NCC Takes Home SkillsUSA State Advisor of the Year and Wins Big!
Nash Community College is proud to continue to be participating members in the SkillsUSA State and National competitions. The college is even more proud to recognize Wanda Tyson, Department Chair for Applied Engineering Technologies, for being named the 2024 North Carolina State Advisor of the Year.
“I am so proud of our entire 700+ students who are members of our SkillsUSA Chapter. It was great to have 40 of them compete at the state competition and set new records for NCC,” said Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, president of NCC. “The cherry on top was when Tyson was named Advisor of the Year! I do not know anyone more passionate about SkillsUSA than her. She is the glue that holds our Chapter together. She mothers us all through the process…and we all need that!”
The award was announced at the opening ceremony on April 23 (NCC SkillsUSA Chapter attended and competed at the SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference on April 23-25). Tyson expressed her shock.
“I was so surprised! I had no idea, and it left me speechless. It is truly an honor to receive this award,” said Tyson.
She shared that it takes a village.
“I know that without the support from everyone at Nash Community College, this wouldn’t have happened!” Tyson expressed. “All the chapter advisors, NCC SkillsUSA Chapter Officers, students, administration, maintenance, Linda Snell and group, NCC PR, the print shop and many more. I have so much help!”
Alex Barnhill, Dean of Curriculum Career and Technical Education, often works with Tyson as he oversees the Applied Engineering Technologies Department. He shares some words regarding her work ethic and qualities that allowed her to win this award.
“She is the embodiment of unwavering dedication to students and student success,” said Barnhill. “Tyson understands the importance that SkillsUSA plays in developing the whole student and ensures they understand the value of implementing the tenets of the organization’s framework into the classroom and everyday life, along with developing the technical skills to succeed even beyond the college experience. Her approach to the role of advisor mirrors who she is as a person, someone who has the ability to see the potential in every student; she is able to provide students with the support, advice, and most importantly, the care needed to support their growth and success.”
Tyson has spent over 14 years at NCC in Computer Engineering Technologies. She has been an instructor of Computer Engineering Technology for almost 15 years (five years as an adjunct instructor). In 2022, she was named Director of the Applied Engineering Technologies program, and in November 2023, she was promoted to Department Chair for Applied Engineering Technologies. During her time at NCC, she received the Master Instructor of Higher Education designation and received the 2020 J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore Excellence in Teaching Award.
Nash Community College Racks Up State Awards
NCC attended the SkillsUSA NC State Conference with over 3,500 members of the conference. The college competed, placed in 21 competitions and took home 25 medals (breaking the record for most medals earned). This includes one student that received two gold medals, a first in NCC history. 40 students participated (double the number of participants in 2023) from the NCC SkillsUSA Chapter from 10 programs of study with 15 advisors present.
For the fifth year in a row, NCC received the highest SkillsUSA state honor: Gold Chapter of Distinction and a 100 percent participation award.
NCC won nine gold medals (most gold medals earned by NCC and these students will attend the SkillsUSA National Conference in June), seven silver medals, and two bronze medals at the state conference. Seven other competitors also placed in the top five of their competitions.
Golds Medals:
- CNC 3-Axis Milling: Troy Chappell
- Technical Computer Applications: Mitchell Jones
- Robotics and Automation Technology: Team A – Drindzle Hall & William Medford
- Beginner Cosmetology (CCP): Fallon Curtis
- Beginner Cosmetology: Caprice Jones
- Cosmetology: Lindsey Judd
- Skills Showcase – Cosmetology: Adrienne Williamson
- Job Skill Demonstration – A: Adrienne Williamson
Sliver Medals:
- CNC 2-Axis Turning: Jennifer Caspern
- Electronics Technology: Josiah Carpenter
- Job Interview: Rhiannon Bowen
- Medical Assisting: Taylor West
- Adobe Visual Design: Autumn Biggers
- Digital cinema Production: Team D – Arthel Hayes & Jacob Smith
Bronze Medals:
- CNC Programmer: Deven Scoggins
- Beginner Cosmetology: Melody Maryland
NCC is excited to support and wish the gold medal winners the best as they travel to the SkillsUSA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in June.
