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Stanly Community College presents awards every year to honor the outstanding faculty, adjunct faculty and staff members. Their peers choose the award recipients. Decisive factors for eligibility include dedication and skill for the profession, outstanding leadership qualities and excellent performance and commitment to the community college mission.

English instructor Melody Braswell received the Faculty of the Year Award.

Braswell has been employed with the college since 2008. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications/Public Relations from Wingate University, and a Master of Arts Degree in English from East Carolina University.

Braswell began teaching as an adjunct in 2009 and in 2017 began teaching full-time. She has served as SCC’s Coordinator of Service Learning and Cooperative Education, Coordinator of Student Life and Leadership, Financial Aid Liaison, Director of Grants Services and Faculty for the English Department.

During her tenure, she has served as chairwoman for the Faculty Senate from 2019-2020 and chairwoman for the Staff Council from 2010-2011. Additionally, she was selected as the “President’s Choice” award recipient in 2009.

Braswell values building connections with her students and empowering their voices through writing.

English instructor Martha Harris received the Faculty Adjunct of the Year Award. Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has taught middle school and high school English classes in Arkansas and North Carolina. She completed a Master of Fine Arts Degree with study concentrations in both genres of creative nonfiction and poetry from Queens University of Charlotte.

She has been teaching at Stanly Community College for 10 years — on-campus classes and classes at Albemarle Correctional Institute. Harris enjoys helping students improve their writing skills and reach their educational goals.

Security officer Michael Hinson received the Staff of the Year Award.

Hinson graduated from North Stanly High School in 2004. In 2008, he received his Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) from Stanly Community College. Since graduating from BLET, he has served in the law enforcement field for 12 years.

Hinson joined the SCC family in 2019 and served as part-time security officer, evening security officer and interim director of security. He is a member of the College’s Instructional Core Committee and the Institutional Effectiveness Council.

Hinson is currently working to complete his Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice via online classes through Stanly Community College and has maintained a 4.0 GPA.