As the first college graduate in his family, Caldwell Early College High School senior Marco Leonardo Chumbimuni knows the importance of his accomplishment. Not just for himself, but also for his younger brother and his relatives in his parents’ native country.
“I’m representing what perseverance, what courage and what challenging yourself will get you to,” he said. “Community College taught me that. You see the diversity of people, the mentality of people from different backgrounds. It makes you know that you’re representing something that could help others.”
That perseverance and courage has paid off as Chumbimuni has been chosen as Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s 2017 Academic Excellence Award winner. He was presented a medal and plaque at Wednesday’s CCC&TI Board of Trustees meeting on the Caldwell Campus in Hudson. The annual award, which is presented by each of the state’s 58 community colleges, is chosen based on faculty nominations and academic achievement.
“Marco always gives his best in every situation,” said Candis Hagaman, Principal of Caldwell Early College High School. “Marco has embraced the unique opportunities afforded to Caldwell Early College High School students by immersing himself in college experiences on the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute campus as well as excelling in all his classes. We are very proud of his success.”
For the committee, it was a combination of his academic record and his extracurricular service that made the difference.
“What made him stand out to committee members is his college and community service,” said Jeff Link, Academic Excellence Committee Chairman. “He is familiar to so many people on campus because of all the activities and clubs in which he is involved at CCC&TI.”
Chumbimuni, the son of Peruvian immigrants and a life-long resident of Lenoir, N.C., will graduate with honors in May from the Caldwell Early College High School and with Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees from CCC&TI. His next step is to study pre-med and psychology. His goal is to complete medical school with a focus on trauma, emergency medicine and neurology. So far, he’s applied to Johns Hopkins, UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgetown, Lenoir-Rhyne and Northern Illinois. He’s also considering N.C. State and UNC-Asheville.
During his time at CCC&TI, he has worked as a tutor, was an officer in the Science Club, was a member of the National Society of Leadership & Success, and served on the Student Government Association. He’s also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Beta Club.
