VGCC nominates Radiography student for statewide leadership award


Nicholas Kemp

Nicholas Kemp

Vance-Granville Community College recently selected Nicholas L. Kemp of Wake Forest, a student in the Radiography program, as its nominee for the North Carolina Community College System’s Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award.

The award was established in 2004 in honor of Scott, who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1969-1973, and as President of the N.C. Community College System from 1983-1995. Each year, the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents bestows the honor on one community college student in recognition of his or her academic and leadership achievements.

Kemp was recognized for his leadership as president of the Radiography Club and as one of the driving forces behind the “Save the Fox” bone marrow donor drive in the fall 2015 semester. He was also one of just two students — and the only one from a community college — selected to represent North Carolina at the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Student Leadership Development Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the summer of 2015. There, he addressed delegates from across the country on behalf of the students. Kemp said that experience “was far more fruitful than I anticipated and the experiences, connections and friendships made will last a lifetime.” Because of that opportunity, he was later asked to give a presentation on what the trip entailed at the 2016 N.C. Society of Radiologic Technologists annual meeting in April.

Kemp said that the “Save the Fox” drive marked his most outstanding leadership contribution as a VGCC student. “In collaboration with the Project Life Movement, VGCC took the opportunity to join in the efforts to help find a bone marrow donor for Superior Court Judge Carl Fox,” he recalled. “Plenty of preparation and organization went into coordinating this event. I had the opportunity to work closely with some faculty, other student representatives and the founder/director of Project Life, Dr. David Lindsay, in the months leading up to the drive.” VGCC hosted daily drives, one at each of the four campuses, throughout the last week of October 2015. “This brought the student body, faculty and community together to help try to make a difference in someone’s life,” Kemp said. “At the end of the week, we had registered 350 potential donors! One of those donors may be a match for Judge Fox, or one of the other thousands of people who are searching for that lifesaving, bone marrow match.”

“Having the opportunity to be a leader has been eye opening, heartwarming and educational,” Kemp added. “Being able to get involved in the community and helping to make a difference in people’s lives is the grandest of all accolades that have come with my leadership experience.”

Kemp, who has received two endowed scholarships from VGCC, is set to graduate in May. He already holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology/Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina.

“Nick showed great enthusiasm and commitment to the Save the Fox project, and was able to explain to other students the importance of registering and answering the call to save lives,” said Angela Thomas, VGCC’s dean of health sciences. “With his dedication, positive attitude and friendly demeanor, I know that after he graduates, Nick will continue to serve as an outstanding leader in his profession and in his community.”