Sarah Kirby and Sabrina Woolard, pictured with FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells, were awarded Health Care Heroes scholarships on Nov. 13, 2025.
Two FTCC students were recognized for their academic accomplishments this month, earning scholarships at Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s Third Annual Health Care Heroes Awards.
Sarah Kirby, a Surgical First Assistant student, and Sabrina Woolard, a first-semester Nursing student, were each awarded $500 to use toward their education. The pair were on hand to accept the recognition at the Health Care Heroes Awards ceremony Nov. 13.
Kirby, who graduated from FTCC’s Surgical Technology Program before enrolling as a SFA student, balances work and school. She maintains a 4.0 GPA while working in the operating room at Cape Fear Valley Health’s Betsy Johnson Hospital.
Additionally, she serves as a preceptor for FTCC Surgical Technology students, providing mentorship, guidance and hands-on training to the next generation of surgical technologists.
Dr. Terry Herring, Division Chair of Surgical Services, nominated Kirby for the scholarship, highlighting her leadership and commitment to the surgical profession.
“Ms. Kirby’s commitment to patient safety, teamwork, and lifelong learning embodies the highest standards of surgical excellence and reflects the quality of education and leadership fostered at FTCC,” Dr. Herring wrote. “She represents the next generation of advanced surgical professionals who are making a meaningful impact in our region’s healthcare community.”
Woolard has also taken on a leadership role, despite being in her first semester in FTCC’s Nursing program.
She’s active in the Student Nurses’ Association, volunteering for a number of college and community events, including the Nursing program’s long-running “Bear-Stuffing” event, in which students create weighted bears to help grieving families cope with fetal demise.
Prior to starting the Nursing program, Woolard gained experience as a Nursing Assistant I and a Registered Medical Assistant and has used her experience to help her peers as they develop new clinical skills.
Dean of Nursing Dr. Sharon Gallagher, in her nomination letter, praised Woolard’s “deep sense of empathy and purpose,” noting those qualities extend beyond the classroom.
“Sabrina truly embodies the spirit of a Health Care Hero—a caregiver who faces adversity with courage, advocates for others, and serves with compassion and integrity,” Dr. Gallagher said. “She approaches each experience with professionalism, compassion, and a genuine desire to uplift others.”
