VGCC nominates student for statewide leadership award

Vance-Granville Community College recently nominated David A. Henry of Macon, a student in the College Transfer program, for the North Carolina Community College System ’s Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award. The award was established in 2004 in honor of Scott, who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1969-1973, and as President of the N.C. Community College System from 1983-1995. Each year, the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents bestows the honor on one community college student in recognition of his or her academic and leadership achievements.

 

Henry (pictured above) has been an active student leader at VGCC, serving as president of the Male Mentoring program, president of the Phi Beta Lambda student organization, vice president of the Student Government Association , and as a student ambassador . He is the recipient of an endowed academic scholarship from VGCC for the 2013-14 year. As a member of Phi Beta Lambda, Henry has won awards at state-level competitions in categories including “Emerging Business Issues” and “Impromptu Speaking.” His high score at the state level allowed him to compete at the organization’s national conference in 2012.

 

Off-campus, Henry is also involved in the Legacy Program, which he describes as being similar to male mentoring. The program “helps to encourage the youth of this generation to become better role models for future generations,” Henry said.

 

Although he is a graduate of Northern Vance High School, Henry has an international background, having grown up in England, Botswana and Jamaica.

 

“Over the last two years at VGCC, my leadership experience has helped me to become more mature,” Henry said. “I have found greater direction in my life because I discovered my strengths. I have also discovered the areas of my life that need improvement and I have been motivated to make those changes. Being a student leader has enabled me to get hands-on experience working with and leading people even when the circumstances are turbulent. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with other student leaders, leaders in education, leaders in the corporate world and leaders in the military.”

 

Henry feels that his most significant contributions as a leader have come from his work as a student ambassador, not only by representing VGCC but also by encouraging his fellow ambassadors to develop their own leadership potential. He added that as a “bridge between VGCC students and administration,” he takes his responsibilities “very seriously” and is “truly grateful for the opportunities that these leadership posts have afforded me.”

 

After he graduates from VGCC, Henry would like to study forensic criminology and is considering a military career.