Byron Umana
Myers Park High School and CPCC
Congratulations to Byron, a CIS graduate who received his high school diploma from Myers Park High School in June – AND his associate’s degree from Central Piedmont Community College! Byron participated in the dual-enrollment program at Myers Park, which allows students to take high school courses while simultaneously taking college courses at CPCC at no cost. This is a challenging program but an excellent opportunity for high-achieving students like Byron and those who want to get a head start on their undergraduate degree.
Byron says it was the support from his CIS Site Coordinator at Myers Park, Ms. Stacey Weinstein, that made it possible for him to participate fully in the dual-enrollment program. Having to use unreliable public transportation from Myers Park to CPCC’s campus and then home was creating a great deal of stress for Byron.
“When I explained my situation to Ms. Weinstein, she didn’t hesitate to find a solution,” said Byron. “She connected me to a generous donor who provided Uber gift cards, which was a huge relief to my stress. Having control over my transportation allowed me to spend more time on campus and take advantage of the many leadership opportunities and experiences CPCC offered.”
As it turned out, Byron was selected for multiple leadership positions in clubs at CPCC, such as Vice-President of the Photography Club, Community Outreach Chair for Rotaract, and Public Information Officer for the Green Club and the History Club. He also served as a photographer and steering committee member of the Youth Climate Summit, which included planning an art exhibit at UNC-Charlotte.
“My time at CPCC was both challenging and exciting, and I’m most proud of earning my associate’s degree simultaneously with my high school diploma,” Byron said. “But none of it would have been possible without Ms. Weinstein’s support.”
“When I first joined CIS, I had no idea how much the organization and my Site Coordinator would mean to me,” Byron added. “I met Ms. Weinstein when I was going through a very chaotic and stressful time in my life. She became a trusted person I could talk to about anything that was on my mind and she made me feel seen and supported. CIS not only helped me with my academics, but also provided support in other areas of my life.”
This fall, Byron is continuing his education at N.C. State University, which he first visited on a campus tour with CIS. Byron is thriving and in his element, excited to be pursuing projects that bridge technology, the environment/sustainability, and social justice. Currently he is working alongside N.C. State faculty and the A.I. Institute for CLIMATE (Climate-Land Interactions, Mitigation, Adaptation, Trade-offs, and Economy), helping to create clean and safe communities for minority groups. Byron also plans to engage in research aligned with N.C. State’s mission for a sustainable future by exploring the conversion of waste into carbon resources. Outside of school, Byron dreams of traveling and exploring the world by working with National Geographic and continuing to bring awareness to climate issues.
Bryon, we see you and are so proud of you! N.C. State University – and the world! – is fortunate to have your intelligence, passion, and caring heart!
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