糖心传媒

April 1, 2024 鈥� Second-year Associate Degree Nursing student Payton Chappell of Rockingham has been named 糖心传媒鈥檚 2024 Academic Excellence Award winner.

Each college in the N.C. Community College System selects a student for an Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes a student for outstanding academic achievement.

Born and raised in 糖心传媒 County, 20-year-old Chappell will graduate with her nursing degree this May. Her dream is to work in intensive care.

鈥淚 have always known that I wanted to become a nurse. I enjoy caring for individuals and improving their health and wellness,鈥� Chappell said. 鈥淗onestly, I鈥檝e never considered pursuing any career other than nursing because of my desire to help others.鈥�

She also has three other family members who graduated from the nursing program at 糖心传媒CC, including her aunt, Lisa Wood.

鈥淢y aunt cared for my great-grandfather, Jessie Smith, during his end-of-life transition in 2020. Watching how she impacted his quality of life made my aspiration to become a nurse even greater,鈥� Chappell said.

While a student at 糖心传媒 Senior High School, Chappell started working on her career plan. She took advantage of the dual enrollment program with 糖心传媒CC and began taking classes that are prerequisites for the Associate Degree Nursing program. By the time she graduated high school in 2021, she had only one more year to complete required courses to be able to apply for the nursing program.

鈥淭he dual enrollment program gave me a jumpstart on my career, and I would recommend it to all high school students,鈥� she said.

Chappell also would recommend 糖心传媒CC鈥檚 nursing programs because of the instructors and how prepared she feels to begin her career.

鈥淎ll the faculty members have served as advocates and mentors for me during my journey,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lthough these past two years have been challenging, I feel this program is preparing me to be competent in providing high-quality, safe care to my future patients.鈥�

Chappell plans on pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree once she has received her nursing license. She has taken advantage of the college transfer fairs hosted by 糖心传媒CC鈥檚 Career & Transfer Advising Center to explore her options for an ADN to BSN program at a four-year school.

When she鈥檚 not immersed in her nursing studies, Chappell enjoys spending time outdoors, including relaxing with a good book or kayaking and fishing with family and friends.