Nash Community College is proud to announce that Tammy Keel, a dedicated full-time student in the Emergency Management Program, has been selected as the recipient of the school’s prestigious Academic Excellence Award.
Keel, who currently maintains a remarkable 3.77 GPA, has demonstrated a profound commitment to both her education and her career. As a 911 telecommunicator, volunteer firefighter/EMT, and community advocate, she shares the lessons learned in her Emergency Management courses with colleagues in her field.
For the past six years, Keel has managed the Tarboro Police Department’s dispatch center, handling emergency and non-emergency calls. Her leadership and dedication have made her a cornerstone in her community’s emergency services operations.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Keel balances a busy family life as a mother of four children, and she continues her education while managing work and family commitments. She also dedicates time to volunteering with Help a Vet Shine, offering vital support to veterans in need, and she is actively involved in animal rescue, caring for multiple rescued pets.
With decades of service in emergency response roles, including as a detention officer, correctional officer, and firefighter, Keel’s unwavering passion for public safety and her compassionate nature set her apart as an exceptional role model.
“Keel exemplifies the values of academic excellence, integrity, respect and community that we hold dear at NCC,” said Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, President of NCC. “Her dedication to both her studies and her community is truly inspiring, and we are incredibly proud to honor her with this prestigious award. Her achievements reflect the best of what our students can accomplish.”
As the recipient of Nash Community College’s highest academic honor, Tammy Keel will represent the College among North Carolina’s 58-community college system. Each recipient of the Academic Excellence Award is presented with a plaque and medallion in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.
NCC Director of the Emergency Management Program Mike Varnell shared, “Keel’s commitment to public safety and her compassionate nature make her an exceptional student in our Emergency Management Degree Program.”
For more information on Nash Community College and its programs, visit nashcc.edu.
