[CLINTON, N.C.] Each year at Sampson Community College, each division at the College selects an Outstanding Student from its graduates. Despite the unusual turn of events, this year was no exception. Selection is based upon the following criteria: scholastic excellence, leadership ability and potential for future achievement, citizenship and service to school, maturity in on-the-job situations, and participation in civic and professional activities. This year, two of the Outstanding Students are Career and College Promise students, Alana (Quinn) Schmidlin from Midway High School and Samuel Holloman from Clinton High School. They each exemplified great involvement at their schools and in their communities—making them ideal candidates for the Outstanding Student honor.
Schmidlin is a senior at Midway High School and plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall. This May, she will receive her Associate in Arts from SCC. She says finding out she received the Outstanding Student Award was an honor.
“It was awesome and really great to know that all of the work that I put in at Sampson and everything I put towards my academics and scholarly work is being rewarded and recognized,” she commented.
Like several other CCP students, Schmidlin is no stranger to the workload that comes as a part of the program. She’s a four-year Women’s Varsity Soccer player, Service Coordinator for her school’s Beta Club, and works two jobs, at Carolina Therapy Services in Dunn and as a tutor at Academic Success Center at SCC.
Schmidlin is actively involved in her community through her role as Service Coordinator with her school’s Beta Club, where she’s helped organize three separate blood drives. She also serves in the role of Youth President at her church, Divine Street United Methodist Church, where she volunteers with Rise Against Hunger and regularly compiles safety and hygiene kits.
When she arrives in Chapel Hill this fall, Schmidlin plans to pursue studies that lead to a career in Psychiatry or Speech and Language Pathology. Mostly, she looks forward to the opportunity to meet new people with different experiences.
“The thing I’m most looking forward to is being exposed to those wider ranges of experiences and cultures and meeting people who come from different states, different communities, and different countries. I’m so excited to jump into that and be able to meet different people and grow by meeting them,” Schmidlin expressed.
Perry Gillespie, Jr., Director of Career and College Promise, says that Schmidlin’s determination will allow her to be successful, no matter what career path she chooses. “Quinn is an amazing student. She is just so smart and mature for her age. She is going to do amazing things in whatever she chooses to do,” he commented.
When he learned he was named an Outstanding Student, Sam Holloman says he felt genuinely surprised. After the news settled in, he felt delighted to be recognized. “I was very ecstatic. It was such a good honor and I was so excited,” Holloman noted.
Holloman is a senior at Clinton High School, with plans to attend North Carolina State University and study Applied Mathematics. In May, he will receive his Associate in Arts and his Associate in Science. Holloman served as the Men’s Varsity Soccer Captain this year. He’s also a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and Spanish Honor Society. Holloman works with the Clinton Recreation Department as a referee and scorekeeper, and lifeguards at Coharie Country Club during summers.
Aside from athletic events and a chance at independence, Holloman knows there’s much to look forward to about attending a large university. “I’m excited to meet new people. I’m excited about taking the next step in my life and seeing where the road leads me,” Holloman shared.
Gillespie says Holloman’s attitude will help him go far at NC State. “Sam is just an all-around great guy. He is smart, hard-working, gracious, and just great to work with,” he remarked.
Holloman and Schmidlin are two of 33 CCP students who will receive Associate degrees from Sampson Community College, in addition to their high school diploma. Both students continue to take courses at their high schools and Sampson Community College as dually enrolled students.
For more information about Career and College Promise, visit https://www.sampsoncc.edu/ or email pgillespie@sampsoncc.edu.
About Sampson Community College: Sampson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in Sampson County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options, and early college education.
