One of the main reasons Cristian Diaz-Knight chose Southwestern Community College was because it’s not far from where he grew up in Balsam.
Thanks to the support and education he received close to home, he has earned a prestigious and highly sought-after scholarship to N.C. State and now has dreams of going a long way from Jackson County.
Diaz-Knight recently received word he’s one of just 60 Goodnight Transfer Scholars – meaning he’s essentially earned a full-ride scholarship to N.C. State, where he plans to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering while participating in ROTC.
“My goal is to be a pilot in the Air Force,” said Diaz-Knight, who earned his Associate in Science from SCC earlier this month. “Ideally, I want to be a fighter pilot, and then maybe go into test pilot school, and then after that – I mean, it’s ambitious and I don’t know, maybe I’ll get there maybe I won’t – but I even have the goal of becoming an astronaut if I have an opportunity through there.”
When he graduated from Smoky Mountain High School in 2024, Diaz-Knight knew he needed an extra push to get accepted into his preferred program at N.C. State.
He got the preparation he was looking for at Southwestern.
“I found the instructors are particularly helpful and friendly and willing to help you get across the finish line,” Diaz-Knight said. “I also had great advisors. Overall, I’ve also found a good academic selection. So I found that I can really push myself academically here while having the support I need.”
Vicki Todd, Southwestern’s University Transfer Advising Center Coordinator, said there’s no limit on what Diaz-Knight can accomplish when he sets his mind to it.
“He is such a good student, and we’re extremely proud of him,” said Todd, who is also the Mathematics Department Chair at SCC. “He’s a prime example of what you can accomplish by starting out at a community college and working hard close to home. No matter what path he chooses, he’s going to be successful.”
For more information about Southwestern, check out SouthwesternCC.edu, call 828.339.4394 or drop by your nearest SCC location.
