FIRST RECIPIENT OF CARS FOR COLLEGE

Pictured left to right are Lenoir Community College President Dr. Rusty Hunt, first Cars for College recipient Devan Shackleford and President/CEO of Harvey Enterprises & Affiliates John McNairy.

It’s not every day that a person can be in the right place at the right time, but for Devan Shackleford of Kinston that’s where he found himself recently. Shackleford became the first recipient of a vehicle awarded through the Lenoir Community College Cars for College program.

The Cars for College program was launched after a $250,000 honorarium was gifted by the Z. Smith Reynolds (ZSR) Foundation to commemorate former Trustee John O. McNairy’s 20 years of service to the ZSR Foundation. The program is an economic mobility initiative that secures transportation for students who are enrolled at LCC and earning college credit. The intended outcome is to remove the mobility barriers that often prevent students from owning and operating a safe and dependable motor vehicle.

“I’m just so excited,” Shackleford said. “I never dreamed I would be able to afford a car now. I am so thankful for the Cars for College program and to Mr. (John) McNairy for his contribution to the program and to the College. I am so appreciative of his support to the program and his commitment to education. I’ve had a lot of encouragement along the way to get to this point. Everyone has been so helpful,” he said.

“I knew the first time I heard about this program from Dr. Hunt that it was a winner,” said John McNairy, President/CEO of Harvey Enterprises & Affiliates.

THE PROGRAM IS AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE THAT SECURES TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED AT LCC AND EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT.

“I’m thrilled that we were able undergo a 72-point inspection to help get this terrific idea and a North Carolina Safety implemented. It has the potential Inspection. Once the vehicle to be a game changer in helping passes the inspections, it is sold developed when transportation semester with five vehicles by the LCC Foundation

IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE to a student

A GAME CHANGER IN HELPING who qualifies

STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS OF GETTING AN EDUCATION. for the Cars for College program John McNairy, President/CEO of Harvey at a very Enterprises & Affiliates reasonable students achieve their dreams of cost. The vehicle comes with a getting an education.” membership to Carolina AAA and

The idea of Cars for College was warranty. was identified as a primary factor Those students interested in the in students not completing program may apply through the educational programs or NCWorks Career Center, which continuing enrollment in degree will assess the students’ needs, programs. The goal of this resources, and work history, and program is to assure that low- provide counseling regarding income working students have training, employment, and job access to safe, legal, affordable, placement services. LCC advisors and dependable vehicles to get will collaborate with the student them to college and work instead and NCWorks personnel to of purchasing a one-way ticket for get the student enrolled in the every stop they make on the local appropriate academic program bus service or having to depend that meets the student’s career on someone else for a ride to goals. The student will agree campus or the workplace. to complete the degree or

Despite COVID-19, the program eligible to purchase a car through launched during the spring the program. carries a six-month 6,000-mile certificate program and then be being acquired by the LCC Not only was Shackleford the

Foundation. As an integral first recipient of a vehicle, but part of their program of study, he also successfully passed his the LCC Automotive Systems commercial driver’s license (CDL)

Technology program students, truck driving test, something he under the direction of a certified has dreamed of doing since he

Automotive Service Excellence was a child. His late grandfather (ASE) Master Technician, will was a truck driver as well as his diagnose and make any needed uncle. “I just knew that is what repairs. After all repairs are I wanted to do, drive a big rig, completed, the vehicle will but I didn’t have the money to enroll in a truck driver training program.”

A hard worker with his own landscaping business, Shackleford connected with the LCC Foundation again to assist with tuition and testing fees. After enrolling and attending class, the coronavirus put a halt to continuing in the program for a short time, but in June, he returned to the classroom and to the big rig to successfully complete the driving portion. He hopes to be driving locally.

“This is what it is all about, helping someone improve their life and I am so happy that Lenoir Community College could help Devan fulfill his dream of driving a truck,” LCC President Dr. Rusty Hunt said. “For him to pass his CDL test and to find out he qualifies for the Cars for College program, we are all so happy that everything came together. It could not have been possible without the generosity of John McNairy and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The award is making a significant difference to our students and to the communities we serve by assisting those who may not have an opportunity to get an education and training because of transportation and financial barriers. We are appreciative of John and his family’s continuous support of the College and its Foundation and excited about this initiative that will help our students in achieving a more productive future.”