A note from us
Welcome to Awake58 — a weekly newsletter where you’ll find the latest updates on community college related news and events around the state. Plus, a look at what’s trending nationally in higher education.
If you’re new to Awake58, welcome! If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up for the Awake58 newsletter here. You can also find the latest edition on our website.
Wilson Community College is preparing students for biotechnology careers… Alamance Community College is offering free classes to parents and guardians of dually enrolled students… President Donald Trump signed executive orders impacting higher education last week… Higher education committees in North Carolina’s House and Senate are scheduled to meet this week… Wilkes Community College held their annual music festival and fundraiser and Gov. Josh Stein was in attendance… North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is working with 4-H and other HBCUs to help students explore agriculture careers and more… Plus, Kids on Campus Project released their first annual report…
Hi all — Emily Thomas with this week’s Awake58.
A few weeks ago, EdNC was on campus at Wilson Community College discussing everything from agriculture production to biotechnology and community-wide partnerships. Wilson’s President Dr. Jami Woods is coming up on two years at the college and we talked a great deal about the future, the college’s role in workforce development, and being what Woods describes as “connectors” for students and employers. We also chatted with Wilson’s biotechnology program coordinator, Stephanie Winstead, about her teaching method and how she builds courses with “the end in mind.” It’s a framework that focuses on students seamlessly transferring from the classroom into careers without having significant gaps in industry knowledge or training.
You can read more about our conversations and the college’s new biotechnology center set to open next year on our website.
I spent the past weekend at Wilkes Community College for MerleFest, the college’s annual music festival and fundraiser. Gov. Josh Stein attended on Saturday and introduced North Carolina’s homegrown band, the Avett Brothers, ahead of their set that evening. Stein said his family had attended MerleFest for years and talked about how the festival plays an important role in supporting education and the music culture of the Appalachian region. Stay tuned for more MerleFest stories.
Several community colleges across the state have implemented a program that allows parents and guardians of students in the state’s dual enrollment program, Career and College Promise, the opportunity to take one free class per semester. EdNC’s Alli Lindenberg recently wrote about Alamance Community College’s Parent Promise Program and how the college hopes the program will engage more parents in higher education.
North Carolina’s House and Senate higher education committees will meet this Wednesday. Additionally, the House Health Committee will meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss a behavioral health bill, Com. Coll. Behav. Health Workforce Enhan. EdNC will have more legislative coverage in the coming days.
On the national news front, President Donald Trump recently signed seven executive orders impacting elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. The orders address school discipline, artificial intelligence (AI), workforce development, apprenticeships, HBCUs, accreditation, and more. You can read more about the executive orders here.
Be sure to check out the other higher education reads section for the first annual report from the Kids on Campus Project and a Bellwether report with insights from states funding dual enrollment.
Until next week,
Emily Thomas
Director of Postsecondary Attainment – EdNC.org
EdNC reads
Wilson Community College centers students, prepares for growing biotech industry
They’re connectors — that’s how Wilson Community College President Dr. Jami Woods describes the people of Wilson County. Whether it’s connecting people or connecting ideas, the community’s spirit is one that is rooted in relationships and creating opportunities for residents.
Alamance Community College’s new adult learner program is off to a promising start
“Most parents I’ve interacted with have this same feeling that they have sacrificed a lot to give opportunities to their kids,” said Ken Ingle, president of ACC. “The hope [for the program] is to make a little bit of an investment back to the parents…it’s really about increasing access and availability and opportunity for adult students to reengage in a little bit of a different way.”
Trump signs seven more executive orders impacting K-12 and higher ed
The executive orders impacting higher education include modernizing American workforce programs, continued support for HBCUs, and overhauling the higher education accreditation process. Also included is an order that colleges and universities must disclose foreign funding and an order to eliminate the use of disparate impact theory.
North Carolina A&T plants the ag-tech seed for youth through its 4-H partnership
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a part of the Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America (YEA) collaborative, which is a partnership between 4-H and seven HBCUs across six states. As part of the program, high schoolers are paired with mentors who help them explore careers in agriculture technology, farming, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
Around NC
Talent pipelines | North Carolina Community College System Vice President of Economic Development John Loyack recently discussed how building strong food manufacturing talent pipelines takes flexible, industry-driven partnerships.
Health care partnerships | Through a collaboration between Blue Ridge Community College, UNC Health Pardee, and AdventHealth Henndersonville, ten Henderson County high school seniors will have the opportunity to earn certification in health care fields for free and have entry-level jobs secured upon the completion of their certifications.
Onslow Memorial Hospital is partnering with Coastal Carolina Community College to provide nursing students with full-ride scholarships that would cover tuition, fees, and a monthly $500 living stipend. Starting fall 2025, all students accepted into the associate degree nursing program will qualify for the Onslow Memorial Hospital Nursing Scholarship Program.
Recognitions | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College was recently named a 2025 national finalist in two categories by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), for Exemplary CEO/Board Relationship and Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership with the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute.
Student stories | Wake Technical Community College alum Zoe Carmichael is hosting mechanic workshops to give women a space to learn about car-related repair and maintenance in a safe and supportive environment, and hopes to normalize women’s presence in the male-dominated field.
Carmen Del Cid Garcia will graduate from Wayne Community College’s Business Administration program this semester after beginning her journey in 2008. She reflects on how the program’s flexible curriculum and small class sizes aided her success. Click here to read the full story.
Campus arts | Durham Technical Community College recently received a $1.5 million gift from the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation to support arts on campus. The gift will fund expanded annual programming, including public art and installations, visiting artists and lectures, gallery exhibitions, and more. It will also provide long-term sustainability for arts education at Durham Tech.
Other higher education reads
