VGCC names 258 students to President’s and Dean’s Lists

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Vance-Granville Community College has announced that 126 students earned President’s List and 132 earned Dean’s List academic honors for the fall semester that ended in Dec. 2016.

The President’s List recognizes students who achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) while carrying a “full load” (of at least 12 credit hours) in 100-level or higher curriculum courses. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student had to earn a GPA that was at least 3.5 but less than 4.0, and have no grade lower than “B,” while carrying a “full load” of such courses.

Fall Semester President’s List honorees are listed below by program of study and then by residence.

Accounting:

Sarah J. Gabriel and Ciara S. Lynch, both of Franklinton;

Wannapha N. Robinson of Louisburg;

Elizabeth D. Elliott of Youngsville.

 

Associate Degree Nursing:

Madelaine L. Sachs of Henderson;

Renee Jackson of Kittrell.

 

Associate in Arts:

Samantha J. Shannon and Tamiya R. Thomas, both of Creedmoor;

Joshua Jacobs of Durham;

Ryan W. Sharp of Franklinton;

Cristin D. Abbott, Nancy C. Bonilla, Kourtney J. Cockrell, Ashlyn K. Collier, Chadstity V. Copeland, Caroline M. Oakley, Autumn G. Outlaw, Ebony S. Robinson Solomon and Janet Rodriguez-Morales, all of Henderson;

Leslie A. Leake of Kittrell;

Marshella D. Ashby and Makayla R. Williams, both of Littleton;

Loganne S. Driver, Blake A. Massengill and Joshua W. Moody, all of Louisburg;

Kristy R. Ball, Robin L. Hill and Sydney A. Towers, all of Oxford;

Amanda B. Miller of Warrenton;

Lindsay C. Henry of Youngsville.

 

Associate in General Education – General Science:

Tyler A. Thorp of Henderson;

Rachel H. Allen of Stem.

 

Associate in Science:

Jordan S. Ligon of Bullock;

Michael T. O’Donoghue of Fredericksburg, Va.;

Lucas R. Hamrick and Elizabeth R. Twisdale, both of Henderson;

Sovanny Taylor of Louisburg;

Alana W. Towles of Oxford;

Skylar L. Davenport, Nicholas J. Didonna, III, and Joseph A. Moore, all of Youngsville.

 

Automotive Systems Technology:

Michael L. Wright of Durham;

Jeremy D. Lemay, Kenneth S. McConnell and Jacob F. Mosley, all of Henderson;

Jordan A. Alston of Louisburg;

Travis L. Keeton of Oxford;

Stephen B. Ray of Wake Forest.

 

Business Administration:

Korena L. Weichel of Creedmoor;

Roy A. Satterwhite of Henderson;

Stacy T. Hicks, Latosha C. Hunt, David L. Nicholson and Meghan J. Rossi, all of Oxford;

Jason L. Thompson of Stem.

 

Computer Technology Integration:

Andrew S. Dawson of Henderson.

 

Computer Technology Integration – IT Support Track:

Tristin McClay of Creedmoor;

Max N. Moore, Jr., of Henderson.

 

Computer Technology Integration – Networking and Security Technologies Track:

Andrew A. Dadson of Butner;

Christina D. Manz of Creedmoor.

 

Computer Technology Integration – Web Design and Support Track:

Angelica M. Garcia-Avelar of Durham;

Rowan M. Morris of Warrenton.

 

Cosmetology:

Cassie A. Shaffer of Butner;

Christianne Combs of Durham;

Katrina W. Collie of Franklinton;

Micaela B. Crowder of Henderson;

Kristina M. Brantley and Kathryn L. Overby, both of Louisburg;

Kierra N. Richardson of Macon;

Myranda L. Carroll of Norlina.

 

Criminal Justice:

Christopher L. Davis of Bullock;

Martin A. Spencer of Creedmoor;

Monica A. Williams of Franklinton;

Andrew J. Shultz of Henderson;

Benjamin B. Layton of Kittrell;

Safwan A. Ali of Louisburg;

Chance S. Hayes of Louisburg;

Alissa J. Cheek of Wake Forest.

 

Culinary Arts:

Rebecca N. Groover of Franklinton;

Randy D. Bullock and Dejah Davis, both of Stem.

 

Early Childhood Education:

Kimberly C. Cagney of Creedmoor;

Bianca E. Garrett of Franklinton;

Jacquella S. Jones of Henderson;

Brooklyn E. Mason of Louisburg.

 

Electronics Engineering Technology:

George C. Williams of Louisburg.

 

Entrepreneurship:

Raeann Johnson of Henderson.

 

Global Logistics and Distribution Management Technology:

Charles Braswell of Raleigh.

 

Human Services Technology:

Fredesvinda C. Euceda-Col of Creedmoor.

 

Information Technology:

Andrew B. Benedict and Dustin L. Starnes, both of Henderson;

Cody R. Parrott of Kittrell;

Austin H. Smith of Oxford.

 

Mechatronics Engineering Technology:

Charles J. Nordcliff of Creedmoor;

Thomas K. Boyd of Henderson.

 

Medical Office Administration:

Cassidy B. Lucas of Franklinton;

Morrisha K. Alston, Tranita N. Brown and April B. Peoples, all of Henderson;

Beverly K. Ellis of Kittrell;

Kristie L. Brough of Oxford;

Amber S. Carey of Stem;

Rebecca T. George of Warrenton;

Julia A. Rhodes of Youngsville.

 

Office Administration:

Angela M. Hayes of Louisburg.

 

Paralegal Technology:

April M. Thompson of Henderson;

Holly H. Cashwell of Wake Forest;

Heather C. Bryant of Youngsville.

 

Pharmacy Technology:

Tommy L. Hicks of Franklinton.

 

Radiography:

Anna P. Tilley of Creedmoor;

Sabrina D. Johnson of Louisburg;

Kristel L. Dehart and Aaron J. McNeill, both of Oxford;

James A. Lea of Timberlake;

Jamisha D. Twitty of Warrenton.

 

Welding Technology:

Nicholas Keeton of Bullock;

Cedric J. Rodebaugh, II, of Franklinton;

Galen D. Wilds of Granville County;

Donnie S. Ayscue and Eduardo Ibarra-Renteria, both of Henderson;

Ethan T. Bailey, Christopher M. Kearney and Robert L. Mallory, all of Oxford;

David A. Jeanblanc of Raleigh;

Jared Q. Siemers of Wake Forest;

Andrew Lynam of Youngsville.

 

Fall Semester Dean’s List honorees are listed below by program of study and then by residence.

 

Accounting:

Holly A. Waddell of Henderson;

Jennifer M. Burton of Norlina.

 

Associate Degree Nursing:

Caitlin E. Moen of Cary;

Heather J. Floyd of Franklinton;

Rachel A. Edwards of Louisburg;

Talia M. Dyce and Sharon N. Ray, both of Oxford;

Sandra H. Enloe of Stem;

Brooke A. Hursey and Kayla D. Roberson, both of Wake Forest.

 

Associate Degree Nursing LPN to ADN Program:

Ashley B. Jones of Bullock.

 

Associate in Arts:

Kaleb S. Williamson of Bullock;

Tiffany Martinez of Butner;

Farrah B. Foster, Robert C. Hurt, Janella A. Mendivil and Owen T. Mettam, all of Creedmoor;

Poppy T. Boze, Rebekah H. Glasheen, Robert D. Osborne, Benjamin P. Taylor and Richard K. Washington, all of Franklinton;

Celene Acuna, Jasmine N. Allen, Anthony M. Henderson, Lynn M. Henderson, II, Alexandra J. Saravia, Brian J. Stevenson, Jakayla M. Thorpe and Bailee E. Tippett, all of Henderson;

Lillian D. Kanouff and Allie R. Beach, both of Kittrell;

Asia M. Green of Norlina;

Cecilia E. Barrenechea, Sonia M. Hernandez, Emely K. Ovando, Kimberly M. Spence and Thomas S. Thompson, all of Oxford;

Ashleigh V. Dannemiller of Raleigh;

Kamden E. Thompson of Stem;

Casey P. Hunter and Clay D. Walters, both of Wake Forest;

Sarah A. Boone of Warrenton.

 

Associate in General Education – General Science:

Paige D. Snider of Creedmoor;

Taylor M. Moseley of Henderson;

Danny W. Ayscue of Kittrell;

Stormi M. Abernathy of Leasburg;

Megan I. Proctor of Macon;

Marina E. Rombout of Stem.

 

Associate in Science:

Lindsey R. Perry of Henderson;

Kia S. Brodie of Louisburg;

Sara A. Abdulla, Nicole F. Bowman, Zakaria I. Kassim and Francis C. Scotland, all of Oxford;

Micah C. Roberts of Stem;

Kellyann M. Cook of Stovall.

 

Automotive Systems Technology:

Blake A. Larcade of Oxford.

 

Bioprocess Technology:

Kimberly A. Prevette of Oxford.

 

Business Administration:

Andrew J. Cagney and Bobbie J. Wilkerson, both of Creedmoor;

Angela Burrell    and Alfredo Picaz, both of Henderson;

Mark A. Alston of Manson;

Jason D. Hester of Oxford;

Dar-Neshia S. Williams of Warrenton;

Ashley M. Kinton of Youngsville.

 

Computer Technology Integration:

Steven J. Lynch of Norlina.

 

Computer Technology Integration – IT Support Track:

Quinton McDonald of Henderson.

 

Computer Technology Integration – Web Design and Support Track:

Amie E. Hilton of Oxford.

 

Cosmetology:

Jessica K. Lovegrove of Creedmoor;

Brittany D. Pickering of Durham;

Davis B. Moore of Franklinton;

Hannah C. Beckwith of Henderson;

Angela M. Alexander of Kittrell;

Melissa D. Sweeney of Louisburg;

Crystal L. Carrington, Loukita C. Meadows and Katy S. Perdomo, all of Oxford;

Jordan G. Reina of Roxboro;

Maria G. Ordonez Santiago of Warrenton;

Kristina F. Graham and Nancy H. Paduchowski, both of Youngsville.

 

Criminal Justice:

Tyler L. Hughes of Bullock;

Charmaine A. Sutton of Louisburg;

Dustin L. Hodnett and Harold T. Todd, both of Oxford;

Vickie A. Crawley of Roxboro.

 

Early Childhood Education:

Jessica R. Bolton and Makala West, both of Henderson;

Catherine G. Jones of Youngsville.

 

Entrepreneurship:

Austin R. Lovegrove of Franklinton.

 

Human Services Technology:

Sonya J. Barnes of Henderson.

 

Human Services Technology/Gerontology:

Larecia R. Bullock of Oxford.

 

Information Technology:

Mitchell L. Greene and Nathan E. Johnston, both of Creedmoor;

Brandon J. Carver of Durham;

Genifer R. Gibson of Fayetteville;

Kasey R. Owens of Henderson;

Kassidy L. Holtzman of Norlina;

Tina M. Kreidler and Alisha M. Prevette, both of Oxford;

Nathan L. Garrard of Stem.

 

Medical Assisting:

Dajane G. Johnson of Henderson.

 

Medical Office Administration:

Melanie Lugo-Nieves of Creedmoor;

Raven K. Kay and Raini Williams, both of Henderson;

Brianna N. Lynch of Hollister;

Misty R. Grabowski of Louisburg;

Tina M. Hatcher and Anthony M. Wade, both of Oxford;

Thomas M. King, Jr., of Wise.

 

Office Administration:

Mary A. Elberson of Henderson;

Mary Cox of Oxford.

 

Paralegal Technology:

Kelly D. Persinger of Louisburg;

Lindsay E. Brown of Oxford.

 

Radiography:

Ashley B. Storer of Creedmoor;

Trevor M. Houston of Durham;

Mary E. Brewer, Kelsey P. Hight, Kara Siena S. Reese and Madalyne N. Woods, all of Henderson;

Kaitlyn B. Sumner of Hurdle Mills;

Chelsea J. Flaxcomb of Kittrell;

Maricela Carbajal, Mary D. Currin and Jonathan T. Liddane, all of Oxford;

Jaime L. Wilson of Raleigh;

Morgan H. Keith of Stem.

 

Welding Technology:

Hernan J. Hernandez of Castalia;

Eric L. Clayton and Keodric D. Grant, both of Oxford.

 

–VGCC–

VGCC receives Perkins career training grant

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Vance-Granville Community College has been awarded a $181,631 grant for the current academic year under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. These funds are being used to support students enrolled in VGCC’s workforce-oriented programs with student success coaches and the modernization and expansion of career-training equipment.

A portion of the funds support personnel at VGCC’s Student Success Centers, who serve as advisers to work with students in Business and Applied Technologies programs throughout their training — from enrollment to completion. The college also provides industry-advised faculty development to keep instructors up-to-date on the latest technologies through the grant funding.

“In conjunction with other grants and funding sources, the Perkins grant enhances our ability to educate, inspire and support students in technical fields, which are so vital to our college mission and to the economic health of our region,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “With help from this grant, our outstanding faculty and staff in career-oriented programs give students the practical training they need to succeed in the workforce.”

Perkins funds allow classes at all four VGCC campuses to have up-to-date career training equipment, including a manikin/wig dryer and, soon, a state-of-the-art facial imaging machine for Cosmetology students, drill presses for Welding trainees and 26 new webcams to continue to expand VGCC’s award-winning online course offerings.

Efforts to provide apprenticeships and to educate high school students about careers in advanced manufacturing also received a boost from Perkins funding.

The Perkins Act is the principal source of federal funding to states for the improvement of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. The North Carolina Community College System, which administers Perkins funds through competitive grants to the 58 community colleges in the state, also provides extensive training to faculty throughout the year and, publicly, on their newly launched teacher-training portal at www.nc-net.info.

“Funding through Perkins and other workforce grants currently at work on VGCC campuses are positioning us well for the expected job growth in our region,” according to Kaine Riggan, VGCC’s grants coordinator. “Perkins funds are expected to shift more towards work-based learning, and we are stocked, staffed and ready for it.”

Riggan added that with a healthy number of local manufacturing jobs and a comfortable commute to the Research Triangle Park area, the four counties served by VGCC have been a favored investment for federal workforce development funds in recent years.

For more information on VGCC Business & Applied Technologies programs, contact Dean Angela Gardner-Ragland at gardnera@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3226.

–VGCC–

Granville Chamber Announces Alive After 5 Dates

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News Release

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

February 14, 2017

919-693-6125 – ginnie@granville-chamber.com

Release: Immediately

The Board of Directors of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the dates, locations and bands for their  three 2017 events.

Beginning May 11th in downtown Oxford’s parking lot between Main and Gilliam Streets, the first Alive After Five will feature “The Castaways” Band.

On Thursday, August 10th, “The Konnection Band” will be entertainers for the Creedmoor event, which will be held in downtown Creedmoor.

Completing the season will be “The Embers” Band on Thursday, September 21st in Oxford.  All events are held from 5:30 until 8:30 pm.

This is the fourteenth year that the Granville Chamber has organized Alive After Five events for the public.  In 2004 there was one Alive After Five in September.  The following year, there were two held – May and September.  Since 2005, the May and September events have been held in Oxford, and the August event has rotated between Butner and Creedmoor.

The continued sponsorships of local businesses and industries enable the Chamber to provide these community oriented gatherings.  Event volunteers are also appreciated.

Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering should contact either of the Chamber’s offices – 919-693-6125 or 919- 528-4994 – wanda@granville-chamber.com or tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.

VGCC President honors English department

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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 English department.

The department became just the second 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 English department was particularly noted for developing a strategy to improve students’ writing skills, which would in turn help them be more successful in all of their college courses. “The English faculty developed a new course with dedicated labs in an attempt to improve student success,” Dr. Williams said.

“In the first semester of implementation, the students improved, and by the spring semester, the English 111A course held a 100% course success rate,” the president noted. “This means that students are better prepared for their fields and for university transfer. The faculty in the English department are to be commended for their innovative efforts to help VGCC students.”

David Wyche, chair of the VGCC English department, added, “I’m grateful for this recognition of the creativity and hard work that these English instructors contribute in countless ways every day.”

He said that two former colleagues also deserved credit. “The English 111A lab is the legacy of Biology instructor Button Brady’s vision. She saw a need and worked tirelessly to meet it before she retired,” Wyche said. “Former instructor Bridget Bell created English 111A and taught it until the birth of her second child, when she decided to devote more of her time to being a mom. I am indebted to both of them.”

The English department is a unit of the VGCC division of Arts and Sciences, which offers courses that transfer to four-year colleges and universities as well as general education for students in all of the college’s curriculum programs.

–VGCC–

Home and Garden Show 02/14/17

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Foundation creates scholarship for VGCC students in memory of Vance County native

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The Watkins Family Foundation, created by the estate of Vance County native Edward Tarry Watkins, has donated $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to endow a scholarship to help underprivileged women.

The donation to VGCC is actually the first made by the newly-established, Houston, Texas-based foundation, according to Meghan Watkins Thompson, a granddaughter of Watkins.

“I recall that my grandfather would always tell me, ‘you educate the woman, you educate the family,’” Thompson said.

Among family members who remain in the Henderson area is Watkins’ nephew, George Rose Watkins, who has also endowed a scholarship through the VGCC Endowment Fund to help students and regularly plays in the college’s annual benefit golf tournament. His family’s company, Rose Oil, is also a longtime supporter of VGCC and other community organizations.

“The Watkins Family Foundation was created specifically for the education of underprivileged women,” Thompson added. “George and I appreciate Vance-Granville making Ed’s wish a reality.”

This new scholarship will be a “Presidential Scholar Award,” the college’s largest, most prestigious level of endowed scholarship.

“The Edward Tarry Watkins Memorial Presidential Scholar Award represents the lasting legacy of a generous man who never forgot his hometown and demonstrated the same dedication to service and philanthropy as other members of his extended family,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “For generations to come, his vision will empower women to obtain the higher education they need to support themselves, their families and their communities.”

Ed Watkins, or “Bitz,” as he was called by his family, was born in Henderson in 1919, the son of William Thomas and Nannie Tarry Watkins. A 1940 Davidson College graduate, he joined the Army Air Corps after college and moved from North Carolina to Texas, serving as a bombardier flight instructor and also working with Minneapolis Honeywell to couple the Norden bombsight to the B-17 autopilot. Watkins retired from active duty in 1949 as a lieutenant colonel.

He and his wife, Hazel, moved to Houston in 1951, where he worked for Merrill Lynch before founding his own brokerage and investment advisory firm, Watkins & Company, Inc.

Active in his community and a supporter of many social and charitable causes, Watkins supported the Embassy Square Foundation in its development of the Perry Memorial Library in downtown Henderson. He and a friend also helped to establish a technical school for underprivileged children in Kun-Ming, China.

After passing away in July 2006 at the age of 87, he was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson.

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.

–VGCC–

NCDOL Warns Employers of Poster Scam

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NEWS RELEASE

Release: Immediate

Contact: Jason Tyson

Date: Feb. 9, 2017

Phone: 919-715-3233

 

Raleigh—The N.C. Department of Labor is urging businesses across the state to be on the lookout for suspicious correspondence, after the department recently received multiple reports of persons using scare tactics or threatening language in an attempt to sell labor law posters to employers.

“These scams surface several times a year and businesses will contact us,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “The threats of fines are bogus and should be ignored. The Department of Labor provides free sets of labor law posters to businesses.”

The scammers will often pose as either government officials or as acting on behalf of a poster company, such as the North Carolina Labor Law Poster Service, a non-regulatory entity that does not operate under any government agency. Other names these companies are known to go by include Personnel Concepts and Labor Law Compliance. There have been reports of these companies threatening fines from $7,000 to as much as $17,000 for non-compliance. Mailings can often appear to be from an official source and request fees for posters that cost anywhere from $84 to $200. Businesses should be aware that scammers may also attempt to contact them by either email, text or by phone.

While labor law posters are required to be displayed at a workplace by law, NCDOL inspectors carry the most up-to-date versions of the posters in their vehicles and will distribute them free of charge. The N.C. Department of Labor will never fine a business that has older versions of the poster displayed.

The NCDOL will print new versions anytime a significant law is changed or updated by Congress. Businesses are not required to order a new poster each time a change is made.  Employers that wish to order new posters can visit www.nclabor.com/posters/posters.htm or can call 1-800-625-2267.

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GCPS School Board Seeks Public Input on Superintendent Search

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Press Release

Granville County Board of Education

February 7, 2017

The Granville County Board of Education has hired the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) to help facilitate its search for the next Superintendent of Granville County Public Schools (GCPS). To that end, the board is seeking direct input from interested members of the staff and community to help shape the search process and assist in defining the qualities and characteristics of the next GCPS superintendent.

The board invites parents and community members to participate in a short community survey that can be accessed and completed online by clicking the survey link on the main GCPS webpage: https://www.gcs.k12.nc.us/. All surveys must be completed by Monday, March 27, 2017 with results to be compiled, summarized, and presented by NCSBA at the regular board meeting on April 3, 2017.

In addition, all employees of GCPS will have an opportunity to complete a separate online staff survey. Details about completing the employee version of the search survey will be communicated via school system email.

Citizens may also sign up to address the board during the public comment period at any of the upcoming regular board meetings, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on March 6 and April 3. All meetings will be held in the main board room at the GCPS Administrative Offices, located at 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC. Citizens must sign up to speak before the meeting begins and must otherwise comply with board policy.

In addition to input received from the surveys and public comment, written statements from any local groups or organizations may be submitted to Allison Schafer via mail at NCSBA, P.O. Box 97877, Raleigh, NC 27624, via email at aschafer@ncsba.org, or via fax at 919-841-4020. These statements should be received no later than Monday, March 27, 2017.

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Stan Winborne, Ed.S.
Director of High Schools
Director of Career & Technical Education Program
Public Information Officer
Granville County Schools

City of Oxford to hold Personnel Committee Meeting

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CITY OF OXFORD

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING

The Personnel Committee for the City of Oxford will meet on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the Training Room, 1st Floor, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the hiring process, code enforcement position, career development and personnel policy.  All those interested are encouraged to attend.

 

Barb Rote, CMC

City Clerk,

City of Oxford

300 Williamsboro Street – PO Box 1307

Oxford, North Carolina  27565

Butterfield Re-Introduces Childhood Cancer STAR Act

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), along with Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), re-introduced the Childhood Cancer STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research) Act, HR 820, in the 115th Congress.

The STAR Act would improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences, improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors, and identify opportunities to expand the research of therapeutics necessary to treat the approx. 15,700 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. every year.

Congressman Butterfield: “Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death in American children and we need to take action. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act aims to give young cancer patients and their families better access to life-saving treatments and the support they need even after beating cancer.  I thank my colleagues for their continued partnership on this measure.  No parent should have to lose a child to cancer.  This Act moves us one step closer to seeing that it does not happen.”

Congressman McCaul: “I co-founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus because we need to do more in the fight against the number one killer of our children.  When I was in elementary school, my friend lost his battle to this illness, and this tragedy continues to be a far too frequent occurrence for children across the nation.  That is why we need to move legislation like the STAR Act through Congress this year, and prevent the worst outcomes from becoming a reality.”

Senator Reed: “With far too many children’s lives tragically cut short by cancer, it’s critical that we do all we can to help the brave young people who are fighting these battles.  The Childhood Cancer STAR Act will bring needed assistance to children with cancer and their families by expanding opportunities for research on childhood cancer and providing new strategies to help survivors overcome late health effects, such as secondary cancers.  It is my hope that these efforts will lead to life-saving treatments for children and bring us closer to our ultimate goal of ending pediatric cancer once and for all.”

Congresswoman Speier: “Childhood cancer is a nightmare for children and their families. And for many of these children, the fight does not end with remission,” Rep. Speier said. “That is why I’m proud to reintroduce the STAR Act and fight for its immediate passage in order to address the care and quality of life of the population of childhood cancer survivors, which is expected to reach 500,000 by the year 2020. The joyful news of remission should never be ruined by the serious threat of financial and emotional turmoil due to the on-going medical needs of these incredibly brave survivors.”

Senator Capito: “We must continue making advancements that can help save the lives of those battling childhood cancers. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act will contribute to new developments in research and treatment, and has the potential to positively impact tens of thousands of lives. I’m proud to reintroduce this very important legislation for patients and families in West Virginia and across the country.”

Senator Van Hollen: “There are unique barriers to studying childhood cancer that are slowing and preventing the next big breakthrough in treatment.  We need a strategy to give every child with cancer the hope of a long and healthy life, and the STAR Act is a bipartisan approach to delivering that hope. By taking action to better study this disease and improve the quality of life for survivors, this bill will ultimately save lives and get us closer to the day that no child has to face the diagnosis of cancer.”

Congressman Kelly: “No parent should ever have to hear the words, ‘Your child has cancer.’ I am so grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to introduce this crucial legislation to help make that dream a reality. The STAR Act will be a powerful tool in the fight to eradicate childhood cancer forever, and an ally to the survivors who have bravely fought and beat this disease.”

Senator Isakson: “It is extremely important that we increase research and treatment of the devastating effects of childhood cancer.  This critical legislation is a positive step forward to help find the right cures for our youngest patients.”

Background:

The STAR Act passed the U.S. House in the 114th Congress.

https://butterfield.house.gov

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