Lillia Kathryn Diez, an Alamance Community College student in Automotive Systems Technology, was among a small group of honorees recognized by the North Carolina Community College System for excellence at an awards dinner April 17.

 

More than 230 esteemed guests gathered at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC to celebrate three students and five employees for community college excellence.

 

The event, emceed by Lena Tillett, Weekday Evening Anchor at WRAL, included three award segments: Student Excellence, Faculty and Staff Recognition, and Workforce Development Pinnacle Awards.

 

The Dallas Herring Achievement Award was presented to Lillia Diez of Alamance Community College (ACC), presented by Wells Fargo. The award, established by the NC Community College System, honors the late Dr. Dallas Herring, whose philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go” is the guiding principle of the community college system.

 

In her prepared remarks before the audience, Diez credited ACC for changing her life. “When you’re the one living through hard times, it’s just life. I didn’t realize working hard to make a better life was something to be proud of until I started to share more of my story with other people, who found inspiration in my perseverance,” Diez said. “I feel incredibly fortunate, not only to be here tonight, but to have made the choice to attend Alamance Community College.”

 

Diez enrolled at ACC while homeless and struggling daily to afford food. Despite tremendous odds, she persevered to earn her GED and excel in the College’s Automotive Systems Technology program. Even before completing her studies, Diez was hired as the first female automotive technician at Cox Dodge in Burlington. While working toward her Associate in Applied Science degree, Diez will concurrently qualify for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification and Master Technician status. Diez’s career ambitions also include studying for a degree in Fire Protection as a second career option.

 

(Above) Attending the NC Community College Awards dinner in Cary on April 17 were, from left: Dr. Ken Ingle, ACC President; Amy Scott-Galey, NC State Senator; Lillia Diez, NC Dallas Herring Award recipient; Jenny Diez, mother of Lillia Diez.

 

ACC President Dr. Ken Ingle said he is proud to be a part of a system that provides hope and opportunity for students like Lillia Diez.

 

“Lillia represents the best of what we can do for students at the community college level,” said Dr. Ingle. “Those who enter our doors receive hope and a pathway to future opportunity through jobs and additional education. What Lillia has achieved at Alamance Community College is a meaningful real-life example of how inspiration and perseverance can literally change the life journey for our students. She is one of ACC’s shining stars who overcome adversity and challenges that most of us cannot imagine,"

 

“Tonight we celebrated the students, faculty, staff, and industry partners who play pivotal roles in shaping the future of our communities,” said System President Dr. Jeff Cox. “Community colleges are truly the heart of North Carolina’s workforce development and it is an honor to recognize all of these award winners and their contributions to excellence across our state.”