VGCC awards top academic honor to Ivy League-bound student

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Vance-Granville Community College has named student Paul Caroline of Louisburg as its recipient of the North Carolina Community College System’s Academic Excellence Award for 2017. One student from each of the 58 colleges in the state system is honored with the award each year.

Caroline will be officially recognized at Commencement in May, when he is scheduled to graduate from the college with both an Associate in Arts degree and an Associate in Science degree. That same month, Caroline will graduate from Franklin County Early College High School. This is the second year in a row that the VGCC Academic Excellence Award has gone to a student at FCECHS.

The college partners with four Early College high school programs, one in each county of the VGCC service area. As Caroline has done, students typically finish the program in five years, simultaneously earning high school diplomas and college degrees, or up to two years of college-transferable credits.

In an essay that he wrote for the award nomination, Caroline put his academic experience into its historical context. “For my family, education has always been a privilege,” he wrote. “In the early twentieth century, laws prohibited my great-grandmother and many other African American students from advancing to the twelfth grade and earning a high school diploma. Since then, each new generation has attested to a strong commitment to the pursuit of educational opportunity.”

Caroline added that “education opens doors to a better life, and one of the greatest thresholds I have crossed on my journey thus far is the iconic archway of Vance-Granville Community College.”

He described the support he has received from faculty members at both the high school and the college as “transformative.” Caroline said that he found that learning “not only yields the power to better oneself, but the world as a whole.” He took the “Vanguard spirit” and VGCC’s commitment to students to heart, he said, by helping others as a Peer Tutor through the college’s Academic Skills Center, starting at the age of 17.

After he graduates, Caroline is set to study Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, the prestigious Ivy League institution, with a full QuestBridge scholarship, which he described as “a first” for his community. “In my personal journey, Vance-Granville Community College has been a stepping-stone to making an Ivy League education possible,” Caroline said.

His twin brother, Peter, is also a Franklin County Early College High School student. Peter is likewise set to graduate with both an Associate in Arts degree and an Associate in Science degree from VGCC and will continue his education at Stanford University with a full QuestBridge scholarship.

“Paul’s hard work and dedication to excellence have earned him a place among the top community college students in North Carolina,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “He is an outstanding representative of both Vance-Granville and Franklin County Early College High School, and we know he will continue to make us proud as a student at one of our country’s elite institutions of higher learning.”

–VGCC–

VGCC to host free Dementia Awareness programs

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Vance-Granville Community College will soon host a pair of free programs for the public to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. These educational programs are being facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern North Carolina Chapter.

Both events are set to be held on Tuesday, March 21, in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County (located at exit 209 on Interstate 85). First, “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease” will be offered from 10-11 a.m. “Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors” follows from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The first workshop is designed for anyone who would like to know more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, which are not a normal part of aging.

The second workshop focuses specifically on behavior, one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as their ability to use language deteriorates. Some behaviors can present challenges for caregivers to manage. Attendees will learn to “decode” behaviors, identify common behavior triggers and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

VGCC Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas and Human Services Technology (HST) program head Tracy Wallace have collaborated with the Raleigh-based Alzheimer’s Association chapter to bring these programs to campus. The HST program, accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education, is based at VGCC’s South Campus between Creedmoor and Butner. The curriculum prepares students for entry-level positions in institutions and agencies which provide social, community, and educational services. In addition to a general HST track and a Substance Abuse track, VGCC offers a Gerontology track, which prepares students to specialize in direct service delivery work to older adults and their families.

To register for one or both of the free March 21 programs, visit bit.ly/2lyqCIp for the first and bit.ly/2lrBB9V for the second, or call 1-800-272-3900.

For more information, contact the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern North Carolina Chapter at 919-803-8285 or Tracy Wallace at (252) 738-3519.

–VGCC–

Red Cross Marks Century of Service with Blood Drive

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RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2017) — The Triangle Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is partnering with CBS North Carolina to celebrate a century of service. Donors of all types are invited to join the Red Cross in its lifesaving mission, by rolling up a sleeve to give blood.

All eligible blood donors are encouraged to be part of the centennial festivities by donating blood on Friday, March 10, 2017 from 11a .m. to 5 p.m. at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh or at Northgate Mall in Durham from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“The Red Cross, in partnership with CBS Carolina and Crabtree Valley Mall, is thrilled to celebrate its centennial year by hosting a blood drive to collect 100 pints of blood for 100 years of service. This drive will honor Red Cross volunteers who have served the community since March 1917, providing 100 years of life-sustaining work for military families, disaster victims and hospital patients,” said Barry Porter, regional CEO of the Red Cross in Eastern NC. “But we don’t do this important work alone. It is through the generosity of donors that we can prevent and alleviate human suffering. Join us at this special drive and give the gift of life, give blood.”

The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at 100 hospitals in North Carolina, and hundreds more hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types are needed to help accident and burn victims, patients undergoing organ transplants, those receiving cancer treatments and others who rely on blood products.

All presenting donors will receive a T-shirt and are eligible for cool giveaways while supplies last.

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code “CBS,” call 1-800-RED CROSS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

 

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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Butterfield to Host Community Discussion on Feb. 25

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WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, February 25, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will host “Forward Together,” a community discussion, in Durham, North Carolina in the First Congressional District.

During the discussion, the Congressman will offer a Washington update, take questions from residents, and hear ideas about how we can resist efforts to take our country backward and fight for a jobs and justice agenda that moves us forward.

This is the first in a series of events Congressman Butterfield will host to engage residents in a dialogue about a positive agenda for our future.

WHAT:          “Forward Together” Community Discussion

 

WHO:             Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01)

 

WHEN:          Saturday, February 25, 2017

                        1:00 p.m. ET

WHERE:       Hillside High School Auditorium

                             3727 Fayetteville Street

                             Durham, NC  27707

https://butterfield.house.gov

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Smoke West of Henderson is Controlled Burn

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According to a Vance County employee, the on-again-off-again smoke visible west of Henderson is a controlled burn.  WIZS News was told that the controlled burn is taking place on Fairport Road.  One hundred or more acres are believed to be part of the controlled burn by the North Carolina Forestry Service.

The smoke was visible at times from Ruin Creek Road and Dabney Drive early this afternoon.  The story cover photo was taken at the intersection of Vance Academy Road and U.S. 158 Business.  Thick puffy clouds make the actual smoke harder to see.

VGCC students awarded Golden LEAF scholarships

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A group of VGCC students recently received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System. The scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

The scholarship can be used to assist with tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare expenses related to attending classes during the 2016-17 academic year, and industry-recognized credential testing expenses that address skill gaps upon course completion. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and reside in rural counties that are tobacco-dependent and/or economically distressed. Scholarships for both occupational (continuing education) and curriculum students are available during the fall, spring and summer semesters.

The VGCC students who were awarded Golden LEAF scholarships for the fall 2016 semester (with their respective programs of study) include:

 

  • Sally Alston of Louisburg (Associate in Arts);
  • Jennifer Bauduin of Louisburg (Associate in General Education – General Science);
  • Sonia Bishop of Stem (Computer Technology Integration – Networking and Security Technologies);
  • Taylor Crisp of Warrenton (Associate Degree Nursing);
  • Catherine Demming of Oxford (Criminal Justice);
  • Emory Gant-Hawkins of Henderson (Business Administration);
  • Latosha Hunt of Oxford (Business Administration);
  • Quiana Miller-Fisher of Henderson (Human Services Technology); and
  • Kimberly Vargo of Oxford (Associate in Arts)

 

“The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to have awarded over 11,800 Golden LEAF Scholarships to help North Carolinians attend our state’s community colleges,” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president. “Our hope is that these scholarships will help build the talent, knowledge and skills of our current and future workforce, which are in demand by industry, especially in the rural areas of our state.”

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina’s economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina’s funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with governmental entities, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission. The foundation has awarded 1,346 grants totaling more than $591 million since its inception. For more information about the foundation, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call (888) 684-8404.

Students interested in applying for a Golden LEAF Scholarship should contact the VGCC Financial Aid Office at (252) 738-3280.

 

–VGCC–

Cabinet Making course offered at VGCC

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Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a “Fundamentals of Cabinet Making” course, to be held Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., March 6 through May 23, on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

This course introduces students to the carpentry trade and provides basic information needed to construct and apply finishes to custom cabinetry. Students will learn about proper safety techniques, equipment, building materials, blueprint reading, floor systems, wall systems, ceiling and roof framing, ceiling joists, envelope systems, wood-joining techniques, cabinet doors, shelves and hardware.

The instructor for the course is Richard Wells.

Students will receive NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) certification upon successful completion of the course. NCCER is a national construction education foundation whose credentials are recognized across the country.

The cost of this course is $185.25 plus the cost of textbooks.

Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/oex or in person at any VGCC campus.

For more information, contact VGCC at oex@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3324.

–VGCC–

Music Honor Society Launched at Oxford Preparatory School

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The Tri-M® Music Honor Society, the honor society for secondary school music students, announces the chartering of a new chapter at Oxford Preparatory School in Oxford, North Carolina, under the leadership of Sarah Stallsmith. 27 students from grades 9-12 were inducted into the organization in a ceremony held at Salem United Methodist Church on January 25, 2017.

 

The formation of this chapter signifies the school’s recognition of the importance of the arts in the development of a comprehensive educational program. The Tri-M Music Honor Society provides a means of recognizing the efforts and achievements of music students who volunteer their time and share their musical talent with others. Since 1952, almost 5,000 Tri-M chapters have been chartered in the United States and abroad, and current membership exceeds 50,000.

 

The goal of the Tri-M Music Honor Society is to foster greater interest in band, orchestra, and choral performance and to provide more opportunities for personal musical expression. Students are selected for membership in the honor society on the basis of musicianship, scholarship, character, leadership, and service to their school and community. The organization’s high standards serve to challenge students to greater effort and achievement and to encourage them in the pursuit of excellence.

 

In 1983, the Tri-M Music Honor Society became a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). ​National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century.

 

For more information about Tri-M or NAfME, visit the Web site at www.nafme.org/tri-m or call the NAfME office at 1-800-336-3768.

2016-17 Tri-M Music Honor Society​:
9th grade​:

Claire Gordon

Sophia Metcalf

Nathan Metcalf

Ronnie Murray

Morgan Nance

Maecy Ross
10th grade​:

Alex Bare

Hannah Brewer

Evelyn Hann

Sydney Landers

Maranda Mynatt

Camden Ross

Makayla Thompson

Jocelyn Williams
11th grade​:

Bailee Barker

Olivia Brown

Andrew Crumpler

Whitt Daniel

Kayla Green

Ca’rin Green

Katherine Redman

Catherine Stallsmith

Madeline Stallsmith

Christian West
12th grade​:

Noah Greenway

Aaron Lombard

Alyssa Ross

Dr. Howard Retires from role at Granville County Superintendent

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After over 30 years of service, our Superintendent, Dr. Dorwin Howard has made the decision to retire.  Dr. Howard assumed the leadership role during a tumultuous time and must be commended for calming any concerns in our Granville County Public School system.  Now the school board is in the process of identifying candidates and hiring the next leader of our schools.  The school board is using a variety of communication methods to get your input.

This letter is merely a request of our residents to stay engaged, and to provide the school board with your input on this important search process.  You can do this in a variety of ways: complete the online survey on the school district website https://www.gcs.k12.nc.us/; or, obtain a paper copy at any of our schools; and/or, attend the Granville County School Board meeting on March 6 and share your comments.

Please keep in mind the deadline for this process is March 27.  The results of the survey and community input will be presented at the April 3 Board of Education meeting.

Selection of new leadership is crucial to moving our county forward.  We want your input.  Make your voice heard.

 

Sincerely,

The School Board Members of Granville County

Falls Lake Academy Still Accepting Applications for 2017-2018

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Press Release

Creedmoor, NC– Falls Lake Academy is a tuition-free public school. Any child who is qualified under the laws of North Carolina for admission to a public school is qualified for admission to FLA. FLA does not limit admission to students on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, disability, race, creed, gender, national origin, religion or ancestry. Children must be 5 (or older) on or before August 31, 2017 to be eligible for Kindergarten during the 2017-2018 school year.

Falls Lake Academy will be taking applications beginning January 3rd, 2017 and ending at 5:00 p.m. on March 3rd, 2017. Applications will be accepted for Kindergarten through 11th grade for the 2017-2018 school year. We are excited to continue our expansion into high school with the first graduating class to be the Class of 2019!

We will host open house/tours on Wednesday, February 22nd for prospective new students and parents interested in learning more about our school.  During the open house, there will be a brief information and question session followed by an opportunity to tour the building and classrooms.  Elementary families should arrive at 6:30pm and Middle and High School families should arrive at 7:30 p.m.

Visit www.fallslakeacademy.com and click on the “Join Us” tab to enroll.  Or stop by the school for paper applications.  Spanish translation assistance is available at school if needed.

Falls Lake Academy, Exceeding Excellence!