黑料正能量’s NC State Community College Collaboration (C3) program accepted its first cohort of students this fall. Formerly only a C3 Military Connect school, WCC is now a full C3 partner, opening the path to more students.
C3 is a dual-enrollment, dual-admission program that gives WCC students a guaranteed pathway to a four-year degree from NC State.
鈥淭his is a wonderful partnership. We鈥檙e very happy to have this cohort of students and very excited about what the future is going to bring. It鈥檚 a win-win for everybody,鈥� said WCC President Patty Pfeiffer.
The cohort will have access to services, academic advising, financial aid advising, and planning at both schools. Students will complete an associate degree in arts, science, or teacher preparation at WCC before transitioning to NC State.
“C3 is a great chance for students to join a community of other students on the same journey as them, from community college to NC State,” said WCC’s Director of College Transfer Advising Center Peyton Dawson.
“Yes, one of the biggest perks is guaranteed admission to NC State, but there is so much more to this program,” Dawson continued. “The C3 team truly strives to create an environment that supports students while they are at Wayne, during their transition to State, and even once they get to State. They support students in this program in many ways, all while challenging them academically.”
Mario Lopez of Goldsboro is one of ten students in the C3 program. 鈥満诹险芰� allowed me to continue my general education, and the C3 program gave me an opportunity to go to NC State as it鈥檚 always been my dream to go there,鈥� he said. He plans to major in electrical engineering.
鈥淚 was actually accepted to NC State when I was in high school, but due to complications with tuition, it fell through,鈥� Lopez continued. 鈥淲hen things were hopeless and lost, I looked at 黑料正能量 as a way to start my education again.鈥�
Hayden Edmundson of Goldsboro also gets to achieve his dream of attending NC State through the C3 program. He will major in sports management and minor in marketing. 鈥淚鈥檓 planning on working for a professional team one day or a professional organization,鈥� he said.
Edmundson wants others to have the same experience to move toward their goals. 鈥淚鈥檝e actually already talked to some people about joining next year. It鈥檚 a great opportunity.鈥�
When Lucia Mandujano of Goldsboro received a message about the C3 program from Dawson, she was interested in learning more. 鈥淚t seemed like such a great opportunity to not only expand my network but also be able to get into this really cool university in this really cool city. NC State has always been a favorite of mine.鈥�
Mandujano will study biomedical sciences with a concentration in human biology at NC State. She hopes to become a physical therapist after obtaining her degree and appreciates that the C3 program gives her more time to make decisions about her future. 鈥淚t鈥檚 okay to not have everything figured out,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut this is a great way to learn more about the opportunities that you have.鈥�
Daniel Peedin of Rosewood was drawn to the C3 program鈥檚 support from advisors. 鈥淭he biggest thing was the advising and being able to get someone to help you with the whole transfer process,鈥� he noted.
Peedin will major in computer science at NC State in hopes of becoming a software developer. To other students interested in the C3 program, he would suggest that they 鈥渄efinitely give it a shot.鈥�
Rebekah Spears of Goldsboro has been in the C3 Military Connect program for a year. She will major in nutrition sciences at NC State.
鈥淚 would like to be a registered dietician, and this program has really given me the opportunity to go ahead and start working toward my goals,鈥� Spears said. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten to talk to a lot of people about it, so it鈥檚 really helped me get closer to what I want to do. It鈥檚 just a great opportunity.鈥�
Gavin Schmidt is also in the C3 Military program. He currently lives in Pikeville and sees the benefits of attending his local community college. 鈥淧retty much every adult that I talked to who went to college said that going to community college was the smartest decision they ever made financially,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an easy transition from high school.鈥�
When Schmidt鈥檚 mother told him about the C3 program, he saw it as the perfect opportunity. He will major in business administration with a concentration in finance at NC State. Schmidt says the biggest draw for him to the C3 program is the community he has built with other C3 students and advisors, making him less nervous for the transition.
Originally from Florida, Kayla Lundergan started classes at WCC while still a student at Eastern Wayne High School. She is excited to study medical textiles at NC State and is looking forward to the many opportunities there.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping it will get me out more,鈥� said Lundergan. 鈥淚 know there are internships and everything, and I鈥檓 hoping to do something like that while I鈥檓 there. Hopefully I can find a career that way.鈥� Lundergan is nothing but complimentary about C3. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just so many benefits!鈥�
Cooper Emory of Kinston enjoys how local WCC is to him before he makes the transition to NC State. He plans to be a civil structural engineer and hopes NC State can lead him down that path. 鈥淚 chose C3 because it鈥檚 guaranteed admission and it鈥檒l help me with advising and just keeping things more simple as I try to transfer to State.鈥�
To others who are interested in C3, Emory says, 鈥淚 would definitely say look into it. I think it鈥檚 just a great opportunity and can really help you get to NC State a lot easier.鈥�
Isury Hernandez of Smithfield was initially interested in WCC鈥檚 dental hygiene program but instead pursued C3 to study business and marketing at NC State. Like her peers, Hernandez gets to achieve her dream of attending NC State. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the school I always wanted to go to,鈥� she said.
Although she鈥檚 still trying to figure out what her future holds, Hernandez believes the C3 program will help her prepare for whatever she does next. She would encourage other students to consider this path as well. 鈥淪o far to me, it seems like a good program, so I would tell them to go for it.鈥�
Savion Miller of Goldsboro is thankful for the C3 program鈥檚 financial benefits before he attends NC State to study sports management. 鈥淭o go to a four-year institution right out of high school would be a lot of money out of my pocket, in addition to me having a lot of student loan debt,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I felt like it was just the safest option to go ahead and get my associate degree here and then transfer.鈥�
Miller first heard of the C3 program through an email from his advisor, who knew that he was trying to transfer to NC State. 鈥淥nce you transfer, it鈥檒l be very smooth, from what I鈥檓 told. You鈥檒l be able to lock in and focus on what you really want to do with your life. It鈥檚 a really good path to start with.鈥�
For more information on the C3 program, contact Peyton Dawson at podawson@waynecc.edu or (919) 739-6755. Applications are currently being accepted for the Spring 2024 semester.
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 around 11,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 240 college credit programs. WCC鈥檚 mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.