Sandhills Community College and the SCC Alumni Association have chosen to honor the memory and heroism of three graduates involved in the PineLake Health and Rehab tragedy in Carthage. The memory of Jerry Avant and Bessie Hedrick, and the heroism of Justin Garner, will be honored at Commencement on May 16th. Scholarships will be established in each of their names and the recipients will be students from their respective programs.
Bessie Hedrick graduated with an Associate Degree in Human Services from Sandhills in 1980. She was the mother of five children. She ran a beauty shop, sold insurance and taught classes at a cosmetology school in Greensboro. She was also a teacher at Chatham Trades, a rehabilitation program in Siler City for adults with developmental disabilities. The Bessie Hedrick Scholarship will be established for a Human Services student at SCC.
Jerry Avant was a ten-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He graduated from the SCC Nursing program in 2003. Mr. Avant heroically shielded many of the patients at PineLake and saved many of their lives. He was planning to marry his fiancée Jill DeGarmo, a student at SCC, in August. The Jerry Avant Scholarship will be established for a nursing student at SCC.
Justin Garner graduated from the Basic Law
Enforcement Training program in 2004. He works
for the Carthage Police Department. Mr. Garner's
bravery in ending the tragedy at PineLake undoubtedly saved many lives. The Justin Garner scholarship will be established for a criminal justice student at SCC.
2008 Distinguished Alumni
Dr. Daniel McKenzie, class of 1973
Danny L. McKenzie was born in Pinehurst and attended Moore County Public Schools. He earned an Associate in Arts degree from Sandhills Community College, a Bachelor's and a Master's in Biology from Appalachian State University, and a Doctorate in Science Education from the University of Georgia.
Dr. McKenzie began his teaching career in Georgia where he taught science and mathematics at the middle school and secondary school levels. He then moved to college teaching as a professor of biology at Texas State University.
Returning to the Southeast, Dr. McKenzie became a professor of elementary education at the University of South Carolina for ten years. He later served as the chair of the Department of Education at Columbia College, a private women's college located in Columbia, South Carolina.
In 2001, Dr. McKenzie joined Lander University, located in Greenwood, SC, as dean of the School of Education. He returned to full-time teaching in 2004.
He has recently accepted the position of Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lander University.
Dr. McKenzie has been recognized by the South Carolina Science Council, the South Carolina Academy of Science, and the National Association for Research in Science Teaching for his work in promoting excellence in science education.
Dr. McKenzie lives with his wife, Macy, also a graduate of SCC, in Lexington, SC. Their daughter, Lauren Hopler, will be among the graduates of Sandhills Community College in May.
Teresa Hardison, class of 1979
A Southern Pines native, Hardison graduated from Sandhills Community College with an Associate Degree in Fine Arts. She transferred to East Carolina University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. After graduation, Hardison began her career as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Beaufort County Arts Council and taught art classes in Washington, NC. She later taught middle school art, music and cultural arts in the Beaufort County School system for ten years. Hardison accepted the position as an art teacher at Aberdeen Middle School in 1997 and later moved to Southern Middle School as the visual arts educator where she is currently employed.
Hardison has received several honors while serving in Moore County: selection as the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in 2003; Southern Middle School's Teacher of Outstanding Performance; and selection as an assessor for the NC National Board Association in 1999.
Hardison is also an active member of the community. She is a Member of the NC Museum of Art and the NC Arts Education Association and regularly volunteers at the Sandhills Coalition for Human Care.
Hardison is the daughter of Don and Carolyn Haney of Southern Pines and mother of Brittany, who is a sophomore at Pinecrest High School, and Patrick, an IB seventh grader at Southern Middle School.
2007 Distinguished Alumnus
Oscar Graham (Pete) Gulley III, class of 1973
Mr. Gulley received an associate degree in Landscape Gardening from Sandhills in 1973. Pete is the owner of Gulley's Garden Center in Southern Pines, NC. As part of his ongoing connection with Sandhills, Pete provides internships and part-time work to many Sandhills Community College students.
A true visionary, Mr. Gulley has created a Military Museum on the grounds of Gulley's Garden Center, entertaining and inspiring visitors from far and wide. This museum, which houses relics from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, showcases military history and honors members of the Armed Forces. Mr. Gulley himself served in the Army Special Forces in Vietnam in 1964 and 1965.
Mr. Gulley and his two children are heavily involved in the family business. His son Pete Gulley IV is also an alumnus of Sandhills.
Previous Distinguished Alumni of Sandhills Community College
2006 - Mr. Donny Hunter
2005 - Senator A.B. Swindell, class of 1970
2004 - Mrs. Linda Oldham, class of 1997
2003 - Mr. Curtis A. Frye, class of 1972
2002 - Mr. William L. Mangum, Jr., class of 1973
2001 - Mr. H. Thomas McDuffie, Jr., class of 1969
2000 - Mrs. Linda Faye Wallace, class of 1972
1999 - Dr. Phillip E. Ward, class of 1980
1998 - Mrs. Louise W. Marchetti, class of 1973
1997 - Mr. Robert H. Robinson, class of 1974
1996 - Mr. Robert S. Hayter, class of 1972, 1983
1995 - Mr. Larry R. Caddell, class of 1967
1994 - Dr. E. Douglas Kearney, Jr.
1993 - The Honorable Richard T. Morgan, class of 1972
1992 - Mrs. Shiela W. Cromer, class of 1969
1991 - Mr. Harry L. Jones, class of 1970
1990 - Dr. Daniel L. Parsons, class of 1973
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