February 19, 2024

Forsyth Tech is proud to announce our Academic Excellence Award Winner, Dr. Dallas Herring Achievement Award nominee and Gov. Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award nominee. 

Since 2004, the Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award has honored North Carolina’s community college students for outstanding leadership. The Forsyth Tech Gov. Scott nominee for 2023-24 is Elizabeth “Lizzie” Howell. Lizzie is an Early College of Forsyth student, which means that, in addition to earning her high school diploma, she will graduate with an associate degree. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Lizzie also works, volunteers with the Forsyth Humane Society, the SECU House, as a math tutor and with the school’s drama club. She has been a Girl Scout since the age of five and volunteers with Operation Christmas Child and the Ronald McDonald House.  She is an exemplary nominee for the Gov. Scott Award, as his legacy continues to inspire excellence in student leadership and service.

The Dr. Dallas Herring Achievement Award, initiated in 2010, recognizes the significant impact Dr. Herring had on our community colleges. It rewards the achievements of students and alumni across all programs, celebrating their commitment and academic success. Our Dallas Herring Award nominee for 2023-24 is Tyler Sapp. Tyler returned to school after nearly a decade away and is pursuing his Associate in Engineering. He works full-time and attends school full-time, motivated to make a better life for his family. He has made the President’s List three times and was recognized as being in the top 10% of a cohort in NASA’s NCAS program, successfully creating a simulation to the moon, which resulted in Tyler being invited to a NASA center. He is the embodiment of Dr. Herring’s imperative of meeting students where they are and taking them as far as they can go.   

The Academic Excellence Awards, established in 1998, acknowledge the highest levels of scholarly achievement within the North Carolina Community College System, promoting academic excellence across the student body. Our Academic Excellence Award winner for 2023-24 is Kayla Brown. Kayla balances being a single mom, a full-time employee and a full-time student with ADHD, and still manages to maintain a 4.0 GPA. She is motivated to become a behavioral health therapist to help people like her and others. Upon graduation from Forsyth Tech, she plans to continue her education at a four-year university, and then earn a graduate degree, as well.

“We could not be more proud of these remarkable students. Tyler, Kayla and Lizzie are wonderful representations of what it means to be a Forsyth Tech Trailblazer, and we are happy to be their place of promise,” said Dr. Janet N. Spriggs, President of Forsyth Tech.

Each community college in North Carolina selects an Academic Excellence Award winner, and one nominee for the Gov. Scott and Dallas Herring Awards. The North Carolina Community College System will determine the statewide Gov. Scott and Dallas Herring Award winners later this spring.