VGCC graduates 13 cadets in school’s 102nd BLET Class

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Thirteen cadets graduated on May 17 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College, in a ceremony held in the Civic Center on Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.

Graduates of VGCC’s 102nd BLET class included Nathaniel Tyler Davis of Butner Public Safety; Mikel Donte Hargrove, Alphanso Fitzgerald James and Candice Nicole Pegram, all of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Samuel Kice Jarrell of the Henderson Police Department; Charles Edward Chapman of the Person County Sheriff’s Office; Macon Jabbriel Davis of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; O’Shea Deon Jones and Steven Llemarr Taylor, both of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office; William Michael Huffaker, Christopher Ryan Lanham, Kevin Valton Parrish and Adam Graham Rooker.

The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by students from the ROTC program at Northern Vance High School, and the singing of the national anthem by NVHS student Jaylen Webb.

In welcoming remarks, Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCC’s vice president of academic and student affairs, thanked the many leaders from local law enforcement agencies in attendance for partnering with the college. “Thank you for supporting our cadets, providing many of our instructors, and hiring our graduates, as together, we promote increased safety and quality of life for the communities we serve,” Ballentine said. She congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the rigorous, 667-hour training program and encouraged them to continue their education. “I wish you success and safety as you protect and serve all of us,” Ballentine added.

Speaking on behalf of the class, Cadet Candice Pegram thanked the many instructors who had trained them, as well as the family members and friends who were there to support the graduates. “We all started here in January with different mindsets and experiences, wondering what to expect,” Pegram said. “Now that we are finally finished, we can walk away with knowledge, training and an open mind, with the hope for a long, successful career.”

Graduates selected Roxboro Police Department Detective Sgt. Christopher Dickerson, one of their instructors, to serve as their featured speaker. Dickerson graduated as a member of BLET Class 81 at VGCC in 2006. He thanked the college faculty and staff “for setting the standards in law enforcement and for continuing to support these officers every day, long after they graduate.” Dickerson honored the sacrifices that the cadets, as well as their family members, had made while in training. “This is only the beginning,” he said. “Not only is law enforcement a career path, it’s actually a way of life.” Law enforcement, Dickerson added, is “the greatest profession in the world,” and he knew that the graduates had chosen it out of a genuine desire to serve. “I welcome you all to the family of law enforcement,” he said.

Andrea Ferguson, the program coordinator, and instructor Glen Boyd presented awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Huffaker won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in weapons firing. Lanham earned the Physical Training Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo. Jarrell took home the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the written tests each cadet must pass.

For more information on the BLET program, contact Ferguson at fergusona@vgcc.edu.

VGCC pins Associate Degree Nursing graduates

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Vance-Granville Community College recognized 51 students who graduated this spring from the Associate Degree Nursing program with a pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center on May 11.

Among those honored with distinctive nursing pins at the ceremonies were 14 who graduated through the LPN to ADN Transition Program, which helps Licensed Practical Nurses to continue their education and then become Registered Nurses. These graduates were Shelley Hawkins of Creedmoor; Jaleesa W. James of Durham; Charidy A. Scott of Franklinton; Tabitha L. Blanchard, Emily “Jill” Carpunky and Kimberly Watson, all of Henderson; Susan J. Collins of Louisburg; Christy Elliott of Nelson, Va., Angela Almengor, Suzanne Butler and Lovelyn Imoh, all of Raleigh; Chamara D. Enis of Stovall; Morgan Yount of Timberlake; and Felicia L. Spruill of Warrenton.

The graduates who took courses in the traditional five-semester sequence included Caroline Rhodes of Butner; Ryan M. Erlenmeyer of Chapel Hill; Jennifer A. Taylor and Emma C. Weaver, both of Creedmoor; Clarence M. Allen, Hardeep Dhillon, Meagan C. Long and Nneka A. Nweke, all of Durham; Meredith Alshibah and Samantha A. Smith, all of Franklinton; Jenna E. Jarrell, Meredith Manning, Samantha Patrick, Tenisha Ragland-Colvin and Fara L. Vass, all of Henderson; Sada’ Reed of Kittrell; Amy Althiser, Jessica Johnson and Devan F. Wilkins, all of Louisburg; Melanie Hilliard of Macon; Princess T. Couch, Elaine A. Harrison, Hope Lassiter, Erica Caudle Medlin, Andrea Norris, Keisha Terry and Sophie Tyler, all of Oxford; Onyekachi Amadi and Kimberly Fakhoury, both of Raleigh; Jennifer Smith of Rolesville; Wanda Burwell of Stovall; Mica Durham, Laura Graham and Gian Carlo Sagulili, all of Wake Forest; Tarsha Richardson of Warrenton; and Olivia Austin and Shannon M. Paulson, both of Youngsville.

In welcoming remarks, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams congratulated the students on their success. “The class of 2016 is the most recruited class in our history,” she said, noting both the employers and the four-year universities who had expressed interest in the graduates. “Over half of the class has already accepted registered nursing positions or will continue working with their current employers, and I’m so proud of that,” the president said. “Graduates, just as VGCC has made an impression on your lives, you will make a difference in the lives of others as registered nurses. We are proud to have trained you for such a worthy endeavor.”

Class of 2016 President Caroline Rhodes made welcoming remarks on behalf of her classmates. “We have fought long and hard for this day,” she said. “Our blood, sweat and tears have paid off. We are ready to embark on the next chapter of our lives.” Rhodes thanked the graduates’ friends and families for their love and support, and the VGCC faculty and staff for their patience, diligence and compassion. “We will take the knowledge that you have instilled in us and use it in our future careers to be the best nurses that we can be,” she said.

Student Melanie Hilliard then presented a gift on behalf of the class to the college: a piece of artwork that depicts figures from nursing history and includes the “Florence Nightingale Pledge.”

Academic honors were presented to graduates who completed the program with at least a 3.5 grade point average: Durham, Enis, Harrison, Imoh, Medlin, Taylor, Wilkins and finally Erlenmeyer, who was recognized for having the highest GPA in the class.

Nursing instructor Tracey Hight also presented cords to students who participated in community service projects as members of the National Student Nurses Association, including Amadi, Austin, Couch, Graham, Lassiter, Paulson, Ragland-Colvin, Reed, Rhodes, Smith, Taylor, Terry, Tyler, Vass, Weaver and Wilkins.

Longtime VGCC Nursing instructor Camella Marcom served as guest speaker for the ceremony. She currently teaches at her alma mater, East Carteret High School in Beaufort. “I welcome you to the great profession of nursing,” she said to the Class of 2016. She tried to think back to her own pinning in 1982. “I cannot for the life of me remember one thing that was said,” Marcom said, to laughter. “But I do remember how I felt that day, and how much becoming a nurse meant to me and my family.”

“It’s not possible for you to know the power of your prepared mind and your newly acquired knowledge and skills until you actually use them, but you will, and through this, you will touch the lives of so many who need you,” Marcom said. She asked the graduates to remember just three words she said: “You are ready.”

Instructor Anna Seaman described the significance of the nursing pin. The unique green and gold pin identifies each nurse as a VGCC graduate, and indicates that the graduate has the training and competence to serve as a professional nurse. During the ceremony, graduates were pinned by VGCC Nursing department chair Erica Jastrow and instructor Kim Radcliffe, and received lamps and roses from instructors Heather Wilson and Holly Cathcart. Meanwhile, Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas read their biographies. After all graduates had received pins, the lights in the Civic Center were lowered, and instructor Brooke Darnell led students in reciting the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” by lamp-light.

Public Health Serving You 05/25/16

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REVISED DATES FOR BUS DRIVER TRAINING

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The school bus driver training sessions provided by Vance County Schools have been rescheduled due to a conflict with the instructor’s calendar to Monday, June 27, through Thursday, June 30, at L.B. Yancey Elementary School.

Interested persons must attend the training on each of the first three days to receive certification. Vance County Schools will only be training individuals to drive school buses. The instructor will do retesting for those who need it on the fourth day.

The training sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at approximately 3 p.m. each day.

Those interested in participating in the training sessions must register five days prior to the sessions with the school system’s Transportation Department, located at 226 Welcome Avenue off Raleigh Road south of Henderson. For additional information, call the Transportation Department at 438-5012.

EOG Tests and Final Exams

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Students in Vance County Schools’ elementary and middle schools will be given N.C. end-of-grade tests Tuesday through Thursday of this week, with final exams for the school year administered at local high schools beginning on Friday.

At Northern Vance, Southern Vance and Western Vance high schools, testing will begin Friday, May 27, with first-period N.C. end-of-course, N.C. Final Exams and teacher made exams given from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Testing in the high schools will continue Tuesday, May 31, through Thursday, June 2, with the same tests being administered each day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On May 31, second-period exams will be given, on June 1, third-period exams will be given and on June 2 fourth-period exams will be given (end-of-grade, final exams and teacher exams). Career and Technical Education assessments by class period will be given each afternoon from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. during the four days of testing. Make-up exams also will be given in the afternoon each day for those students who missed testing the previous day.

On June 3, the last day of classes for students, make-up exams will be given as needed.

School bus transportation and lunches will be provided for students each day.

Elementary and middle schools will follow their regular school day schedules each day during the high school testing times.

Home and Garden Show 05/24/16

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Vance County Schools Update 05/23/16

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VGCC alumna and Henderson City Council member encourages Adult Basic Skills graduates

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Graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s Adult Basic Skills programs were challenged to believe in themselves and to continue their education, as an alumna who is now a member of the Henderson City Council offered encouragement at commencement exercises on May 5.

“Twenty-five years ago, I was sitting in the same spot that you all are sitting in,” Melissa Elliott told the graduates, who were among those students who have completed either the Adult High School Diploma program or the High School Equivalency program in the past year. “Back then, I didn’t know if I was capable of doing anything, but 25 years later, I’ve conquered four degrees, and I’m working on my doctorate right now.”

As the principal commencement speaker, Elliott, in her first term on the Henderson City Council, urged the new graduates to enroll in a curriculum program at VGCC immediately, just as she once did in the Criminal Justice program. Her associate degree from the community college paved the way for Elliott to continue her education, serve in various capacities in law enforcement and start her own non-profit organization, Gang-Free, Inc.

“I encourage people to go to Vance-Granville, because I know that the people here care about you,” she said. “They love you and they want you to succeed…. I was catapulted into my educational career through this institution. This is just the beginning of where you can go, but you have to believe in yourself.”

Elliott asked the graduates to focus on three P’s: perseverance, patience and perception. “Perseverance means you will continue even with the wind against you, but you still move forward,” she said. “You all evidently have patience, because you are here.” As for perception, she said, “Sometimes, our perception is totally off, and we begin to believe that we can’t do it. Well, I want you to believe that you can do it, you can have it, and you will be it! I want you to get that down in your heart. You can become absolutely anything your heart desires.”

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students during the ceremony was Melissa Pearce of Franklinton. She said it was “a miracle” that she was standing in that position as a graduate. At age nine, Pearce was seriously ill and was in a coma for 48 hours. “I stayed in the hospital for two weeks recovering,” she said. “After being released from the hospital, I had a really hard time learning and remembering things, and still do to this day.”

School was always difficult and frustrating for Pearce, and eventually, she dropped out. Pearce married and had three sons, but she always felt the need to go back to school to obtain a high school diploma. Twice, she started but did not finish.

“Once my boys were all in school and didn’t need me during the day, I started to think again about education and all of the benefits associated with education,” she said. “I decided to try to get my GED again, but this time, I created a six-month game plan.” She went to class four days a week for five months at VGCC’s Franklin Campus, and then in the sixth month, took all four of the required tests. “I worked hard and stayed focused and had two amazing teachers who helped me and encouraged me to not give up,” Pearce recalled.

“Within one month’s time, I had passed all my tests and received my GED in March 2016! I did it! I want my children to know even with all the obstacles that stood in my way, I never gave up. I may have lost focus on my education, but it was all worth it to raise my family. Now that I have regained my focus on my education, I plan to keep pushing myself and reaching for the stars!”

Pearce is now enrolled in the VGCC Early Childhood Education program, starting in the summer term. “My goals are to one day become a director of a day care to provide the care and support that all children need,” she said. Pearce urged her fellow graduates, “Don’t give up on your dreams, no matter how long it takes.”

In welcoming remarks, VGCC Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs Dr. Angela Ballentine congratulated the graduates. “You have passed the tests. You have completed your work,” she said. “It may not have been easy, but it has been worth it, because tonight, you can celebrate a great achievement.” Ballentine, too, urged them to continue their education at VGCC. “We will help you make the transition to college, and we will advise you as you dream, design and discover new pathways and new possibilities,” she said.

Following Elliott’s address, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, praised the graduates and applauded the Basic Skills faculty for preparing students to succeed. “The diploma you receive tonight will allow you to begin to realize your dreams,” the president said. “You are now able to further your education, start a career, and become a lifelong learner.” As an extra incentive for graduates to move on to the next level of education, she announced that each would receive a certificate worth free tuition and fees for one semester of courses in curriculum programs at VGCC, absorbing costs not covered by federal financial aid.

After VGCC Adult Basic Skills department chair Greg Nash announced the candidates for graduation, Dr. Ballentine assisted President Williams in presenting diplomas.

VGCC honors Radiography graduates

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Twenty-one new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 9 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center.

Members of the 2016 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 9 included, on first (front) row, from left: Jessica Lynn Loera, Elizabeth Nichole Cooper, K. Christian Chaney and Haley Elizabeth Watkins; second row, from left: Nicholas LaMont Kemp, Taylor Marie Goubeaux, Hannah Marie Wyatt, Ashley Nichole Keith, Candace Leigh Gentry and Sarah Elizabeth Sutton; third row, from left: James Hinks, Anna B. Filyaw, Elizabeth Rose Twisdale, Courtney Michelle Mitchell, Preston Lin Verble and Canon O’Briant; fourth row, from left: Jonathan Wayne Robbins, Brian Heath Winslow, Brian Holmes, Jake Kiley and Terrell Johnson III.  (See cover photo.)

In welcoming remarks, VGCC Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Angela Ballentine congratulated the graduates and, as a colleague in the field of radiologic technology, former instructor and former program head, welcomed them to the imaging profession. She shared some information about the diverse class, noting that six graduates had been raising children during their studies, eight had earned Dean’s List or President’s List honors, and six already held college degrees in other fields.

Ballentine expressed best wishes to at least 13 graduates who are planning to continue their education in fields such as CT, MRI, mammography and radiation oncology. She also thanked the faculty and staff who had “educated, inspired and supported these students.”

Elizabeth Twisdale was presented with the Academic Achievement Award for having the highest GPA in the class. Nicholas Kemp received the Mallinckrodt Award for outstanding clinical performance. Elizabeth Cooper received the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Student Award of Excellence.

The students voted for Patrick Castro of Duke University Medical Center as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while Ashley Lorbacher of Southpoint Triangle Orthopaedic Center received the JRCERT Award of Excellence for Clinical Educators. The Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence went to Duke Regional Hospital.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was Carla Williams, the lead PET-CT technologist at the VA Medical Center in Durham. Williams is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Pitt Community College Sonography graduate. “As you look back, you will see that you paid for this achievement tonight with dedication, focus and grit,” she told the graduates. “So, for the simple fact that you are sitting here, you do have what it takes to succeed.” Williams also urged the new graduates to “walk in compassion” as professionals. “In health care, where there is no compassion, there is no success,” she said. “Even with all the technological advancements known to man, compassion is still the driving force behind the word ‘care.’”

Class president Nicholas Kemp gave a response on behalf of his fellow students. He thanked the Radiography faculty and clinical site staff, his classmates for their spirit of collaboration and encouragement, and class treasurer Hannah Wyatt for her attention to detail. Kemp also thanked the graduates’ family members and friends for their support. “You all gave us the courage to take the first step, and you have been along with us for the twisty, bumpy ride,” he said. “Know that although the pin is worn upon our chests, it is also worn on all of your hearts.”

He and other class officers then surprised faculty members Angela Thomas, Stacey Soles, Anthony Twisdale and Lewis Daughtry with gifts from the class to show their appreciation.

Graduates received pins from Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas and recited the Radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.

— VGCC Press Release —

School Entry Controls at Six Pilot Schools

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Starting this past Monday, May 16, six Vance County Public Schools initiated a pilot program for building access.  The new Access Control System in place requires all visitors during the school day to identify themselves before being allowed into the school.

The schools include: Aycock, New Hope, L.B. Yancey, Henderson Middle, STEM Early High and Northern Vance High.

Visitors now have to enter the front main entrance of each school. Each visitor will be required to press a button on the new Access Control box (shown in the cover photo) near the main entrance door, say his/her name and why he/she is visiting plus show a valid photo ID on the camera on the box. School office personnel will respond once the button is pressed and will talk with visitors to get the required information. Visitors can then be “buzzed in” through the main entrance.

Anyone planning on visiting these six schools through the end of this school year is reminded that they must have their photo ID with them to enter the building. Arrangements can be made at the school to get photo IDs for those who do not have them.

School office personnel can help visitors with any questions about this new school entry system.