Two Durham Tech students recognized at statewide conference

Noelle Lyon and Michael Maldonado-Melgar received a combined three awards at the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (N4CSGA) Spring Conference Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 7.

Michael Maldonado-Melgar received the Outstanding Community Service Award from N4CSGA President, Roderick Gooden. This award is given to an individual who has performed exemplary community service, made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life in their community, and demonstrated an understanding of his or her responsibility to one’s community.

Maldonado-Melgar is in Middle College High School at Durham Tech and serves as the 2017-18 Durham Tech SGA Social Committee Chair. He will graduate in May 2018 and plans to attend Appalachian State University in the fall.

Lyon, 2017-18 Durham Tech Student Government Association President, received the Daryl Mitchell Award of Outstanding Students – Central Division and the Dr. Michael Taylor Servant Leadership Award.

The Daryl Mitchell Award is given to a student who demonstrates the leadership qualities upon which the organization is founded. The students honored with this award demonstrate the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. One student from each division (Western, Central, and Eastern) is selected. Daryl Mitchell was a graduate of Durham Tech and served as Durham Tech Student Senate President from 1998-2000.

Lyon also received the Dr. Michael Taylor Servant Leadership Award, which is given to a student whose work has enhanced the growth of others in their organization, increased teamwork and personal involvement, while helping the organization reach its potential. This student exemplifies a desire to lead by serving others in their community, on their campus, or in the community college system.

Lyon is also the 2017-18 N4CSGA Parliamentarian and will graduate from Durham Tech in December 2018.

As a part of the Spring Conference, N4CSGA sponsored a community service project to benefit Durham’s Urban Ministries. Students and advisors from across the state were asked to collect assorted personal hygiene items, casual clothes for men, women, and children as well as non-perishable food items which Urban Ministries could use for their clients.