Kaela Coles has become 黑料正能量鈥檚 first 鈥淕lobal Distinction鈥� graduate.
Coles earned the distinction by completing 鈥済lobally intensive鈥� courses; participating in international activities and dialogues; gaining global experiences; and completing a capstone presentation.
鈥淭hose components are designed to work together to provide opportunities for students to investigate, research, act, reflect and then communicate their experience to the community,鈥� said Allyson Daly, one of two coordinators for WCC鈥檚 Scholars of Global Distinction program.
In her capstone presentation, 鈥淎 Love Deeper Than Religion,鈥� Coles recounted her experience of participating in the wedding of Asra, a Muslim native of Pakistan, and Donald, a Christian American, and interviewing the couple.
The two brought specific traditions from their backgrounds as well as other global touches to the event. 鈥淭wo different faiths were able to be celebrated as one,鈥� Coles said, and they were able to reflect their shared love of international travel.
Coles also noted that the couple is able to bridge differences because 鈥渢hey have built a foundation on communication.鈥�
The wedding鈥檚 timing was fortunate for Coles who was in her last semester at WCC and working to complete all requirements for the notation. 鈥淚鈥檓 in the midst of all these global classes and I get to experience this!鈥� she said.
鈥淚 learned a lot personally and academically,鈥� Coles said of the program which 鈥渉elped us advance in our global intelligence.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e become aware of things around me. I used to be in a little bubble,鈥� Coles said.
Some of the activities she participated in were a discussion of the movie 鈥淟ion King鈥� with global scholars, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary, a presentation on underground churches, and a homelessness in Egypt project.
鈥淚 felt a tugging to be a part of the Global Scholars group. I didn鈥檛 do it last year and when it popped up this time, I jumped,鈥� she said.
鈥淪he did the impossible. She did everything and did it in one semester,鈥� said Daly.
鈥淗ow she does it, I鈥檓 not sure, but she did it with grace,鈥� said Coordinator Andrea Freile Ogburn. 鈥淚鈥檓 not ready to see her go.鈥�
Coles graduated with honors from WCC with her associate in arts degree in December.
After a break from studying for a few months, she plans to major in Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Coles is a 2019 graduate of Eastern Wayne High School. In addition to being a student, she is a professional actress and singer.
WCC鈥檚 Scholars of Global Distinction Program provides students the global competencies and skills needed for an increasingly diverse workforce by instilling an understanding of global cultural, political, and historical information.
鈥淲e are so passionate because the program is structured to build on a foundation of academic learning, to move students into real world problem solving, to engage with the community and, if possible, to engage in the world beyond,鈥� Daly said of the program.
鈥淲e are excited to see our students transform and be empowered to find purpose in their learning. True education shakes apathy into action, and the NC Scholar for Global Distinction Program adds another pathway for our students to engage in active, real-world inquiry,鈥� said Daly.
Those who complete program requirements have 鈥�Graduated with Global Distinction鈥� printed on their transcripts.
More information about the program can be found at on the college’s website聽or by contacting Daly at 919-739-6868 or Ogburn at 919-739-6848.
About the NC Scholar of Global Distinction Program
The North Carolina Scholar of Global Distinction Program, which WCC joined in 2020, is a partnership between community colleges in North Carolina and World View, a public service program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thirty of the state鈥檚 58 community colleges offer the program.
Partner community colleges develop and offer globally intensive courses and activities. UNC World View mobilizes the international resources of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to help the colleges create truly global campuses. It is a national model for university-community college collaboration in global learning.
About 黑料正能量
黑料正能量 is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 165 college credit programs. WCC鈥檚 mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.