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During the COVID-19 pandemic we all have heard stories of people making a difference in their communities and our little town of Clay County is no exception. LaShea Carr was a single mother of two children who was attending Tri-County Community College obtaining her nursing degree when COVID-19 hit. While in lockdown, Carr continued her studies in nursing while assisting her two daughters with their remote education from home while, working as a phlebotomist at Union General Medical Center in Blairsville, Ga.
Carr was nominated for the Governor’s NCWorks Award of Distinction for Outstanding Adults in April by Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Specialist, Lisa Penland. The WIOA program assisted Carr through her last year of the nursing program at Tri-County Community College. She is a wonderful example of determination and perseverance in the midst of the COVID crisis. Through all the uncertainty she was elected Student Ambassador of her nursing class and tutored fellow students that were in danger of not completing the course.
Penland wanted to nominate LaShea to show that here in western North Carolina we have our own heroes. In July Penland, along with Workforce Director David Garrett of the Southwestern Commission was notified that Carr was the recipient of the 2021 Governor’s Award.
On Friday, Aug. 20 Carr was the recipient of the 2021 Governor’s NCWorks Award of Distinction for Outstanding Adult. Garrett presented Carr with an award from Governor Roy Cooper’s office and a check for $500. A luncheon was held in Carr’s honor at the Clay County Recreation Park with her family and the staff from the NCWorks Career Center in Murphy, Southwestern Commission Workforce team and Macon Program for Progress.