PCC Students Recognized for Academic Excellence at 2026 Honors Convocation

Students were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership skills and civic responsibility at Piedmont Community College’s (PCC) 2026 Honors Convocation ceremony held Tuesday, April 21 at the Kirby Cultural Arts Complex.

“Many of the students we honor this evening have balanced their academic pursuits with work, family responsibilities and service to others,” Dr. Kevin Lee, PCC President said. “Their perseverance, curiosity and determination have strengthened our campus and enriched our broader community. They have challenged themselves, asked important questions and pushed the boundaries of what is possible, setting a high standard for us all.”

The awards were presented as follows:                         

Hayley Ale-Beltran, Kylie Barker, Camille Clay, David Creighton, Toni Fellows, Brayden Gentry, Maritsa Gonzalez and Ashley Griffin received the Golden Laurel Award. This award is given to the graduating students in the Associate in Arts program with the highest grade point average (GPA).

Leo Stidam received the Herodotus Award. This honor is given to the student who demonstrates excellent work in history and uses critical thinking to explore historical chronology, cause and effect, and original documents.

Jonathan Tulloh awarded the Erasmus Award, acknowledging his outstanding work in a Humanities class and for exhibiting the essential spirit of the humanities: devotion to inquiry, wide-ranging curiosity and a generous commitment to discussion.

Andrew Rimmer received the Hannah Arendt Award. This award is given to the student who demonstrates outstanding intellectual work and moral reasoning in an Ethics class.

Hannah Hudson and Melvin Wood received the Excellence in English Award. This award is given to students who demonstrate consistent excellence in English classes.

Hayley Ale-Beltran was given the Outstanding Orator Award. This award is given to the student who excels in the subject of Public Speaking.

Riley Shotwell and Allie Solomon were awarded the Maslow Award, an honor that is given to the students in a Social or Behavioral Science course who have demonstrated a personal quest for self-actualization by pursuing their personal happiness and fulfillment.

Nathan Biever, Taylor Brockman, Bryson Gregory, Logan Hurdle, Tamia Johnson, KamiLee Lawrence and Abigail Sharlow received the Excellence in STEM Award, given to students graduating from the Associate in Science program with the highest GPA.

James Gabel was awarded the Outstanding Chemist Award. This award is given to the students with the highest GPA beginning in Chemistry 151 and continuing through mid-term Chemistry 152.

Sahily Anaya-Andrade received the Outstanding Biologist Award. This award is given to the student with the highest GPA beginning in Biology 111 and continuing through mid-term Biology 112.

KamiLee Lawrence and Garrett Wesley were awarded the Outstanding Mathematician Award. This award is given to students with the highest GPA in a Math course sequence.

Nakia Harris was awarded the Pinnacle Award. This award is given to the students who demonstrate the positive attributes of responsible leadership in the Business Studies and Emerging Technologies Program of study.

Outstanding Graduate Awards were given to:

• Sydney Gooch (Business Administration)
• Katrina Brendle (Digital Effects and Animation Technology)
• Gabriel Rouse (Information Technology)
• Shari Clayton (Teacher Preparation)
• Steven Myers (General Occupational Technology)
• Chris Sexton (Gunsmithing)
• Kalin Blount (Industrial Systems Technology)
• Jonathan McElver (Mechatronics Engineering Technology)
• William Modlin (Welding – Caswell County Campus)
• Greyson Hodnett (Welding – Person County Campus)
• Jonathan McElver (Welding – Person County Campus)
• Victoria Reyes-Emory (College & Career Readiness)
• Greta Wrenn (Cosmetology)
• Carleigh Robison (Criminal Justice)
• Brandon Roggie (Emergency Medical Science)
• Rachel Johnson (EMT/Paramedic Programs)
• Wikina Swann (Healthcare Management Technology)
• Chelsea Smith (Medical Assisting)
• Daniel Myers (Public Safety Administration)
• William Price (Public Safety Administration)
• Mikelle Hall (Social & Human Services)
• Nakkia Scriven (Social & Human Services)
• Paula Sidney (Social & Human Services)
• Alexandra Rodriguez (Nurse Aide – Caswell County Campus)
• Emmerson Strader (Nurse Aide – Person County Campus)
• Dannaya Sellars (Nursing – Caswell County Campus)
• Nicole Zocchi (Nursing – Person County Campus)
• Makayla Woods (Practical Nursing)

Outstanding Student Awards were given to:

• Arvilee Gaither (Accounting and Finance)
• Courtney McMillan (Accounting and Finance)
• Lori Clayton (Business Administration)
• Ryan Cole (Information Technology)
• Nakia Harris (Information Technology)
• Lilly Swartout (Teacher Preparation)
• Irvin Satterfield (Agribusiness Technology)
• Zayquan Legrone (General Occupational Technology)
• Joseph Helgeson (Gunsmithing)
• Nicholas Butcher (Industrial Systems Technology)
• William Denny (Mechatronics Engineering Technology)
• Dylan Goodman (Welding – Caswell County Campus)
• Peter Lentini (Welding – Person County Campus)
• Raheem Downey (College & Career Readiness)
• Shyann Williford (Cosmetology)
• Bates Martin (EMT/Paramedic Programs)
• Summer Smith (Nurse Aide – Caswell County Campus)
• Angelli Jay (Nurse Aide – Person County Campus)

Graduates from the Scholars of Global Distinction program were recognized. Global Distinction Scholars study cultures, communities and countries other than their own in their coursework and engage in extra-curricular examinations of the interconnectedness of cultures through Passport programs and self-guided global experiences. The unique opportunity of being a Scholar of Global Distinction helps students to stand out among their peers in future endeavors and shows a clear commitment to the engaging and robust understanding of the interconnectedness of the world.  

This year’s graduates are:

• Eliza Brewer
• Taylor Brockman
• Robert Bumpass
• Maritsa Gonzalez
• Robyn Harris-Morton
• Graham Loftis
• Emerie Miller
• Josh Moore
• Gigi Stone
• Lilly Swartout
• Kati Wade
• Maddie Watson
• Victoria West

The Learning Commons Champion Award was given to Laila Watlington for the Caswell County Campus and Christiana Clay for the Person County Campus. This award is given to students who strive to exceed their potential by using the Learning Commons throughout their academic journey.

The following students received the Career and College Promise (CCP) Bright Star Award:

• Emerie Miller – Bartlett Yancey Senior High School
• Greyson Hodnett – Home School
• Maritsa Gonzalez – Person High School
• Maddie Watson – Roxboro Community School

These students participated in the CCP Program and demonstrated the following character traits: care, respectfulness, integrity, fairness, responsibility, trustworthiness, honesty, initiative, and perseverance. They also demonstrate good leadership and teamwork. 

Toccara Hall received the Excellence in Clinical Medical Assisting Award. This award is presented to the graduate who exemplifies professionalism and caring in the clinical setting.  

Sherell Haskins and Heather Booth received the Excellence in Clinical Associate Degree Nursing Award. This award is presented to graduates who exemplify professionalism and care in the clinical setting.

Erin Russell was awarded the Excellence in Clinical Practical Nursing Award. This award is presented to graduates who exemplify professionalism and caring in the clinical setting.

Sherell Haskins was awarded the Educational Opportunity Centers Award. This award is presented to a student who has succeeded in their educational journey to completion of their goals.

Thomas Rice received the First-Generation Strong Award. This award is given to a student who has identified as being the first in their family to enroll in post-secondary training and demonstrates excellence in their course of study and persisting through their first academic school year.

Heather Starr was awarded the Pacer Leadership Award. This award is presented to a student leader in an active club or organization who demonstrates characteristics of outstanding leadership and service to the College community.

Hayley Ale-Beltran received the Student Leadership Academic Excellence Award. This award is presented to students who actively participated in the campus community or were in a leadership role in a club or organization during the 2025-2026 academic year and achieved a 3.5 GPA.

Duston Starr received the PACER Courage Award. This award is given to outstanding students whose exceptional determination and perseverance have enabled them to pursue their academic goals.

Katrina Brendle and Nakkia Scriven were awarded the Keeping the Pace Award. This award is given to students who have excelled in their academic journey by completing multiple semesters of full-time enrollment while following the recommended teaching sequence as suggested by their advisor.

Jeremy Smith received the Extra Effort Award. This award is presented to an outstanding Accessibility Services student who serves as a model for others in the areas of access, accessibility and/or inclusion of students with disabilities.

Heather Starr, Sha’Torria Torian and Katalina Wade were recognized as the 2025-2026 PCC Foundation Student Ambassadors. These students were nominated by PCC faculty members to serve as representatives of the College based on their grade point average, leadership potential and communication skills.

Jimmy Clayton was presented the Alumnus of the Year Award. This award is presented annually by the PCC Foundation to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to, and support for, the College. Nominees must have successfully completed a degree, diploma or certificate program at PCC and have achieved significant success in their professional career as well as made meaningful contributions to civic and community affairs.

Clayton is an active member of PCC’s Alumni Association and has devoted two decades to public service as a former Person County Commissioner. He has exemplified support of PCC’s mission through his support of the Foundation and student success.

The Honors Convocation recording can be found on PCC’s YouTube channel.