Vance-Granville Community Band to present free holiday concert on December 5th

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The Vance-Granville Community Band will perform traditional Christmas fare as well as light classical and contemporary favorites during its ninth annual holiday concert on Monday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson.

This will be the first time that the Community Band has held a concert at the 1,000-seat venue, which opened earlier this year and is located at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. Admission is free of charge.

The band has prepared a program that includes seasonal music like “Wishing You a Merry Christmas,” a medley of Christmas carols arranged by William E. Rhoads; “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” a medley featuring “Welcome Christmas” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”; and “The Carollers March” by R.E. Holz, arranged by band member Bob Salzmann. Another piece, “The Night Before Christmas,” features a dramatic reading of Clement Moore’s poem by the band’s Claire Ramsey, with musical accompaniment.

The band is also set to play “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky; the overture from “Abduction from the Seraglio” by Mozart; a symphonic suite of music from the sci-fi franchise “Star Trek” to commemorate its 50th anniversary by Michael Giacchino, Alexander Courage and Gene Roddenberry; “Hallelujah” (featured in the movie “Shrek”) by Leonard Cohen; and “Riders for the Flag,” a march by John Philip Sousa.

The concert will also feature the “Old Vanguard Woodwind Quartet” playing additional selections of holiday music. The quartet comprises a bassoon, a soprano saxophone, an alto saxophone and a tenor saxophone.

Brian Miller, who retired as band director at Louisburg High School and now teaches for VGCC and Crosscreek Charter School, is the band’s primary conductor. Tracie Winstead, who plays bassoon in the band, is the associate conductor.

The Community Band, which is sponsored by the VGCC Division of Arts and Sciences, includes people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from throughout the region. No auditions are required. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7-9 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, on the Main Campus in Henderson, at Exit 209 on Interstate 85 (Poplar Creek Road). For more information, contact Brian Miller at (919) 496-5877 or at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu or Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu.

VGCC SkillsUSA students donate bottled water to hurricane victims

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Criminal Justice Technology students at Vance-Granville Community College recently conducted a bottled water drive through the college chapter of SkillsUSA. The service project was designed to assist fellow North Carolinians who suffered shortages of clean water as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

VGCC students worked in partnership with the Henderson Police Department, which was collecting bottled water along with several other local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. HPD officers picked up the 47 donated cases of water from the students on Nov. 3.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. Founded in 1965 as V.I.C.A. (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), SkillsUSA has served more than 12 million members in its history. Today, the organization has more than 360,000 students and instructors as members nationwide.

The SkillsUSA chapter provides VGCC students with opportunities for leadership, professional development, community service and social activities. Students in a number of different curriculum programs at VGCC are eligible to join.

For more information on the VGCC Criminal Justice program, contact program head William Clements at clementsw@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3242.

VGCC programs receive high national rankings

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Three national organizations recently recognized Vance-Granville Community College with high rankings for high-quality, affordable education, offered online or on-campus.

The Community for Accredited Online Schools (AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org), a leading resource for higher education and college accreditation information, recently released its national rankings for the 2016-2017 school year. The organization ranked VGCC as having the nation’s 34th Best Pharmacy Technician program as well as the nation’s 49th Best Beauty/Cosmetology program.

VGCC offers Cosmetology at all four of its campuses, while the Pharmacy Technology program is based on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Both programs have options for certain courses to be completed online or in hybrid formats combining online and traditional face-to-face instruction. The college offers certificate and diploma programs in Cosmetology, a Cosmetology Instructor certificate, along with both a diploma and a two-year associate degree in Pharmacy Technology.

“We wanted to highlight schools like Vance-Granville Community College, who are striving for excellence in education,” said Doug Jones, CEO and Founder of the California-based Community for Accredited Online Schools. “These colleges offer an exceptional educational experience, upholding rigorous accreditation standards and showing an overall commitment to maximizing student success.”

In order for colleges to qualify for the rankings, they must hold public or private not-for-profit status and carry institutional accreditation. Top schools are determined by using a value-based methodology that analyzes more than a dozen qualitative and quantitative data points.

Meanwhile, Nevada-based Affordable Colleges Online (AffordableCollegesOnline.org) has ranked VGCC as the 25th “Best Online College” in North Carolina for 2016-2017. The organization evaluated colleges and universities based on cost of tuition and fees, the percentage of full-time students receiving institutional financial aid, the number of online programs offered, and the student-to-teacher ratio. Affordable Colleges Online has distinguished its ranking scale by the use of Peer-Based Value, or PBV. The PBV score compares the cost of each program to the cost of similar programs with the same qualitative score. Earlier this year, AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org ranked VGCC as the top two-year college in North Carolina for online programs.

VGCC has expanded its online course offerings in recent years. In 2015, the college launched the VOLT (Vanguard Online Learning through Technology) initiative, primarily with working adults in mind. Through VOLT, five two-year degree programs are now offered 100-percent online — Associate in Arts (College Transfer), Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Medical Office Administration – Coding Specialist, and Global Logistics and Distribution Management Technology. In addition, students can take online courses in combination with traditional face-to-face courses to complete any VGCC degree program.

VOLT students enjoy several specific benefits, including priority registration and guaranteed course availability. They also have access to many online resources that are available to all VGCC students, such as library services, testing and the Bookstore. Courses offered through VOLT have the same low tuition as all other VGCC courses, making them more affordable than their counterparts at for-profit institutions. In addition, Duke Energy, a longtime corporate supporter of VGCC, has provided funds for scholarships specifically for VOLT students. For more information about VOLT, visit volt.vgcc.edu or call Evelyn Harris at (252) 738-3254, or Melanie Copeland at (252) 738-3271.

One of the VOLT programs, Criminal Justice, was recognized by AffordableColleges.com as number 21 on the list of the nation’s 50 best values in online associate degrees in Criminal Justice. “In our rigorous review of schools across the nation, we set out to find the programs that combine quality with affordability, and VGCC rose to the top,” said Vanessa Green of Texas-based AffordableColleges.com. “Our mission is to help students find a path to a rewarding, quality education that won’t leave them crippled by student debt. We love connecting students with institutions that match those ideals, and we’re pleased to feature VGCC.” On its website, the organization noted that “VGCC is a state leader in delivering online courses, as well as fully-online degree programs; the school uses the Moodle content management system.”
“The faculty and staff at Vance-Granville continue to demonstrate excellence and innovation, which is reflected in these national rankings,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “More and more people are realizing the value that our programs offer, as we educate, inspire and support Vanguards to prepare for success in Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Pharmacy Technology or any number of other career fields.”

Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9.

VGCC Bioprocess program moving to Franklin Campus

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The Vance-Granville Community College Bioprocess Technology degree program will be based at the college’s Franklin County Campus, starting in January 2017.

The program has been located at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County since its inception in January 2006. The biotechnology lab on Main Campus will now be used primarily by the new Histotechnology degree program instead.

The Franklin Campus, located on N.C. 56 just outside of Louisburg, has actually had a biotech lab longer than the Main Campus has. VGCC has conducted the one-semester BioWork Process Technician course in the lab on the Franklin Campus since it was first offered in 2001. Novozymes North America of Franklinton made monetary and equipment donations to the lab from the outset, and has continued to support VGCC over the years. That lab has also been used by the Bioprocess Technology curriculum degree program from time to time.

“Moving to the Franklin County Campus will strategically locate our program closer to Novozymes and other major employers in the biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, while also promoting economic development in the Franklin County area,” said VGCC Bioprocess Technology program head/instructor Dr. Tara Hamilton. “We look forward to welcoming new students who want to succeed in this growing career field.”

The Bioprocess Technology curriculum is designed to prepare students to work as process operators or quality control analysts in biological products manufacturing facilities. Students receive instruction in a combination of basic science and communication skills, manufacturing technologies, and good manufacturing practices. In addition to the two-year associate in applied science degree, VGCC offers a 16-hour Bioprocess Technology certificate, which is open to eligible high school students through the Career & College Promise program.

VGCC is part of the North Carolina Community College System’s BioNetwork, a statewide initiative that connects community colleges serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, providing specialized training, curricula and equipment.

Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information on Bioprocess Technology, contact Dr. Tara Hamilton at (252) 738-3285 or hamiltont@vgcc.edu.

 

Rotary Clubs and Community Volunteers Work to Reduce Hunger

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On November 19th the Rotary Clubs of Oxford, Henderson, Roxboro and the Kerr Tar Region are joining together to produce Emergency Food Boxes (EFB) for the food insecure in our area.  The Rotary clubs will be joined by an estimated 100 volunteers from schools, sororities and other community organizations to produce the boxes.

During the November packing event, 1,200 EFBs will be produced, providing more than 25,000 meals for agencies serving the food insecure, including:  ACTS and Vance County Senior Center in Vance County, and Safe Haven, Christian Help Center and a church-based food bank in Person County.

Another packing event will be held on January 21, 2017, producing an additional 1,200 boxes supporting agencies in Granville County.  Each EFB contains individual bags of rice, beans and dehydrated vegetables, enough food to make 21 meals and feed a person for a week.  More importantly, the box includes illustrated cooking instructions in English and Spanish and menus to feed a family of four for just $75 a week.

Food insecurity is a significant problem in our area, where an estimated 20% (21,000) of the population does not always know where they will find their next meal.  Together, the November and January packing events will provide more than 50,000 meals at a total cost of $12,000.

The Emergency Food Box project was funded by the Rotary Clubs of Oxford, Henderson and Roxboro and Rotary District 7710.  The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford generously provides storage and production facilities and volunteers to make this project possible.

For more information, contact OxfordNCRotaryClub@Yahoo.com

Two longtime members retire from VGCC endowment board

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John K. Nelms and Julia Ann Taylor, both of Oxford, recently announced their retirement from the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund Board of Directors, effective in December.

Nelms has been on the board of directors since 1978. Among his numerous contributions to the Endowment Fund, Nelms created the Mary Ruth Nelms Presidential Scholar Award in 2009 in memory of his late wife of 61 years. The Endowment board also created a Presidential Scholar Award in his honor in 2011.

When the college was still young, Nelms — then the director of the Granville County Economic Development Commission — was instrumental in getting his county involved in supporting what was then Vance County Technical Institute. He persuaded Granville County commissioners to join Vance County in funding the school and in locating its main campus near the county line between Henderson and Oxford. Nelms served on the VGCC Board of Trustees in an advisory capacity from 1971 until 1973, and as an active member from 1973 until 2005. He was its chair from 1983 through 1984 and from 1999 until 2003. Nelms was named VGCC’s first (and to date, only) Trustee Emeritus upon his retirement.

Taylor, meanwhile, has served on the Endowment Fund board since 1985 and has been the board’s secretary for all of those years. She is responsible for endowing the college’s Grace Hamme Jester Presidential Merit Award scholarship, in memory of her aunt, and she helped, along with other family members, to endow the Joseph and Carrie P. Hamme Presidential Merit Award. Active in her community, Taylor served on the Granville County Planning Board for 28 years — the longest period of service of any resident on any Granville County board — while also volunteering with the local historical and genealogical societies. Both Taylor and her husband, Dr. Richard Taylor, received the John Penn Citizen Award from the Granville County Chamber of Commerce in 2015.

The board of directors oversees the Endowment Fund Corporation, a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to seek and receive scholarship funds and other contributions for the college. The most recent additions to the board include Clay Frazier of Henderson, the president of Universal Leaf North America, U.S.; Darryl Moss, the mayor of Creedmoor; and Josh Towne of Henderson, the owner/operator of the Chick-fil-A franchise in Henderson.

Other current board members include Robert L. Hubbard (the vice-chair), Julius Banzet III, Sarah Baskerville, Jim Chatman, Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr., Dr. Ben F. Currin, L. Opie Frazier, Jr., Rev. Dr. Richard M. Henderson, T.S. Royster, Jr., Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Todd Wemyss. As president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams chairs the board.

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

Vehicle Stolen from Vance-Granville Community College Main Campus

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On Wednesday, October 26, 2016, a VGCC student reported to the Campus Police & Security that a blue Jeep Cherokee Sport SUV belonging to the student was left parked in the lot near Building 5 at 8 a.m. and was missing upon the student’s return at 11:15 a.m.

Currently, no witnesses have come forth with information regarding the theft and there are currently no suspect leads.  This criminal investigation has been referred to the Vance County Sheriff’s Department for follow up.

If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Granville Chamber’s Thanksgiving Breakfast to Feature Duke Chapel’s Oscar Dantzler

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Thanksgiving Breakfast is being held Wednesday, November 23, at 7:30 am in the Family Life Center of Oxford Baptist Church, Main Street, Oxford.

Bridgestone’s continued sponsorship of this annual event spans 25+ years.  The November Thanksgiving breakfast began as an industry-sponsored breakfast, and Bridgestone has graciously remained the event supporter for all these years.  New Bridgestone plant manager Mark Highland will be attending his first Thanksgiving Breakfast event with his staff.

This year’s guest speaker is a recent recipient of Duke University’s “highest honor for distinguished service:  the University Medal, a prize previously won by a physicist, a state House speaker and an Olympic coach.

Dantzler has been custodian for Duke Chapel for 19 years.  He has seen his role at Duke as not just the Chapel custodian, but also as a caretaker of the University and its students.  Dantzler has long worked to keep the Chapel clean and organized, but he considers his unofficial duties – advising students, befriending visitors and passing along wisdom – to be just as important,” according to an article in the Duke Chronicle.

Attendees may expect the usual Southern buffet breakfast, prepared by volunteer men at Oxford Baptist.  No one will leave hungry as we depart to begin the Thanksgiving holiday celebration!

Although there is no charge to attend the breakfast, attendees are requested to bring non-perishable food donations (canned food) for Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM).

The School of Graphic Arts/Masonic Home for Children is continuing its tradition of providing attendees with desk calendars for the new year.  Also, the Chamber will be officially kicking off its promotion for the National SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY – SHOP LOCAL  – SHOP GRANVILLE by providing attendees with Shop Small tote bags filled with “goodies”, gift certificates, etc. from Granville County Small Businesses.  This annual event is Saturday, November 26th.

Reservations are REQUIRED with one of the Chamber’s offices by November 20th to Wanda, 919.693.6125 or Toni Anne, 919.528.4994; wanda@granville-chamber.com, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.

Express Employment Celebrates 15 Years

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The HVCC Board and staff along with the Granville Chamber celebrated Express Employment Professionals 15 years serving the Local Community With a Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, September 22nd at 10:00 AM.  The Oxford Express Employment Professionals office celebrated its 15 years in business-year anniversary on August, 6 2016 said Hal Muetzel, franchisee of the Express office.

“The people and businesses of Oxford have made these last 15 years great ones,” said Muetzel. “We have enjoyed helping area businesses and job seekers with all their staffing needs, and we look forward to many more successful years.”

The Oxford Express Employment Professionals franchise began operation in August 6, 2001 at 219 Granville Corners in the former Walmart Shopping Center and relocated downtown to Main Street in Oxford in 2011. The office serves the Granville, Vance, Person Warren, and Alamance Counties in North Carolina and the South Hill, VA area with temporary help and direct hire employees in a variety of fields, including administrative, commercial, data processing, medical, technical, sales, marketing and more. The Oxford office, located at 124 Main Street is currently accepting applications.

Express is on a mission to put a million people to work annually. With offices in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, Express put a record 500,002 people to work in 2015. For more information, call (919)693-1730 or visit ExpressPros.com/oxfordnc.

VGCC Radiography students collect supplies for Hurricane Matthew victims

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Students in the Radiography program at Vance-Granville Community College recently answered a call to help those who were devastated by Hurricane Matthew, collecting a massive amount of supplies for the victims in North and South Carolina.

VGCC Radiography clinical coordinator/instructor Stacey Soles arranged a partnership with Black’s Tire & Auto Service, which has 38 locations from Raleigh to Florence, South Carolina, and was founded in her home county of Columbus. The company was encouraging residents of its service area to collect supplies, which its employees would then pick up and deliver directly to those in need. Among the items being sought were diapers, children’s toys, bottled water, cleaning supplies, toiletries, non-perishable food, new t-shirts, socks and undergarments.

Students set up drop-off points on all four of the college’s campuses, in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. Then, on Oct. 20, Black’s Tire & Auto Service picked up the donations at the South Campus, where the Radiography program is located. Students and faculty members loaded the supplies onto the truck sent by the company, which was quickly filled, and a second truck was called. Even that truck could not hold all of the donations, so Soles took some in her own vehicle to the company’s Raleigh location.

Black’s Tire & Auto Service later delivered the items to people in Fair Bluff, N.C., and Nichols, S.C., both of which experienced extensive flooding from the hurricane.

“The Radiography students and program faculty would like to extend our thanks to everyone who helped make the hurricane relief drive a success,” Soles said. “We were overwhelmed with the generous outpouring of support from our fellow faculty, staff, students and members of the community, including several businesses around our South Campus.”

Based at VGCC’s South Campus between Creedmoor and Butner, the two-year Radiography degree program prepares graduates to be radiographers, skilled health care professionals who use radiation to produce images of the human body. For more information on Radiography, contact Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas at (252) 738-3397.