SOAR Magazine Volume 2 Issue 2

CHRISTY LEFEVERS

Recipient of the 2024 NCCCS Staff of the Year Award

At the conclusion of each academic year, Catawba Valley Community College recognizes a faculty and staff member for their efforts toward excellent education. Many individuals are nominated, but there is only one ‘Staff Excellence Award’ and one ‘Excellence in Teaching Award’.

This year, the ‘Staff Excellence Award’ was presented to Ms. Christy Lefevers. And this year, Christy received higher recognition as the recipient of the North Carolina Community College System’s (NCCCS) ‘Staff of the Year Award’.

Christy has held several roles within CVCC. These include Adjunct Instructor, Accounting Instructor, Accounting Program Director, Office Administration Program Director, Department Head of Business Programs, and Associate Dean of General Education.

Along with these college positions, Christy is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant.

All educators should understand the importance of their role within the greater college system. At CVCC, we strive to meet the needs of our students through worldclass service, excellence in teaching, datadriven decisions, and strong leadership. It is a difficult, sometimes daunting responsibility, but the reward often outweighs the cost. And though Christy’s resumé is impressive and diverse, no experience has matched her current role, Associate Dean for Workforce Connectivity. Workforce Connectivity is a multi-faceted department. It consists of Human Resources Development, Career Advising, WorkBased Learning (WBL), and the Catawba Apprenticeship Network (CAN). As Associate Dean, Christy ensures that all departments

Christy has a heart for meeting the student where they are—it’s because of her own community college experience that she felt welcomed into the world of education.

After Christy had completed high school, the dream of attending a 4-year college seemed unattainable. She felt privileged to attend Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) and work towards her associate in accounting. Instructors noticed her dedication to learning and her passion for teaching, and because of her work ethic, they connected Christy with an opportunity to teach accounting at WPCC soon after graduation.

“When I see my students, I see me.”, says Lefevers, “I was a community college student. If someone at my college had not cared about me, supported or listened to me, or given me the chance to teach, I would not be here. Our students deserve to see that same level of encouragement and passion every day.”

Twenty years later, she is a state-recognized educator and leader. Christy has continued to open new avenues for student advocacy and student growth. For three years, she co-

organized the CVCC Business Symposium, a professional development event which boasts over 1,000 attendees annually. Given her experience in the field of Accounting, she stepped up to lead and advise the student chapters of the North Carolina Association of CPA’s (NCACPA) and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

The addition of Workforce Readiness Events— held throughout the semester—bring seminars and workshops directly to students. Local professionals are invited to speak on topics like job placement or interview tips. On other occasions, students have engaged in resume workshops and career fairs. The end goal is that Workforce Readiness Events provide students an opportunity to prepare, practice, and present their networking skills. “I have discovered the importance of being open-minded and listening to others before reaching a decision,” Lefevers says. “Our students have taught me so much about life, overcoming obstacles, and the true definition of success.”

With such a spirit for service and love for education, it is no wonder Christy has been recognized as the NCCCS ‘Staff of the Year’. She is thrilled to have her work recognized at the state level, but what matters most to her is knowing that she can be a positive influence on our college.

“Receiving the State Staff Award is humbling, and my heart is full of gratitude,” she shares, “but winning the CVCC Staff Excellence Award is more meaningful to me. I know my coworkers. I know how fantastic they are. To know who everyone is, and to still be chosen for the CVCC Staff Excellence Award, is a tremendous honor.”

The college is honored to have Christy on our team. This year, one of her greatest successes has been the tremendous growth of the Catawba Apprenticeship Network (CAN), part of CVCC Workforce Connectivity. In the 2023-2024 year alone, CAN has grown from less than 20 apprentices to over 60. The collaborative efforts of our high schools, CVCC faculty and business partners have allowed CAN to open new apprenticeship pathways for our students.

She believes that community colleges can benefit from an apprenticeship program

in three ways: enhanced workforce development; stronger industry partnerships; and increased enrollment and revenue.

“In the last year, I have met with over one hundred local business partners in a variety of industries,” Lefevers says. “In all industries, I hear the same comment—‘We need employees’.” Apprenticeship bridges the gap between classroom education and the job market. It builds relationships between employers and employees, and it is a valuable avenue for those students who are eager to enter the next stage of their life.

Christy knows she is just one person, and that it is almost impossible for one person to achieve this success on their own. She credits CAN’s rapid success to the hard work of CVCC faculty, community partners, and high school systems.

“I think it’s important for us to know that this is about continuing relationships,” she says. “Whether we work with our business partners, educational partners, or other faculty and staff, we work together to accomplish the same core mission: help the student.”

To balance the day-to-day tasks, Christy is a believer in working hard. When she is in the office, all her focus and attention remains on the task at hand—whether that be responding to emails, making phone calls, or coordinating workforce events with community partners.

One of Christy’s greatest privileges is working with former students at a professional capacity. When she is out in the community, she often collaborates with partners who received their degree from CVCC. It is always a surprise to walk through the doors of a partner organization and recognize the faces of the men and women who once filled the seats of her classroom. Even more, these partners get to work together with CVCC programs like CAN or WBL to recruit student apprentices and interns.

“We are a community college because we are in the community,” she emphasizes. “Every student has a story—and because of my own story, I can empathize with the experiences of the many community college students who come to my office in search of guidance.”

Similar to the Workforce Development team, CVCC wishes to meet students where they are—whether they come to our college for a degree, diploma, certificate, or other area of professional development. This means equipping our educators with the resources and tools that can be used to train students at higher levels than textbooks and tests.

“I believe the pursuit of excellence is a personal journey,” says Lefevers. “We must routinely, consistently set our internal compass toward our destination: success.”