Kerr-Vance Academy Holds Commencement for the Class of 2018
-Information courtesy Frank Wiggins, Headmaster, Kerr-Vance Academy
Kerr-Vance Academy held it’s 2018 Commencement on Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. in Crawford Gymtorium. Thirty-two seniors received their high school diplomas during the ceremony. Headmaster Frank Wiggins welcomed everyone and senior Becca Johnson gave the invocation.
The Salutory Address was given by Genie Parish and Valedictorian Richard Allen also spoke to the audience and his classmates. Allen told his classmates, “I can testify to each of you beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we have received a better, more personalized education here than we could have anywhere else. KVA has given each of us the tools to shape for ourselves a successful, unique experience during our time here. All we had to do was reach out and take them.” Allen also reminded his fellow graduates that “the gift of our educations gives us each the responsibility to do our part to tackle the multiplying problems of our world.”
Kerr-Vance Academy graduates toss their caps following the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 26, 2018. (Photo courtesy KVA)
Each high school graduate was then introduced to the audience while their families stood. Senior Advisor Pat Hillery gave a personal narrative about each graduate and Headmaster Wiggins and Board President Anne Marie White presented the diplomas.
Ms. Hillery gave a heartfelt tribute to two colleagues, Dr. John Steinbaugh and Mr. Mike Dawson both teachers at Kerr-Vance who passed away earlier this year. She reminded the graduates that both men had high expectations for them and had been meaningful to each of them during their time at KVA. Ms. Hillery also recognized the dedicated Kerr-Vance faculty and staff for the outstanding job they do teaching and supporting students.
Mr. Wiggins then took to the podium with closing remarks for the graduates. He shared that he believed that the students would look back with fond memories of their time at KVA but that their “best was yet to come.” He reminded students that “the easy way is not always the best way. Practically everything worthwhile requires effort, hard work, and sometimes pain.”
Mr. Wiggins conferred the diplomas on behalf of the Kerr-Vance Academy Board and students moved their tassels. Graduates recessed to “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Warren County Schools NASA SEMAA/STEM Program Summer Camps
— courtesy The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County | Craig Hahn, Executive Director ~ 252-257-2657 ~ info@warren-chamber.org ~ Facebook
Jerome Williams, WCS STEM/SEMAA Director, is announcing Warren County Schools NASA SEMAA (Science, Engineering, Mathematics & Aerospace Academy)/STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) in Partnership with NASA MUREP Aerospace Program @ ECSU will hold its annual summer interactive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Camps at Warren County High School on the following dates:
CAMP ONE – June 11 to June 15, 2018
CAMP TWO – June 18 to June 22, 2018
CAMP THREE – June 25 to June 29, 2018
The NASA-SEMAA program has been located in Warren County Schools since 1998. This STEM-based program has a history of providing rich and fulfilling activities for school-age students in the Northcentral region of North Carolina and South Central Virginia. Students have attended the program as far away as Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia.
This year the Warren County Schools NASA SEMAA program is pleased to offer students the opportunity to experience firsthand the exciting world of rocketry design, flight simulation, robot assembly, First Lego League training courses, drones design and operation, 3D printing and manufacturing technology, coding and game design, video and sound production, just to name a few.
Sessions will run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and are free and open to all students currently in grades kindergarten to 12. Free breakfast and lunches will be provided to all students in the program. Parents are encouraged to participate in some of the activities as well. Moreover, this summer the camps will have a concentrated focus on the application of mathematics in science and introduce the next generation science standard which is essential to future college and career pathways opportunities.
Bus transportation will be provided for Warren County Schools’ students. Encourage your children to attend one of these STEM camps and take full advantage of the STEM activity offerings provided this year.
Applications can be found and downloaded at the following website: wcsemaa-nc.weebly.com. Once completed it can be emailed to stem-semaa@warrenk12nc.org or mailed to the following:
Mr. Jerome Williams
Warren County SEMAA
149 Campus Drive
Warrenton, NC 27589
Relay for Life Yellow Bricks on Sale Through June 5
Follow the yellow brick road to a cure!
The theme for the Relay for Life of Vance County 2018 is the yellow brick road from “The Wizard of Oz.” Personalized yellow bricks in memory of or in honor of a loved one who has fought cancer may be purchased for $25 now through Tuesday, June 5.
This year’s Relay for Life event will be held in downtown Henderson on Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June’s event will feature the bricks laid out to form a “yellow brick road” as a visual reminder of all those who have battled cancer.
Bricks are available for pre-purchase only and will no longer be available after June 5.
To place your order or request an order form, please email Christy Bennett at CBHarvestMoon@gmail.com or Liz Catlett at kscetc@embarqmail.com.
Please make check or money order payable to the American Cancer Society.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Union Chapel Methodist Women to Hold Yard Sale at Tony’s Auto
-Information courtesy Edward Woodlief, Union Chapel United Methodist Church
The Methodist Women of Union Chapel United Methodist Church will hold a yard sale at Tony’s Auto located at 415 Raleigh Road in Henderson on Saturday, June 2 from 7 a.m. to noon.
Furniture, household goods – including a dorm refrigerator, clothing and lots of miscellaneous items will be for sale.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Organist Travis Whaley to Perform at First Baptist Church This Evening!
-Information courtesy First Baptist Church, Henderson
Organist Travis Whaley will hold a recital this evening, Tuesday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at The First Baptist Church in Henderson.
Organist Travis Whaley (Photo courtesy Jacqueline Reid)
Whaley holds a Master’s degree in Musicology from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and will graduate with a Master’s in Organ Performance this August. He holds Bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech in Piano Performance, Composition, and German Language and Literature., he holds two Honors Baccalaureate diplomas from Virginia Tech, for which he wrote two undergraduate theses and English: “Beethovensder, op. 53.,” served as organist at Blacksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia from 2012-2016, where he directed the youth choir and wrote two Christmas Oratorios for full orchestra, choir and soloists.
Whaley will begin doctoral study in Musicology at the Jacobs School of Music this fall with minors in Organ Performance and Music Theory. His research interests include the compositional process and Bach organ works.
Whaley will present his degree recital as a “dry run” prior to presenting it to complete his degree requirements. Come and invite friends to enjoy an evening of great music!
June’s “Meet Me in the Street” Event to Feature “The Castaways”
— courtesy Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce | John Barnes, President ~ 252-438-8414 ~ info@hendersonvance.org ~ Facebook
This year’s second “Meet Me in the Street” event, a free concert series hosted by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, is set for Thursday, June 14, 2018, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Henderson.
Presenting sponsor for this year’s events is NC Towing & Recovery.
June’s “Meet Me in the Street” will feature “The Castaways.” A reputable band known throughout the South, “The Castaways” posses over fifty years of experience in the beach music industry. From their beginning in Durham, NC in 1961, “The Castaways” have been pleasing audiences with their unique flavor of Beach, Soul, and Rock N’ Roll for generations of fans. With eight members on stage, “The Castaways” bring a full sound that includes live horns, versatile vocals covering a variety of music and high energy. Don’t be surprised if you hear some current country, Top-40, or a little southern-rock as well!
In addition to the live music and dancing, a kids’ section will also be included this year.
Sponsors for this year’s concert series are Duke Energy and Maria Parham Health – Gold Sponsors; BB&T, Mars Petcare, Wake Electric Membership Corporation and Walmart DC #6091 – Silver Sponsors; and 3hc, Benchmark Community Bank, Carolina Sunrock, Express Employment Professionals, Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission and Waste Industries – Bronze Sponsors. Contributing Sponsors are CenturyLink, Coastal Federal Credit Union, Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, Hoyle’s Tire & Axle, NC Motorsports Park and Woodforest Bank.
Promotional Sponsors are Brewer Cycles, Fidelity Bank, Satterwhite Point Marina, Servpro and Union Bank.
The third and final concert of the season is set for Thursday, September 27, 2018, and will feature the band “Liquid Pleasure.”
All concerts are free to the public and will be held at the corner of North Garnett and Breckenridge Streets from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting the Chamber at 252-438-8414 or jay@hendersonvance.org
Early College High School Class of 2018 Graduates
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
A total of 38 members of the Class of 2018 at the Vance County Early College High School received their high school diplomas and most also received at least one college associate degree during their Commencement Exercises held during the evening of May 24.
The commencement was held in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College before an audience of about 900 parents, family members, friends and school staff members.
Principal Debbie Hite offered opening remarks and presided over the ceremony.
Seven of the graduates received both an associate degree in the arts and an associate degree in science from Vance-Granville Community College. An additional 23 of the graduates received just an associate degree in the arts. In total, 30 of the 38 graduates received a college associate degree.
The college associate degrees indicate that they have received credit for completing two years of college-level coursework. They may now use those credits to enter a four-year college or university as a junior.
Seth Moody delivers his valedictorian address at the commencement exercises for the Class of 2018 at Early College High School. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.)
The diplomas and degrees were presented to each graduate by Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, and Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of Vance-Granville Community College.
The graduates are Hunter Antel, Danielle Ayscue, Nancy Bonilla, Andrew Brame, Anaya Brown, Mercedes Brust, Cameron Bullock, Brittany Burroughs, Ke’Moni Champion, Brooklyn Davis, Zairea Davis, Zenee Davis, Hong Dong, Malcolm Elam Jr., Nealee Fisher, Lehman Ford, Alayna Gallagher, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Courtney Herndon, Brandon Hughes, Rosalinda Ibarra, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Jade Lewis, Seth Moody, Brandy Patterson, Brittney Patterson, Jimmy Ponce, Hannah Roberson, Jordan Rooker, Alexis San Juan, Ty’Ayala Shearin, Evan Stinson, McKenzie Taylor, Latia Thomas, Matthew White, Kaela Williams and Suzanne Williams.
Valedictorian for the class was Seth Moody. The salutatorian was Victoria Inscoe.
Those graduates honored as finishing in the top 10 percent academically of the class were Seth Moody, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Nancy Bonilla, Lehman Ford and Ke’Moni Champion.
Early College students serving as graduation marshals were Matthew Denton, Jessica Grissom, Kaitlyn Harris, Samantha Hines, Joseph Penny, Ethan Roberson, Jessica Steed, Alexia Watson and Kianna Wills.