Wall of Honor – 2025
The President’s Wall of Honor spotlights young YHC alumni who have gone on to do extraordinary things and continue the Mountain Lion tradition of success. Each fall, we accept nominations for young alumni with creative and innovative careers that positively impact their communities and the world.
View the 2025 Wall of Honor alumni below!
Durham Harris
Originally from Gainesville, GA, Durham graduated from YHC in 2016 with a degree in Outdoor Leadership. From there, he went on to Emory University to obtain his Master of Theological Studies degree in 2018. Durham didn’t stop there; he went even further, earning his title Doctor of Ministry from Vanderbilt University in 2024.
Durham is currently a Hospital Chaplain and Certified Ethicist at Mercy Health in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He has made incredible achievements within his career, one of which being a key team member in developing the Gero-6, an evidence-based spiritual health assessment for persons living in long-term care facilities. He is also an active researcher exploring the interplay between moral injury, spiritual health, end-of-life care, palliative care, and ethics.
Durham valued his time at YHC, stating, “I love the community, the close relationships developed with not only fellow students but professors as well. The depth to which I grew in self-awareness and cultivated a sense of vocation is explicitly tied to the community I found at YHC. Any good I might put into this world will certainly bear the fingerprint of my friends and mentors from Young Harris.”
Durham’s life outside of his career often involves the outdoors, and anything he hasn’t done in the wilderness is on his to-do list!
Emma Brown
Emma Brown graduated from Young Harris College in December 2018 with a degree in Education Management through the Interdisciplinary Studies track. After graduation, Emma pursued a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling with a concentration in Transition Studies from the University of Alabama, where she graduated in December 2022 as a STAR Scholarship Recipient. This special interdisciplinary program is designed to foster collaboration between Special Education teachers and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, creating a curriculum focused on helping students with disabilities transition from high school to their next step in life.
Emma is now a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Tennessee and is a co-founder of Imagine Foundry, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide a space where families can imagine, design, and create their ideas together while learning through hands-on exploration.
In 2024, Emma was nominated for Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor of the Year and was awarded the Vocational Rehabilitation Customer Service Award. This year, she received the IPS Vocational Rehabilitation Team Member of the Year Award.
Emma’s time at YHC was pivotal.
She shares, “No matter what kind of day I was having, I could look up and find a friendly face, whether it be from staff, students, or professors. I met some of my best friends at Young Harris, and I am thankful for those lifelong relationships daily. These friendships and relationships certainly made a positive impact on my life and my career choice. I’m forever grateful to be a Mountain Lion.”
Kenneth Boykin
A student from Columbus, Georgia, Kenneth graduated from Young Harris College in 2018 with a degree in Music Education.
Kenneth has since furthered his education, attending Georgia College & State University, where he obtained his Master of Music Education in the summer of 2024.
Kenneth has been living out his passion as the Chorus Director at Harris County Carver Middle School, where he grew the program from just 17 students to over 100! He has established multiple ensembles and consistently earns superior ratings at evaluations. He even founded the school’s Adaptive Music Program, fully integrating students with exceptionalities into mainstream choral ensembles. Recently, Kenneth earned the title of Teacher of the Year!
Kenneth is a powerful voice for youth choral programs.
He has presented at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference (“From Instructions to IEPs: Creating an Adaptive Music Program”) alongside Dr. Shelley Sanderson (YHC) and Ms. Stephanie Justen. He serves on the GaDOE Fine Arts Advisory Council, influencing arts education policy and curriculum statewide.
He has served in statewide and regional leadership roles, including: GMEA District 3 Chair (2020–2024), representing 11 school districts; GMEA DEIA Choral Chair (2021–2023); District 3 Middle School Honor Choir Organizer (2024–Present); Member of the GaDOE Fine Arts Advisory Council (2023–Present); Jr. Beta Sponsor, HCCMS (2024–Present); and Co-Music Director for HCCMS/HCHS Theatre Productions (2022–Present). He was also awarded the Arnold Magnet Academy Teacher of the Month in 2019.
He is also an incredibly active alumnus and representative of Young Harris College as a member of the Trustee Advisory Council, an active class coordinator, and a mentor for the Young Harris College Mentorship Program.
For his efforts, he was awarded the Young Harris College Young Alumni Award in 2024.
In his little spare time, Kenneth also regularly serves as choir director and pianist for local churches, fostering community connections through worship music.
When asked to reflect on his time at YHC, Kenneth stated, “What I love most about Young Harris College is the deep sense of community and belonging it gave me. YHC was one of the first places where I truly felt seen, supported, and encouraged to grow not just as a musician or educator, but as a person. The faculty, staff, and friends I met there believed in me even before I fully believed in myself. That culture of care and connection shaped the way I now lead my own students: with high expectations, compassion, and unwavering belief in their potential.”
Above all else, Kenneth loves his family and spending time hosting and cooking meals together. He also enjoys catching a Broadway performance whenever possible!
Nicole McDermott
Originally from Alpharetta, GA, Nicole graduated from Young Harris College in 2016 with a degree in Business and Public Policy with a concentration in Economics. From the Enchanted Valley, Nicole went on to further her education, earning a master’s degree in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University as well as a master’s degree in Applied Intelligence from Georgetown University. She did not stop there—Nicole then attended the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security to obtain a Homeland Defense and Security Emergency Certificate, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned a certificate in Design Thinking.
Nicole is currently the Chief of Staff for the District of Columbia National Guard. She has served in various capacities for DC’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, supporting more than 100 incidents and special events. She has led critical operations on the Mayor’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team, contributing to DC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic; provided strategy and leadership to the District’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, addressing increased gun violence following the pandemic; and oversaw the establishment of a Migrant Service System to support migrants transported from the southern border to the District of Columbia. She is also proudly serving with the DC National Guard on the DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
In her spare time, Nicole goes above and beyond as a ServeDC volunteer, Integrity Children’s Fund participant, and DC ChalleNGe Academy mentor.
Nicole truly feels that YHC prepared her for her future, stating, “Professor Todd Jones taught a course in Crisis Leadership that served as the catalyst for my exploration of public service. Without his mentorship, as well as the mentorship of Dr. Whitney Buser and many others, I would likely not be serving the nation in the capacity I am now.”
In Nicole’s limited spare time, she enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, watercolor painting, and reading.
Parker Sewell
Originally from Mandeville, Louisiana, Parker graduated from Young Harris College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He currently serves as Lead Project Manager for Architecture & Engineering at WSP USA, Inc., where he manages design teams for multi-million-dollar projects across both the public and private sectors, including critical infrastructure for federal and state agencies.
Parker has led project designs for several notable WSP initiatives, such as the rehabilitation of Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial in Put-In-Bay, Ohio, for the National Park Service; the expansion of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Henske Visitor Center in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the development of the Southern Maine Readiness Center in Saco, Maine, for the Maine National Guard Bureau. His work also includes leading the design of the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge Steamer Diamond Boat Launch improvements in Errol, New Hampshire, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Westover Air Reserve Base Hangar 1 & 7 Barrel Roof Replacement in Westover, Massachusetts, for the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command; and the State of Maine DEP Historic Ray Building renovation in Augusta, Maine, for the State of Maine Bureau of General Services.
In addition to his work as a design project manager, Parker continues to apply his Biology background through environmental remediation efforts for numerous confidential clients throughout the Northeast. His work includes assisting in the design of environmental landfill caps, remediation of contaminated project sites, and redevelopment of remediated areas. By blending scientific knowledge with engineering and project management expertise, Parker makes a tangible impact on both the built environment and the communities he serves.
Through his company, Parker participates in numerous community service events throughout the year, including local park, beach, and trail clean-ups. His dedication to environmental stewardship extends beyond his professional work, reflecting his ongoing commitment to sustainability and community impact.
Parker reflects on his time at YHC, sharing,
“The thing I love most about YHC is the effort that each and every professor puts into their class subjects and the core focus on critical thinking and writing that is imparted on all students at YHC. These core elements of a liberal arts education have allowed me to enter a career field in which I do not have a formal education, but through the skills and values I obtained at YHC, I have been able to step in and excel. I will always be thankful for my education, the leadership opportunities presented to me—such as serving as Student Government Association President and Spat Club President—and the lifelong friends I still stay in touch with daily that I met at YHC. Finally, I am thankful for the opportunity it gave me to meet my wife and best friend, Jordan.”
When Parker is not working, he enjoys exploring the mountains of Maine with his wife, Jordan, golfing, and spending time out on the ocean.
Come visit the wall in-person near the Admissions area, on the second floor of the Rollins Campus Center or explore our new digital experience.
Check out the digitized Wall of Honor for 2024.
