The sunflower painting of Nia Branch, a fifth-grade student at Clarke Elementary School, has been selected to represent Vance County Schools in a display of student artwork from across the state at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh.
The sunflower painting, which Nia is holding in the accompanying photo, will actually hang outside the office of N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson.
Clarke Elementary School Principal Crystal Richardson, left, Nia Branch, center, and art teacher, Alexa Molden, right. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.
It will be included among the 115 pieces of student artwork in the display, with one student’s work from each of the public school districts in North Carolina.
Shown in the photo with Nia as she learned of her deserved honor are Clarke Elementary School Principal Crystal Richardson, left, and her art teacher, Alexa Molden. They also are shown with two certificates of recognition which Nia has received for her painting’s selection.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Clarke-Elem.-Nia-Branch...052318.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-05-23 16:57:542018-05-23 16:31:14Student’s Artwork Selected for N.C. Display
With only a month to go until the 2018 Vance County Relay for Life, WIZS would like to remind the local community of important Relay information and upcoming events.
This year’s Relay for Life event will be held, for the first time, in downtown Henderson on Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Specifically, the event will be held in the square between the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.
The opening ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. Cancer survivors will walk the first lap shortly after the opening ceremony concludes at approximately 11:30 a.m. with the caregiver’s recognition to follow.
In another departure from past years, the 2018 Relay for Life will not be an overnight event.
A new registration process will also be used for this year’s Relay event. Survivors, caregivers and walkers may register for Relay for Life online at www.RelayForLife.org/VanceNC or by calling 1-800-227-2345 and choosing option number two from the menu.
The survivor registration and t-shirt pick up will be held Thursday, May 31, 2018, from 4 – 6 p.m. in the front lobby of Maria Parham Health. Please call Hope Breedlove at (252) 436-1605 with any questions.
The theme for this year’s Relay is the yellow brick road from “The Wizard of Oz.” Yellow bricks may be purchased in memory or honor of a loved one. June’s event will feature all of the bricks laid out to form a “yellow brick road” of those who have fought cancer. Bricks will be hand painted by Relay volunteer Liz Catlett. To purchase a brick or for additional information, please call Liz at (252) 431-4389.
Between donations and fundraising events, organizers hope to raise at least $100,000 for cancer research this year.
Upcoming Fundraising Events for Relay:
The Kerr Lake Cancer Crushers will hold a prime rib dinner and reverse raffle at Kerr Lake Country Club (KLCC) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018. The dinner will be catered by Gavin Jackson with Gavin’s Grub Hub. Tickets are $150 a piece and buy dinner for two with open bar and a chance to win several prizes, including a cash giveaway of $5,000. This event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased at KLCC or by calling (252) 492-1895.
A plant sale will be held in the Tractor Supply parking lot, Dabney Dr., on Saturday, June 9 starting at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit Relay for Life.
M.R. Williams, Raleigh Rd, will be hosting a quarter auction on Saturday, June 9 at the Church of the Holy Innocents on Chestnut St. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. with the quarter auction to follow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 to get in the door and everyone is asked to bring at least two rolls of quarters to participate in the auction. Tickets may be purchased by calling Charlene Sanford at (252) 438-1153.
North Henderson Baptist Church, Garnett St., will hold a pig-pickin’ on Saturday, June 16. Time is to be determined.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/relayforlife.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2018-05-22 17:00:362018-05-22 16:44:492018 Vance Co. Relay for Life Only One Month Away!
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
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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.
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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.”
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/vgcc.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-05-21 17:01:042018-05-21 17:00:31VGCC President Williams Resigns To Take VP Position At Duke
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.
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