THE NC NATIONAL GUARD’S response to Hurricane Helene was the longest in its history. Like many Spartans, Major SaQuang Lam, assistant director of student health services at UNCG and longtime member of the National Guard, answered the call to help. He was activated to Avery County and led missions around Grandfather Mountain.

At UNCG, over 8% of enrolled students are military-affiliated, and the University continues to be recognized as a Top 10 Military-Friendly School. Many current students participated in recovery efforts through the National Guard.

Corporal Carisma Schoen had just begun her first semester, but she was ready to answer the call. “The way I was raised was very service-oriented,” she says. “If you’re going to get a job done, you better work your hardest.” 

Private First Class Lamin Nyeekpee says that, for him, giving back feels natural. “I’m from Liberia, West Africa. I’ve seen poverty, so I understand what it’s like when you lose your home, or you lose a lot of resources you were used to.” 

Nyeekpee delivered water to daycares and preschools, then worked in a “silo” – a place where people could drive up and get resources. “We’d stay out there from seven in the morning to seven at night,” he says. “People would see that, and they would be thankful.”  

Specialist Foday Mami had similar experiences during Helene. “We would go on missions to get supplies to the pod sites where people needed them. You know, 500 cases of water go into this building or 600 boxes of food for this place.” 

During his time in the Bryan School, Mami has been a leader. “I’ve really enjoyed my experience and the tools and resources that the Bryan School provides to allow you to succeed in the workforce.”  

Each of these Spartans embodies what Lam himself saw in Western NC: “What struck me most was the impressive display of selfless community spirit.”