College Awards and Honors
Academic Excellence Award
The North Carolina Community College System invites each of the state’s 58 community colleges to annually select a student to receive the “Academic Excellence Award.” The award recognizes a student’s academic achievement at the student’s community college as well as the potential for future success. To be nominated, a student must be currently enrolled at the institution, must have completed at least 12 semester hours in a designated associate degree program or a one-year diploma program, and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Institutions may include additional criteria as desired. At RCC, students are nominated by the faculty and must meet these minimum qualifications before they are reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from the various academic divisions. One Academic Excellence Award recipient is selected and is recognized at a statewide event or a local campus event. Also, at RCC, the student selected for the award, as well as all students who were nominated, are recognized at the College’s annual Student Awards Ceremony.
Excellence in Teaching Award
The RCC annual Excellence in Teaching Award is designed to recognize a full-time and a part-time faculty member for excellence in teaching. The individuals are nominated by faculty, staff or students and screened by the Excellence in Teaching Committee. The full-time faculty member is recognized at the May graduation with a certificate. The part-time faculty member receives a certificate at graduation. RCC’s full-time winner may also be nominated for the State Board of North Carolina Community College System/RJ Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award. All college nominees will receive a pin and certificate acknowledging their achievement.
Meritorious Service Award
The Meritorious Service Award may be awarded at the annual Student Awards Ceremony to individuals and/or groups who have made a significant contribution to the progress of the College and/or well-being of the College community. This contribution is typically above and beyond the normal expectations of performance as a member of an organization, as an office holder, as a student, etc. A candidate may be nominated by faculty, staff, student, or a campus organization.
Outstanding Student Award
Each year the RCC faculty presents the Outstanding Student Award to a current academic year graduate each May. The student is selected based on academic excellence, contribution to the College community, and potential for continued study or occupational advancement. Nominees must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. The recipient is selected by a committee of faculty representing each academic division and is recognized at commencement.