RALEIGH, N.C. (May 24, 2024) – Nineteen Wake Tech graduates are set to excel at North Carolina State University as Goodnight Transfer Scholars.
The prestigious Goodnight Scholarship will award $23,000 per year for up to three years ($69,000) to 50 transfer students from North Carolina community colleges, the largest class of Wake Tech graduates to participate in this scholarship program.
The scholarship recipients participated in an exhaustive selection process during the recent spring semester that included application and interviews with a volunteer committee made up of current and former NC State faculty, staff and alumni, as well as industry representatives from the SAS Institute and the Kenan Fellows Program.
Wake Tech's Goodnight Transfer Scholars are:
- Saeed Abbas plans to study nutrition
- Grace Abraham plans to major in computer science
- Alaric Ani, who plans to major in computer engineering
- Nora Kam plans to major in computer science
- Celeste Cerrato Canales plans to study biological sciences.
- Lizbeth Torres Cervantes, who plans to study agricultural education
- Abigail Close, plans to study computer science
- Kyle Curry plans to study statistics
- Alia Fayed, who plans to major in materials science and engineering
- Marcos Garcia plans to study genetics
- Damien Johnson II, who plans to major in aerospace engineering
- Demaris Kereta plans to major in computer science
- Pingmin Lin, who plans to study computer science
- Jeniya Nelson, who plans to study biological sciences
- Mohamed Naceri plans to study mechanical engineering
- Michael Pacheco Luciano, who plans to major in computer science
- Kaina Percifield, who plans to major in horticultural science
- Savannah Prosser, who plans to major in Animal Science
- Angelina Yang plans to major in mechanical engineering
Damien Johnson is studying aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, joining the Air Force as a jet pilot and hoping to one day become an astronaut.
“Receiving the Goodnight Scholarship was what I hoped for when I decided to attend Wake Tech,” said Johnson. “Now that I have received the scholarship, I will strive to be the best member of the community I can be and create change, innovation and inspiration for the future.”
Savannah Prosser plans to study animal science with hopes of becoming a veterinarian.
“I am incredibly grateful for this honor,” said Prosser. “I can't wait to have the opportunity to engage with this program within my community and gain new experiences that will inform my future endeavors. There are many opportunities to contribute to the community and build connections with other scholars while strengthening my skills.”
Scholars have access to a comprehensive student development program that includes weekly programs, special travel opportunities and substantial stipends, as well as transfer-specific programming and mentoring to help them make a smooth transition from community college to NC State.
Wake Tech recipients have demonstrated exceptional achievements during their time at the community college, including outstanding academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, involvement in community activities and an affinity for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and education.
Founded in 2008 by NC State alumni Jim and Ann Goodnight, the Goodnight Scholars Program provides financial aid to North Carolina students from low- and moderate-income families who wish to pursue a STEM education at NC State. In 2017, the scholarships were expanded to include transfer students from North Carolina community colleges who plan to enroll at NC State in the fall after completing their associate's degree. Today, the Goodnight Scholars Program is NC State's largest full-time scholarship program, enrolling 255 undergraduate students annually.
Since the program began in 2017, 65 Wake Tech students have been selected as Goodnight Transfer Scholars.
