VGCC Advisory Committees hold annual meetings

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Citizens from Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties came together at the Main Campus of Vance-Granville Community College on Oct. 25 as the college’s advisory committees held their annual meetings.

VGCC’s 38 advisory committees are made up of people from the communities served by the college who have worked in the fields for which the college offers training. Committees advise not only curriculum and continuing education programs, but also VGCC’s South, Franklin and Warren campuses, the Small Business Center and other departments. Many committee members are VGCC alumni. Each fall, these committees meet on campus with the heads of the programs they advise.

At the Oct. 25 meetings, VGCC faculty and staff communicated with advisory committee members about new developments in the academic programs, about how to tailor classes and training to meet employment needs, and about changes in the workplace. Committee members made suggestions on what the college should be doing to enhance or adapt instruction.

Holding its first meeting was the advisory committee for one of VGCC’s newest degree programs, Histotechnology. Sheila Deloney, a certified histotechnologist and assistant administrative director for anatomic pathology and autopsy services at UNC Health Care in Chapel Hill, was elected as the committee’s first chair. Dr. Dianne Dookhan, a pathologist who works at Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson, among other facilities, was elected vice chair.

Students in VGCC’s Culinary Arts program prepared a reception in the Civic Center, preceding the meetings. The menu included Dijon crusted pork loin, seasonal vegetable succotash, polenta with a mushroom cream sauce, beef roulade filled with peppers, spinach, carrots and provolone cheese, herb roasted red potatoes, various pasta selections and assorted desserts.

In remarks during the reception, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, thanked the advisory committee members for serving and supporting the college. “Our Advisory Committees are important to us, because they connect the college with our communities, meet the needs of our local employers, and maintain bonds with our alumni,” President Williams told the attendees. “Your input, your leadership, and your advocacy strengthen our academic programs.”

Employers connect with students at VGCC Manufacturing Day

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Vance-Granville Community College held a “Manufacturing Day” celebration on Friday, Oct. 7, in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. An estimated 275 middle and high school students from Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties attended, along with VGCC students and other members of the community. They learned about how manufacturing has changed, local career possibilities in the field and options for education and training related to careers in the industry. The event was one of many Manufacturing Day celebrations held across the country that day.

Participating employers included Altec of Creedmoor, Asteelflash of Raleigh, Delhaize America/Food Lion Distribution Center of Butner, Dill Air Controls Products of Oxford, Eaton of Youngsville, Glen Raven of Norlina, Ideal Fastener of Oxford, Mars Petcare of Henderson, Novozymes of Franklinton, Plastic Ingenuity of Oxford, Revlon of Oxford, Shalag of Oxford, Staffmark of Henderson, Stay Online of Creedmoor, Sunrock of Butner, Superior Tooling of Wake Forest, TFS of Wake Forest and Universal Forest Products of Franklinton.

VGCC technical programs were also represented, including Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology, Automotive Systems Technology, Bioprocess Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Welding Technology.

Attendees also learned about the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program (NCTAP), which partners with colleges like VGCC and employers to prepare a skilled workforce. During lunch, Robbie Earnhardt, owner of Superior Tooling, discussed NCTAP with representatives of the other companies in attendance. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the apprenticeship I had,” Earnhardt said. An alternative to the traditional four-year college degree, the program takes a student from high school through a two-year community college program like Mechatronics Engineering Technology, with the guarantee of a job at the completion of the program. “We need more local industry partners in NCTAP,” Earnhardt said, noting that Dill Air Controls Products has already joined. “Many industries have trouble finding skilled workers. This can help.”

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program at VGCC organized Manufacturing Day, with support from the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Training Alliance (AMSTA), a partnership of VGCC and local K-12 school systems. With the help of the $1.75 million TAACCCT grant, the largest single competitive grant in VGCC history, the college has developed and enhanced innovative training programs for advanced manufacturing careers. The TAACCCT grants are part of a nearly $2 billion initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor to expand targeted training programs for unemployed workers, especially those impacted by foreign trade. For more information on TAACCCT, call (252) 738-3342.

Incident on Main Campus Reported at Vance-Granville Community College

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On Thursday September 22nd at around 4:00 p.m., Joshua Abraham Coles, 26, of 11 Delta Place, Henderson was charged with misdemeanor assault on a Government Employee, resisting a public officer, and second degree trespass on the main campus of Vance-Granville Community College.

Information published in a Public Information Release said, “Mr. Coles was a person of interest in an investigation being conducted by the VGCC campus police department. He was asked to leave the campus. He refused to leave and assaulted a security officer and a campus police officer. No injuries reported from the suspect or officers involved.”

VGCC Women’s Volleyball team honors sophomores

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The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards women’s volleyball program paid tribute to its sophomore leaders on Oct. 11, just before a match with conference rival Davidson County Community College at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson.

The two second-year players rounding out their VGCC playing careers are Jesse Edwards and Kiyanna Kearney, both of Henderson. Edwards is a Northern Vance High School graduate, while Kearney is a product of Southern Vance High School, where she played not only volleyball but also softball and basketball. Edwards is a College Transfer student at VGCC, with plans to enter the Associate Degree Nursing program in 2017. Kearney, meanwhile, is studying Criminal Justice.

The “Sophomore Night” match turned out to be a thriller. A hard-fought first set ended with a 25-23 victory for the Storm from Davidson County, who then secured a more dominant 25-14 victory in the second set. But the Vanguards came back to win the third set, 25-22, and the fourth, 25-20, forcing a decisive fifth set. The Storm edged out the home team, 15-12, to win the match with a 3-2 victory.

VGCC’s two sophomores were, as usual, key players that evening. Kearney led her squad with 20 kills, with Edwards second at 16. Kearney also had the most digs (31) and solo blocks (4). Meanwhile, freshman Stormi Abernathy contributed all 50 of the team’s recorded assists, along with 19 digs. Katelynn Ray, also a freshman, made 19 digs as well, while Edwards posted 17 digs.

The loss brought VGCC’s record to 11-7, and followed a pair of conference wins (3-1, 3-0) over Rockingham Community College.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Needs Assessment

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Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Needs Assessment

The following survey allows Cardinal Innovations to determine what needs the community is experiencing regarding Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Substance Use Disorders.  Please click on the survey links below.

An email received recently by WIZS News from Cardinal Innovations staff read, “In order to ensure that the voices of our members, their family members, their providers, and other community members are being heard, we are conducting this survey to collect information about those needs.

“Cardinal Innovations Healthcare is dedicated to our members and our communities. Our purpose is to enhance the health and well-being of the individuals and their families that we serve.”

Henderson and Vance County are served by the Five County Community Office located at 134 South Garnett Street, Henderson, NC 27536.  Phone 252-430-1330.  The Five County Community Office staff assists individuals and families affected by mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities or substance use disorder conditions and serves Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Vance and Warren counties.  Cardinal Innovations Healthcare as a whole serves 20 some counties in this area.

Link to English survey:  2016-2017 Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Needs Assessment

Link to Spanish survey: https://www.questionpro.com/t/AJGCTZXy50

https://www.cardinalinnovations.org/

(Note – Cardinal Innovations is an advertising client of WIZS Radio.  This post is not in connection with that and is being presented in the public interest.)

VGCC names new coordinator for Student Activities & Athletics

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Jermiel Hargrove has been named the coordinator of student activities and athletics at Vance-Granville Community College.

Hargrove will oversee clubs, organizations and extracurricular activities that engage students on campus, as well as the college’s intercollegiate athletics program, which includes men’s basketball, women’s volleyball and a new cheerleading squad. He will also serve as the advisor for the VGCC Student Government Association (SGA).

A resident of Henderson, Hargrove has been a member of the VGCC staff since 2006, serving as webmaster and digital media specialist. He is a graduate of Northern Vance High School and of VGCC, where he earned a degree in Web Technologies.

Hargrove has also served as head coach for the Northern Granville Middle School girls’ basketball team, guiding them to a conference championship. He noted that he has focused on preparing his players to advance to high school-level athletics, and was pleased that 90% of them made the A/B honor roll. Earlier this year, Hargrove also served as interim assistant coach for the VGCC Vanguards men’s basketball team and assisted with the college athletics program for several months on an interim basis before assuming his new full-time role.

“Jermiel brings to his new position a deep understanding of VGCC as both a graduate and an employee of the college, along with a passion for working with young people,” VGCC Dean of Enrollment & Outreach Jeffrey Allen said. “Under his leadership, we will continue to develop student-athletes who succeed both on the court and in the classroom, while also providing enriching experiences and service opportunities for all of our Vanguards.”

Fall Festival to be held at Vance County Early College High School

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The Vance County Early College High School would like to invite the community to attend its annual Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 28th, at Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, from 6:00-9:00pm.

Families are urged to attend for good food, fellowship and fun!

Eaton-Johnson Middle School, VGCC partner to show students pathways

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As local educational partners, Vance-Granville Community College and Eaton-Johnson Middle School in Henderson help inspire young students to prepare for higher education. A faculty member recently made a visit to the middle school and brought along an EJMS alumna who is now a VGCC student.

VGCC Public Services Department Chair Steven Hargrove was accompanied on his visit by McKallah Pendergrass of Henderson, a Criminal Justice Technology student who had not set foot in her old middle school in years. Pendergrass is preparing to graduate this academic year and plans to transfer to either North Carolina Central University or UNC-Charlotte.

Hargrove and Pendergrass met with the middle school’s lead counselor, Dr. Priscilla Chavis-Lockley, who took them on a tour of the new EJMS Paxton/Patterson lab. Established under the leadership of the school’s new principal, Dr. Brad Jones, the lab features hands-on stations that help students learn about various fields, including manufacturing, robotics, forensics, audiovisual production and computer graphics.

Hargrove noted the clear connections between all the lab’s different skill areas and VGCC’s Business and Applied Technologies programs, showing students that they could continue to study these fields at their local college. As a longtime Criminal Justice instructor, Hargrove was particularly interested in the forensic science computer program that students were using to create a digital reconstruction of the face of a criminal suspect. He noted that now, students have a new opportunity to complete an entire bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice without leaving VGCC’s main campus, thanks to the “Eagle Voyage” partnership with North Carolina Central University. The program is set to graduate its first students in 2017.

“It is important for us to talk to eighth-graders about college,” Hargrove noted, “because that is when they start thinking about careers. They need to start planning their high school and college education and they need to see pathways. We must let students and their parents know about the opportunities that are available.”

Planning for college studies at the middle school level has become increasingly important in recent years, as students have options to enroll in Early College High Schools, offered by VGCC in partnership with local school systems, starting in the ninth grade. In addition, new Career & College Promise pathways have been developed for students in traditional high schools to earn college credits, tuition-free.

Eaton-Johnson’s partnership with VGCC is largely the result of the efforts of Dr. Chavis-Lockley, who earned two degrees at Vance-Granville — early childhood education and associate in arts (college transfer) — before moving on to North Carolina Central University for a bachelor’s degree and three master’s degrees, and to North Carolina State University for a doctorate in education and counseling. She also established a student ambassador program at EJMS that has partnered with VGCC’s own ambassador program in the past.

Days after the visit to the middle school by VGCC, the partnership continued as a group of EJMS students visited the college campus for the annual “Manufacturing Day” event to learn about technical careers.

Breaking News in Mysterious Granville County Death

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The death of Lillian Terry of Bullock has officially been ruled “asphyxiation from drowning,” according to Granville County Sheriff Brindell B. Wilkins, Jr. and the findings of the Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh.

Mrs. Terry’s body was discovered on Saturday evening, October 15th after the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to her residence at 9524 Farrow Lane. Tenants who rented the upstairs garage apartment of the Terry home reported finding Terry floating face down at the shoreline of the lake behind her home and alerted authorities through a 911 call. The call came in at 4:20 p.m. Saturday.

Wilkins stated that Hurricane Matthew may have played a role in Terry’s death.

“The water was still high after the storm, and we believe Terry was attempting to get out to her boat dock, which was about 40 yards out in the water,” Wilkins said. “She had on chest waders when she was found.”

Due to the condition of the body when it was discovered, it was estimated that Terry’s body had been in the water for several days, Wilkins added. The water surrounding the dock at that time (Saturday) was also estimated at about seven feet deep.

Lillian Terry was the wife of John Terry, who was reported missing by a co-worker in September of 2015. A UPS employee, Mr. Terry did not show up for his shift and had not reported for work in three days when his disappearance was reported to authorities last year. His whereabouts, according to Wilkins, are still unknown.

“We have been proceeding with caution in investigating this case, ” Sheriff Wilkins said on Wednesday. Because of the circumstances surrounding this entire investigation, we had to look at all possibilities to eliminate any questions that may have arisen around this particular incident.”

The autopsy report released from the Medical Examiner’s Office this week has led Wilkins to the conclusion that no foul play is suspected in Mrs. Terry’s death.

No details have yet been released concerning funeral arrangements.

Surfing the Silver Tsunami

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Surfing the Silver Tsunami

Thursday, October 20th the Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging will host an event call “Surfing the Silver Tsunami.”

It’s an expo-style event, and you can come and go as you please between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Vance Granville Community College Civic Center.

  • Exhibitors providing flu and pneumonia vaccines, health screenings and education on healthy living
  • Services such as Medicare and other insurance counseling
  • Vendors with items for sale, such as handmade jewelry, pottery, soap, scarves, hot sauce, honey, and more
  • Local entertainment (musicians, demonstrations and dancers)
  • Door prizes

Contact Melissa Catlett for more information at 252-436-2040 or mcatlett@kerrtarcog.org.

You can also check out additional information below or click Surfing the Silver Tsunami.

 

Surfing the Silver Tsunami