Cheryl Hemric For The Robesonian
Anas Taha Alslmi center stands with Robeson Community College officials during a check presentation at the school.
Contributed photo | RCC
Dustin Canady center stands with Robeson Community College officials during a check presentation at the school.
Contributed photo | RCC
LUMBERTON — Dustin Canady and Anas Taha Alslmi had never met each other prior to today, but a project they worked on during the fall semester, brought them both together this Tuesday.
The two were presented with a $250 scholarship from the RCC Foundation.
The scholarship was earned through the RCC Ornament Fundraiser sale held in December that raised $500. It was a project that they both played a pivotal role in as students at Robeson Community College, but on opposite ends of the spectrum. Dustin helped craft the ornaments, creating the plasma and design, and Anas was part of a group of students who painted the embellishments of the logo, green and blue.
The ornaments were an instant hit, as previously reported, with 50 being sold in just a matter of days. Students, faculty, staff, and community members used the ornaments as holiday decor to showcase their RCC spirit and could be seen on display in households all across Robeson County and beyond.
Dustin Canady
Canady, 29, is a student studying mechatronics engineering at Robeson Community College. He is set to graduate this May and has already found employment using his degree.
“I’m the shop manager at MKS Construction Group in St. Pauls,” Dustin proudly said. “We do fabrication design, solid work design, order jet cuts, and just about anything industrial.”
Canady says the mechatronics program, particularly the fabrication class, helped him in obtaining the role he is currently in, crediting his instructor, Heath Worriax.
“The class taught me how to draw solid works and convert that into automated equipment such as water jets, CNC, and that’s really how I landed the job, that with my past experience, and my degree,” Canady said. “With Heath, it’s a different class with the way he teaches… he’ll put you in real-world situations, you’ll get that feeling of being challenged and being pushed and stretched to the next level, it’s perfect preparation because now in the workplace instead of me feeling hopeless in the same exact situation, I know what to do and where to go.”
With gaining hands-on training in the classroom, Canady says that the program helped him transition into the workforce, allowing him to thrive.
“The program has really given me the experience needed in the industry,” Canady adds. “It’s not just pen and paper, some of these things you can’t experience until you get in the real world, but Mr. Heath and his team do a really good job of giving us those real-life examples.”
Which is why the ornament project was so relevant for Canady and his class.
“That was automated fabrication,” Canady said. “That was a fun project that we got to do.”
And about the scholarship he received, Dustin says, “I’m excited, super excited. I’ve been paying everything out of pocket. I got a child and everything, so it’s been kind of rough on me, but I’m finally starting to see some sun, so I really appreciate it.”
Anas Taha Alslmi
Anas, 20, is a university transfer student pursuing an associate of science degree. He is set to graduate this May. Originally from Yemen, Anas and his family first moved to Texas, which is where he learned how to speak English. He now calls Robeson County home and is a graduate of Lumberton High School.
“We’ve been here for almost two years,” Anas said. “It’s beautiful here, I love America so much, so it’s a lot different, but I love it… This is a beautiful school, and I’ve learned a lot. The school is perfect, I didn’t have any trouble with a teacher or assignments or anything.”
As part of his course requirements, he enrolled in Art Appreciation, an elective where he was able to explore art history and different periods of time from the Renaissance to the Modern Era and even get some hands-on experience with painting, using different tools and substrates in creating works of art.
When Scotty Thompson, his instructor, announced the ornament project, Anas jumped at the opportunity to help.
“It was kind of new to me, but I enjoyed it,” Anas said.
With earning a $250 scholarship, Anas says he learned a valuable lesson.
“When you work hard at something, you’re going to see it’s worth it,” Anas said. “It lets you see that what you did matters.”
“I’m so thankful for this scholarship, it was a surprise,” said Anas. “This is great, I thank all of you, everyone at the school, especially Mr. Thompson, he was really there for me since the beginning.”
Anas hopes to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and has hopes of becoming an aviator someday.
“It was my dream to be a pilot since I was young,” he said.
Cheryl Hemric is the public information officer at Robeson Community College. Reach her by email at chemric@robeson.edu.
Call:
T:910-739-4322
Address:
2175 N. Roberts Ave,
Lumberton, NC 28358
