When Vance-Granville Community College’s employees gathered for their annual holiday social on December 19, they expected several annual service awards to be presented—but one award took even the College’s highest leader by surprise.
VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais believed State Representative Frank Sossamon (NC 32) had attended the event as a guest of the College’s Board of Trustees. However, when she invited him to give some opening remarks, she quickly discovered his real reason for being there: presenting her with the Old North State Award on behalf of Governor Roy Cooper.
According to the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources website, the Old North State Award is presented by the governor to recognize “dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the Great State of North Carolina.” Individuals who have at least 20 years of service in the State of North Carolina may be nominated. One of the highest honors the State bestows, the Old North State Award is named after the state’s official song.
Sossamon, who has represented much of VGCC’s service area since January 2023, has had the opportunity to witness Dr. Desmarais’s impact from the perspectives of a both a longtime Vance County resident as well as a local elected official.
“Her accomplishments are many, and her commitment to invest in every person is inspiring,” Sossamon observed. “It is an honor to grant the Old North State Award to Dr. Rachel Desmarais, which complements her work, investment, and passion to serve others.”
A Legacy of Service
Desmarais’s path to two decades of service to the State would not have been obvious when she started her career. After earning her bachelor’s degree in music, she transitioned to IT-related work. That expertise eventually led to her becoming Department Chair of Information Technology Programs at Forsyth Technical Community College (FTCC) in June 2002. She served at FTCC in various capacities for nearly 17 years before becoming VGCC’s seventh president in 2019.
Since assuming the presidency of Vance-Granville, Dr. Desmarais has shown herself to be a creative and engaged leader. After guiding the College through the challenges of 2020, she continued seeking out new ways to support students’ success both inside and outside the classroom. Not only has she forged new institutional partnerships and championed new programs that lead to fulfilling careers, but she has also been directly involved in initiatives that support students’ holistic needs.
Earlier in 2024, Desmarais also received the Women in Business Award from Triangle Business Journal.
Dr. Rachel Desmarais’s receipt of the Old North State Award highlights the profound impact of her leadership and dedication over two decades of service to North Carolina. This well-deserved recognition underscores her commitment to developing strong communities where everyone experiences a fulfilling quality of life.
