Raleigh Attorney Named NCC Outstanding Alumna
Jammie Wacenske
Jammie Wacenske of Wendell has been named Nash Community College’s 2022 Outstanding Alumna. The award honors a member of the college’s alumni community annually in recognition of their contributions in their profession and community.
Since she was five years old, Wacenske knew she wanted to be a lawyer. After graduating from Nash Central High School, she enrolled at NCC.
While attending NCC, she was nominated by administrators to participate in the North Carolina Community College System Student Leadership Institute, a week-long summer leadership training program for student leaders at community colleges. She was actively involved on campus holding leadership positions with Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, the Media Club and the Math and Science Club.
“My experience at NCC made a great impression on me and the importance of my community involvement,” she said. “One of my most memorable experiences was when we went to nursing homes and spent time with the elderly who often did not have many visitors. These experiences shaped who I am today.”
Jammie Wacenske personifies NCC’s mission of providing an educational environment that meets students where they are and prepares them for successful and rewarding careers in a global and diverse society.
In 2010, she graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree and transferred to North Carolina Wesleyan College through the 2 + Wesleyan program, a grant program allowing NCC graduates to transfer to North Carolina Wesleyan College as full-time students.
At NCWC, Wacenske was inducted into the national political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, and served as treasurer of the Students for Political Action. She graduated, with honors, in 2012.
Wacenske continued her education earning a juris doctor degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2016, and obtained licensure to practice law in North Carolina. At NCCU, she was involved in the Elder Law and Lawyer on the Line projects that provided pro bono legal services.
She was hired by Matheson & Associates, a law firm in Raleigh that provides a variety of legal services for individuals and businesses. Putting in the hard work and growing in her career, Jammie Wacenske is now a partner in the firm. With her expertise, the firm has expanded the scope of its practice into estate planning and family law. Wacenske is also experienced in personal injury law and civil litigation.
“As long as you have passion, faith and work hard, you can do anything you want in this life,” she said. “Nash Community College helped me realize there is great need for service in the community and it has made me a better person.”Wacenske serves her community through involvement with the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum Board, Wake County Bar Association, NCC Alumni Board, a 4All Statewide Service Day volunteer attorney and at the Brewgaloo festival.
Her NCC instructors remember her as an enthusiastic and conscientious student, hardworking and dedicated. Jammie’s advice for current students is, “Don’t give up when times seem difficult and the obstacles seem insurmountable. Keep going. I would not be where I am today if I had given in to seemingly impossible odds,” she said.
