Full parking lots and buzzing campuses, it’s that time of year. Students across North Carolina’s colleges and universities are heading back to school.

As North Carolina community colleges are busy welcoming students back to their campuses, we visited two colleges to see what’s unfolding this fall semester. We met students from all walks of life, all with different plans, and all getting their start at one of the state’s 58 community colleges.

McDowell Technical Community College

North Carolina community colleges are lauded as being workforce engines. That recognition is due, in part, to the real world experiences students receive.

Moments before my arrival at McDowell Technical Community College (MTCC), emergency crews received word that a life flight helicopter needed to land at the college due to an accident miles away with a patient who would likely be airlifted. Paramedic students and EMS agency staff lined a cleared area on campus awaiting instruction. 

This was a chance to see when real life meets hands-on learning. 

Before the all clear, students discussed what it was like working emergency services and why they had decided to pursue this career.  

For Autumn Sloan, being a paramedic is personal. Her dad was sick a lot when she was younger, and Sloan would frequently come face-to-face with emergency responders. 

“It made a big impact,” Sloan said. 

As she grew older, Sloan knew being the first person to arrive during someone’s worst day was a job she could handle and do well.

Sisters Sierra and Cheyenne Kelley are following in their father’s footsteps. The Kelleys’ father worked for the fire department and was integral to the emergency response team. During high school, the sisters graduated as junior firefighters and completed the EMT Basic program for certification. 

Several MTCC paramedic students recently competed during the SkillsUSA North Carolina championship – a competition that showcases the skills of career and technical education students. Sloan took home second place and the Kelley sisters were awarded fifth place in the EMT division. 

Sloan and the Kelley sisters will graduate Dec. 13. All three currently work for McDowell County EMS. 

The Universal Advanced Manufacturing Center adjacent to MTCC’s campus was established in 2014. The center expands classroom and lab spaces for programs, including welding, machining, HVAC, and building construction technology.  

Emily Wilson is in her last year at McDowell Early College and hopes to one day work alongside family members as a contractor. She’s currently completing an electric code course at the college.

Alex Garcia is enrolled in the building construction technology program. Like Sloan, his career decision was personal. 

“I want to be a contractor and build a home for my family,” Garcia said. “But then I want to give back and build homeless shelters.” 

Garcia will complete his program over the next two years. 

It wasn’t just the first week of classes for students, it was also the president’s first week of fall semester at MTCC.

Dr. J.W. Kelley was named the seventh president of McDowell Technical Community College in June 2024. Kelley previously served as the associate vice president for student services at the North Carolina Community College System Office (NCCCS). Prior to NCCCS, Kelley held leadership positions at Randolph Community College and Fayetteville Technical Community College. 

During his convocation address to faculty and staff, Kelley acknowledged their commitment to serving every student.

“Thanks to their collective efforts, the college experienced double-digit growth in 2023-24, with early forecasts suggesting steady enrollment for fall 2025,” Kelley said. 

In his first 90 days as president, Kelley plans to launch listening sessions both within the college and in the wider community. 

“Inexperienced leaders are quick to lead before knowing anything about the people they intend to lead. But mature leaders listen, learn, and then lead,” said Kelley in a recent McDowell News article.

It’s a leadership philosophy that Kelley said aligns seamlessly with the college’s strategic planning process. Kelley will begin developing MTCC’s next strategic plan in spring 2025.

“Together, we will continue to strategically serve every student, helping them achieve their career aspirations and meeting the needs of business and industry,” he said.

Cleveland Community College

Wednesday, Aug. 21 was Meet the Yetis day on Cleveland Community College’s campus.

Athletes filled the Spirit Shop lobby, lining tables ready to greet students during their first week of classes. 

The energy in the room was undeniable. Players gathered around talking about upcoming games, predicting how their seasons will go. 

“Oh, we are going to be good this year,” the women’s basketball team said. 

Cleveland has 130 athletes across nine sports teams. 

This is Ravin Brooks’ and Xiomara Estela’s second year playing for Cleveland’s basketball team. They are excited about the strength of their team this year. 

When asked what advice they have for other students, especially athletes, Brooks and Estela said,“Be a student before an athlete, and learn how to manage your time.” 

Brooks advised high school seniors to follow their own path, especially when it comes to making decisions about college. 

Both players plan to transfer to a four-year university after they complete their associate degrees. 

Jaylen Ledbetter and Sayge Strange play softball at Cleveland. 

Strange started out at a four-year college studying elementary education but decided early on that the college and major weren’t the right fit for her. She left the institution and decided to pursue a degree in the medical field at Cleveland. 

“It was a major flip, but I’ve always liked the medical field,” Strange said. 

Cleveland was also closer to home, and Strange said family means everything to her.

Ledbetter said her decision to attend Cleveland and play softball was a good option. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to major in but knew she wanted to play and grow her talent on the field. Now she is getting a lot of playing time and completing general education courses. 

Strange had some words of wisdom for those who are considering college this upcoming year: “Explore your options. It’s not all about going to a four-year university when you can get the same education here, and it’s not as expensive.”

Maria “Nely” Rivera-Guerrero is Cleveland’s student government association (SGA) president and has been in the role since spring 2023. 

Her goal for this year is to continue making students aware of the support systems that are available to them at the college. 

“I know that if I did not have the support system, I probably wouldn’t be where I am right now,” she said.

Those support systems range from tutoring to food resources, Rivera-Guerro said, resources that are vital to students’ success in and outside the classroom. 

Dr. Jason Hurst, president of Cleveland Community College, said the college is excited to welcome new and returning students to campus for the fall semester.

“Seeing so many students on campus reminds us that what we do matters,” Hurst said. “Our faculty and staff are looking forward to a great semester supporting our students as they grow, learn, and succeed.”

In his sixth year as president of the college, Hurst said they are still finalizing numbers, but curriculum enrollment for the college is up 15% from the last fall semester.