MEDIA CONTACT:
Kenyon “KJ” Askew, Jr.
Director, Marketing & Strategic Engagement
klaskew736@nashcc.edu
252-451-8235

Nash Community College Showcases Robotics at Community College Day

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina (May 11, 2026) – Nash Community College students, faculty and leadership recently traveled to the North Carolina General Assembly for Community College Day, joining community colleges from across the state to highlight the impact of workforce education and technical training on North Carolina’s economy and communities.

Held on Halifax Mall in Raleigh, the event brought together community college students, staff and advocates to engage with legislators and the public about the importance of community colleges in preparing a skilled workforce and expanding educational opportunity.

Representing NCC at the event were students and faculty from the college’s Robotics program, part of the Applied Engineering Technologies department, along with college leadership and members of the Nash Community College Board of Trustees.

The group joined Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, president of NCC, in advocating for the role community colleges play in workforce and economic development throughout the region and state.

“Our community colleges are preparing the next generation of skilled professionals who will power industries, strengthen communities and drive economic growth across North Carolina,” said Hunnicutt. “Events like Community College Day provide an opportunity to showcase the innovation, hands-on learning and workforce training taking place at NCC and throughout the North Carolina Community College System.”

During the visit, Hunnicutt and members of the Nash Community College Board of Trustees (Amy Pearson, Paul Jaber and Russell Proctor) met with members of the Nash County legislative delegation, including Sen. Lisa Barnes and Reps. Allen Chesser and Dante Pittman, to discuss key priorities impacting both the college and the North Carolina Community College System. Conversations included support for enrollment growth funding, advancement of the proposed Propel NC funding model, sustained investment in faculty and staff compensation, and the critical need for a new Health Sciences building to support program expansion and workforce demand.

During the event, NCC students also showcased the college’s award-winning NCC C.A.R.E.S. Kiosk Project, which recently earned national recognition through SkillsUSA’s Model of Excellence in Technical Skills competition.

The collaborative, student-led project brought together multiple Applied Engineering Technologies programs, with welding students fabricating the kiosk stand, machining students developing components and holders, and electrical systems students programming, wiring and assembling the final project.

NCC’s SkillsUSA chapter was recently named one of only eight schools in the nation to receive the Model of Excellence recognition in the technical skills category and the only college in North Carolina selected for the honor in 2026.

"Advocating at the General Assembly allows us to share the real impact Nash Community College has on students and the workforce,” said Russell Proctor, III, chairman of the NCC Board of Trustees. “Continued support for community colleges is essential to sustaining enrollment growth, strengthening programs and meeting the workforce needs of North Carolina.”

The event also highlighted NCC’s strong workforce and technical education programs, including robotics, advanced manufacturing, machining, welding and electrical systems technology. These programs continue to align closely with regional industry demand and support high-growth career fields throughout eastern North Carolina.

“Community College Day was an incredible opportunity for our students to showcase the talent, innovation and technical skills being developed at NCC,” said Wanda Tyson, department chair of applied engineering technologies and SkillsUSA chapter advisor at NCC. “Presenting the NCC C.A.R.E.S. Kiosk Project at the General Assembly allowed our students to demonstrate firsthand the power of collaboration, technical education and hands-on learning.”

NCC continues to serve as a major contributor to workforce development in eastern North Carolina through industry-aligned training, employer partnerships and student-centered learning opportunities designed to meet evolving workforce needs.

For more information about Applied Engineering Technologies and workforce programs at Nash Community College, visit www.nashcc.edu.

###

About Nash Community College 
Nash Community College’s mission is to provide an affordable educational environment which prepares students for university transfer and rewarding careers. Through quality instruction and services, technology, work force development, and community partnerships, Nash Community College provides lifelong learning opportunities to individuals, communities, and organizations. Nash Community College is a public community college in Nash County, North Carolina. It is part of the North Carolina Community College System.