Every year, the NC Community College System honors one current or former NCCCS student with the Dallas Herring Achievement Award. Named after the late Dr. Dallas Herring, the award celebrates someone who best embodies Dr. Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” Vance-Granville Community College proudly presents Mr. Kyle Harris, a current Automotive Systems Technology student, as our 2024 nominee!
Meet Kyle Harris
Kyle served in the military when our country was attacked in September 2001 and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. After being honorably discharged from the military, Kyle faced significant challenges, including PTSD and addiction. He experienced homelessness, medical and mental health challenges, and incarceration. In the midst of these obstacles, he sought help from the Veterans Life Center in Butner, where he received the health support he needed as well as free housing. This was where Kyle met outreach staff from Vance-Granville, who visited the center to offer educational opportunities to veterans. They played a crucial role in helping Kyle apply and enroll in Vance-Granville Community College’s Automotive Systems Technology program.
“Enrolling in the Automotive [Systems] Technology associates’ program is where my redemption story really began,” noted Kyle. “I hope that my story reaches as many people as possible struggling in addiction, to not only choose sobriety but to enroll in a community college. America needs skilled workers more than ever. Achieving a higher education is a gateway to being a productive member of society no matter how far you may have fallen. It may not be easy to turn everything around, but if like me you choose to embrace the challenge, going to college will change your life in ways that would surprise even the most optimistic.”
Kyle’s dedication to his studies is evident in his impressive 3.55 GPA. His determination is further demonstrated by his proactive engagement with Southeastern Specialty Vehicles, a company that visited his class to discuss job opportunities. Kyle’s initiative paid off when this company hired him, equipping him with a livable wage so he could purchase a car and a house and significantly improve his quality of life. He loves his job and sees himself as a career employee now.
Paying it Forward
Kyle credits Vance-Granville Community College for providing the training and opportunities instrumental in his journey to recovery and success. He now tries to pay it forward by talking to other veterans about Vance-Granville Community College and helping them enroll. He also helped two of his classmates in Automotive Systems Technology gain employment at Southeastern Specialty Vehicles. Kyle Harris is an exemplary student, a role model for his peers, and a deserving candidate for this nomination. Kyle embodies the spirit of resilience and the positive impact of education through the North Carolina Community College System.
