Vance-Granville Community Band To Perform Spring Concert On May 7
Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Variety will be the key as the Vance-Granville Community Band, under the direction of Brian D. Miller, performs its annual Spring Concert on Monday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. in McGregor Hall in Henderson.
Show tunes, marches and some classics are on the program in the McGregor location at 201 Breckenridge Street. The downtown venue has become the local home of the Vance-Granville Community Band, and the band is proud to represent the multi-county area served by Vance-Granville Community College, noted Miller.
Admission is free.
The concert will feature the famous “Entry of the Gladiators March” and Sousa’s “King Cotton March.” Miller has also programmed the rarely-heard “Tar Heel March,” a march written for the University of North Carolina in 1927.
“No concert is ever complete without a Sousa March,” Miller explained, “but in this concert, we are featuring some other great marches as well. Audiences love marches because they are traditional and are the original music written for band.”
Miller is now in his third year as director of the VGCC band. Under his direction, the Vance-Granville Band has grown numerically as well as musically and has a solid reputation in the four-county area for its musicianship, noted Betsy Henderson, VGCC’s department chair for Humanities and Fine Arts.
In addition to the marches, patrons will hear the sentimental waltz song, “Melody of Love,” which Miller describes as “good old-fashioned turn-of-the-century band music.” Band member Bob Salzmann will conduct two of his own transcriptions for band, “God’s Amazing Grace” and “Ashokan Farewell.” Associate director Tracie Winstead will conduct a medley of music from “Sing” as well as an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s famous “1812 Overture.” The Vance-Granville Woodwind Quartet will perform on the concert as well. 
Rounding out the concert will be selections from the hit musical “Annie,” and two solo features accompanied by band: Vocalist Raynah Adams will sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and trombone soloist Tim Evans will perform “On The Road To Mandalay.” The grand finale of the concert will be the rarely-heard “Trieste Overture” by Pietro Diero. Miller comments that “this grand overture is a classic! It has all the features of the old-fashioned band overtures once performed by Sousa and Fillmore.”
Miller taught band at Louisburg High School for 20 years and, during his tenure, the band became well-known in the state for its performance of traditional band music including classical transcriptions and Sousa marches. In addition to his duties at Vance-Granville as band director and music instructor, Miller teaches band and humanities at Crosscreek Charter School in Louisburg, is the organist for Louisburg Baptist Church, plays piano often for evening services at North Henderson Baptist Church, and is the organist for Louisburg College.
“There is such a great variety of music at this concert,” Miller said. “We want a big audience. We indeed are delighted to share these musical offerings with our community and want our friends and patrons in our service area to enjoy the work of the fine musicians in the Vance-Granville Community Band.”
Retired Granville Schools Leader To Address VGCC’s Basic Skills Graduates
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Dr. Dorwin L. Howard, Sr., retired leader of the Granville County Public Schools, will deliver the keynote address as Vance-Granville Community College holds commencement exercises dedicated exclusively to new graduates of Adult Basic Skills programs on Thursday, May 3. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.
Those being honored at the ceremony will include students who have completed either the Adult High School Diploma program or the High School Equivalency program in the past year.
Dr. Howard, a native of Oxford, began his 37 years in education as a classroom teacher at his alma mater, J.F. Webb High School. He later became a school and district administrator, completing his career as the first African American to serve as superintendent of the Granville public schools. 
“I viewed each station in my profession as an opportunity to serve the children, their families, school district employees, and members of the community-at-large,” he said. Dr. Howard, who retired in July 2017, said, “I worked intently on creating inspiring teaching and learning environments and leading the district in a three-year positive trend in student academic achievement.”
In the 2015-16 school year, the students in his district ranked first among public school districts in the state of North Carolina in the amount of academic growth they achieved in a year’s time.
Dr. Howard earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, a Master of Arts Degree in School Administration and Supervision from North Carolina Central University in Durham, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He also did graduate studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.
Still a resident of Oxford, Dr. Howard serves on the Oxford State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board and is a member of the North Carolina Central University School of Education Advisory Board. He is a former member of the Kerr Tar Workforce Development Board, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Granville County Human Relations Commission.
Dr. Howard is also an ordained Baptist minister. He has pastored two churches in Roxboro and presently serves as Interim Pastor of the First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating students during the ceremony will be Jennifer Pascual of Henderson. A native of Vance County, Pascual completed her High School Equivalency earlier this month after attending classes on the Main Campus.
She plans to enroll in classes at VGCC to become a registered nurse, following a lifelong dream of becoming a healthcare provider. After getting her Associate’s Degree in Nursing, she plans to work on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to be able to care for the sick and disabled and to educate people on disease prevention.
Vance County Schools Honors Volunteers, Business Partners
Vance County Schools
For Immediate Release
Officials with Vance County Schools awarded a total of 88 school volunteers and business partners with plaques and certificates during the school system’s annual Volunteer/Business Partner Recognition Reception held on April 25 at the Henderson Country Club.
Principal Harold Thompson, Jr. of New Hope Elementary School, presented Eboni Terry with the plaque for her recognition as the school system’s Volunteer of the Year for the 2017-2018 school year. Terry was selected for the honor from an outstanding group of school volunteers who all earned their respective school’s Volunteer of the Year award. 
In addition to Terry, the school Volunteers of the Year include: Amanda Gill of Aycock Elementary; members of Cokesbury United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ of Carver Elementary; Tamara Glover of Clarke Elementary; Yolanda Wilson of Dabney Elementary; Curtis Durham of Pinkston Street Elementary; Woody and Sandra Woodland of E.M. Rollins Elementary; Amparo Villalobos of L.B. Yancey Elementary; members of Guided Start United Holy Church of E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary; Catherine Parham of Zeb Vance Elementary; Rev. John Miles and his Risen Faith Outreach Ministry of Eaton-Johnson Middle; Brenda Burton of Henderson Middle; Joanna Whittacre of STEM Early High; Sofia Miller-Ford of Early College High; members of Central Baptist Church of Northern Vance High; and Fanta Terry of Southern Vance High.
The members of Clearview Baptist Church again were recognized as the top business partners for the current school year. The church actually received the Shining Moment Award in late January at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.
Other top business partners honored were First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, Flat Rock United Methodist Church, Henderson Family YMCA, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks, Kiwanis Club of Henderson, Mazatlan Restaurant, MiLibroHispano.org, Optimist Club of Henderson, The Science House at N.C. State University; Townsville Lions Club, Toyota of Henderson, Versatrim and Zeb Vance Ruritan Club.
Each recipient received their award from Superintendent Anthony Jackson and Vance County Board of Education members Darlynn Oxendine, chairperson, and Edward Wilson.
Students in the fifth-grade chorus at E.M. Rollins Elementary School, under the direction of music teacher Cindy Edwards, performed for the approximately 150 people attending the recognition reception.
Photo Information:
Eboni Terry holds the plaque she received as the Vance County Schools Volunteer of the Year for 2017-2018 after it was presented to her by Principal Harold Thompson, Jr., of New Hope Elementary School, left.
Health Sciences Dean Honored For Leadership At VGCC
-VGCC Press Release
Angela M. Thomas, dean of health sciences at Vance-Granville Community College, was recently honored with the President’s Leadership Award from Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of the college.
The honor is one of three Glen Raven Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards presented to VGCC employees during each academic year. The others, the Faculty Member of the Year and Staff Member of the Year awards, are presented in the fall semester. Glen Raven, Inc., the manufacturer with a site in Norlina, is a longtime VGCC partner. The company’s support includes sponsoring the annual stipends to recognize outstanding VGCC instructors and staff members and endowing many scholarships for students.
President Williams praised Thomas for her dedication and commitment. “Under the leadership of Dean Thomas, our Health Sciences division has continued to demonstrate excellence in preparing students for successful careers, while also growing with the addition of three new credential offerings, including the associate degree in Histotechnology, as well as new partnerships with four-year universities,” she said. The president added that Thomas had directly led two departments during the past year, along with her duties as dean. In one case, she obtained a certification outside of her discipline (Radiography) in order to take on such a responsibility.
In accepting the award, Thomas gave credit to her Health Sciences team and thanked them for their support of her efforts to provide leadership and to assist them with their growth. 
A resident of Hillsborough, Thomas graduated with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Radiologic Technology from Pitt Community College and a bachelor of arts in Forensic Science from Guilford College, before completing a master’s degree in Health Care Management from Ashworth College. Thomas continues to work as a radiologic technologist at UNC Hospitals.
She started her association with VGCC in 1997 as a part-time Radiography instructor, later becoming the program’s full-time clinical coordinator and then head of the program. Thomas was named VGCC’s Faculty Member of the Year in 2011. As dean of health sciences since 2013, she leads a division that includes the Histotechnology, Nursing, Human Services Technology, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology and Radiography programs. Thomas is a graduate of the North Carolina Community College Leadership Program and completed the Executive Leadership Program through the College of Education at N.C. State University.
Angela Thomas holds her plaque for the leadership award. (VGCC photo)
Northern Vance High School Honors Graduation Marshals
Vance County Schools
For Immediate Release
Juniors who attend Northern Vance High School were honored on Friday, April 13, 2018, at a reception for their selection as graduation marshals for the Class of 2018.
The students were selected based on their outstanding academic achievements.
Northern Vance’s graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 9, 2018, beginning at 12 p.m. in the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson.
Those who will serve as graduation marshals include: front row – from left, Billy Zheng (lead marshal), Tomesha Jefferson, Matthew Munn, Ryan Stainback, Destinee Bullock and Briana Sulyans. Back row – from left, Anterrahn Harris, Brittany Kersey, Jaida Lewis, Alex Machado, Breana Williams and Tierra Bullock.
Southern Vance High School Honors Graduation Marshals
Vance County Schools
For Immediate Release
Students who are juniors at Southern Vance High School and have qualified as graduation marshals for the Class of 2018 due to their outstanding academic performance were honored at a reception recently at the school.
Southern Vance’s graduation ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018, beginning at 8 a.m. in the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson.
Those who will serve as graduation marshals include: first row – from left, Madonna Baselios, Mya McKnight, Shel’Nyia Hargrove, Miracle Chin, Tar’Naja Thorpe and April Pendergrass. Second row, from left, Eleodoro Nunez Aldana, Gabriela Ventura, Wendy Portillo and Robert Susewell. Unavailable for the photo were Shannon Riggan, Deana Hawkins and Aaliyah Simril.
NVHS Seniors Honored for Job Internships
NVHS Seniors Honored for Job Internships
— information from VCS Press Release written by Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer
Five seniors in the Occupational Course of Study program at Northern Vance High School were honored the morning of April 13th for successfully completing the hours required by the state for their job internships.
Each of the seniors works at a local business.
Julia Foster, their job coach, led the recognitions.
The students were presented with gold trophies and praised by Foster and other Northern Vance educators.
The students honored are shown in the accompanying photo with Foster, standing at far left. The students include, from left, Jaquez Sneed, Branden Strickland, Brittany Powell, Tre’darrius Tunstall and James Eastman. Two additional seniors who have also completed their internships are Joshua Jones and Bernabe Rodriguez, Jr. They were not available for the photo.