Five local college students have been chosen to represent their school as ambassadors for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Beaufort County Community College Foundation recently named the new BCCC Ambassadors — Nicholas Griekspoor, Christine L. LeCompte, Lisa J. Reid, Kelsey Riggs and Priscilla Styons — in representing the college in the coming year. The new ambassadors join Sarah Clingenpeel, Jamaal Cofield and Catherine Spring. For the third year, a student in the Beaufort County Early College High School, housed on the college’s campus, was chosen as an ambassador.

BCCC Ambassadors are tasked with representing the college in a variety of ways — leading high school and middle school tours of the campus, speaking at events held by civic organizations, who request a student speaker, serving as hosts and hostesses for college and foundation events, addressing the BCCC Board of Trustees and the BCCC Foundation Board and participating in at least 75 percent of college events that require ambassador assistance, according to the nomination rules on the BCCC website.

Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood said each ambassador can serve up to four semesters as long as they meet the ambassador guidelines set by the Foundation. Students are nominated by an instructor and a selection committee makes the final call on candidates. The college normally has eight ambassadors and two alternates, Norwood said.

“That’s in case one is no longer able to serve,” Norwood said. “Sometimes we’ll have students transfer to East Carolina University. Our students’ plans change so that’s why we have alternates that step in.”

Reid said she wasn’t aware of the program prior to being nominated, but learned about the program in-depth after talking to a friend who served as Ambassador previously. This week, she is scheduled to conduct a tour of the college for area middle school students as part of her duties as an ambassador. Reid sees the new honor as a way to help others, something she is already accustomed to in her area of study, she said.

“Just being acknowledge for my GPA and for the type of person everyone receives me as, is a really big thing,” Reid said. “Anytime anyone trusts you in something with such great importance in representing them, is an honor. On top of that, to be able to be just hand-in-hand with my community, it’s a big part of my heart. That’s one reason I chose to go back to school in a profession that would allow me to help others and enhance their lives, and having someone bless you with your education while doing something worthwhile and doing something humane is a great honor.”

Students chosen as ambassadors receive a one-year tuition scholarship and help the college market its programs and services, according to Norwood. Ambassadors chosen from the ranks of BCECHS students receive a stipend. Nominated students are asked to submit a resume and participate in an interview as part of the selection process. A panel comprised of members of the BCCC Foundation Board of Directors and local businesses and civic leaders conducted interviews in an informal setting with candidates for the positions, according to a BCCC press release.

“They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and it gives them the opportunity to interact with local business leaders in a way they may not have had that opportunity in the past,” Norwood said. “It gives them a sense of pride in their school, and their assistance is crucial in carrying out the two major fundraising events of the year—the golf tournament and the croquet tournament.”

Both fundraising events the ambassadors participate in go toward scholarships for students at the school, as well as the Dot and John Tankard Memorial Scholarship, which is specific to the croquet tournament, Norwood said.

AMBASSADOR BIOGRAPHIES:

Nicholas Griekspoor, 18, of Washington, is a fourth year student at BCECHS and is pursuing an arts degree from the college. He has worked with his grandfather and uncle as a commercial fisherman and at the Washington Bookstore. At BCCC, Griekspoor is a member of the Travel/Study Club and plans to participate in the group’s upcoming trip to Belize. The son of James Griekspoor of Washington and Julie Hodges of Greenville, Griekspoor plans to attend Appalachian State University after completing his studies at BCCC.

Christine L. LeCompte, 46, of Washington is pursuing an associate in arts degree with plans to transfer to East Carolina University to obtain a bachelor’s degree. She plans to work as a teacher after completing her studies. A graduate of Bath High School, LeCompte holds Emergency Medical Technician, Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II certifications. She has also received training as a substitute teacher. Before enrolling at BCCC, LeCompte was employed as a Human Resources/Recruiter and as a phlebotomist at Vidant Beaufort Hospital. She has also served as a substitute teacher for the Beaufort County Schools, among other activities. She and her husband, Roland, have three children.

Lisa J. Reid, 44, of Washington, is pursuing an associate in arts degree from BCCC. A graduate of Harry S. Truman High School, in New York, N.Y., Reid is employed as a facilitator at Families Understanding Nurturing. Reid has previous served in a public relations and event planning capacity with Cornerstone Family Worship Center and as a parent ambassador for Cornerstone Community Learning Center, among other activities. A mother of four children, she plans to seek a bachelor’s degree in social work after graduating from BCCC.

Kelsey Riggs, 23 of Ayden, is a student in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at BCCC. A graduate of Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston, Riggs attended East Carolina University before enrolling at BCCC. She is employed as a Care Partner/Nursing Assistant III at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville and has served as a Nurse Aide II at Greenville Health Care Center and a Nurse Aide I at Pender Memorial Hospital. At BCCC, Riggs is a member of Gamma Beta Phi honor society, the Beaufort County Association of Nursing Students and serves as secretary for BCCC’s ADN freshman class. She is the daughter of Chris and Trudy Riggs of Ayden.

Priscilla Styons, 30, of Pinetown, is also a student in BCCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. A graduate of Northside High School, Styons earned an associate in arts degree from BCCC in 2011. She holds a certificate in manicuring/nail technology from Martin Community College and studied sign language interpreting at Wilson Community College. She is employed as a nail technician at Inner Banks Nail Care as a secretary at Beaver Dam Church of Christ. She and her husband, Michael, have two children.