Student Spotlight Award Winners Honored

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

A total of 17 Vance County Schools students, who everyday display good character and compassion for others and who are committed to making the most of their educational opportunities, were honored during the evening of May 21 at the “Student Spotlight” banquet held at the Henderson Country Club.

Approximately 150 family members, school system administrators, local educators and local community leaders, attended the event to honor each of the award-winning students.

Jason Brown, a graduate of Northern Vance High School who went on to star in the National Football League, was the featured speaker for the event. He gave a passionate address to the students and guests that focused on overcoming personal obstacles and working hard to achieve your goals.

The banquet was presented by the staff of The Daily Dispatch, the newspaper in Henderson. Nancy Wykle, publisher of the newspaper, led the proceedings. The Daily Dispatch is the leading sponsor of the “Student Spotlight” recognition program, along with Vance County Schools. Additional sponsors for the program include: the Vance County Public School Foundation; Prim Development and Residential Rentals; Mako Medical Laboratories; and the Henderson Kiwanis Club.

Those who helped to fund the banquet are Duke Energy, Greystone Concrete Products Inc., H.G. Reynolds Inc., Judge Randolph Baskerville and Vance-Granville Community College.

Those students honored as “Student Spotlight” award winners for 2017-2018 included:

“Student Spotlight” award winners are shown and include, first row from left, Omar Saleh, Tanner Abbott, Jordan Glover, Jeremiah Williams, Catherine Cruz-Ochoa, Carley Walthall and Angela Ponce. On the second row from left, are LaKaiyah Miller, Jordon Hester, Christian Castillo, Eyana Hargrove, Emani Foster, Ja’Quavious Harris, La’Tina Crute, Kwaji Bullock and Madonna Baselios. (Photo: CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN / The Daily Dispatch staff)

  • Tanner Abbott, a third grader at Aycock Elementary School
  • Madonna Baselios, an 11th grader at Southern Vance High School
  • Kwaji Bullock, a 12th grader at Northern Vance High School
  • Christian Castillo, a seventh grader at Henderson Middle School
  • La’Tina Crute, a fifth grader at Pinkston Street Elementary School
  • Catherine Cruz-Ochoa, a fourth grader at Carver Elementary School
  • Emani Foster, a 10th grader at Early College High School
  • Jordan Glover, a sixth grader at Eaton-Johnson Middle School
  • Eyana Hargrove, a 12th grader at AdVance Academy
  • Ja’Quavious Harris, a fourth grader at Zeb Vance Elementary School
  • Jordon Hester, a third grader at Clarke Elementary School
  • LaKaiyah Miller, a fourth grader at New Hope Elementary School
  • Angela Ponce, a third grader at E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary School
  • Omar Saleh, a fourth grader at E.M. Rollins Elementary School
  • Isreal Terry, a seventh grader at STEM Early High School
  • Carley Walthall, a fourth grader at Dabney Elementary School
  • Jeremiah Williams, a fourth grader at L.B. Yancey Elementary School
City of Henderson Logo

Remainder of Henderson City Council Budget Sessions Canceled

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

During the Public Meeting Budget Work Session on Monday, May 21, the Henderson City Council concluded its budget deliberations; therefore, the remainder of the budget work sessions have been canceled.

The City Council will formally approve the budget during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 11, 2018.

Town Talk 05/22/18

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News 05/22/18

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VGCC President Williams Resigns To Take VP Position At Duke

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, announced today that she has accepted the position of Vice President for Durham Affairs at Duke University, effective Aug. 13, 2018.

“It has been an honor and joy to lead and serve at Vance-Granville Community College,” Dr. Williams said. “I am proud of the success over these years, and I am confident that, with the fine faculty and staff and community support, the best is yet to come for the college.”

The announcement came today after the VGCC Board of Trustees voted to accept the resignation. “Dr. Williams has provided outstanding leadership for Vance-Granville Community College,” said Danny W. Wright, board chair. “Her vision and intellect, passion for student success, and commitment to community engagement will be assets to Duke University, and she will be missed dearly at VGCC and the surrounding communities we serve. Stelfanie is very deserving of this opportunity, and we are heartened to know that she will continue her great work and contributions in higher education.”

In an e-mail to VGCC trustees, faculty and staff members, noting their contributions to the college’s success, Dr. Williams wrote, “You all are an amazing group of professionals! Thank you for your commitment and great achievements over these years.”

Dr. Williams succeeded Randy Parker as the sixth president in the history of the college on Feb. 1, 2012. She came to VGCC from Central Carolina Community College where she last served as the vice president of economic and community development. A graduate of Duke University, she began her community college career at CCCC as an instructor for Basic Skills and progressed through several positions on the faculty and in administration at community colleges in North Carolina.

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, announced that she has accepted the position of Vice President for Durham Affairs at Duke University, effective Aug. 13, 2018. Photo courtesy VGCC.

In her new position at her alma mater, Dr. Williams will lead and coordinate Duke’s diverse and innovative community efforts in areas such as economic development, affordable housing, early childhood, K-12 and workforce education, student engagement, neighborhood relations and community health, according to a press release from Duke. She will also continue building connections between Duke and Durham Public Schools, Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University. She succeeds Phail Wynn, former president of Durham Tech, who is leaving after 10 years in the position.

“Duke’s commitment to public service and the unique attributes of the Durham community excite me about the bright opportunities ahead for thoughtful collaboration,” Dr. Williams is quoted as saying in the Duke release.

Among local and regional boards and commissions, Dr. Williams currently serves on North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s Commission on Sound, Basic Education and the MyFutureNC commission created to get more North Carolinians better educated.

Dr. Williams was named “President of the Year” by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges earlier this year. In 2014, she received the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award, named for the first president of the North Carolina Community College System, by North Carolina State University.

She was born in New York City, raised in Sanford and attended The Asheville School in Asheville, N.C. She attended Duke University, where she received bachelor’s degrees in Public Policy and Spanish, and Western Carolina University, where she earned a master’s degree in Project Management. In 2011, Williams completed her doctorate, an Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education, from NCSU.

For the selection process leading to Dr. Williams being named as VGCC’s president in December 2011, the college’s Board of Trustees appointed a Presidential Search Committee and a nationwide search was conducted. The board was assisted in that process by a search consultant from the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees.

Trustees Chair Wright added, “We will miss Dr. Williams, but we wish her the very best as she moves on to another opportunity for educational leadership at Duke University…. Over the next several weeks, she will be working with the board, college personnel, and community partners to prepare the institution for future growth.”

Top Graduates in Class of 2018 Honored

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools hosted the annual “Honoring Academic Success” banquet for the top graduating seniors in the Class of 2018 during the evening of Wednesday, May 16, at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson.

Approximately 60 Class of 2018 members from AdVance Academy, Early College High, Southern Vance High and Northern Vance High were honored and presented with medallions. They are all among the top 10 percent academically in their senior classes. Their medallions were presented to them by Superintendent Anthony Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine and Vance County Public School Foundation President Archie B. Taylor, Jr.

Over 200 parents, friends, community leaders and school system administrators were in the audience to join in the recognitions for the graduates.

Jordan Thomas, a 2017 graduate of Southern Vance High School and now a student leader at N.C. Central University, was the featured speaker for the evening. Thomas did an amazing job with his keynote address. He talked about his own experiences in completing his first year of college and he urged all of the successful graduates to continue to be leaders, work hard to achieve their goals and to never give up even in the face of adversity.

Those students honored included from AdVance Academy: Timothy Batts, Jr., Alexander Cooper, Quandarious Greene, Samuel Gupton, III, Germon Hawthorne, Shay’Daza Harrison, Nathan Martin, Zi’yon Price, Nicole Dominguez and Aljanea Robinson.

Top graduates honored from Early College High School were Nancy Bonilla, Ke’Moni Champion, Lehman Ford, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff and Seth Moody.

The top 10 percent in academic achievers in the Class of 2018 at Southern Vance High School were honored and included: Kailee Ball, Reina Banda Orozco, Itzy Chavarin Contreas, Cody Edwards, Adriana Evans, Cynthia Hernandez, Walter Hernandez, Emily Isidro, Perla Lopez, Brandon Loyd, Crystal Marrow, Ashley Mosley, Litzy Renteria, Onjahlaya Robinson, Karen Sandoval, Kaitlyn Tant, Antoinette Watson, Destiny Williams and Aliyah Wright.

At Northern Vance High School, the top 10 percent of 2018 graduates include: Akyvia Alston, La’Niayah Bates, Clara Bobbitt, Kwaji Bullock, Jordan Burnette, Briana Coleman, Diamond Durham, Jamon Glover, Destini Hargrove, Madison Hetrick, Makayla Jefferys, Jadyn Jones, Autumn Julian, Laneka Littlejohn, Erin McAllister, Manaya Perry, Shyanne Robertson, Christopher Stainback, Cody Stainback and Jonathan Vu.

Top 10 Percent Students for AdVance Academy. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

Top 10 Percent Students for Early College High School. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

Top 10 Percent Students for Southern Vance High School. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

 

Top 10 Percent Students for Northern Vance High School. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

American Red Cross Disaster Bootcamp

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Disaster Bootcamp Action Team

Franklin, Warren, Vance and Granville Counties

Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, June 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Attendance is required at both sessions)

LOCATION: Franklin County Emergency Services 8146 NC-56, Louisburg, NC 27549

PARTICIPANTS WILL:

  • Learn the Red Cross role and values for engaging with disaster clients, first responders, and the public
  • Understand functions of the Disaster Action Team (DAT), and expectations for DAT workers on a response
  • Discover roles a DAT member may perform on a large-scale disaster response
  • Learn casework and recovery planning processes and the system used
  • Learn how direct client assistance is issued and how referrals are made to community partners
  • Complete training through a simulation drill, practicing the skills learned during the classroom sessions
  • If desired, be assigned to a Disaster Action Team, and support the Red Cross in Franklin, Warren, Vance and Granville Counties

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Call 919-774-6857 or email Jennifer.Vangundy@redcross.org or Gehrig.Haberstock3@redcross.org

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Vance County Schools Bus Driver Training

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools will host bus driver training Tuesday, June 19 through Thursday, June 21,at what is currently Northern Vance High School in room I-103.

Interested persons must attend the training on all three days to receive certification. The training will be only for individuals to drive school buses for our school system. Participants will be given applications for VCS school bus drivers to be completed by the third day of the class.

Participants who use a VCS yellow bus to complete the driving part of the class must commit to drive for our school system for one year as a part-time or substitute driver. Those who fail to meet this commitment to drive will be charged for the use of the bus during road training and the background check completed by Vance County Schools.

The training sessions will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at approximately 3:15 p.m. each day.

Those persons interested in participating in the training sessions must register five days prior to the sessions with the school system’s Transportation Department, located at 226 Welcome Avenue off Raleigh Road south of Henderson. For additional information, please call the Transportation Department at 438-5012.

NC Coop Extension

Vance Co. Cooperative Extension – Weekly Parenting Tip

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-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension

Parenting tip week of 5/21/18

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping with kids can be fun. Involve your kids in your shopping trip by making shopping into a learning experience. Have your younger children find foods of different colors and shapes. Older children can look for letters in signs or read packages.

Write a shopping list together and have your older child check off the items as you purchase them. When your kids are busy shopping, it can be less stressful for you and kids can learn about healthy foods.

News 05/21/18

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