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Sandhills Community College Notable Alumni are recognized for their contributions to their profession, discipline, or community leadership roles; public service; creative endeavors; or other major accomplishments since graduation. SCC and the Alumni Association extend our congratulations and gratitude to these exceptional individuals.
Spring 2009
Barbara Danley, class of 1985
Professor of Developmental English
Sandhills Community College
Barbara Danley earned a double major in Business Administration and Accounting from Sandhills in 1985. She furthered her education in the NCUniversity system, earning a bachelors and a masters degree. She has worked at SCC since 1992 in the Department of Languages, the Academic Support Department, and now in the Developmental Education Department.
Barbara worked very hard to be a successful student, mother, wife, business owner and teacher. She says she relates well to her students becuase she has had very similar experiences as they have. "When I was finishing my master's degree, I was attending classes in Chapel Hill, doing homework, commuting 100 miles a day, working, helping out with the family business, and caring formy children. It was a struggle but a goal I was determined to reach." Congratulations Barbara!
Winter 2009
 Michael "Gary" Phillips, class of 1993NC Dept. of Transportation, Resident Engineer
Moore County, NC
Gary Phillips enrolled at Sandhills Community College in the fall of 1990 with a major in Civil Engineering Technology. "Sandhills Community College was instrumental in helping me to develop my professional skills that carried me forward into the job market. I was most impressed by the knowledgeable Engineering Technology faculty at SCC including Professors Reynold Davenport, John O'Brien, and Tim Howle." After graduating from Sandhills in 1993 with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology, Gary continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte through a 2+2 transfer option, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology in 1995.
Gary began his career with the North Carolina Department of Transportation as a Transportation Technician, performing both construction surveying and inspection duties on various highway construction projects. Gary remembers the help that his Sandhills professors provided in helping him to find a professional position, "the professors at SCC offered me numerous employment leads thanks to the vast network of companies familiar with the quality of their graduates." In 2008 Gary was promoted to the position of Resident Engineer in the Division 8 Construction Unit office serving Moore, Richmond, Scotland and Hoke counties. Gary says that "working at NCDOT has been both challenging and rewarding, knowing that you are providing a service to the citizens of North Carolina."
Gary has given back to Sandhills Community College in several ways including serving on an advisory committee for the Civil Engineering Technology program. When not working, Gary enjoys spending time with his wife Karen and their daughter Whitney as well as sports and other outdoor activities.
Fall 2008
 Mr. Ricky Hodges, class of 1989Director of Financial Aid
Forsythe Community College
Winston Salem, NC
Ricky Hodges graduated form SCC in 1989 with an Associate degree in Business. He served as the SGA President and a member of the SCC Board of Trustees. He continued his education at Appalachian State where he received a Bachelor of Technology degree. He has spent his career serving the educational needs of North Carolinians through the community college system. Ricky spent 13 years at Sandhills where he worked tirelessly to support students and enrich their experience here, serving as the Director of Recruitment and then the Director of Financial Aid.
His fondest memories of his time at Sandhills are his instructors - Mary Dixon, Sharon Ashburn, Cynthia McDonald, and Pat Toney and being a part of the hiring team for Dr. Dempsey.
Ricky now serves as the Director of Financial Services at Forsythe Tech. He is very active in student and community organizations, including the Minority Male Mentoring and Stepping Stones programs at FTCC, a race car ministry through his church, the Winston Salem Housing Board, and a community rescue mission for homeless males.
In addition to his outstanding contributions to his profession and his community, Ricky and his wife Lori have three wonderful children - Caroline (10), RJ (13), and Felisha (22), who is also an alumnus of SCC.
Summer 2008
Cathy Ray Hinton, class of 1973
Director of Nursing
McCain Correctional Hospital
Raeford, NC
Mrs. Hinton is passionate about her community and she strives every day to make it a better place. She is active at the Midway Community Center in Aberdeen, founded a group for boys called REAL RAP, and serves as the treasurer in her church. Cathy's nursing career at correctional institutions began at the Sandhills Youth Center, where she worked for 26 years. She then became a regional nurse supervisor for the NC Department of Corrections. Her dedication to correctional nursing has culminated in her current position as Director of Nursing at McCain Correctional Hospital in Raeford, NC.
Spring 2008
Don McKenzie, class of 1977
Professional Photographer
McKenzie Photography
Southern Pines, NC
After serving in the Air Force as a Still Photographic Specialist, Don Mckenzie came to Sandhills Community College and graduated with a Business Administration degree in 1977. He attended classes mainly at night as he was building a photography business and raising a family at the same time. Don has run a successful photography business, McKenzie Photography, in the Sandhills ever since. He is now joined by his son, Matthew McKenzie, in the business. Don's wife, Debra G. McKenzie, also graduated from SCC. Don's daughter-in-law, Fiona McKenzie, is a culinary instructor at SCC. Don has been very involved in the community, primarily with the Boy Scouts. He is a member of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina and is also the President of the Clan MacKenzie Society in the Americas.
Winter 2008
 Cindi Johnson, class of 1974Director of Resource Planning
Progress Energy
Pinehurst, NC
Cynthia (Cindi) Johnson graduated from Sandhills Community College in 1974 with an Associate of Arts degree. Cindi was very involved in SCC activities while on campus. She played on the girls' basketball team and was the Vice President of the Student Government Association as well. She still keeps in touch with many other students she met while attending SCC.
After graduating from Sandhills, she furthered her education at Gardner-Webb College and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Cindi has worked for Progress Energy for the past 25 years and directs the Resource Sharing Program for Progress Energy. She was the first woman to work on the team. If a nuclear or fossil plant goes into a refuel outage this program maximizes the use of company employees and reduces their dependence on outside contractors. Prior to working for Progress Energy Cindi worked for Brooks and Perkins, Inc and Pinehurst Airlines, Inc.
In Cindi's spare time she owns a convenience store in Emerald Isle and has rental homes in the Chapel Hill area. Cindi has one son, Jason who lives in Pinehurst.
Fall 2007
 Pam Garty, class of 1974
Nursing Professor
Sandhills Community College
Pam started her nursing studies in the early years of the college, graduating in 1974. She likes to tell people she went to the three best schools in North Carolina, Sandhills, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke. Pam received her BSN from Chapel Hill in 1985 and her MSN from Duke in 1994. She worked many years at Moore Regional Hospital before becoming the first alumni of SCC to teach full-time in the nursing program. She has been an instructor and advisor to hundreds of nursing students since 1988.
Five of Pam's siblings also attended SCC: Kathy Watts Ried, Roger Watts, Dickie Watts, Marianne Watts Nicholson, and Lizzy Watts. Pam's father, Eugene Watts, otherwise known as “Colonel”, was a business instructor and the SCC Business Manager before retiring in 1982.
Summer 2007
 Gary Thompson, class of 1973
Director of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey
Clayton, NC
Gary started his education at Sandhills in 1973. He received his associate degree in Applied Science in Civil Engineering in 1975, followed by his bachelor's degree from UNC Charlotte in Engineering Technology. Today, he is the Director of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey and is the chief surveyor for the state of North Carolina. Gary has received many prestigious awards throughout his distinguished career, including Surveyor of the Year in 1991 and 2001 by the North Carolina Society of Surveyors. In April, Gary was the keynote speaker at the 2007 Scholarship Dinner at Sandhills Community College.
Spring 2007
 Linda Reid Oldham, class of 1997Attorney at Law
Partner, Crockett and Oldham
Southern Pines, NC
Ms. Oldham came to Sandhills Community College in 1995. She was an older student with a family, but she was interested in starting a new career and her goal was to become a lawyer. She received her Associates degree, with honors, in 1997. She finished her bachelor's degree at St. Andrews Presbyterian College on the campus of SCC in 1999, also with honors. She accomplished her dream in 2002 when she received her law degree from Campbell University.
Linda is now a practicing attorney with Crockett and Oldham in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
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