Nash Community College Announces 2024 Academic Excellence Award Recipient
Deyanna Geathers has been selected as Nash Community College’s 2024 Academic Excellence Award recipient.
As the recipient of NCC’s highest academic honor, she will represent the College among North Carolina’s 58-community college system. Each student selected for the award receives a plaque and medallion in honor of their academic accomplishments.
Geathers is an 18-year-old cosmetology student who has loved hair since age eight.
“Growing up, I would always watch my mom do my and my sister’s hair; that’s where it started,” said Geathers. “I would watch her and the techniques she does, which sparked my interest.”
Now interested in doing hair, she began to practice more on herself and her family members as she grew up.
“I started to do my own hair slowly, then I learned how to do braids on my sister,” said Geathers. “In 2021, I started doing my own hair fully and since I’m in school, I practice on my family too.”
She expressed that her experience has been exciting, and she is learning new things daily.
“It has been good from the start,” said Geathers. “My first teacher was very helpful; she wrote everything down for me. I stay excited because I can do things now that I couldn’t before, and I can tell my instructors are committed to helping us learn and getting the best out of us.”
Geathers was caught off guard when she learned of her nomination.
“I didn’t even know this was a thing,” said Geathers. “But Ms. Williamson told me that I had been selected, and my initial reaction was shock. Then, I was excited because it made me feel like I was doing a good job and that I was successful in the program.”
After she completes her program, she wants to own her own salon.
“Right after school, I want to join a salon and get some experience,” said Geathers. “After some time, I want to open my own salon, one chair just for myself.”
Geathers has some words of encouragement for students thinking about coming to NCC.
“Keep going, and don’t give up,” said Geathers. “This is a good experience. You will learn a lot, and the instructors will teach you from the foundation. You will find out things you didn’t know you needed, which will be important.”
