Vance County Schools’ Student Spotlight Honorees

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– information courtesy of Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools kicks off its 2025-26 Student Spotlight program with three students who have been recognized for their hard work, leadership and the positive impact they have in their school communities.

Destiny Timberlake from Vance County Early College, Joseph Vida from E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy and Kimberly Isidro from Vance County High School are the first honorees for this year’s program, because they embody qualities such as kindness, dedication and a strong commitment to personal growth and service to others.

The Student Spotlight program is sponsored by Vance County Schools in partnership with the Vance County Public Schools Foundation.

Destiny Timberlake, 11th Grader, Vance County Early College 

Destiny Timberlake is the 2025-2026 Student Spotlight at Vance County Early College. Destiny stands out for her ability to balance high school and college-level coursework, while also excelling as a student-athlete, and dedicated employee outside of school. She is admired for her leadership, maturity, and the way she uplifts those around her with encouragement and kindness.

Destiny is active in the National Honor Society, BETA Club, and she leads on the court as point guard and captain of the basketball team. She also is involved in music with her church. Her favorite subject is English, which she values for its real-world applications, especially in business. Her future goals include playing Division I basketball at the University of South Carolina, competing in the WNBA, and later pursuing a career as a luxury real estate agent.

Outside of academics and athletics, Destiny enjoys basketball, working, and spending time with her family, especially gathering around meals. She names her mother, Renita, as her greatest role model for her strength and sacrifices, and she hopes to repay that love and support. Inspired by Michelle Obama’s Becoming, Destiny believes in building success through perseverance. She sums up her outlook with the advice: “Walk by faith and not by sight… no matter what it looks like right now, it will always be better in the future.”

Her favorite part of being at VCEC is the opportunity to lead and set an example for her peers. She credits the school with teaching her how to balance responsibilities and manage time—skills that will help her succeed in every step of her journey.

Joseph Vida, 5th Grader, E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy 

Joseph Vida, a 5th grader at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, was selected for his diligence, curiosity, and commitment to excellence. Teachers describe him as respectful, responsible, and well-mannered, serving as a positive role model for his classmates. He is an active member of the Robotics Club, Men in Action, the Junior BETA Club, as well as an AIG student, consistently demonstrating the values and expectations of his school community.

Joseph’s favorite subjects are math and English Language Arts, which he enjoys because they allow him to keep learning new skills. Outside of school, he likes playing with his siblings, spending time outdoors, and reading chapter books—especially science fiction, with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban being a favorite.

When asked about who inspires him most, Joseph immediately points to his parents, who always support and encourage him. Recently, he has enjoyed learning about Indigenous peoples in social studies and strengthening his math skills with multiplication and division. If he could have any superpower, Joseph would choose flying so he could get to places quickly.

His advice to other students is: “Always try your best and never give up.” Joseph’s favorite part of being a student at E.M. Rollins is learning new and exciting things while being part of a supportive school community. He says what keeps him motivated to come to school every day is the chance to “learn more things and get better at them.” If given one wish, Joseph would travel back to the Philippines to visit family and friends. Joseph’s determination, curiosity, and resilience make him a shining example of what it means to be a Student Spotlight at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy.

Kimberly Isidro, 9th Grader, Vance County High School 

Kimberly Isidro, a 9th grader, is the Vance County High School Student Spotlight honoree. Nominated by VCHS Assistant Principal Mcshell Edmonds, Kimberly has already begun to make her mark at VCHS. Edmonds shared, “Although Kimberly is new to VCHS, she has already established herself as a leader. She demonstrates responsibility by staying on top of her assignments, shows a willingness to assist her peers, and brings a positive presence that brightens every room she enters.”

Kimberly has also been invited to join the 9th-grade Student Council, reflecting her leadership skills. Her favorite subject is math, where she enjoys learning new skills like solving inequalities. Kimberly plans to join the girls’ soccer team in the spring and also enjoys expressing her creativity through art, including submitting pieces for Arts Alive. Outside of school, she loves playing soccer, drawing, spending time with family, and watching horror movies. Kimberly admires her mom as her greatest role model, inspired by her strength and independence. Kimberly dreams of becoming a dentist, with nursing as a second option, because she is passionate about helping others. She also tutored a friend in math, helping them prepare for the end-of-course test and achieve a passing score.

Her favorite thing about VCHS is participating in fun activities and being part of a supportive community. If given a superpower, she would control time to relive childhood moments, and she dreams of traveling to Hawaii to explore new experiences. Her advice to others: “Don’t skip classes, always turn in your work early, don’t get in trouble, and respect your teachers.” 

Kimberly’s leadership, determination, and kind spirit make her a shining example of the values and excellence at Vance County High School.

These students are exemplary representatives of Vance County Schools and the Student Spotlight program. They embody the values of kindness, dedication, and a commitment to learning, serving as an inspiration to their peers and a source of pride for their school communities and the district as a whole.

TownTalk: Kernel Craze Sponsoring Holiday Art Challenge

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Budding artists in Vance County have a unique opportunity to have their artwork appear on Kernel Craze holiday popcorn tins and spread some pride and passion for their community in the process.

Stephen Wolf, Kernel Craze founder, said the Holiday Art Challenge is open to K-12 students who live or go to school in Vance County. Participants must register by Oct. 1 and submit artwork no later than Oct. 16. Visit www.kernelcraze.com to register.

The artwork should include a few specific aspects, Wolf explained. It should have a winter theme and incorporate the  city of Henderson and Kernel Craze in some way. In addition, the artwork must fit within an 11 x 17 inch document, using the landscape orientation.

The top winner will get $100 and the top two winners’ creations will appear on the 2025 holiday tins that hold the different popped corn creations.

All the entries will be featured in a Showcase on Thursday, Oct. 23. Most likely the showcase and judging will take place at McGregor Hall, but Wolf said details haven’t been finalized.

This is the first year for the contest, and Wolf said he hopes it will spark some interest among young people in the area.

“Henderson is my home, it’s where I grew up,” he said. “I think that our youth here need more opportunities to do something positive…do something that encourages the pride and passion of the community.”

And there’s a little bit of pride that goes along with having original artwork featured on the tins, too. “When one of our popcorn tins is purchased, your art is also coming with it,” he said.

Find all the details for the Holiday Art Challenge at www.kernelcraze.com.

Contact Wolf at stephen@kernelcraze.com to learn more.

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The Local Skinny! A Pawsitive Impact in Vance County

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A Henderson teen is focused on reducing the pet surrender rate in Vance County as she works toward her Girl Scout Gold Award achievement to make a “Pawsitive Impact.”

Sophomore Neleh-Kate Sandlin said she is partnering with Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society and Vance Cares Community Center to increase awareness to young people about being a responsible pet owner and to offer current pet owners with options other than surrendering a pet in challenging situations.

“I’ve always been an animal lover,” Sandlin said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!, so she knew she wanted to incorporate that passion into her Gold Award project. “Knowing I can help that cause warms my heart.”

RCAPS has helped Sandlin make connections with other community partners to help spread the word.

“I just want to lower the surrenders,” she said, referring to animals brought by owners to the animal shelter. She created a short video to share local resources with pet owners and prospective pet owners about how to prepare for pet adoption and how to access resources to avoid pet surrender.

She has placed basic pet supplies at the Vance Cares Community Centers at Vance County Middle School and Clarke Elementary to help pet owners when they find themselves in a pinch. And she’s aiming to add the Vance County High School location next.

Find the video and resource list at https://bit.ly/goldpets

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TownTalk: Sisters Speak Life Pink Out Campaign

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We’re officially into the first few days into autumn, when thoughts turn to football, pumpkin spice everything, and fall colors like orange, yellow and…PINK!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Freddie Harris and her nonprofit organization Sisters Speak Life want to turn Henderson and Vance County pink to bring awareness to the importance of annual mammograms and early detection.

“Pink Out Vance County” kicks off at 12 noon on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at McGregor Hall. The event will begin with a “countywide pause and a Pink Bow moment,” Harris said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. Participants will tie dozens of pink bows on trees along Breckenridge Street outside McGregor Hall. The bows serve as visual reminders and symbols of hope for all who have been touched in one way or another by breast cancer.

“I really want the community to know that we need you,” said Harris, herself a two-time cancer survivor. “We want you to come and join us as we tie the pink bows around trees downtown. That’s a community effort and we want you to be a part of that,” she said.

Pink bows and Pink Out t-shirts can be purchased online at www.sistersspeaklife.org to show support for the cause. The event continues later that afternoon at 5:30 p.m. with a Community Gathering in the Gallery Area between McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library.

“Our goal is to inspire women to get their mammograms, to provide educational information and support for survivors,” said Harris. “It’s like a passion for me. I want women to know the importance of getting a mammogram. I hope to inspire others as well…My hope is that in Vance County we can come together to do awareness, which is so important.”

Dr. Gary Smith, a local physician and a member of the nonprofit’s board emphasized the importance of early detection.

“Early detection is an important event,” Smith said, “that starts with awareness.” Annual mammograms, especially for women between 45 and 75 years of age.

Early detection means earlier interventions, he said, which can lead to better outcomes. A mammogram is an important tool in early detection. Another important tool, Smith said, is having a support team to help a patient in the healing process, which begins the moment a patient receives a cancer diagnosis. “That’s a time they need their community the most,” he said.

Invision Diagnostics is bringing its Mammogram Bus to Aycock Rec Center on Saturday, Nov. 1 and now is the time to schedule a free mammogram. Phone 877.318.1349 to schedule an appointment. Last year, 19 women took advantage of the mobile service, and Harris would love to see a good turnout this year, too.

SistersspeakLife is creating a video to help promote that Nov. 1 event. If you’re a breast cancer survivor, please send a headshot photo, along with the year you were diagnosed and a one-word description of yourself to be included in the video. In addition to the mammogram bus, there will be health-related resources for participants to learn about available services in the area.

When Harris was diagnosed, she said she found inspiration from people – family, friends and even strangers – who surrounded her with love and support.

She encourages people to come together, reach out and help each other. “It made a difference for me and I think it can make a difference for someone else.”

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/sistersspeaklife or https://sistersspeaklife.org/

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Vance County Logo

Commissioners Approve 5% Match For School Grant Funding Request

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It didn’t take long for the Vance County Board of Commissioners to approve making a 5 percent match to Vance County Schools so that the school district can move forward with making application for more than $47 million in grant funding for capital improvements to school buildings.

It was the first item on the agenda for Monday’s special called meeting, and commissioners wasted no time in giving the school district the green light.

VCS Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett and Chief Finance Officer John Suther made the request at the commissioners’ September meeting, and told the board at the time that the grant application was due to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction by Oct. 3 – next Friday.

The state-administered grant is for capital improvements and Vance County could stand to get more than $47 million to make necessary repairs and renovations to up to 14 of its school campuses.

If the school district were to be approved to receive the maximum amount, the 5 percent match would amount to about $2.5 million.

The matching funds wouldn’t have to be paid all at once; rather, the money could come in over the course of the projects, which could take several years.

Bennett and Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry agree that Vance County is poised to receive the funding because of its Tier 1 designation and because it hasn’t applied previously to get the funding.

Parker’s Peace Pool Annual Oyster Roast October 18, 2025

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Who: Parker’s Peace Pool

What: 5th Annual Oyster Roast

When: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Where: The Sidney at 184 Henry Ayscue Road, Henderson

Why: Fundraiser for the 65-year-old community pool

Additional Details: $50. Gates Open at 4pm. Dinner from 5pm to 7pm. Raffle at 6:30pm. For tickets go to www.parkerpeacepool.com or email parkerpeacepool@gmail.com. Menu includes: Steamed Oysters, Pork BBQ, Fried Catfish, Steamed Shrimp (shell on), Baked Beans, Slaw, Hush Puppies, Tea/Water

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TownTalk: Commissioners Approve Revised Emergency Pay Policy For Jail Staffing

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During a special called meeting Monday, the Vance County Commissioners approved a revised emergency pay policy that has been in effect since April to staff the county detention center.

Since the policy was put in place – which allows for employees of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office to fill in at the jail because of staffing shortages – the county has paid more than $483,000 to keep adequate staff at the jail. The funds have come from lapsed salaries.

County Manager C. Renee Perry recommended some changes to the policy to commissioners, which includes removing exempt staff from substituting at the jail, using individual employees’ overtime pay rate and allowing no more than 60 hours overtime per pay period.

The revised policy states that exempt employees and non-exempt staff at a pay grade of 72 or above be excluded from the emergency pay policy.

Sheriff Curtis Brame responded to commissioners’ concerns and said he opposed some of what the manager included in the revised policy. He requested that a cap not be placed on the number of hours an individual can work, and he balked at having on-duty patrol deputies be responsible for transporting detainees.

Brame said that he is down 12 staff at the sheriff’s office, and having patrol deputies transporting detainees would mean they’re not patrolling the county.

“We’re talking about safety, we’re definitely talking about safety,” Brame said. As of Monday, the county has 171 detainees, 63 of which are housed at the county jail. That means that the other 108 are in other detention facilities spread across the state of North Carolina from the coast to the Tennessee border.

In response to questions earlier Tuesday from WIZS, Perry said the sheriff “must reach out for approval in advance, just to ensure that the funds are available, not necessarily if the employees can work – just that funds are available,” she reiterated.

With regard to transport of detainees, Perry said that historically, deputies were able to transport. “My preference is to have his deputies do the actual transport without additional pay on their regular shift,” she said, but added that if that causes an undue hardship she would entertain conversations with the sheriff about that. “He just needs to let me know,” she said.

The policy that Perry proposes states that when the lapses salary well goes dry, the emergency pay policy will end.

Brame said county money needs to be made available to keep the staffing at the jail. He called the fund balance a rainy-day fund, used when emergencies arise. “It’s raining like hell in Vance County,” Brame said, “and I’m getting wet.”

After close to a half hour discussion, Commissioner Tommy Hester made a motion to approve the policy Perry recommended. The motion was seconded and was approved, with a lone “no “vote cast by Commissioner Valencia Perry.

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