McDowell Tech students receive National Technical Honor Society scholarships
Two McDowell Technical Community College students have earned national recognition from the National Technical Honor Society, with Charlotte Kendall and Keri Randolph-Frisbee each receiving a $1,000 Jon H. Poteat Scholarship.
McDowell Tech NTHS advisors Jessi Huskins (left) and Judy Butner (right) with Keri Randolph-Frisbee (center), winner of a Jon H. Poteat Scholarship from NTHS.
Both students are members of McDowell Tech’s local chapter of the National Technical Honor Society, which was established during the 2000-2001 academic year to recognize outstanding students in Career and Technical Education programs. At McDowell Tech, students must be enrolled in a Career and Technical Education program and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 to qualify for membership.
The Jon H. Poteat Scholarship is named in honor and memory of NTHS co-founder Jon H. Poteat and is open to secondary and postsecondary NTHS members to support their continued education. Nationally, NTHS awards $250,000 annually through the JHP Scholarship to members. Kendall and Randolph-Frisbee were among 275 outstanding NTHS members selected for the scholarship based on their ability to consistently demonstrate the seven attributes of NTHS: skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship and leadership.
“Charlotte Kendall and Keri Randolph-Frisbee represent the kind of excellence we are proud to see at McDowell Tech,” said J.W. Kelley, president of McDowell Technical Community College. “They have distinguished themselves through academic achievement, service, leadership and commitment to their future careers. Recognition from the National Technical Honor Society is a meaningful honor, and it reflects not only their talent and hard work, but also the strength of Career and Technical Education at McDowell Tech.”
Kendall has excelled academically in a diverse curriculum while also being involved in campus and community activities.
McDowell Tech NTHS advisors Jessi Huskins (left) and Judy Butner (right) with Charlotte Kendall (center), winner of a Jon H. Poteat Scholarship from NTHS.
In addition to her studies, she participates in a bi-weekly writing club, a monthly book club and a local heritage exploration club. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Her interests reflect both academic discipline and creative curiosity. Following graduation, Kendall plans to pursue meaningful career opportunities while continuing to explore creative passions, lifelong learning and future educational opportunities beyond the associate degree.
Randolph-Frisbee has also built an impressive record of achievement at McDowell Tech. She is a member of both the National Technical Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa and has earned placement on the honors list each semester. She has also served as a consultant with the AIM Program, working closely with small business owners.
Outside the classroom, Randolph-Frisbee is employed with H&R Block as a tax professional and was recently selected to lead the company’s new bookkeeping department. She credits McDowell Tech instructors Rachel Pearson, Diane Wright and Chip Cross among those who have had a positive influence on her educational experience.
Since 1984, the National Technical Honor Society has served as the honor society for Career and Technical Education. As a national nonprofit student organization, NTHS recognizes outstanding student achievement in CTE and serves students in high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, and universities. The organization recognizes more than 68,000 new members annually and works to advocate for and empower students as they develop the technical and academic skills needed to build successful careers and contribute to a skilled global workforce.
In partnership with student leadership organizations and industry partners, NTHS has awarded more than $4 million in scholarships to outstanding CTE students. Its partners include Business Professionals of America, DECA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, Future Health Professionals, the Law & Public Safety Education Network, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, the National Center for Construction Education & Research and its Build Your Future initiative, Rubin, SkillsUSA, the Technology Student Association and TechForce.
McDowell Tech NTHS Advisors Judy Butner and Jessi Huskins had these final words for Charlotte and Keri. “Your commitment to excellence has opened doors that only hard work and dedication can unlock,” Butner said.
Huskins added, “As you move forward, continue to embrace new opportunities, challenge yourselves, and strive for excellence in all that you do.”
