When Brooklyn Thompson started at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, she had big dreams and was excited to be attending school alongside her mother.

Thompson has excelled as a student and is now being recognized by the North Carolina Community College System as Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Academic Excellence Award winner. The award, given by the NCCCS after a committee reviews nominations, recognizes students in the North Carolina Community College System who show outstanding academic achievement. 

A 2024 graduate of Gastonia Highland Tech High School, Thompson was first drawn to Â鶹ÊÓƵ when her mother, Melissa Poindexter, joined the nursing program. 

 “She would take me with her sometimes to run errands, and I thought it would be fun to go to college with my mama,” Thompson said. 

Thompson found a home in Engineering as her goal is to become an industrial designer of children’s toys. Her interest in this field grew from her hobbies and personal projects. 

“I’ve always loved crafting and building stuff,” Thompson said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was in eighth grade, I would create replica props from my favorite movies and games. That’s when I realized that I could turn it into a career. I love building and blueprinting, but I also love being creative and making things fun, and I thought creating toys was a nice blend of both.” 

Thompson’s award makes her one of 58 honorees statewide who will be highlighted on the NCCCS website. She will also be recognized at Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s commencement. 

Thompson is looking forward to her next step. “After graduating from Gaston with my associate degree, I’ll be attending N.C. State University for my bachelor’s degree in engineering,” she said. “I plan to major in either mechanical engineering or industrial engineering.” 

“Â鶹ÊÓƵ helped me convert my military discipline into a new mission and a skilled trade I can build a future on,” Kinman said. He appreciates how his educational journey reflects the school’s tagline, “Own Your Momentum.” “The structure here allowed me to build momentum again, one course and one certification at a time, and now that momentum belongs to me.”

Kinman, a native of Maplewood, New Jersey, graduated from Technology High School in 2001. After his military service, he sought new challenges, which he found through his classes at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

“After the military, I began taking courses to re-establish myself academically,” Kinman explained. “I later chose Â鶹ÊÓƵ so my education could align directly with a skilled trade and a career path.” Like many veterans, Kinman honors his service on Veterans Day, November 11.

“We honor veterans because they carry responsibility for the security of the nation,” he stated. “Service requires discipline, sacrifice, and the willingness to act when others hesitate. The freedoms and stability we have today exist because ordinary people volunteered to protect them.”

This Veterans Day, let’s remember and celebrate the journeys of veterans like Otis Kinman, who continue to inspire us.