Alamance Community College alumni, faculty, staff, and students were honored by the College on May 15 at the 2025 Celebrating Excellence Awards, hosted by the ACC Board of Trustees and the ACC Foundation Board of Directors.
The annual event, held at the Alamance Country Club, honors those who have achieved distinction through hard work and dedication. Among those who spoke at the event were Dr. Ken Ingle, ACC President; Jackie Cole, President of the ACC Foundation Board of Directors; Carolyn Rhode, Executive Director of the ACC Foundation; and Beth Brehler, Associate Vice President of Student Services.
2025 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
The College presented Chief Matt Lawrence of the Burlington Fire Department with its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. Chief Lawrence has been Fire Chief for the City of Burlington since 2024. His Associate in Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from ACC inspired all of his future accomplishments that include a B.S. degree in Fire Safety Engineering Technology and a Master’s in Fire/Rescue Executive Leadership. Following experience with fire departments in Burlington and Chapel Hill, Chief Lawrence returned to Burlington to serve as Deputy Fire Chief. Under his leadership, the Burlington Fire Department earned a Class 1 Department of Insurance Fire Protection Rating, the highest level possible. Moreover, Burlington FD developed partnerships with ACC including a successful Firefighter/EMT Apprenticeship NC agreement.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is for an alumnus/a who has achieved a significant level of success as a direct result from the education gained at ACC. During the proceedings Chief Lawrence was presented with the Presidential Medallion. The medallion is crafted each year by the Computer-Integrated Machining Department at ACC. Made of brass, the medallion features the college seal and a blue ribbon.
2025 INSPIRATION AWARD
The College presented its Inspiration Award to Ron King, Lead Programmer and Project Manager with Alamance County Information Technology. A 2004 Alamance Community College graduate with an Associate in Science degree in Computer Programming, King also served as a Student Ambassador for three years. His education includes several programming certifications, including COBOL and RPG Programming. Employed with Alamance County Government since 2005, King has used his skills to rise through the ranks of the IT department, becoming part of a team that maintained legacy code and created new solutions for county government processes. Beginning in 2019, he was appointed manager of the development team, and in August 2024 began managing the Technology/Systems/Projects side of the county’s IT department. King is also highly involved in his community, in such areas as scouting and the United Way.
Other nominees for the Distinguished Alumni Award were:
- Dr. Jonathan G. Frye, Research Microbiologist/Senior Scientist for U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Trevor Vaughn Koon, Independent Graphic Designer
- Kayla Kirkman Roper, Public Interest and Public Policy Lawyer
(Above) Jerry Hackney was honored as the 2025 Faculty Member of the Year.
Also recognized were ACC faculty and staff for excellence:
- Jerry Hackney, Department Head of Agricultural Sciences, as Excellence in Teaching Recipient
- Travis Handy, Instructor in the Fire Protection program, as Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year
- Amy Morrison-Depue, Instructor in the ABLE program, as Workforce and Economic Development Instructor of the Year
- Darsell Hadley, Administrative Assistant in Wellness and Student Support, as Staff Member of the Year
- Susan Turner, Advisor in Health Sciences, as Part-time Staff Member of the Year
Travis Handy Amy Morrison-Depue
Darsell Hadley
Susan Turner
Students recognized for their outstanding achievements were:
Academic Excellence Award Recipient
Mary Rose Villagante of Graham, NC is a Medical Laboratory Technology student. She is pursuing an Associate in Science degree to help provide a stronger foundation for her three young children’s future. Over a 26-year period, personal and unexpected circumstances prevented her from finishing a college degree until she found her most promising academic opportunity at ACC. Mary Rose says ACC’s Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program opened her eyes to the critical role laboratory professionals play in patient care. MLT has not only enhanced her technical abilities, but also strengthened her confidence and work ethic, teaching her to operate under pressure and manage time effectively.
Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award
Katherine Hackney of Bennett, NC is pursuing an associate’s degree in Agribusiness Technology. Serving as vice president of the Student Government Association, she has been provided the opportunity to exhibit her natural spirit of leadership, community engagement, and service in campus and community projects this year. Katherine demonstrated extraordinary compassion and commitment in assisting with relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. She assisted ACC’s FLORA Club and Animal Care Club in organizing the collection of donations and personally traveled to Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville to deliver them.
NC Dallas Herring Achievement Award
Joshua Wilson of Efland, NC is a Business Administration student. A military veteran, he served three combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq before he was honorably discharged due to medical disabilities. Joshua says he felt uncertain about his future because his past as an underachieving student due to undiagnosed ADHD still haunted him. With his wife’s support, Joshua came to appreciate that he simply had a different style of learning, prompting him to enroll at ACC. At the college he has gained a renewed sense of direction and accomplishment. As he pursues an associate’s degree in Business Administration, Joshua has volunteered with ACC’s Veteran’s Office, helping other veterans to acclimate to the campus environment. He hopes to become a peer support specialist with the Durham Veterans Administration.