Wayne Community College Associate in Science graduate Cooper Emory of Kinston has been named a Goodnight Scholar at North Carolina State University.
Emory is one of 50 students selected for the Goodnight Scholars Program’s transfer class of 2027. He graduated from WCC this spring and will attend NC State in the fall.
The Goodnight Scholars Program, funded by a gift from Dr. Jim and Ann Goodnight, began in 2008. The program’s full-tuition scholarship is available to low- and middle-income students from NC who are studying in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines or affiliated education majors.
“It feels amazing,” Emory said about being selected for the program. “With the Goodnight Scholars community, I am surrounded by people with similar interests, and I feel like I’m part of a bigger purpose.”
Emory will major in civil engineering at NC State. He is currently an intern with Trader Construction and plans to work as a structural engineer after graduating, focusing on design work.
At WCC, Emory received the 2023–2024 Associate in Science Outstanding Student Curriculum Award. He was in WCC’s first cohort of students in the NC State Community College Collaboration (C3), a dual-enrollment program giving WCC students guaranteed admission to NC State.
“C3 made the transition so much easier,” Emory said. “It was great having so many people care about my career goals and college plans.”
The value of the Goodnight scholarship is $23,000 per year for up to three years for transfer students. In addition to the scholarship, Goodnight Scholars receive access to a comprehensive student development program including weekly programming, exclusive travel opportunities, and enrichment grant funding.
The scholars participated in a thorough selection process, which included an application and interview with a volunteer committee consisting of current and former NC State faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as industry representatives from SAS.
Finalists demonstrated exceptional accomplishments including outstanding academic achievement, memberships in national honors societies, and involvement in student organizations.
Emory is the fifth WCC graduate to be accepted into the Goodnight Scholars transfer program. He follows Ruben Quiroz, Estefani Cota, Alex Ambriz-Huerta, and Viviana Ponce.
Learn more about the Goodnight Scholars Program on their website.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.