NCC Announces First Associate in Engineering Degree Graduate
Omar Allan, first graduate awarded with new Nash Community College Associate in Engineering degree
Nash Community College is pleased to announce its first Associate in Engineering degree graduate is Omar Allan of Rocky Mount.
The College launched the program last fall; however, NCC has made a concerted effort to identify Engineering students and provide them with specialized advising for over 10 years. For that reason, some Associate in Science graduates like Allan have returned to earn the degree after taking only a few additional courses.
Omar Allan first graduated from NCC with an Associate in Applied Science in Computer Engineering Technology in 2014, and Associate in Arts and Science degrees in 2015. He completed the Associate in Engineering degree in December 2017. He also earned certificates in Computer Information Technology/Visual Studio Programming, Computer Engineering Technology and Computer Engineering Technology/Computer Programming. Allan is currently enrolled at North Carolina Wesleyan College as a Computer Information Systems student.
Omar Allan began working on NCC’s campus as a work study student in 2014, and began his full-time position in the College’s Institutional Technology department in 2015. He serves as a computer technician.
Students who complete the Associate in Engineering at Nash have the opportunity to transfer to four-year Engineering programs at East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Charlotte, and Western Carolina University. Completing the first two years at the community college could save students more than $30,000 when compared to attending all four years at a university.
Engineering Program Coordinator Shilo Lawrence said, “Most students will go on to major in some branch of Engineering, such as Electrical, Civil, BioMedical, or Mechanical at one of our partner schools. But, the Associate in Engineering degree is also a great option for anybody interested in majoring in Physics or Mathematics.”
Lawrence was appointed last year to help launch the new 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. “We currently have about 25 students working towards their Associate in Engineering degree. It is one of the most rigorous degrees that we offer, with a majority of the coursework concentrated in upper-level science, engineering, and mathematics,” she 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 starting salary of around $60,000 annually with only a four-year degree.”
