Vance County Schools held its second annual “Honoring Academic Success” banquet on Wednesday, May 10, at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson to honor 48 high school seniors who are the top academic achievers in their respective graduating classes for the 2016-2017 school year.
An audience of approximately 225 people attended the banquet which featured entertainment by local students and a nice meal, catered by Cook Shack of Louisburg.
Kaitlyn Tant, a junior at Southern Vance High School, and Jadyn Jones, a junior at Northern Vance High School, each sang lovely musical selections to honor the high school seniors. They wowed the audience with their impressive musical talents.
Uriah Ford, a 2016 graduate of the Vance County Early College High School, was the featured speaker for the evening. Ford spoke about his experience last year as a member of the honored group at the 2016 “Honoring Academic Success” banquet. He also talked about his first year as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and urged all of the soon-to-be graduates to enjoy their last few weeks in high school and to look forward to the challenges still facing them.
But, the true stars of the evening were the 48 high school honorees. Each are part of the top 10 percent of academic achievers in their senior classes. They have all proven to be leaders academically and have proven during their four-year high school careers that they value their studies and can be counted on to set high goals and work to achieve them. They were recognized individually and were presented with medallions by Superintendent Anthony Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairperson Gloria J. White and Vance County Public School Foundation President Archie Taylor Jr.
Those honored seniors included from the Vance County Early College High School: Christopher Brame, Sierra Hawkins, Kristen Oakes, Janet Rodriguez-Morales and Jacob Weaver. They are joined by, from left, counselor Tannis Jenkins and Principal Debbie Hite.
Seniors honored as top academic achievers at the AdVANCE Academy at Western Vance High School were Danny Lee Hicks Jr., Cindy San Juan, Dawn-Sha’ Smith, Antavious Williams and Robert Wunderlich. They are joined by Principal Stephanie Ayscue, left, and counselor Marsha Harris, right.
Top achievers in the senior class at Southern Vance High School include: Luis Amaya-Villa, Yasmene Clark, Dalton Elliott, Gavin Eutsler, Daniel Faulkner, Kenia Gomez, Kendall Harris, Anna Hernandez, Brandon Lawrence, Antonia Loyd, Carrington Matias, Angelica Montano, Vianey Nonato, Tyler Patrick, Jaslin Renteria, Heidy Reyes, Yarelic Tamayo, Logan Waite and Autumn Wortham. They are joined, from left, by Principal Rey Horner and counselor Carol Simmons.
From Northern Vance High School those seniors honored were Megan Andrews, Jared Bennett, Charlie Chiem, Tamiya Davis, Brooks Falkner, Holly Hilliard, Sarah Howarth, Hannah Mason, Shadi Nagi, Connor Pendergrass, Michelle Pham, Penny Phan, Turner Roberson, Jo’el Royster, Deriana Scott, Bailey Shelton, Imani Simmons, Nathaniel Stevenson and Jeffery Zheng. They are joined by, from left, counselor Jameka Floyd and Principal Andrew Markoch.
Nowell Brooks and Alice Hinson, both assistant principals with Vance County Schools, have successfully completed a year-long participation in the Future-Ready Leadership (FRL) development program for practicing assistant principals.
Both have been administrators in Vance County Schools for several years. Brooks also has been an assistant principal at Henderson Middle School and E.M. Rollins Elementary School. Hinson was a long-time teacher at Eaton-Johnson Middle School. She also has been an assistant principal at Eaton-Johnson and Northern Vance High School.
The FRL is provided by the N.C. Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association and is aligned to the performance evaluation standards adopted by the State Board of Education for North Carolina’s school leaders. Through this cohort driven model, assistant principals participate in six face-to-face sessions held in Raleigh and engage in assignments, projects and readings designed to build the capacity of their schools and their own capacity as “Future-Ready” school leaders.
Travis Taylor, who has extensive experience as a high school and middle school principal, has been named the new principal at Eaton-Johnson Middle School.
Taylor was approved as the school’s new principal by the Vance County Board of Education at its meeting on May 8.
He joins Vance County Schools after serving as the principal of Carver High School in Winston-Salem, since 2014.
“We are extremely pleased to have Mr. Taylor join our team,” said Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools. “We look forward to him providing excellent leadership to the Eaton-Johnson Middle School staff, students and community.”
Taylor’s previous positions as principal have been at Lexington Senior High School in Lexington, the Southern School of Engineering in Durham and East Lee Middle School in Lee County. Taylor also has experience as an assistant principal and science and math teacher with Durham Public Schools.
He was named the Lexington City Schools Principal of the Year in 2013. He also was named the 2012 Principal of the Year by the N.C. Association of Scholastic Activities for increasing student participation in scholastic activities and competitions.
Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in middle school education from N.C. Central University and his master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He will assume his duties as principal at Eaton-Johnson on July 1.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VCS-Proud-Logo-050316.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-05-10 15:32:522017-05-10 15:32:47Eaton-Johnson Names New Principal
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/HOMEANDGARDENPNG-1.png265504Charlenehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngCharlene2017-05-09 16:30:362018-08-22 02:44:18Home and Garden Show 05/09/17
Henderson Collegiate High School
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Friday, May 26, 2017
2:00 – 3:00 pm
1071 Old Epsom Road, Henderson, NC
You’re invited! Please join us to celebrate the groundbreaking for our new high school facility!
RSVP by emailing mflowe@hendersoncollegiate.org
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U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, who represents North Carolina’s first congressional district, visited the main campus of Vance-Granville Community College on April 17, during a tour of his district while Congress was in recess. At the college, the congressman met with Dr. Stelfanie Williams, VGCC’s president, along with a group of five students: Jesse Edwards, Camden Jones, Evan O’Geary and Latessa Wilkerson, all of Henderson; and Francis Scotland of Oxford. The congressman was accompanied by Reginald Speight, his district director.
Dr. Williams informed students that Butterfield has represented the first district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2004. “He is a longtime public servant with a background in the law, and he wants to hear about your experiences at VGCC and what your plans are,” Williams told the students at the outset of the meeting. “It’s my pleasure to be with you today and to talk with you about your future and about what I can do to assist this institution and you individually to achieve your goals,” Butterfield added.
Butterfield said his district includes all or parts of 14 counties, including Vance, Granville and Warren. The congressman is no stranger to VGCC, having spoken at several events over the years, including commencement exercises in 2014. Butterfield praised the North Carolina Community College System as one of the best in the country, and VGCC as one of the outstanding community colleges in the state. He is a member of the Community College Caucus in Congress.
The congressman discussed a wide range of issues, including the federal budget and the need for the two parties in Washington to work together. Butterfield urged students to educate themselves on the major public policy issues of the day and then to make their views known to their elected officials.
He asked the students to talk about their respective career aspirations. O’Geary and Jones are interested in careers in the arts, Wilkerson in sports management, Scotland in electrical engineering and Edwards in nursing.
“This was a great opportunity for these students to speak with a sitting congressman, because we want VGCC students not only to learn about their academic areas, but also to be well-informed, productive citizens,” Dr. Williams said.
–VGCC–
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Louisburg, N. C. — On Monday evening, the Franklin County Board of Education named two new principals for the upcoming 2017 – 2018 school year. Caroline Linker has been selected as Principal of Youngsville Elementary School and Melissa Richardson has been named Principal of Franklinton Elementary School. Both will begin their new posts on July 1st.
Linker currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Bunn High School, where she has worked with the school’s administrative team to build a culture of trust and advocacy. Prior to working for Franklin County Schools, Linker worked as a School Director for Teach for America in Northampton County Public Schools and as a High School Math Teacher for Halifax County Schools. She also served as a Transition Team Leader for Teach for America throughout eastern North Carolina.
Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga is confident that Linker has what it takes to build upon the success of Youngsville Elementary School for years to come, saying he worked with her during his time at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and he’s been very impressed with her work this year at Bunn High School.
“Ms. Linker is a strong and ambitious instructional leader,” he says, adding “I’m confident that she will work together with the community, teachers, and students to continue to improve Youngsville Elementary as we tackle new challenges.”
Linker is a product of North Carolina State University’s prestigious Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA), where she graduated with a Master’s of School Administration. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Organizational Communication from NCSU. She received her Teaching Certificate in Secondary Mathematics from East Carolina University.
Linker looks forward to the new opportunity, saying “I can’t wait to begin building partnerships and positive working relationships with teachers, staff, students and community members as we work together to ensure that all students succeed.
“Our future is so bright and it will take us all working together to achieve our goals of high student achievement, a dynamic culture of high expectations, and a strong community in and outside of our school,” she added.
FES Welcomes a New Leader
Melissa Richardson currently works as the Principal of Hollister Elementary School in Halifax County. When she began working as the Principal of Hollister Elementary in 2013, the school was designated as low-performing by state officials. In just three years and under her leadership, Richardson has seen 44% growth in student achievement – a 33.5-point increase in the school’s proficiency composite – and the school has gone from an “F” designation on the North Carolina School Report Card to a “C.”
Richardson says she is excited to start her new journey with Franklin County Schools and she looks forward to the community’s support in providing a world-class education for her students.
“Together we will continue to develop an academic program that is challenging and rewarding for students, staff and community,” she says.
Superintendent Mubenga rests assured that Richardson’s experience at Hollister Elementary will prove to be a vital component in the success of Franklinton Elementary School, a school that’s been working its way out of low-performing status throughout the year.
“Our district staff has provided a tremendous amount of support to Franklinton Elementary this year, and I’m very excited to welcome Mrs. Richardson to the team so that we can maintain this momentum,” he said.
Prior to serving as Principal at Hollister Elementary, Richardson worked as an Assistant Principal, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Site Coordinator, and as an Elementary School Teacher in Halifax County Schools. In 2012, she also completed her Master’s of School Administration through North Carolina State University’s NELA Program and was recently recognized as Halifax County Schools’ Principal of the Year. Richardson holds her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Shaw University.
Jordan Williamson of Henderson, a student in the College Transfer program at Vance-Granville Community College, was recently the college’s nominee for the North Carolina Community College System’s Dallas Herring Achievement Award.
The award was established by the system in 2010 to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, the longtime State Board of Education chairman and one of the state’s earliest advocates of community colleges. Each year, the award recognizes a current or former community college student who best embodies Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.”
Williamson said that VGCC had helped him to overcome learning challenges and earn a college degree. “As a child, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, which is characterized by social awkwardness and difficulty communicating feelings,” he wrote in an essay for the award nomination. “My grade school education was normal, by all accounts, but I struggled to interact comfortably with other people. As I advanced through school and eventually entered the Vance County Early College High School, I withdrew socially. I was allowed certain accommodations in order to compensate for some of my challenges in class, but at times these seemed to separate me from my peers even more. My instructors offered their support and understanding, which allowed me to continue my education without the need for remedial or special classes.”
As a VGCC student, Williamson wrote, “the opportunities that I have been afforded have allowed me to excel in my education…. I was allowed to record notes during class, instead of having to write them down. I was allowed additional time during exams to help alleviate my anxiety during timed exams. I was allowed a separate, quiet area to take my tests in order to reduce distractions and allow me to focus more clearly. I have been allowed the opportunity to succeed or fail based on my own merits.”
Williamson describes himself as “a young man who has to use the tools that I have been given and try to achieve the best that I can with them.” He is graduating from VGCC this month with his Associate in Arts degree, as well as his diploma from Vance County Early College High School.
“I want to continue my education and work in the field of science,” Williamson added. “I aspire to use the gifts that I have been given to become the best person that I can. I do not know what my future holds, but my present has been shaped by the opportunities that I have been given. My goal is to become someone, that when I look back from a ripe old age, did his best with the tools he was given.”
“During Jordan’s tenure at Vance County Early College High School and Vance-Granville Community College, I have seen him grow and mature socially, physically and academically,” said Evangeline Mitchell, VGCC’s college liaison for the high school. “He is a daily reminder that with hard work, dedication and perseverance, anything is possible. I am so proud of Jordan and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
–VGCC–
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Francis Scotland, Jr., of Oxford, a student in the College Transfer program at Vance-Granville Community College, was recently the college’s nominee for the North Carolina Community College System’s Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award for 2017.
The award was established in 2004 in honor of Scott, who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1969-1973, and as President of the N.C. Community College System from 1983-1995. Each year, the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents bestows the honor on one community college student in recognition of his or her academic and leadership achievements.
Scotland was recognized for his leadership as a student ambassador and as an officer in the VGCC Student Government Association (SGA). He recalled being “hesitant” the first time he was offered a position of leadership at the college. “I was offered the position during my first year at VGCC by my former Chemistry teacher, Steve McGrady,” Scotland said. “He pulled me aside after class one day and told me how good my grades were and asked if I wanted to be a counselor for the VGCC summer science camp. I was both nervous and humbled that I was offered such a position. I feared that I wouldn’t be able to handle such a position, that I couldn’t live up to the expectation he had set for me. I not only took the position, but I have helped with the science camp for the past two years.” That experience led him to take advantage of other opportunities to serve at VGCC.
After serving as a senator in the SGA in 2015-2016, Scotland had to run what he described as “a friendly political campaign” to be elected by the student body to the office of parliamentarian in the spring of 2016. “Through campaigning, I met a lot of my peers who I’ve never had the opportunity to meet before the campaign,” he recalled. “SGA is the voice of the students; we coordinate and plan events for the student body as well as addressing any concerns a student may have.”
Scotland said one of his favorite leadership roles has been as the lead student ambassador. “I was given the opportunity to become a student ambassador in the spring of 2014; then I got promoted to lead ambassador in the fall of 2015,” he said. “As a lead ambassador, I am required to assign other ambassadors to professional and recruitment events that VGCC hosts. This position not only helped me with my time management skills but it also helped me with my overall management skills. Learning how to schedule people to work events in addition to working in a professional environment are life skills I will always carry with me.”
He added, “I didn’t want people to think I’m an overachiever for taking on several leadership titles. Instead, I want to be somebody who can be a role model for my peers. Taking on these leadership positions has given me life skills that are embedded in my life forever and can never be changed. Being a leader is more than telling people what to do. It’s about active listening and addressing the concerns of others. Even though many people would call me a leader, I am equal part a follower. I believe one can only lead by following others.”
“Francis is one of our most dependable, dedicated and helpful student leaders, and we appreciate his excellent service to the VGCC Vanguards,” said Jermiel Hargrove, the college’s coordinator of student activities and athletics, who advises both the SGA and the ambassadors.
Scotland has excelled academically, as well. He was recently inducted into the college’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. He has already completed the requirements for both the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees and will march at VGCC’s commencement exercises on May 12. Scotland will continue his higher education at a four-year university in the fall to study electrical engineering.
–VGCC–
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