Daniel
Keener |
|
Southwestern Community College
student Daniel Keener of Sylva
is the regional winner for
the Gov. Robert W. Scott Student
Leadership Award.
“Community colleges
could nominate a student
who is in good academic
standing and is active in
campus activities and possesses
traits which will help them
become leaders in the communities.
Daniel is such a model student
and campus leader we were
proud to nominate him,”
said Phil Weast, SCC dean
of student services. The
award is sponsored by the
N.C. Association of Community
College Presidents.
Keener graduated summa
cum laude this summer with
a degree in electronics
engineering technology and
will complete his degree
in computer engineering
technology this spring.
He has been recognized for
four consecutive semesters
on the President’s
List for attaining a 4.0
semester average. He is
president of both the National
Technical Honor Society
and SCC’s Electronics
Club, is a member of Phi
Theta Kappa International
Honor Society and serves
as a student ambassador.
He was invited to serve
on the SCC Club Council,
where he gained valuable
leadership training through
his participation in the
council’s leadership
development seminars, Weast
said.
“Last December Daniel
organized a major toy and
food drive for needy families
with the assistance of other
campus clubs,” said
Weast. “Through his
leadership, the drive was
the most successful in recent
memory and made the holidays
more special for a number
of local families.”
Keener said he “got
to meet so many people from
other community colleges
in the state during the
nomination process. For
my first interview I drove
to A-B Tech in Asheville
and the next interview I
drove to McDowell Community
College in Marion.”
At both sites Keener was
interviewed by a panel of
community college presidents.
When asked what his definition
of leadership is, Keener
replied, “It is someone
who is honorable; someone
others look up to; someone
who is dependable and you
can count on them.”
“Daniel embodies
his own definition,”
said Weast. “He is
the kind of person you would
want as your next door neighbor,
a member of your church
or community group and as
a friend.”
A former Rotary Club Student
of the Month, Keener said,
“I received so much
help from Ron Poor, my advisor,
and from other faculty and
staff at SCC that I just
felt like I needed to give
something back to the school
and that’s why I get
involved.”
“I’ve known
Daniel since the summer
of 2007 and I am impressed
with his focus, ability,
tenacity and work ethic,”
said Poor. “In addition
to being a full-time student,
Daniel works a 40-hour week
as assistant manager at
Zaxby’s.” |
