With dreams of careers in fields from engineering to marine biology to education, a group of students got one step closer to achieving those dreams at the Foundation of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s annual Dream Award ceremony at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The Dream Award guarantees tuition for students to attend CCC&TI upon graduation from high school. This year, the Foundation presented 45 awards to students from Caldwell and Watauga counties. Students are nominated by their sixth-grade teachers and recipients are chosen and honored early in their seventh-grade year.
CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch opened the ceremony by welcoming the students, their families and guests. “Welcome to the Foundation’s 36th Annual Dream Awards Ceremony. I would like to be one of the first to congratulate these students on being selected as Dream Award Recipients,” said Poarch. “Congratulations to the class of 2031! Students, that means you could graduate from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute on this very stage in just a few short years.”
Poarch also welcomed honored guests including CCC&TI’s Trustees, local government officials, public school officials, school board members from both Caldwell and Watauga Counties, as well as Foundation Board members and donors. “I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to many of you in this room and so many others in our community who generously support CCC&TI and the Foundation. Thanks to you and your commitment, college is no longer a question mark for these students.”
Peg Broyhill, Foundation of CCC&TI Board Chair, said the event is one of her favorite moments of the year, a night filled with hope, possibility and the incredible power of dreams. “This Dream Award is not just a scholarship, it’s a promise… a promise that when you graduate from high school… we will walk beside you, cheering you on as you reach higher, go further and discover who you are meant to be. As you stand on the edge of your own future, remember this: dreams only work if you do. So, dream boldly. Work hard. Stay kind. Stay curious and always believe that you can achieve what your heart dares to imagine. Welcome to the Dream family and congratulations!”
Dr. Dena Holman, Vice President of Student Services at CCC&TI, shared the history of the Dream Program, which began at CCC&TI in 1989 by Dr. Tony Deal. Holman also shared the
criteria for the award, which includes academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to community service, along with a nomination by one of their teachers.
Holman then introduced the special guest speakers for the ceremony, 2015 Blowing Rock School Dream recipient Hailey Church and 1999 Gamewell Middle School Dream recipient Lindsay Runion.
After graduating from high school in 2021, Church used her Dream Award to start her postsecondary education at CCC&TI. “Everything, from the classes to the professors changed the way I looked at college. I had the best time of my life. I found my passion for biology, which I still have today, but most importantly, I found a support system that became like a second family for me,” she said. Church shared that the skills she learned at CCC&TI provided a strong foundation for continuing her studies at Appalachian State University where she participated in undergraduate research, wrote and received grants and was able to present her research at the NC Space Symposium. Church graduated with her bachelor’s degree earlier this year. She is now working toward a graduate degree while also working in a neurobiology lab participating in active research. “I shared all that with you so that I could also tell you that without this scholarship, I would not be in the same place I am today. This scholarship started my journey and gave me the skills to get where I am today and I am so thankful.”
Lindsay Runion received the Dream Award in 1999 while at Gamewell Middle School. “When I was sitting in your seat in 1999, I received the same scholarship… I remember being really excited about it, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it,” she said. “But I did know that my future had college in it, because of this scholarship.” Runion shared that she had challenges and struggles as a student, and there were times when she doubted herself and wasn’t sure if she would reach her goal. Runion, who is now in the final year of earning her doctoral degree, encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Dream Scholarship and to always keep trying, keep learning and believe in themselves and their abilities. “From one dreamer to another, go make those dreams a reality. Congratulations!”
Caldwell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps and Watauga County Schools Superintendent Dr. Leslie Alexander both shared their congratulations with this year’s scholarship recipients on behalf of their respective boards and the schools represented at the ceremony. Both encouraged students to make the most of the opportunities provided by the scholarship and to continue working hard toward their goals. “Remember that the Dream Award is not just a gift, it’s a challenge; a challenge to continue to push yourself, to strive for excellence and never settle for anything less than your very best,” Alexander said. “Make the most of the opportunities you’ve been given and use this time to create an amazing future for yourself and all those around you.”
Deborah Murray, Vice Chair of the Foundation, closed the program, noting the significance of the scholarship. “What an incredible award,” she told students. “You didn’t ask for it. You didn’t apply for it. But people were watching when you didn’t even know it. Because of your character, your integrity and your work ethic, these people saw something and they know that you will be successful.”
A reception for students, families, friends and school officials was held after the ceremony.
Following are this year’s Dream Award Recipients and their home schools:
2025 CCC&TI Dream Award Recipients
Mayra Arias Galan, Hardin Park School
Kaelee Bohler, Kings Creek School
Clay Bowman, Collettsville School
Levi Cardwell, Hudson Middle School
Hudson Carter, Bethel School
Josie Cook, Cove Creek School
Theodore Cornett, Parkway School
Joshua Ervin, Hudson Middle School
Jayden Gibson, Happy Valley School
Dawson Gregg, Bethel School
*Zane Grow, Happy Valley School (Dwight and Rose Church Dream Award Recipient)
Brooklyn Haas, Granite Falls Middle School
MacKenzie Hedrick, Green Valley School
Jayden Hernandez, Hudson Middle School
Yacer Hernandez Castro, Hardin Park School
Kaitlin Isaacs, Blowing Rock School
Kinsley Isaacs, Mabel School
Kayden Johnson, William Lenoir Middle School
Nevaeh Keener, Gamewell Middle School
Liam Lackey, Kings Creek School
Vanessa Lemus Galicia, Granite Falls Middle School
Dayton Livingston, Kings Creek School
Harmony Logan, William Lenoir Middle School
Hazel Luttrell, Mabel School
Kylie Luxton, Green Valley School
Paisley Maney, Gamewell Middle School
Ali Miller, Hudson Middle School
*Charlie Moses, Granite Falls Middle School (Debbie Yount Dream Award Recipient)
Yahir Narvaez, Hardin Park School
Kimberly Neumann, Gamewell Middle School
Carson Poarch, Happy Valley School
Kahlyn Potter, Kings Creek School
Noah Price, Collettsville School
Brisa Quiroz, Valle Crucis School
Aliyus Ramseur, Blowing Rock School
Griffin Reece, Cove Creek School
Journee Rupard, Collettsville School
Waymon Sealey-Brown, Valle Crucis School
Emma Shore, Parkway School
Talandis Smith, Granite Falls Middle School
Bailee Studstrup, Bethel School
Riley Sweeney, Mabel School
*Katelynn Talladira, William Lenoir Middle School (Dr. Tony Deal Dream Award Recipient)
*Zachary Trivette, Cove Creek School (Optimist Club of Boone Award Recipient)
Cattleya Wright, William Lenoir Middle School
