Meet the BCCC Ambassadors for 2023-2024

The Beaufort County Community College Foundation chose nine students to represent BCCC as ambassadors for the 2023-2024 academic year. This year’s team of ambassadors includes three Southside High School students, three Beaufort County Early College High School students, a Washington Montessori Public Charter High School student, a nursing student, and a human services technology student. Ambassadors represent the diversity of aspirations, backgrounds, and interests of the BCCC student body through speaking engagements, marketing and recruitment.

Heidy Beltran Mendoza, 17, is a Washington resident and a dual-enrolled Beaufort County Early College High School student. She is the daughter of Olivia Mendoza and Ernesto Beltran. She works with Pamlico Animal Hospital as a vet technician. She plans to attend NC State University and is a part of the Honors Society.

Elizabeth Bowen, 17, is a Washington resident and a dual-enrolled student at Beaufort County Early College High School. She volunteers with the Prom Committee, Sound Rivers, and Arc with a Spark. She is the Student Government Association president (and therefore also serves as a non-voting member of the BCCC Board of Trustees) and Gamma Beta Phi vice president. She is the daughter of Stephanie Alligood. She plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science at East Carolina University.

Brandi Keehnle, 45, is a human services technology student and a Washington resident. She is the wife of Matthew Keehnle and a mother of two children, Nicole Davenport and Sean Keehnle. She is the daughter of Ray and Martha Crisp. Keehnle plans to transfer to East Carolina University to further her education. (Pictured, below left.)

Kennedy Hawkins, 18, is a dual-enrolled Southside High School student. She is the president of Gamma Beta Phi, Beaufort CCC's honor society, and she plans to transfer to High Point University. Hawkins will travel to Austria, Germany and Switzerland this summer with Study Abroad. She is the daughter of Jackie and Andy Judy.

Gracie Landeck, 18, is a Pinetown resident and attended at Beaufort County Early College High School. Landeck works as a server with Hog Heaven and a BCCC Learning Enhancement Center tutor. She is the daughter of Bonnie and Jeremy Landeck and plans to attend a four-year university to become a family medicine/general practice doctor. (Pictured, below right.)

Taliyah Moore, 17, is a Blounts Creek resident and attends Southside High School. She is the daughter of Christopher and Marcia Moore. She plans to attend NC State University to major in engineering or law.

Nick Peele, 33, is a Bath resident and attended at Northside High School. He is the husband of Hannah Peele, a father of two, and the son of Thomas and Suzy Peele. He plans to work in nursing.

Jacob Taylor, 16, is a Farmlife resident and a dual-enrolled Southside High School student. He works as a server with Mama’s Pizza. He is the son of Bill Taylor and Kristie Sparrow. He plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and work as a nurse anesthetist.

Gavin Watson, 17, is a Washington resident and a dual-enrolled Washington Montessori Public Charter School student. He is the son of Aaron and Sara Watson. He volunteers with church kids’ services and is employed at Main Street Scoops. He plans to teach English to middle/high school students. He is a part of the National Honors Society.