First dual credit student to receive two AA’s at NTCC graduates high school

Eighteen-year old Jessie Parchman, Chapel Hill senior, has the distinction of being the first dual credit senior student to receive more than one associate degree at NTCC. Parchman graduated Chapel Hill high with a GPA of 3.9, and graduated NTCC with an Associate of Arts in Psychology and an Associate of Science in Biomedical Science.

Parchman is a lady of many firsts. She was the first public high school student to be in the NTCC Honors Program in which she performed in the recent show on Carroll Shelby called “Pedal to the Metal”, playing the part of Shelby’s first wife. She is also the first NTCC student to speak at the National Council of Undergraduate Research where she described the “Sudden Surge of the 1970’s” involving the transition from past to modern and future healthcare in Texas.

Parchman attended a weeklong virtual seminar over Public Policy in January, meeting women from the White House, Capitol Hill, leading nonprofit organizations, and others who influence public policy in Congress, courts, federal agencies, the private sector policy researchers, and advocacy organizations. Parchman won a scholarship to attend this seminar through the Texas Women’s University—Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy. She was not only the first person from this region to attend the Public Leadership Education Network Conference (PLEN), but also the youngest to win the scholarship.

Holding memberships in Phi Theta Kappa, Psi Beta, and the Student Government Association, Parchman was awarded the Hites Transfer Scholarship, provided through Phi Theta Kappa. Only ten students worldwide are awarded this extremely prestigious honor with a monetary value of $7,500.

“I’ve worked closely with Jessie as a dual credit student. She has been very diligent in her studies, and we are proud of her accomplishments at NTCC. Jessie is a great example of a high school student taking full advantage of the educational opportunities available to her. We wish her the best in the future,” Dr. Miles Young, NTCC Director of Dual Credit and Distance Education, said.

Parchman credits her parents with much of her success, saying that the time and resources that they devoted to her has encouraged her to see how much she can achieve. But her two-year old sister, Jadie, has also been an inspiration. Parchman hopes to be both an example, and a means of helping her sister to be the best she can be.

During her senior year, Parchman attended the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention, Catalyst 2022, in Colorado. She presented a speech on the subject of human slavery and trafficking and organ harvesting. This has been a deeply-rooted issue for Parchman, as her mother was involved in aiding minors through the CASA organization. Parchman remembers a specific incident involving a teen mom and her child both of whom her mother represented as a CASA volunteer. The situation left an impression on Parchman that she has not forgotten.

Parchman plans to continue her studies by attending Lions College in Arkansas, majoring in Biomedical Science and continuing to medical school, while minoring in psychology or other study that will further her ability to aid others. She plans to pursue a career in genetics and epidemiology, focusing on diseases amongst different ethnicities, especially Native American Indian healthcare.

But she hopes to use this as an opportunity to provide more awareness of human slavery and trafficking. Parchman explained that, while physical marks may not be as evident, the psychological marks of slavery and trafficking need to be recognized. She wants to bring awareness to these indications and assist the victims of these abusive situations.

Reminiscing about her high school experiences, Parchman said the hardest class was organic chemistry, and the labs were the worst part of it. She added that some of it was fun, however, such as discovering how to make nylon.

Parchman’s most entertaining memory was in PTK during a gala event complete with fancy dresses and dancing. One of the songs, “Time of Our Lives”, was playing and she and a couple friends, knowing the lyrics, put on an impromptu performance to the delight of the rest of the classmates.

Her schedule was a long day: up at 6 a.m., morning hours spent at college, back to the high school for an hour or so, and then back to the college until seven or nine in the evening. She also took a summer course in chemistry in the 2020-2021 school year.

This summer she plans to take a course in phlebotomy, EMT, or some other course that will further her goals.

Through healthcare and eventually a nonprofit organization, Parchman hopes to combine healthcare and awareness and do more to assist the victims of human trafficking.