Brooklyn Thompson – 2026 Academic Excellence Award Winner

º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Academic Excellence Award Winner for 2026, Brooklyn ThompsonWhen Brooklyn Thompson started at º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, she had big dreams and was excited to be attending school alongside her mother. 

Thompson has excelled as a student and is now being recognized by the North Carolina Community College System as º£½ÇÊÓÆµ’s Academic Excellence Award winner. The award, given by the NCCCS after a committee reviews nominations, recognizes students in the North Carolina Community College System who show outstanding academic achievement. 

A 2024 graduate of º£½ÇÊÓÆµia Highland Tech High School, Thompson was first drawn to º£½ÇÊÓÆµ when her mother, Melissa Poindexter, joined the nursing program. 

 “She would take me with her sometimes to run errands, and I thought it would be fun to go to college with my mama,” Thompson said. 

Thompson found a home in Engineering as her goal is to become an industrial designer of children’s toys. Her interest in this field grew from her hobbies and personal projects. 

“I’ve always loved crafting and building stuff,” Thompson said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was in eighth grade, I would create replica props from my favorite movies and games. That’s when I realized that I could turn it into a career. I love building and blueprinting, but I also love being creative and making things fun, and I thought creating toys was a nice blend of both.” 

Thompson’s award makes her one of 58 honorees statewide who will be highlighted on the NCCCS website. She will also be recognized at º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s commencement. 

Thompson is looking forward to her next step. “After graduating from º£½ÇÊÓÆµ with my associate degree, I’ll be attending N.C. State University for my bachelor’s degree in engineering,” she said. “I plan to major in either mechanical engineering or industrial engineering.” 

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