Congratulations to Mariah Woody, who graduates with honors from North Carolina A&T State University (NCA&TSU) on Saturday, May 14, 2016.
Mariah’s journey to great achievements started as early as age 6, where she began dance classes at Julie Art School of Dance on the weekends in Vinton VA. While attending the Presbyterian Community Center’s (PCC) after-school program, she began volunteering throughout her middle and high school years. Upon joining the Ministry in Motion Dance group, she began participating in various church activities throughout the city. In her high school days at Patrick Henry High School (PHHS), Mariah participated in many activities such as musical plays, the Gospel Choir, danced in Winter Guard, and participated in a fashion show. She also attended the dance academy with Ms. Wagner and Mr. Rittenhouse in the Performing Arts department while maintaining Advanced Placement (AP) classes throughout high school. Her volunteer work earned her a Class Ring presented by Roanoke Mayor David Bowers during a special honors ceremony with the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) through PCC.
Mariah, in her sophomore year at PHHS (2011), was granted an opportunity to attend a new Early College Program initiated at Virginia Western Community College (VWCC). Mariah’s interest steered her to study in the fields of Mechatronics, Engineering, and Technology. She excelled in her classes at VWCC while attending high school. A month prior to her high school graduation (June 2013), Mariah received Associates Degree in Machatronics Engineering from VWCC, and at the end, obtaining two academic honors at the same time. Subsequently, in January 2014, Mariah began classes at North Carolina A&T State University, where she has maintained a 3.6 GPA, remaining on the Dean’s List. During summer break 2014, she worked as an intern at Foot Levelers in Roanoke, VA, learning about the company’s manufacturing operation process on customized orthotic & rehab products. In January of this year, Mariah was chosen to be in John Deere’s Lean Academy (internship).
On Friday, May 6, 2016, Mariah received the Outstanding Senior Award for her department of Applied Engineering Technology and later was offered an opportunity to receive a scholarship to attend Purdue University in Indiana. She had other options but instead, chose to attend The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering program with acceptance of a scholarship through NC A&T. Mariah will be graduating on May 14, 2016, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Engineering Technology.
Her numerous awards include Dean’s List (2014-16) throughout her studies at NCA&TSU; Society of Plastic Technology (secretary 2015-16); “Miss Woman in Technology (2015-16); Certified: Lean Manufacture engineer (John Deere); a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (The Boeing Company); TAU Sigma National Honor Society (transfer student 2014); both National and University Honor Societies, and Magna cum laude student.
Mariah is the daughter of Sonya and Maurice Woody and granddaughter of Frank Jr. and Carolyn Jones, all of Roanoke VA. Her (paternal) grandparents are Laura and Aaron Smedley of West Virginia.
She expresses the most profound gratitude to all family members, teachers, friends, and many other mentors who encouraged her in many ways to reach such goals.
