VGCC President honors Cosmetology department

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VGCC Cosmetology — press release

The president of Vance-Granville Community College, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, recently recognized a group of faculty members for excellence by awarding the “Vanguard Cup” to the college’s Cosmetology department.

The department became the third recipient of the cup, an honor created by Dr. Williams to recognize “exceptional team performance toward the college mission, vision and strategic plan.”

In this case, the president lauded the Cosmetology faculty for their outstanding work on promoting student success on the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners licensure exam.

“In order to help students achieve professional success, the Cosmetology department set a goal of having 90% of its students pass the state board exam,” Dr. Williams noted. “With clear strategies to accomplish this, they initiated faculty professional development to better prepare students, training videos for students, online modules for student preparation, and a mock state exam review. As a result, this past year, the department exceeded the original goal and achieved a 100% passing rate across all four VGCC campuses.”

Members of the VGCC Cosmetology faculty pose with the “Vanguard Cup.” They include, from left, instructor Wallace Evans, Warren Campus coordinator/instructor Magnolia Terry, program head/instructor Tomeka Moss and Franklin Campus coordinator/instructor Tammy Johnson-Dudding. Other instructors for the program include Vivian Smith, Rhonda Gibbs, Linda Foster, Dorothy Godfrey, Nancy Jackson, Emily Coburn and Salina Alston. (VGCC photo)

The president added, “The Cosmetology faculty are to be commended for their creativity and their commitment. The education, inspiration and support that they provide empowers students to start rewarding careers.”

“We have an exceptionally dedicated team of instructors in the VGCC Cosmetology department who work really hard to ensure our students’ success,” said Program Head Tomeka Moss, who is also a graduate of the program. “Our program’s success is without a doubt a team effort, of which I am extremely proud.”

VGCC offers diploma and certificate programs in Cosmetology, along with a Cosmetology Instructor certificate program. These curriculum programs provide competency-based knowledge, scientific/artistic principles and hands-on fundamentals associated with the cosmetology industry. Students develop their skills in a simulated salon environment at each VGCC campus, located in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. For more information, contact Tomeka Moss at (252) 738-3357.

–VGCC–

Infinite Possibilities, Inc. Offers Support/Advocacy for Victims of Abuse

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By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire

Infinite Possibilities, Inc, an advocacy group for victims of abuse, was recently on air to discuss the organization’s services and to announce upcoming events.

Founded in 2009 by CEO Kanika Turrentine, the agency provides advocacy, acts as a resource center and provides a safe haven for those who have been abused sexually or have experienced domestic violence.

The agency also provides legal advocacy by pairing court advocates with victims and working with legal aid to provide free legal representation. Hospital advocacy for victims of sexual abuse, counseling for all victims and assistance finding safe living arrangements are also provided.

With a staff of eight, Infinite Possibilities, Inc. serves victims in the five-county area, including Vance, Franklin, Warren, Granville and Halifax counties.

The agency may be reached by calling their 24-hour crisis line or in person at one of their office locations. In Vance County, the agency is located inside the Vance County Courthouse.

In fact, according to Turrentine, if a victim comes to the courthouse to file civil paperwork against their abuser, they will automatically be connected with an Infinite Possibilities, Inc. advocate.

Turrentine stresses that everything that is discussed is confidential and that staff will perform a danger assessment with the victim to determine what other agencies and departments may need to intervene.

Despite the stigma that victims of domestic and sexual violence are predominantly female, Turrentine reported that there are a fair number of male victims as well. “Domestic and sexual abuse is about power and control,” said Turrentine. “There are individuals of both genders who want to exhibit power and control over another person.”

Turrentine conservatively estimates that the agency helps 1,000 victims each year; however, this represents just a small number of those who experience abuse. “There are those who take the step and make the call, but then there are so many more who are suffering behind closed doors,” Turrentine said.

The agency measures the success of those they help by celebrating even the smallest of victories. “That step of someone actually calling the crisis line when they may have been in an abusive situation for 30 years – that’s success,” said Turrentine.

Other success stories are seen in victims who are able to find safe housing, secure employment, keep their children safe from harm and give back to their community.

“Infinite Possibilities, Inc. is just that,” Turrentine said. “There are no limits to the number of things you can accomplish when you have the right support system, the right knowledge and the right foundation.”

In honor of April being Sexual Assault Awareness month, Infinite Possibilities, Inc. is hosting several events, including:

  • A sexual assault awareness presentation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 23 at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library in Henderson and on Wednesday, April 25 at the Warren County Memorial Library. Participants may walk-through to receive information, meet advocates and ask questions. Both presentations will feature a Silent Witness Exhibit to honor the lives of those lost to abuse. The exhibit will include life-size wooden silhouettes of victims with name plaques.
  • Infinite Possibilities, Inc. encourages the community to participate in Denim Day on Wednesday, April 25. This is a nationally recognized day for all community members to make a social statement by wearing jeans as a means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual assault and sexual assault victims.

To learn more about Infinite Possibilities, Inc., please visit their website at www.infinitepossibilitiesinc.com or call (252) 431-1926.

Letters of Interest Are Due May 1, 2018

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— press release

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Offers Grant Opportunities for Health Programs

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is seeking partners to help measurably improve health in Vance, Warren, Franklin, and Granville counties. The 2018 grant cycle is now open. Letters of Interest are due May 1.

To be considered for a grant with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, you must represent a nonprofit organization, school, or governmental agency that serves the Triangle North region— Warren, Vance, Granville, and/or Franklin counties, according to the Foundation’s executive director Val Short. “Your project should fall into one of our five funding priorities, which are Chronic Disease, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Nutrition & Physical Fitness, Success in School as related to Health & Fitness, and finally, Reproductive Health,” said Short.

The first step in the grant application process is the Letter of Interest, which is actually a form, available on the online Grant Portal, and accessed via the Foundation’s website, www.tnhfoundation.org.

“We ask that anyone interested in applying for a grant should contact us first to schedule a meeting,” said Short. “We can discuss the details of a project and determine if it falls within our funding guidelines.” To schedule a meeting to discuss a potential grant project, call 252-598-0763.

Since its first grant cycle in 2013, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has awarded over $1 million in grants to a variety of programs and projects throughout the region, including the Henderson YMCA’s Save Our Kids and Girls on the Run programs, Boys & Girls Clubs’ healthy teen programs, N.C. MedAssist’s free pharmacy for the uninsured, Smart Start, and many others. A full listing of TNHF grant programs is available on the Foundation’s website.

The mission of the Foundation is “to encourage, support, and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North region.” The Foundation cannot accomplish this alone. “Through our partnerships with community organizations, formed through grantmaking, this Foundation can make a difference in the health status of our communities,” said Mrs. Short. “Please let us hear from you!” she added.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a nonprofit regional grantmaking organization based in Henderson, NC, which supports and invests in health and wellness initiatives and programs that will impact health in a positive way in Warren, Vance, Granville, and Franklin counties. Funding for the Foundation’s grantmaking was made possible by the endowment established after the merge of Maria Parham Medical Center and Duke Lifepoint.

Shepherd Youth Ranch Provides Equine Therapy to Local Children

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By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire

Shepherd Youth Ranch, located in Creedmoor, NC, pairs rescue horses that have experienced abuse and neglect with children who have also experienced trauma.

Founded by Ashely Boswell in 2004, the program relocated from just outside of Charlotte, NC to Creedmoor seven years ago to provide local youth with equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy. The ranch currently serves a 12 county area with Vance, Granville, Franklin and Wake being their most heavily served population.

Trained horse counselors work with children and their families; however, Boswell believes it is the horses themselves who do the counseling. “Our horses have a great impact on these children’s lives,” said Boswell. “They are prey animals and can really read the nonverbal cues of people and know what’s going on.”

Since the therapy involves animals, Boswell believes this helps create a non-threatening environment that allows the children to open up and express their thoughts and frustrations.

Boswell has found that most of the participants two biggest fears are the fear of abandonment and the fear of rejection. “Many of the children have been abandoned by one or both parents,” Boswell said. “Also, many of the children have a fear of bullying and being rejected.”

At first, some of the children are intimidated by the sheer size of the horses. Boswell believes that overcoming this initial fear helps build life skills, “When a child can accomplish something in spite of that fear [of horses] they can then take the skills they learned with the horse out into the world and overcome other fears.”

Participants begin with Trail 2 Success, the foundation program of the ranch. This is a 24-week intensive equine-assisted learning program. Children attend weekly sessions while their parents attend monthly multi-family sessions.

After completing the Trail 2 Success program, children can enter the Shepherd Academy program to continue their work with the horses. “Children can participate in the Shepherd Academy program for as long as they want,” said Boswell. “The goal is that they will become interns and volunteer and serve other programs as mentors for other children.”

Both the Trail 2 Success and the Shepherd Academy programs are available for children ages 7-17. The ranch also provides a therapeutic riding program for children ages 4-17 with autism.

Many of the ranch’s horses have been with the program since it was first founded. According to Boswell, the majority of the horses are from abusive situations and were purchased directly by the ranch or were rescued by more official means.

Boswell explained that while the program began with mostly court-ordered participants, the word has spread about the ranch’s services and many children are now there of their own accord.

These children are often referred by school counselors, mental health professionals, youth organizations, court counselors, teachers and parents.

One of the most satisfying outcomes of the program, according to Boswell, is the positive effect the equine therapy has on the participants’ self-esteem and suspension rates, “During and after graduating from our program, there is a 95 percent decrease in both in and out of school suspension rates and a 99 percent decrease in recidivism.”

Boswell reports that only one child has gone back into the court system after completing the program in the 14 years it has been in operation.

In summing up the overall mission of the ranch Boswell stated that “we believe through God’s creation itself, the horse, that we can reach the unreachable.”

For more information on Shepherd Youth Ranch including their mission and volunteer opportunities, please call (919) 480-1535 or visit their website at www.shepherdyouthranch.org.

VGCC Offers Medical Office Assistant Course at South Campus and Franklin Campus

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— VGCC Press Release

VGCC Offers Medical Office Assistant Course at South Campus and Franklin Campus

Area residents interested in getting jobs in medical offices will have two opportunities for learning new skills this summer through continuing education programs at Vance-Granville Community College.

The Medical Office Assistant course is scheduled to begin in mid-May on VGCC’s Franklin Campus. Another offering of the course is scheduled for early June at South Campus.

At the Franklin Campus, the course will be offered on Mondays, May 14 through June 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and two Saturdays, May 19 and June 2, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Franklin Campus is located at 8100 NC Highway 56 in Louisburg.

At the South Campus, the course will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays, from June 6 through July 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. The South Campus is located between Creedmoor and Butner at 1547 Campus Drive, off NC Highway 56.

For both course offerings, students will also complete 42 hours of coursework online.

This course is designed to provide training in the skills required for a medical office assistant. Course topics include keyboarding and basic computer skills; preparation of medical records, health insurance and financial records of patients; understanding medical terminology, body systems, diseases and clinical procedures used in a medical office; preparation of medical reports; health care law; handling front office operations; and assisting the physician and medical staff.

Students who complete the program will be eligible to apply for entry-level administrative positions in doctor’s offices and clinics, as well as health care facilities such as nursing homes and retirement communities.

This course is approved for CE to CU credit at VGCC. Those students who pass the course and earn a certificate from the college can use the contact hours as credit in the Office Administration and Medical Office Administration certificate and degree programs. Students can also earn 6.6 CEUs as professional development.

The instructor is Tammy Ball, an instructor for the college’s Office Administration and Medical Office Administration curriculum programs.

Students taking this course must be aged 17 or older and have a high school diploma or its equivalent or permission from their high school counselor.

The cost of the course is $187. Qualifying students may be eligible for tuition assistance.

Prospective students can now register and pay for the course online (https://www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule).

The deadline to register for the Franklin Campus course is May 8 and for the South Campus course May 31.

For information or registration, please contact Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of Occupational Extension at burwellk@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3276. For questions about the course, please contact the instructor, Tammy Ball, at ballt@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3248.

(This is not a paid advertisement.  VGCC is however an advertising client of WIZS.)

Local Chambers Present Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon 4-25-18

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— NEWS RELEASE FROM GRANVILLE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AREA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE HOSTING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY LUNCHEON
Allison S. Capps, Assistant District Attorney, 9th Prosecutorial District, Guest Presenter

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce, together with Franklin, Warren and Vance Chambers, are, once again, sponsoring the annual Administrative Professionals Luncheon.

This year’s event is being held Wednesday, April 25 at noon, at Thorndale Oaks, 105 West Quail Ridge Road in Oxford. Business owners and administrators are encouraged to treat their administrative professionals to lunch, networking and a very interesting presentation by Allison S. Capps, Assistant District Attorney/9th Prosecutorial District, in observance of Administrative Professionals’ Day. The luncheon is an open invitation.

Allison Siler Capps grew up in Belmont, NC. She attended Peace College, receiving her B.A. in Psychology. Following Peace, she attended the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, from which she received her law degree.

She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in the 2nd Prosecutorial District, working for just over a year. She returned to the 9th District, (Granville, Vance, Franklin and Warren counties) where she had interned while in law school.

“As a member of the DA’s office, she has tried over 20 jury trials, ranging from DWIs to First Degree Murders and everything in between.” She has received numerous awards from Crime Stoppers, NC Gang Investigators Assoc., etc.

Mrs. Capps is an active member of Delrayno Baptist Church, President of the Board of Directors for the Granville Education Foundation, participates in Girls on the Run Program and in the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. She resides in Oxford with her husband, Jason, and their son, Luke.

Lunch reservations are required ~ $20/person by April 19th to either of the Chamber’s offices – 919.693.6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com or 919.528.4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com

VGCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society receives awards

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— courtesy VGCC

VGCC Phi Theta Kappa chapter President Brenda Ellis of Durham (left) accepts an award for service on behalf of the chapter from Seth June, the outgoing Carolinas Region vice-president for South Carolina, during the convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Vance-Granville Community College Alpha Sigma Chi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently brought home several awards from a regional gathering.

Attending the Phi Theta Kappa Carolinas Regional Convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C., March 9-11, were VGCC chapter President Brenda Ellis of Durham, chapter Vice President of Leadership Pamela Campbell of Littleton and chapter advisor Maureen Walters, who teaches English at the college. The Carolinas Region includes 84 Phi Theta Kappa chapters at two-year colleges in North Carolina and South Carolina. Students and advisors at the convention enjoyed a variety of educational seminars, guest speakers, social activities, elections of regional officers and award presentations.

Tiffiny Wolf (left), outgoing secretary for the Carolinas Region of Phi Theta Kappa, presents an award recognizing VGCC’s chapter with “three stars” to chapter Vice President Pamela Campbell of Littleton, during the convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

VGCC received three awards of excellence. The chapter was presented with the Carolinas Region service project award for outstanding participation in a “Carolinas Read to Succeed” project, which in VGCC’s case was an effort to collect school supplies and books for children in grades K-12 who are affected by domestic violence.

VGCC was further recognized as a “three-star” level chapter for its community service, the involvement of its members and its efforts at leadership development. Alpha Sigma Chi was one of only two three-star chapters recognized this year in the Carolinas.

Finally, chapter advisor Maureen Walters received the “Horizon Award” for her work in developing the chapter and demonstrating dedication to the mission of Phi Theta Kappa. “Not only did we have a great time at the convention, but we also put VGCC on the map for Phi Theta Kappa,” Walters said, regarding the three honors.

VGCC Phi Theta Kappa chapter advisor Maureen Walters (left) accepts the “Horizon Award” from Ricky Swing, outgoing president for the Carolinas Region, during the convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for students of two-year colleges. VGCC students honored with induction into PTK must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 in associate degree curriculum programs and have completed at least 12 credit hours toward their degrees. Since VGCC’s chapter of PTK was chartered in 1991, more than 1,900 students have joined. For more information, contact Maureen Walters at 252-738-3406 or waltersm@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

District 9 Guardian Ad Litem Will Be Hosting A Showing of the Film Entitled “Resilence”

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Be sure to listen to WIZS at 11 a.m. for Town Talk on Tuesday, April 3 as our guest Melanie Griggs will be live on the show with important information about Guardian Ad Litem in the four county area.

The following information was distributed by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

What: Film Screening and Discussion

When: Friday, April 6, 2018, 1:45 p.m. until 4 p.m. – film starts at 2 p.m.

Where: Farm Bureau Room, Leslie Perry Library, Henderson, NC

RSVP: Melanie Griggs, (252) 430-5121 or melanie.h.griggs@nccourts.org by March 30, 2018

The child may not remember, but the body remembers. Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose.

VGCC Hosting CCP Information Sessions for High School Students and Parents

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— courtesy VGCC

VGCC Hosting CCP Information Sessions for High School Students and Parents

Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a series of sessions offering information for high school students and their parents on the “Career & College Promise” (CCP) program. CCP allows eligible students to earn college credits towards a college degree, diploma or certificate while still in high school, without having to pay college tuition.

Attendees will learn about the requirements of the program and the steps to apply for admission in CCP. This information will help students prepare to enroll and register for classes in the upcoming Summer Term and Fall Semester at Vance-Granville.

These information sessions will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on these dates: Tuesday, April 10, at the Main Campus near Henderson (Building 8, Conference Room); Thursday, April 12, at South Campus between Butner and Creedmoor (Room G1131); Tuesday, April 17 at Warren County Campus in Warrenton (Building 4, Room W4103); and Thursday, April 19, at Franklin Campus, just outside Louisburg (Multipurpose Room, F4101).

VGCC’s Career & College Promise pathways lead to students acquiring entry-level job skills and/or credits that transfer to four-year universities. Students who select the College Transfer (CT) option will take general education courses that transfer seamlessly to any of the 16 public universities in the University of North Carolina system or participating private colleges or universities. VGCC currently offers two CT Pathways with a prescribed set of courses: the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science.

VGCC’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways allow students to potentially earn certificates in more than 20 areas, including: Administrative Assistant, Heating & Air, Bioprocess, Business Management, Carpentry, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood, Electronics Engineering, Information Technology, Medical Office Administration, Paralegal, Robotics, and Simulation & Game Development; and diplomas in Carpentry, Electrical Systems, Information Technology, Paralegal and Welding.

Students and parents from anywhere in the four-county service area are invited to attend the Career & College Promise meeting of their choice and are not limited to attending the campus in their county.

For more information, contact Reba Bullock at (252) 738-3525 or bullockr@vgcc.edu. The CCP contacts for each county are:

· Vance County: Evangeline Mitchell, mitchell@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3289;

· Granville: Reba Bullock, bullockr@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3525;

· Franklin: Evelyn Hall, halle@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3611; and

· Warren: Faye Goode, goodef@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3594.

More information on the CCP program, including a Pathway Guide, is available at www.vgcc.edu/HighSchoolStudents/index.

– VGCC –

F-V-W Accepting Children for 2018-2019 Program Year

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— submitted by Felicia C. Gregory, Interim CEO F-V-W

The Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., Head Start is accepting children for the 2018-2019 Program Year for Franklin, Vance, Warren and Granville Counties. Children must be 3 years of age as of August 31, 2018. Parents of children with mental, physical or emotional impairments are encouraged to apply. The program will make special provisions to serve children with special needs. These provisions include, but are not limited to, adaptive equipment and transportation. For more information, please contact: Beth Darnell at (252) 492-4196.