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Shirley Uh Mendez, a dual enrollment science student, has been selected as the College’s nominee for the Dallas Herring Achievement Award and the recipient of the Tony Kleese and Christine Kelly-Kleese Resilience Award.  

The Dallas Herring Achievement Award was established by the North Carolina Community College System in 2010 to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, one of the state’s earliest advocates of community colleges. All 58 community colleges choose a candidate. The state award is bestowed annually upon a current or former student who best embodies Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” 

Uh Mendez is finishing her associate in science degree and upon completion will transfer to a four-year university with the plan to earn her bachelor’s in biology so she can go on to dental school. 

“I have always been interested in the medical field, but it was my brother who decided he wanted to be a dentist first,” Uh Mendez said. “We decided to complete dental school and go into practice together.” 

Uh Mendez says she does help her brother, who is a year behind her, when things get tough. 

“I do give him some advice because I know how different the workload is from high school,” said Uh Mendez. “I am the first to admit it can be overwhelming, but it is doable and worth it.” 

Education is important in Uh Mendez’s family. As a first-generation college student, she said she has always wanted to do better, to have a better life for herself and her family, and it was in her love of science she saw these dreams made possible. 

“I’d have to say the most influential person in my life has been my mom,” Uh Mendez said. “She has always told me to go after whatever I want to do and to put in the work for it.” 

Putting in the work is something Uh Mendez has done, and she is proud of that. But she said the high level of involvement her instructors in her education also had a huge impact.  

“One of my most memorable experiences came in my first semester at �鶹Ӱ��. I was in Anatomy class,” said Uh Mendez. “It is a tough class and if you aren’t careful, you can get behind and get lost, but there was my instructor, Dr. [Amany] Osman and through his words of encouragement I stayed afloat and actually did quite well. I enjoyed learning about the bones and muscles and parts of the body and having Dr. Osman in my corner helped.” 

While Dr. Osman stands out, Uh Mendez is complimentary of each instructor who has been a part of her career at �鶹Ӱ��. 

“Another instructor who has been instrumental in my success is Dr. Olu [Oluwunmi Ariyo, director of college recruitment and high school partnerships]. She saw in me what I didn’t even know was there. She saw me helping others in the program and was always there with positive reinforcement. When I heard she had put in my nomination, I was surprised and humbled.” 

Despite having lived in �鶹Ӱ�� her whole life, Uh Mendez said she did not know much about �鶹Ӱ�� before applying.  

“I am surprised because now that I am a part of the College, I see how representative of the �鶹Ӱ�� community it is,” Uh Mendez said. “�鶹Ӱ�� offers education, but so much more like hosting the Black Farmers’ Market. It is more than just a college in the community. It is a partner in the community.”