NEW BERN – The Craven Community College (Craven CC) Foundation announces the recipients of the 16th annual Community Fabric Awards (CFA), an event that celebrates leadership excellence and service throughout the region. This year’s recipients are Chuck Tyson for Individual Leadership, Hearne’s Fine Jewelry for Business Leadership and Kelsie McBride for Educational Leadership.
Created by the Craven CC Foundation, the CFAs recognize individuals and organizations whose initiative, service and dedication help strengthen the social and economic fabric of the community. The 2026 recipients will be honored during the CFA awards ceremony on Monday, April 28 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County.
“It’s an honor to recognize this year’s outstanding group of recipients,” said Charles Wethington, Craven CC’s executive director of Institutional Advancement. “Each of these honorees has made a lasting impact through leadership, service and a deep commitment to our community. We look forward to celebrating their stories at this year’s event.”
Chuck Tyson will receive the Individual Leadership Award for his decades of dedicated public service in Craven County. Tyson began his leadership journey as a commissioner for the Town of Trent Woods before serving eight years as a Craven County commissioner. During that time, he helped guide significant projects including the development of the county convention center and improvements to the regional airport. Tyson is now concluding 20 years as mayor of Trent Woods, a tenure marked by community improvements such as sidewalks, parks and the construction of a new town hall.
The Business Leadership Award will be presented to Hearne’s Fine Jewelry, a respected, family-owned business established in the early 1970s by Laura Hearne. Today, the business continues as a multigenerational family operation with Mike and Michelle Hearne and their daughter Madison. Known for exceptional customer service and strong community involvement, Hearne’s has been part of countless milestone moments for families throughout the region and remains a cornerstone of the local business community.
Kelsie McBride, director of nursing programs at Craven CC, will receive the Educational Leadership Award. McBride is recognized for her dedication to nursing education and her commitment to serving others. Through her work at the college, she helps prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. She is also active in the community through service with the Merci Clinic, the Monarch Human Rights Committee and volunteer health initiatives that provide care to underserved populations.
All three recipients will be honored during the CFA ceremony. Funds raised through event sponsorships and ticket purchases support the Craven CC Foundation’s programs as well as equipment, facilities and emerging initiatives of the college.
Special thanks to this year’s presenting sponsors CarolinaEast Health System and Ward & Smith, P.A.
For more information, contact Wethington at 252-638-7351 or wethingc@cravencc.edu. Tickets are available for purchase at cravencc.edu/CFA.
