<p>James Tillman Cockerham, center, a student at Surry Community College, is recognized Monday afternoon for being the 2013 recipient of its Academic Excellence Award, by Dr. David Shockley, the school's president, and Deirdre Rogers, who chairs the SCC Board of Trustees. Cockerham, the son of Ron and Susan Cockerham of Mount Airy, was recommended for the honor by faculty members. After leaving SCC, the student with an academic interest in biostatistics will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel with plans to enroll in medical school. Cockerham was the first transfer student to be accepted by UNC for his chosen course of study, in a program in which only 10 students were accepted altogether.</p>
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