Video: Excellence within reach: Brian Woodard

Brian Woodard, who serves as the senior assistant director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, talks directly to camera about his experiences attending UNC-Chapel Hill. Woodard is shown in his office and walking around campus, as well as in photographs from his high school and college days.

“I grew up in Snow Camp, North Carolina. It's a small little town, very rural. My mother pulled tobacco. My dad worked in textiles his whole life. He didn't have much more than a ninth grade education. Thinking about college was a kind of a daunting task. Not really knowing what to do or really how to consider it. I really didn't know what I wanted to do after I graduated high school.”

“If nothing else, I was going to go to a two year school. And so I started with carpentry at Alamance Community College, and I can't cut straight. Still can't do it even with technology. And so started taking courses that were just interesting to me. First heard about C step during my second year at the community college. This opportunity would guarantee you a spot at Chapel Hill, and that they would meet your demonstrated need based on your financial aid.”

“I was very surprised when I talked with folks about kind of the access that Chapel Hill offers, and when they mentioned being a public institution, they are talking about the entire public of North Carolina and not just a subset. I was chosen as a Carolina Covenant Scholar, and this opened up huge avenues as far as not having to worry about the cost.”

“When I graduated from Carolina. Financially, I did not have any student loans. I discovered my passion really, when I was able to work with incoming transfer students as an undergraduate, as a peer mentor. That motivated me to apply to the School of Education here at Chapel Hill for their school counseling, Master's of Education program. The C step program was expanding, and I was able to receive a position as the C Step Program coordinator.”

“As a state employee, my focus is first and foremost on the people of North Carolina. There are opportunities that we can make the world a better place. One compliment at a time, one step at a time, and just being able to assist folks in meeting them where they are. You can achieve things that you have never thought about or things that you may not have considered.”

“When you have those folks who are there to kind of not give you a handout, but kind of give you a hand up. There's very many pathways to Chapel Hill. It's not one singular pathway. There's not one type of person that can get into Chapel Hill. We try to work with everyone.”

Text graphics appear on screen:

82% of C-STEP students graduate from Carolina.

14 North Carolina community colleges partner with Carolina for C-STEP.

1,200 students have participated in C-STEP since 2006.

Excellence within reach. Visit: excellence.unc.edu.