Southwestern Community College student Christian Conway of Whittier was a keynote speaker at the N.C. Community College System Academic Excellence Awards in Raleigh and talked about how college has “deepened his life, enriched his experience and clarified his vision.”

Christian Conway Shane Sullivan

More than 600 people attended the event that showcases the academic achievements of community college students.

Along with Conway, Shane Sullivan of Maggie Valley represented SCC at the awards ceremony.

"Christian and Shane are two of our best and brightest and students and we are proud how well they represented SCC on a state-wide level at the Academic Excellence Awards,” said Thom Brooks, SCC dean of career technologies, who attended the ceremony.

A 30-year-old college transfer student, Conway said five years ago he would have laughed at the prospect of being such an award recipient.

"I’ve never been one to overachieve,” he said at the ceremony. “The extent of my educational experience was a GED. My concentration was to make just enough money to pay the rent and spend every spare moment climbing, mountain biking or skiing.”

Then along came a brown-eyed girl who changed his life and inspired him towards success, he told the crowd. Now married to that brown-eyed girl, Conway splits his time playing Mr. Mom to his 3-year-old son and doing his best as a full-time college transfer student and part-time math and chemistry tutor at Southwestern.

Southwestern has held him to greatness, said Conway, who has a 4.0 grade point average.

"What Southwestern has given me goes much further than the classroom. I am an active citizen in my community because the community college centered itself on me as a citizen and not just a student. Southwestern exposed me to, and gave me experiences in, teaching and learning values that support the fundamental characteristics of citizenship.”

Sullivan, who has a 3.67 GPA, transferred from a four-year university to the automotive technology program at SCC, where he says his instructor, Pete Wolosin, “changed my entire outlook on education. He has taught me about strong work ethic, professional opportunities and how to present myself in the professional world and work force. Finally, under Pete, who works hard dedicating individual attention to all his students, I come to class every day excited to be there.”

SCC provided scholarships for Conway and Sullivan to attend the ceremonies held at Hilton North Raleigh.

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