Lawrence Selected as Engineering Degree Coordinator
Shilo Lawrence grew up in central New York where she also attended a community college. She recalls having an interest in math, and trying to solve her older sister’s math homework problems, even at an early age. Lawrence began teaching math at Nash Community College in 2004.
“I had an amazing math teacher in high school. She was very passionate and helped me cultivate my love for math,” she said. From high school, Shilo went on to Texas Tech University. However, the expense of traveling back home to New York made being at the university costly, inconvenient and unrealistic.
Lawrence returned home to attend Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, New York. She was engaged by her instructors there, and her interest in math grew. “I knew I wanted to teach math. And when I attended the community college I realized that was exactly the environment where I wanted to apply my skills,” she said. “I believe the small class size, and one-on-one instruction, make a difference in teaching and learning.”
Lawrence graduated with an Associate in Science degree in Mathematics and Science and attended Greensboro College on a Phi Theta Kappa scholarship where she earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics. She later graduated with a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from North Carolina State University. Due to her natural ability as a teacher, she was recognized as an Outstanding Graduate Assistant, and received the prestigious Armstrong Maltbie Award for Excellence. She is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering at NCSU.
Lawrence was recently selected to help launch Nash Community College’s new Associate in Engineering degree program. As Coordinator of Associate in Engineering and Transfer, she helps students through enrollment and as they progress through the program preparing to transition into a four-year engineering program. “I am most excited to apply my love for math in a way that also helps students pursue their dreams of becoming an engineer,” Lawrence said. “Our students not only save money on the first two years of their college education, but they also are preparing to enter a field that provides a high earning potential even with only a four-year degree.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of engineers is projected to grow. “Our graduates who complete their four-year engineering degree can attain a starting salary, upon graduation, of around $60,000 annually,” Lawrence said. “Many people do not realize there are positions available, and we send engineers to work locally.”
Nash Community College Associate in Engineering students must maintain a “C” or better in each course and an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. They complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit toward a Bachelor of Engineering program in order to competitively apply for transfer to engineering programs at East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Charlotte, and Western Carolina University.
Shilo Lawrence is a resident of Youngsville, and enjoys creating art as an amateur potter. “Spinning clay is a way for me to explore and experiment while engaging my creativity outside of the classroom,” she said.
She was selected by her peers in 2008 as Nash Community College’s J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore Excellence in Teaching Award recipient.
