BY KAREN MANNING

Special to The Pilot

Sandhills Community College recently announced the 2012 Notable and Distinguished Alumni Award winners.

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.

Distinguished Alumni are unique individuals who have been chosen and recognized >for their outstanding contribution to their profession and their community. They have made substantial contributions for the good of others and have served as a positive motivational force for those around them. >

Joy Martin, who graduated in 1996 with an associate degree in nursing, is the Notable Alumni winner. She is employed by FirstHealth of Pinehurst and has advanced from staff nurse to director for two major clinical services, medical and neuro, and leads the clinical nursing director teams.

After Sandhills, Martin obtained a bachelor's degree in nursing at UNC Greensboro and a master's degree in nursing from Walden University.

"Joy is a role model for nursing," one of Martin's nominators wrote. "Due to her clinical and leadership skills, she has positively influenced many nurses. She has increased community awareness of stroke and took a lead role in FirstHealth becoming JCAHO Stroke Certified.

"She is an excellent teacher, a hands-on leader, is caring and compassionate, honest and open, works every day to assist her staff to grow in knowledge, and she has been able to overcome adversity in a most positive way."

Terry Young was named the Distinguished Alumni Award winner. Graduating in 1988, Young went on to earn a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Temple University. She has worked as a physical therapist for the past 21 years.

Young and her husband are partners at Aberdeen Physical Therapy. While at Sandhills, Young was the Student Government Association (SGA) president and the vice president of the statewide SGA.

Young was nominated by one of her former professors at Sandhills. Larry McNeill stated that his wife and many friends sought professional assistance from Young over the years, nicknaming her "Wonder Woman." He said her outreach, charisma, genuineness and dedication have been most impressive to him.

Young will represent the SCC Alumni Association as one of the speakers at the Saturday graduation ceremony.

The Alumni Association is free to all past students and graduates of Sandhills Community College. A link to the association can be found on the home page of the College's website at sandhills.edu.

The contact person for the association is Jennifer Blakely. She can be reached for registration at (910) 695-3710 or blakelyj@sand hills.edu.

Karen Manning is director of public relations and marking for Sandhills Community College.