Greensboro, N.C. – A Durham Technical Community College graduate received the  Outstanding Alumnus of a Developmental Education Program Award from the National Association of Developmental Education (NADE). The award was given during the NADE conference in Greensboro, Feb. 26. Jesse Battle of Durham was selected from nominees throughout the nation who had once been enrolled in college Developmental Studies programs. Developmental Studies courses are geared to students who are under-prepared for college-level work. Through these courses students learn academic skills that help ensure their success. Battle previously received the statewide Outstanding Alumnus award from the North Carolina Association of Developmental Education.

As a young person, Battle fell in with a rough crowd. By middle school he was doing drugs and drinking. Later he dealt drugs and was arrested for armed robbery. While in prison at the age of 18, he received his GED, an accomplishment he was proud of. After graduating from the program sponsored by TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers) in Durham in 1997, Battle realized that education was the way to achieve success. He decided to enroll at Durham Tech.

Like many students, Battle did not do as well on the college placement test as he would have liked. He took several Developmental Education courses. “It was a huge challenge,” he recalls. “I was so nervous in the beginning.” However, he made A’s on most of his courses. While in college, Battle continued to serve as a counselor at TROSA. His academic achievements stood out and he was awarded the Glaxo-Wellcome Opportunity Scholarship. Battle graduated with a degree in Network Administration. However, he decided to make a career out of helping others beat drugs and alcohol. Today he serves as director of the men’s program at TROSA.