NRCC History Book

39

necessary funds for her to continue her studies in accounting at VT. Students in the computer aided design (CAD) program, led by Instructor Jeff Levy, won four first-place gold medals and two silver medals in the 2006 Skills USA competition. First-place winners, Alicia St. Clair, Lauren Ratcliff, Dillan Moore, and Justin Bailey, advanced to the national competition in Richmond. Four NRCC students placed first at the 2007 Skills USA State Championships for Computer Aided Design/Drafting and 3D Animation in Richmond. First place winners included Kristy Sloan of Newport, Lauren Ratcliff of Pembroke, Joe Hudson of Snowville, and Eddie Akers of Pulaski. In the summer of 2007, these students competed and placed in the National CAD/Animation Competition hosted by Skills USA in Kansas City. Amanda Allen of Dublin was awarded the H. W. Huff Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship for the Fall 2006. Allen, one of 40 first-time college students selected for the inaugural year of the VCCS-sponsored Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship program, received up to $3,000 for her academic studies. After inducting 44 new members in Fall 2005, NRCC’s Omega Eta Chapter of PTK, received the 2006 Pinnacle Platinum Chapter Award for increased membership and the Most Improved Chapter Award for the region of Virginia and West Virginia. To be eligible for membership in PTK, students must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework toward an associate degree and have at least a 3.5 GPA. In 2006 Daniel Burgess, a student majoring in IT and computer graphics & web design specialization, received a $1,000 PTK “Leaders of Promise Scholarship.” Burgess was one of 30 two

year college students in America to receive this award. Also, in the summer of 2008, Burgess, a recent graduate, was honored at the 18 th annual All-USA Community College First Team awards sponsored by USA Today , the American Association of Community Colleges, and PTK for his academic achievements, leadership, civic growth, and community services. Burgess was also named to the Top 10 First Virginia Team. PTK members develop leadership and networking skills and are recognized for their academic achievements at chapter, regional, and international meetings and conventions. Every December, NRCC’s PTK members serve a faculty/staff appreciation brunch. The 2008 class of associate degree nursing students achieved excellence on the national RN licensure examination (NCLEX RN), placing the program’s pass rate in the top 15 percent for all professional nursing programs in Virginia. Each year a student at NRCC received a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program. Given to students based on academic success and community service within the past 12 months, Rebecca Poe from Giles County received the award in 2006. Poe, an outstanding student, also received an endowed scholarship through the NRCC Educational Foundation. Kara Rogers received the award in 2007, and Tegan Hamblin received it in 2008. Also in 2008, Stacy Gibbs of Pulaski was awarded the Gilmer, Sadler, Ingram, Sutherland & Hutton Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship, which is named after a philan thropic leader of NRCC and sponsored by the VCCS. In April 2008, six information technology students won awards at the 2008

Chapter 1