ASHEBORO — Three Randolph Community College students won awards at the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association Spring Conference held March 5 through March 7 in Durham. Six awards are given to individual students at the conference; Randolph Community College was eligible to enter in four award categories and won three.

Eighteen Student Government Association members from RCC attended the conference, the largest delegation in the state, said Kim Cassell, director of recruiting and student activities at RCC. The statewide conference is made up of three divisions: Eastern, Western and Central. Thirty two community colleges sent delegates.

Natalie Caviness of Asheboro, an RCC Associate in Arts (college transfer) student and a senior at Randolph Early College High School, won the statewide Dr. Michael Taylor Award. This award is given to a student whose work has enhanced the growth of others in the 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.

Caviness is the first Early College High School student to win an N4CSGA award. In addition to serving as RCC’s SGA treasurer, she is treasurer of the RECHS student council, chief editor of the school’s yearbook staff, and was committee chair for the RCC fall event for students. She is a graduate of RCC’s Student Leadership Academy. She will graduate from RECHS and RCC in the spring and has already been accepted to eight universities.

Sarah Elizabeth Blackwell of Asheboro, RCC’s SGA president, was awarded the Daryl Mitchell Award for Outstanding Students for the Central Division. This award is given to a student who demonstrates the leadership qualities upon which the organization is founded. The student honored with this award demonstrates the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. One student from each division is selected.

Blackwell is an Associate in Arts (College Transfer) student with plans to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to finish her undergraduate degree. Blackwell wants to go to the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law and eventually become a judge. She is also a Randolph Community College Foundation Ambassador, serves as the College Transfer Advisory Committee chair, is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and is the North Carolina chairman of the Teenage Republicans. She is also a graduate of RCC’s Student Leadership Academy.

Courtney Cooper of Asheboro, vice president of RCC’s SGA, was given the Outstanding Community Service Award by the N4CSGA, also a statewide award. 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. Cooper, a first-year Business Administration student at RCC, is active with the Boys and Girls Club and volunteers as a coach for a step team and a basketball team through the Asheboro Housing Authority.

Cassell said to be eligible for the awards, each student had to prepare an application packet that included a lengthy application form, an essay, and a letter of recommendation. Once they arrived at the conference, the competitors were interviewed by a panel of judges.

“I had one judge tell me that she had never seen such extensive resumes in this competition,” said Cassell. “She asked me, ‘Where do you find these students?’ And I agree, they are pretty remarkable.” The awards were handed out at a formal banquet on Saturday evening attended by nine community college presidents and several leaders from the North Carolina Community College System office.