstanding qualities, while its Outstanding Student Awards honor students who have distinguished themselves by working hard, exceeding expectations, or making other memorable contributions. These recognitions represent the top honors bestowed by the students’ departments.
To view photos from the event, visit www.cccc.edu/academicexcellencepics. To view video of the event visit www.4cnclive.com/on-demand/.
Academic Excellence
Henry Alaimo, Mathematics
Michelle Avila-Garcia, Medical Assisting (diploma)
Kaylee Baker, Psychology
Zane Bannan, Associate in Engineering
Russell Barstow, History
Isaac Barstow, Associate in Science
Wesley Bryie, Information Technology
Brittany Burns, Physical Therapist Assistant
Derek Campos, Computer Engineering Technology
John Cooner III, Culinary Arts
Haley Culberson, Healthcare Management
Ashley Cummings, Early Childhood Education
Jeric Drake, Mechanical Engineering Technology
Noemi Estrada Marcos, Culinary Arts
Bethany Fox, Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation
Joseph Gardner, Associate in Engineering
Wilma Gircsis, Paralegal Technologies
Cameron Hasinger, Communications
Jada Jarrett, Medical Assisting (diploma)
Luke Johnson, Laser & Photonics Technology
Kaleigh Joyner, Dental Assisting
Maura Kearns, Sustainable Agriculture
Emma Kirk, Sociology
Madison Kneipp, Physical Science
Sarah Lambeth, Associate Degree Nursing
Mia Magana, Medical Assisting (diploma)
Sarahi Martinez, Medical Assisting (diploma)
Monique McDougald, Business Administration
Taylor McKinney, Dental Hygiene
Amanda McLamb, Medical Office Administration
Meg McNamara, Veterinary Medical Technology
Dawna Meeks, Human Services Technology: Addiction and Recovery Studies
Kassidy Metten, Associate in Science
Kacey Meyer, Medical Assisting
Connor Midford, Communications
Isabel Monteagudo, Medical Sonography
Ethan Myers, Laser & Photonics Technology
Claire Oglesbee, Mathematics
Barrington Paige, Audio and Video Production Technology
Krystal Ramirez, Social and Human Services (degree)
Abbas Rasheed, Welding Technology
Hayley Reeves, Medical Sonography
Piroska Rodriguez, Social and Human Services (diploma)
Ella Rohn, Library and Information Technology
Maximiliano Salgado, Associate in Science
Ronald Schmidt, Accounting and Finance
Emily Steinson, Associate in Arts
Zoe Vansweden, Associate in Science
Mary Vessell, Health Information Technology
Zoey Walter, Associate in Arts
Lorelai West, Cosmetology
Outstanding Student
Dana Agapito, Biological Sciences
Mercedes Amerson, Veterinary Medical Technology
Russell Barstow, Foreign Language
Reyna Basurto Canceco, Medical Assisting
Makayla Belvin, Health and Fitness Science
Asjanna Bethea, Barbering
Sarah Brady, Office Administration/Management
Megan Brissette, Social and Human Services (degree)
Lauren Carr, Associate in Science
Jacob Connell, Practical Nursing
Natalie Denkins, Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation
Gracie Ekedal, Physical Therapist Assistant
Jheylu Estrada, Cosmetology
Carlo Galeana, Electronics Engineering Technology
Martha Greene, Human Services Technology: Addiction and Recovery Studies
Christian Harrison, Information Technology
Natalie Holden, Cosmetology
Kendall Jackson, Dental Hygiene
Dexter Jarmon, Associate Degree Nursing
Jonathan Javier Perez, Associate in Science
Penelope Ksiazak, Associate in Arts
Ariana Langley, Accounting and Finance
Ashley Marsh, Health Information Technology
Lindsay May, Cosmetology
Killian McKinney, Associate in Arts
Rolando Olivares-Moreno, Welding Technology
Luis Ortega-Feliu, Computer Engineering Technology
Andrea Railey, Culinary Arts
Lucas Ramsey, Paralegal Technologies
Quintesa Richardson, Sustainable Agriculture
John Ritter, Humanities
Whitni Royal, Health and Fitness Science
Heather Schlesinger, Early Childhood Education
Morgan Turner, English
Nicole Vines, Barbering
Hector Walker Duran, Business Administration
Thomas Whitesides, Culinary Arts
Clarissa Wroblewski, Social and Human Services (diploma)