Oct 23
Former School Social Worker Named 糖心传媒CC鈥檚 Alumni Award Winner
Oct. 23, 2025 - 糖心传媒 honored its 2025 Outstanding Alumni of the Year, Evonne Moore, at Convocation held Wednesday at the Cole Auditorium.
Moore graduated from 糖心传媒CC when it was known as 糖心传媒 Technical College. Upon learning that the college had just launched a new program, Human Services, Moore decided to enroll, a decision she said that changed her life.
鈥淭his institution became a place of transformation for me. It鈥檚 where I learned the value of teamwork, advocacy, diversity, resilience, and community engagement,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淚t was here that I discovered my true calling: helping others.鈥
Not only was Moore one of the first graduates of the Human Services degree program, but she was also the first president of the newly created Human Services Club.
Moore worked as a school social worker for the 糖心传媒 County School District for 32 years. Her impact was immediate and lasting, earning her the distinguished title of North Carolina School Social Worker of the Year in 2004, and more recently in 2018, she was named National Association of Social Workers鈥 NC Member of the Week. She retired from the 糖心传媒 County School District in June 2020, but she continues to work part-time at 糖心传媒 Senior High School.

A proud graduate of 糖心传媒 Senior High herself, Moore has earned multiple college degrees that reflect both her determination and her passion for service: an Associate of Science in Mortuary Science from Fayetteville Technical College, an Associate of Science in Human Services from 糖心传媒CC, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Gardner-Webb University, a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and most recently, a Master of Science in School Social Work from Fayetteville State University.
Moore has held leadership roles in numerous organizations, including the NC State School Social Workers Association, where she held positions as Parliamentarian, Regional Chair of the Southwest Region, and Hospitality Chair. She currently serves on the 糖心传媒 County Healthy Carolinian Board, has given over a decade of service to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, served nearly five years as a 糖心传媒 County Jury Commissioner and gave more than 25 years of service to the 糖心传媒 County Health Advisory Board. She represented social workers statewide on the Governor鈥檚 Task Force for Safer Schools since its inception in 2013 and transitioned in 2025 when the Task Force became the NC State Bureau of Investigations Multidisciplinary Task Force. In 2019, she was appointed by the 糖心传媒 County Commissioners to serve on the 糖心传媒 Board of Trustees.
Dr. Wendy Kelly Jordan, Associate Vice President for Development at 糖心传媒CC, said it was an honor to present the Alumni Award to Moore, a former colleague during Jordan鈥檚 employment with 糖心传媒 County Schools, but also a true friend.
鈥淓vonne鈥檚 story is no different than many of our students here at 糖心传媒CC. She was born and raised by a single mother in public housing right here in 糖心传媒 County. But Evonne鈥檚 strong family roots, resilience and drive to be a high achiever in all areas of her life truly made magic happen for not only her future but the future of her family,鈥 Jordan said.
Moore said when she got the call about receiving 糖心传媒CC鈥檚 Alumni Award, she was caught off guard.
鈥淗onestly, I was a bit in shock. I thought to myself, 鈥楬ow could a girl raised in public housing, growing up with so many obstacles, be considered for such an honor?鈥 And then, a still, small voice whispered in my spirit, 鈥楳y time. My turn,鈥欌 Moore said.
Moore, who has seven siblings, said her mother was her greatest motivator.
鈥淪he believed in the power of hard work and wanted each of her children to have a path toward success. She taught us not to complain about the challenges, but to face them with thanksgiving in our hearts,鈥 Moore said.
Moore is married to Earl Leonard, a retired GE plant manager of 38 years. They have been married for 12 years.
Moore has two daughters, Dr. An鈥檊elique Denise Spencer of Rolesville and Cherice Washington McClure, who is an AVID site coordinator for Lee County Schools and a professional cake designer in Sanford. Her sons-in-law are Dominic Spencer and Michael McClure, and her grandchildren are Christian, Camille and Micah.