JCC Honors Outstanding Student Achievements

 

Smithfield, N.C., (April 24, 2026) – Johnston Community College held its annual Honors and Awards Ceremony to recognize outstanding students.

Students and their supporters gathered in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium for the presentation of awards by faculty and staff. A wonderful welcome message was delivered from Faculty of the Year and Information Technology/Networking Instructor, David Oliver. 

The Academic Excellence Award recognizes and encourages scholarship among the students of the North Carolina Community College System. This award honors students who have set the highest possible goals and attained the pinnacle of academic success. JCC’s recipient of the Academic Excellence Award was Aaron Duran. Aaron is studying Mechanical Engineering Technology. 

The Dallas Herring Achievement Award was also established by the Community College System to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, whose philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go” is the guiding principle of the system. The system award is given annually to a current or former community college student who best embodies Dr. Herring’s philosophy. JCC’s nominee to compete for this state-wide award was Paralegal student Jeannette Campbell.

Additionally, the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents created the Governor Robert Scott Leadership Award as a way to recognize student leadership on a statewide level. This is an award designed to highlight outstanding curriculum student leadership and service. JCC’s nominee to compete for this system-wide award was Stephanie Pano, Information Technology/Cybersecurity graduate.

The JCC President’s Award is given to the student selected as most outstanding in scholastic achievement and leadership qualities and are nominated by faculty and staff. The 2026 President’s Award recipient was Quinn Bredin. Quinn is currently working towards an Associate in Arts degree.

The college’s Citizenship Award is presented to a graduating student who is selected on the basis of leadership, service to fellow students, and participation in extracurricular activities. This selection is made from nominations submitted by faculty and staff. The recipient of the Citizenship Award for was Stephanie Pano.

The North Carolina Student Leadership Award is selected from a highly competitive statewide pool, this honor reflects outstanding leadership potential and commitment. Kaliaiah Cogdell, a student who is working towards her Associate in Arts, was the recipient of this award. She will participate a year-long journey through the North Carolina Community College Student Leadership Development Program where they will develop the principles of ethical leadership and visionary change alongside a select cohort of peers. 

Our first two Scholar of Global Distinction Graduates were also recognized at the ceremony. Amaya Swann and Shelby Lane completed the Global Scholars program, designed to build the knowledge and cross-cultural communication skills needed to navigate and contribute to an international workforce.

The following students were recognized for excellence in their individual program areas:

• Associate in Arts — Chloe Ellis
• Associate in Science — Ashlyn Harrison 
• Associate in Engineering — Jeremy Brannan
• Associate in Arts/Science Teacher Prep — Jordan Wombles
• Accounting and Finance — Dawn Leblond
• Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology — Josiah Gray Moore
• Applied Engineering Technology — Yelian A. Garcia Luna
• Associate Degree Nursing — Dakota Jones
• Biotechnology — Kevin Coyt Coyt
• Business Administration — Christie Lynn Smith
• Computer-Integrated Machining — Clay Anderson
• Cosmetology — Olivia R. Embler
• Criminal Justice Technology — Aliyah J. McNeill
• Culinary Arts — Yudi Tatiana Krizay
• Diesel and Heavy Equipment — Jonathan Eleazar Gomez-Habana
• Digital Media Technology — Alex Esquivel
• Early Childhood Education — Kaitlyn Evaristo Flores
• Emergency Medical Science — Cameron Jackson
• Fire Protection Technology — Jeffrey C. Thompson
• Health and Fitness Science — Hannah Mowbray
• Information Technology / Cybersecurity — Terri Pazzuto
• Information Technology / Network Management — Jesus Coyt 
• Mechanical Engineering Technology — Brayden G. O'Brian
• Medical Assisting — Hailey J. Denton
• Medical Office Administration — Briana Lee
• Nurse Aide and Health Education — Jade Chew
• Paralegal Technology — Yazmin Mendoza Guerra
• Practical Nursing — Jada Jackson
• Radiography — Sean P. O'Brien
• Residency Teacher Licensure — Lauren Vick
• Medical Sonography — Joni Rafferty
• Cardiovascular Sonography — Emily Daniels
• Therapeutic Massage — Margarita Cervantes
• Welding Technology — Joshua Pittman

The following athletes were recognized for receiving a NJCAA Region 10 All-Region Academic Nomination:

• Cillian McCarthy
• Rhysaan Freeny
• Nathan Jackson

The following graduates were recognized for qualifying for the NC State Goodnight Scholarship Transfer Class of 2030:

• Savannah Adams
• Lila Bradshaw
• Emily Flores
• Ashlyn Harrison
• Joshua Hylton
• Efrain Ibarra Mendoza
• Owen Johnson
• Pablo Vargas Luis
• Wayne Long
• Alexandra Hiller Sobranis