Reece Hawk Transferred to UNC as a Senior After Dual Enrollment at CFCC

When Reece Hawk first stepped onto Cape Fear Community College’s campus as a high school junior, he never imagined how far that decision would take him.

“My sister, who is six years older than me, told me dual enrollment was one of the smartest things she ever did,” Reece said. “So I dove in, taking four classes each semester and through the summers. By the time I graduated from New Hanover High School, I had 64 college credits under my belt.”

Finding His Confidence and Community

For Reece, CFCC was more than a place to earn credits. It was where he found his footing and his voice.

“I had a great time at CFCC. The small classes catered to how I like to learn,” he said. “I’m someone who learns best in a conversational environment. I like when everyone is learning from each other and getting feedback from the teacher in real time.”

That same environment helped Reece grow outside of the classroom, too. He served as the 2023–2024 Phi Theta Kappa Carolinas Regional President and was named a 2024 Coca-Cola New Century Scholar.

“When I first started, I only joined PTK for my resume,” Reece admitted. “But I started attending board meetings, and one of the old presidents told me I needed to run for a position. So I did. We traveled across North and South Carolina, advocating for Phi Theta Kappa and raising awareness. Those people are like family to me.”

Balancing High School and College on His Terms

Reece emphasized how CFCC’s course flexibility allowed him to balance high school and college coursework.

“I could choose when I wanted to take classes, even at night,” Reece shared. “In high school, you just get your blocks. But at CFCC, you can build your schedule around your life.”

Transferring to UNC as a Senior

After completing his associate degree, Reece transferred to UNC Chapel Hill to major in Economics. Because of his dual enrollment credits, he entered as a senior.

“At UNC, some undergrad general education classes have 300 students,” Reece explained. “When I started, I jumped straight into my major courses.”

“I’ll be graduating three years early and spending probably a quarter of what I would have had I not done dual enrollment.”

Landing a Job Through a Chance Encounter

With graduation from UNC just around the corner, Reece is stepping into a career with one of Raleigh’s top development firms thanks to a chance encounter in a class he almost didn’t take.

“It was a historic preservation night class. The professor was listed as TBA. Turns out, he’s the president of one of Raleigh’s biggest private landlords and developers. He liked my work ethic in class and offered me a job.”

Looking Back on CFCC

Ultimately, Reece said CFCC gave him a launchpad.

“Taking college courses at Cape Fear built my confidence. I had already proven I was capable of taking high-level classes. I came into UNC knowing I belonged.”