SANFORD - Kay B. Faucette, Facility Coordinator for the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, has been awarded the Lula M. Burrell Educational Office Professional of the Year 2016-2017 by the N.C. Association of Educational Office Professionals, Inc. The award was presented on Thursday, March 23, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem.

Faucette is the fifth person from Central Carolina Community College to win the award. Previous winners were Gloria Cheatham (2007), Polly Bouldin (2010), Linda Spivey (2012), and Martha Wilkie (2016).

"What a monumental statewide recognition Kay has been awarded. I am so proud of her," said David A. Foster, Director of the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. "She is so helpful and dedicated in all that she does. Assisting and helping to plan and coordinate nearly 1,000 events annually, from community college activities to corporate to non-profit and private events, she is a tremendous asset to our community and community college. Kay is such a valued member of our crew at the Civic Center. I am so honored to work beside her and our entire team of hard-working staff that assist from planning to executing all our events year-round."

Faucette, who has served nearly 16 years in her current position, said she was thrilled about winning the award. "Very honored and humbled to represent North Carolina as 2016-2017 EOP of the Year," she said.

Faucette has been an active member of the CCCC Educational Office Professionals organization, having served as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, as well as on various committees.

"Our EOP Unit has the same attributes as my parents instilled in me," said Faucette. "From loving parents on a working farm, I learned important words of wisdom such as relationships, integrity, to be fair and consistent with the chores and tasks that were expected from a child of my parents. The relationship of love learned at an early age has guided me to relationships of childhood to lifelong friends, church friends, working colleagues, and groups with the same goal in mind to help others.

"Our Central Carolina Community College Educational Office Professional Unit is a small group of ladies with the strong, close-knit relationship that strives to fulfill the dreams of college students by providing funds for scholarship," said Faucette.

"We must live with good in our hearts and strive to always do the right thing in situations to have integrity for our lives. If you have it, integrity will shine," she said.

Faucette is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Sanford, is a Notary Public, has completed American Red Cross Shelter Training and CPR/AED Certification, has completed Sanford Leadership through the local Chamber of Commerce, serves as secretary for the Hawkins Run Property Owners Association, and has participated on the Small Business Expo Committee (2008-2013).

Faucette is married to Bill Faucette.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit the college website at www.cccc.edu. For more information on the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, visit the Civic Center website at www.dawcc.com.