STEM Holds 2nd Annual Spanish Spelling Bee

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The STEM Early High School in Vance County Schools hosted its second annual Spanish Spelling Bee on November 9, with a student from Henderson Middle School taking top honors.

Ximena Rodriguez of Henderson Middle, was the first-place finisher in the spelling bee. She topped Ashley Pendergrass of Vance Early College High, who finished second, and Emily Garcia of STEM Early High, who finished third.

In addition to students from Henderson Middle, STEM Early High and Vance Early College, students from Vance Charter School participated in the competition.

Rodriguez was the only student participating from Henderson Middle. Students from Early College High in the spelling bee were Pendergrass, Brooklyn Davis, Evan Beaudet, Justice Anderson, McKenzie Taylor and Zenee Davis. Those students from STEM Early High included Garcia, Adrian Aguilera, Amanda Cease, Brant Gibson, Jesus Rodriguez, Kelsea Williams and Tanisha Davis. Spellers from Vance Charter included Amber Null, Aniyah Gill, Savannah Ayscue and Yazi Majette.

VGCC Bioprocess program moving to Franklin Campus

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The Vance-Granville Community College Bioprocess Technology degree program will be based at the college’s Franklin County Campus, starting in January 2017.

The program has been located at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County since its inception in January 2006. The biotechnology lab on Main Campus will now be used primarily by the new Histotechnology degree program instead.

The Franklin Campus, located on N.C. 56 just outside of Louisburg, has actually had a biotech lab longer than the Main Campus has. VGCC has conducted the one-semester BioWork Process Technician course in the lab on the Franklin Campus since it was first offered in 2001. Novozymes North America of Franklinton made monetary and equipment donations to the lab from the outset, and has continued to support VGCC over the years. That lab has also been used by the Bioprocess Technology curriculum degree program from time to time.

“Moving to the Franklin County Campus will strategically locate our program closer to Novozymes and other major employers in the biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, while also promoting economic development in the Franklin County area,” said VGCC Bioprocess Technology program head/instructor Dr. Tara Hamilton. “We look forward to welcoming new students who want to succeed in this growing career field.”

The Bioprocess Technology curriculum is designed to prepare students to work as process operators or quality control analysts in biological products manufacturing facilities. Students receive instruction in a combination of basic science and communication skills, manufacturing technologies, and good manufacturing practices. In addition to the two-year associate in applied science degree, VGCC offers a 16-hour Bioprocess Technology certificate, which is open to eligible high school students through the Career & College Promise program.

VGCC is part of the North Carolina Community College System’s BioNetwork, a statewide initiative that connects community colleges serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, providing specialized training, curricula and equipment.

Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information on Bioprocess Technology, contact Dr. Tara Hamilton at (252) 738-3285 or hamiltont@vgcc.edu.

 

Two longtime members retire from VGCC endowment board

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John K. Nelms and Julia Ann Taylor, both of Oxford, recently announced their retirement from the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund Board of Directors, effective in December.

Nelms has been on the board of directors since 1978. Among his numerous contributions to the Endowment Fund, Nelms created the Mary Ruth Nelms Presidential Scholar Award in 2009 in memory of his late wife of 61 years. The Endowment board also created a Presidential Scholar Award in his honor in 2011.

When the college was still young, Nelms — then the director of the Granville County Economic Development Commission — was instrumental in getting his county involved in supporting what was then Vance County Technical Institute. He persuaded Granville County commissioners to join Vance County in funding the school and in locating its main campus near the county line between Henderson and Oxford. Nelms served on the VGCC Board of Trustees in an advisory capacity from 1971 until 1973, and as an active member from 1973 until 2005. He was its chair from 1983 through 1984 and from 1999 until 2003. Nelms was named VGCC’s first (and to date, only) Trustee Emeritus upon his retirement.

Taylor, meanwhile, has served on the Endowment Fund board since 1985 and has been the board’s secretary for all of those years. She is responsible for endowing the college’s Grace Hamme Jester Presidential Merit Award scholarship, in memory of her aunt, and she helped, along with other family members, to endow the Joseph and Carrie P. Hamme Presidential Merit Award. Active in her community, Taylor served on the Granville County Planning Board for 28 years — the longest period of service of any resident on any Granville County board — while also volunteering with the local historical and genealogical societies. Both Taylor and her husband, Dr. Richard Taylor, received the John Penn Citizen Award from the Granville County Chamber of Commerce in 2015.

The board of directors oversees the Endowment Fund Corporation, a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to seek and receive scholarship funds and other contributions for the college. The most recent additions to the board include Clay Frazier of Henderson, the president of Universal Leaf North America, U.S.; Darryl Moss, the mayor of Creedmoor; and Josh Towne of Henderson, the owner/operator of the Chick-fil-A franchise in Henderson.

Other current board members include Robert L. Hubbard (the vice-chair), Julius Banzet III, Sarah Baskerville, Jim Chatman, Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr., Dr. Ben F. Currin, L. Opie Frazier, Jr., Rev. Dr. Richard M. Henderson, T.S. Royster, Jr., Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Todd Wemyss. As president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams chairs the board.

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

Vehicle Stolen from Vance-Granville Community College Main Campus

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On Wednesday, October 26, 2016, a VGCC student reported to the Campus Police & Security that a blue Jeep Cherokee Sport SUV belonging to the student was left parked in the lot near Building 5 at 8 a.m. and was missing upon the student’s return at 11:15 a.m.

Currently, no witnesses have come forth with information regarding the theft and there are currently no suspect leads.  This criminal investigation has been referred to the Vance County Sheriff’s Department for follow up.

If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Lewis Young Resigns as Coach of Southern Vance Football

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Lewis Young, the Head Varsity Football Coach at Southern Vance High School, announced his resignation on Monday, November 7, 2016. He has resigned only as the Head Varsity Football Coach and will continue teaching at Southern Vance High School.

Coach Young has served the Raider Football program for over 20 years in various roles, most recently as Head Varsity Football Coach from 2012-2016. He finished with a 14-43 record and made two appearances in the NCHSAA playoffs (2012, 2013) including a 12-6 upset victory over #2-seeded South Columbus in 2013. Prior to being Head Coach, Coach Young served as the Defensive Coordinator under Mark Perry and David Jennings and led the defense for the 2006 Southern Vance team that lost 27-24 to Shelby in the NCHSAA 2AA State Championship game.

Coach Young is a well-respected and important member of the Southern Vance family who has positively impacted the lives of a countless number of our student-athletes . We will miss his dedication and loyalty to Southern Vance football and thank him for his service to our school and community.

Southern Vance is currently accumulating candidates and working tirelessly to fill the Head Varsity Football Coach vacancy. Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to Athletic Director Joe Sharrow (jsharrow@vcs.k12.nc.us) and Principal Stephanie Ayscue (sayscue@vcs.k12.nc.us).

 

Home and Garden Show 11/08/16

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Vance County Schools Update 11/07/16

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Vance Charter School Celebrates New Location

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On Thursday, November 3rd, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Vance Charter School to celebrate the official opening of their brand-new building, located at 2090 Ross Mill Road in Henderson.  Students & parents, faculty and Board members, local dignitary and other supporters were in attendance.

This new facility is now home to over 645 students in grades K-9.  Once a dream shared by many, several years in the planning, then construction and now a facility that feels like home and will be around for decades to come.

First day of class for students in the new location will be on Monday, November 7.  For more information about Vance Charter School, please contact them at 252-431-0440 or check them out on the web at www.vancecharter.org.

Event Notice from The Masonic Home for Children

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The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford is building on the foundations of success.  A master plan has been developed and includes options for service and program development.  You are invited to the Cobb Center at MHCO on Friday 11/11/16 from 5pm-7pm for a meet and greet.  Please join us to discuss possible plans, gather your feedback, and continue to build together for the betterment of our children.

VGCC Radiography students collect supplies for Hurricane Matthew victims

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Students in the Radiography program at Vance-Granville Community College recently answered a call to help those who were devastated by Hurricane Matthew, collecting a massive amount of supplies for the victims in North and South Carolina.

VGCC Radiography clinical coordinator/instructor Stacey Soles arranged a partnership with Black’s Tire & Auto Service, which has 38 locations from Raleigh to Florence, South Carolina, and was founded in her home county of Columbus. The company was encouraging residents of its service area to collect supplies, which its employees would then pick up and deliver directly to those in need. Among the items being sought were diapers, children’s toys, bottled water, cleaning supplies, toiletries, non-perishable food, new t-shirts, socks and undergarments.

Students set up drop-off points on all four of the college’s campuses, in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. Then, on Oct. 20, Black’s Tire & Auto Service picked up the donations at the South Campus, where the Radiography program is located. Students and faculty members loaded the supplies onto the truck sent by the company, which was quickly filled, and a second truck was called. Even that truck could not hold all of the donations, so Soles took some in her own vehicle to the company’s Raleigh location.

Black’s Tire & Auto Service later delivered the items to people in Fair Bluff, N.C., and Nichols, S.C., both of which experienced extensive flooding from the hurricane.

“The Radiography students and program faculty would like to extend our thanks to everyone who helped make the hurricane relief drive a success,” Soles said. “We were overwhelmed with the generous outpouring of support from our fellow faculty, staff, students and members of the community, including several businesses around our South Campus.”

Based at VGCC’s South Campus between Creedmoor and Butner, the two-year Radiography degree program prepares graduates to be radiographers, skilled health care professionals who use radiation to produce images of the human body. For more information on Radiography, contact Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas at (252) 738-3397.