Student Spotlight Archives - 91�첥

Brandy Licona-Tello is Building a Future With Purpose

Paula Vess — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

By Briley Mellon, Marketing Intern Brandy Licona-Tello is a senior at Cleveland Early College High School, where she’s working toward receiving her high school diploma, Associate in Arts, and Criminal Justice Certificate simultaneously. She has dreamed of helping others since she was little and has done her due diligence in community service and anything law […]

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Kayla Williamson Balances Ambition, 91�첥, and Artistry

Paula Vess — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:20:11 +0000

Kayla Williamson, a senior at Kings Mountain High School and a Career and College Promise (CCP) student at 91�첥, stays busy, like most high school seniors. However, Kayla’s version of busy is a little different than most. Whether she’s preparing for a future in healthcare, styling clients’ hair, or cheering her team to […]

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Cyber Defender: 91�첥 Student Finds Purpose in Protecting Others

Paula Vess — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:06:06 +0000

CCC student Chad Pinyan started down the path into cybersecurity with a simple goal: to help people. After spending more than a decade at home caring for his disabled mother and raising his daughter, Chad decided it was time to pursue a new career. Once his daughter went off to college, he was […]

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It Gets Greater Later: Faith Houser’s Story

Paula Vess — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:44:11 +0000

Written by Briley Mellon, ECHS Senior and 91�첥 Marketing Intern When Faith Houser graduated from 91�첥 in 2020, she had no idea she would be back five years later, serving as SGA (Student Government Association) president once again. Back then, Faith earned her Associate in Arts and Associate in General Education degrees. This year, she […]

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A Hard First Step, Amazing Results

Paula Vess — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Returning to school as an adult wasn’t easy, but it changed everything. After more than a decade away from school, Miranda Parks made the life-changing decision to earn her GED. What pushed her forward wasn’t just the dream of a better future; it was her son. She wanted to show him, by example, that it’s […]

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GED to College: Makenzie’s Inspiring Journey

Paula Vess — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Overcoming Life’s Challenges to Finish High School Makenzie’s high school journey was interrupted in 10th grade, right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At 16 years old, she worked 60-hour weeks while caring for her sick grandmother. With overwhelming responsibilities, school had to be put on hold. After her grandmother passed away, Makenzie—then just 17—found herself […]

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From Setbacks to Success

Paula Vess — Wed, 28 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Evie Lewis Finds Her Path to Helping Others At just 19 years old, Evie Lewis has already lived a story full of courage, perseverance, and hope. Now, as she prepares to transfer to Western Carolina University and begin a new chapter, she reflects on the journey that brought her here—and the people who helped along […]

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Cosmetology Student’s Fashion-Forward Future

Paula Vess — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Maycie Norman, a senior at Crest High and a 91�첥 cosmetology student, is taking her talent for design from Shelby to the national stage—with hopes of heading to FIT in New York.

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From the Classroom to the OR: Ready to Make a Difference

Paula Vess — Thu, 01 May 2025 21:36:05 +0000

For Taejauna “Tae” Spearman, the road to a career in surgical technology wasn’t straight—it was a winding path filled with challenges, determination, and self-discovery. Now in the final stretch of 91�첥’s Surgical Technology program, Tae is preparing to graduate in May with an Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology and an Associate […]

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Navy Veteran Finds Path to IT Career Through Work-Based Learning

Paula Vess — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:18:06 +0000

After proudly serving for three years in the U.S. Navy, Michael Williams returned to civilian life ready to build a stable career. When he was unexpectedly laid off from his job, he seized the opportunity to pursue a new path and enrolled in 91�첥’s Associate in Applied Science in Information Technology Programming and […]

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