For Michael Alsip, the path to success has been defined by determination, growth, and purpose.
A recipient of the First Citizens Bank Scholarship for the 2025–2026 academic year, Alsip is pursuing a degree in Information Technology: Cybersecurity at Pitt Community College. Drawn to PCC for its nationally-certified program and affordability, he is building the skills needed to compete in a fast-growing field, with career goals focused on networking and security.
Alsip’s professional journey was inspired in part by his mother, whose successful IT career showed him what was possible. But his story reaches far beyond career influence. Before enrolling at PCC, Alsip worked as a welder and spent more than a decade battling addiction. After moving to North Carolina at age 35, he made a life-changing decision to pursue a new path.
“I never considered myself intelligent,” Alsip said. “However, I had grit, tenacity, and a passion for solving problems.”
Those qualities have propelled him forward. Today, he ranks among the top students in his class and gives back by serving as a mentor for other men in the community.
Alsip credits PCC faculty member Shelley Allen for playing a key role in his success, particularly in helping him navigate online coursework and grow academically.
He describes his “superpower” as his story—one rooted in resilience and hope—and he uses it to encourage others to believe in their own potential.
With the support of the First Citizens Bank Scholarship, Alsip is pursuing his goals with confidence and seeing his dreams come to fruition.
“This opportunity validates all the hard work over the last several years,” he said. “Having a community that has supported this endeavor has been one of the most humbling and rewarding journeys of my life. This selfless generosity is what fuels me to wake up and strive for excellence every single day.”