From High School Dropout to First-Generation College Graduate, Through VGCC

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

“I was 16, and I was done.” That is how Samantha Huffman recalls thinking back in 2004. She was “done” with education, in her mind. Feeling depressed and awkward at her high school, Huffman dropped out. “I had nothing to look forward to when it came to school, so what was the point?” she said. “It’s not like I was going to go to college. I couldn’t afford it. No one in my family had made it through high school, much less gone further.”

Samantha Huffman poses in her cap and gown at Meredith College. (Photo courtesy VGCC)

Sixteen years later, Huffman actually has gone further, with a pair of college degrees to her name, thanks to her experience at Vance-Granville Community College.

The story of how she went from high school dropout to college graduate essentially starts with a tragedy, Huffman said. “In 2011, my world was turned upside down,” she reflected. “I lost my best friend, who was also my cousin and my confidant, in a car accident where she was hit head-on and killed instantly. She believed in me and pushed me to do better. At that moment, I made a promise in her memory to change.”

The sort of change she intended to make required education in order to obtain more than what she called “dead-end” jobs. One day in 2012, Huffman heard that Vance-Granville Community College offered night and online class options to prepare for the GED High School Equivalency diploma. “I went, signed up, and took the pre-test,” she said. “I passed the pre-test, and the teacher looked me dead in my eyes and asked me what in the world I was doing there. I did not test like a person with only a 10th-grade education.”

With a level of natural ability that surprised her, Huffman quickly completed her studies and obtained her high school diploma by passing the required test. “My first thought was, ‘Well, that was easy,’” she recalled. “I almost immediately signed up for college classes at VGCC.”

She took her time because she was working two jobs and raising a child while going to school. Finally, in 2016, she graduated from VGCC with an Associate in Arts degree, as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and a senator in the Student Government Association.

Soon, Huffman transferred her community college credits into Meredith College, with approximately half her tuition covered by scholarships. In December of 2018, she graduated from the four-year college with a bachelor’s degree in English. Now, she works full-time in a job in which she uses her communication skills to create marketing and promotional materials to increase her company’s client base.

“For anyone who thinks school is too hard or takes too much of a commitment, I urge you to walk into any VGCC campus and talk to an advisor,” Huffman said. “They will coach you, mentor you, comfort you, and guide you through schooling that anyone can do and help you achieve any goal you set your mind to completing.”

Town Talk 02/05/20

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Reminder: Registration Deadline for Focus 20/20 is Feb. 13

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-Press Release, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments announces Focus 20/20, a Regional Economic Development Summit to be held at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson on February 20, 2020. The summit kicks off at 9:30 a.m.

Keynote speaker for the event is Doug Griffiths, author of the bestselling book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community. Doug works with communities across the US and Canada to identify and overcome challenges that prohibit their ability to become thriving, sustainable, and desirable.

Other featured speakers for the Summit include ● Dr. Michael Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist at North Carolina State University ● Hillary Sherman, NC Economic Development Representative, US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration ● Thom Ruhe, President & CEO, NC IDEA ● Jennifer Lantz, Executive Director, Wilson Economic Development Council ● Dr. Jenni Harris, Executive Director of Business Services, North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions ● Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Continuing Education and College & Career Readiness, Vance-Granville Community College ● Dr. Pamela G. Senegal, President, Piedmont Community College ● Judy Bradsher, M.Ed., Director, CTE Programs/GEAR UP Liaison, Person County Schools ● Rhonda L. High, Customized Training Director, Halifax Community College.

“This Summit is a timely and relevant event for citizens who seek to learn more about the advantages and challenges of preparing their communities for economic development success. It will provide best practices and examples that can be applied locally.” -Diane Cox, Executive Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

Summit presentations will focus on the following: ● Setting the Stage for Economic Development in Your Community ● Advancing Entrepreneurship ● Talent Development-Best Practice Workforce Initiatives ● 13 Ways to Kill Your Community – lessons on what really makes the difference between a prospering community and a failing one.

The event is complimentary, but registration is required and limited to the first 400 registrants. If you are interested in attending, please register at www.kerrtarcog.org. The deadline for registration is February 13, 2020.

Warren Co. Memorial Library Celebrates African-American History Month 

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County Memorial Library celebrates African-American History Month through literacy, culture, and the arts. The highlight will be two special programs featuring scholars with local connections. In addition to these programs, the library will have celebratory book displays, bookmarks, reading lists, and activities.

Dr. Carlton Wilson

African Americans and the Vote – February 17, 2020 – 2 – 3 p.m.

Dr. Carlton Wilson, historian and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at North Carolina Central University, will examine Black History Month 2020’s theme: African Americans and the Vote. This presentation will cover the struggle of African Americans to gain and maintain the right to vote, emphasizing the importance of exercising a constitutional right that is the most important element of freedom and equality.

How Sweet It Is: The Musical Story of Marvin Gaye – February 29, 2020 – 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Musicologist Howard Burchette will present a look into the musical history of Marvin Gaye. Burchette has over 23 years of broadcast experience on Public Radio. Currently, he hosts The Funk Show from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturdays on 90.7 WNCU FM. This presentation will cover the phenomenal career of the Prince of Motown and will include music and images.

To learn more about African-American History Month 2020, visit the official website: https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/.

Howard Burchette

To view the writings, notes, and photographs that comprise the Library of Congress’s Rosa Parks Collection, go to https://www.loc.gov/collections/rosaparks-papers/about-this-collection/.

For more information about library programs, go to www.wcmlibrary.org for event details and additional programs offered. All library programs are free and open to the public. Visit the library for more information and resources at 119 S. Front Street, Warrenton, NC 27589. Phone: 252-257-4990.

Town Talk 02/04/20: Jobs, Removing Barriers Focus of Desmarais’ First Year

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of Vance-Granville Community College, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Desmarais, who celebrated her one-year anniversary with the college in January, said she is pleased with the recent strides the college has made in workforce development, marketing and removing “barriers” to education.

Making it her mission from day one to “find the programs that could get people into jobs more quickly,” Desmarais and VGCC staff have worked with EMSI, Inc., a national firm that reviews job data, to provide information on the most needed types of employment in the local area.

“The number one and number two jobs of availability in this area were truck drivers and heavy equipment operators,” Desmarais explained of EMSI’s findings.

In response to the community’s need for truck drivers, VGCC, in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, now offers a truck driving program that gives students the training required to operate tractor-trailer rigs, obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and become professional truck drivers.

Orientation for the first nine-week program was completed last week with classes to begin Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Students will participate in a combination of classroom instruction, range driving and road driving.

According to Desmarais, 17 students are currently participating in the program and a waitlist has been started for others who are interested. “Local companies that need truck drivers are very excited about the opportunity to have local folks who can take those jobs.”

For more information on the truck driving program, please click here.

By changing the way the college approaches marketing, including getting back to basics with “going out, talking and listening to the people in the community,” Desmarais said the college is learning what local organizations and residents need while strengthening existing partnerships and creating new alliances.

“We are going back to some of the things we use to do such as offering classes out in the community,” said Desmarais. “We have started a new partnership and are offering classes at the Mary Potter School in Oxford, for example.”

Desmarais said VGCC staff are also focused on removing what is frequently considered “barriers” to education, with the recent announcement of the college’s partnership with public and rural transportation service KARTS being a prime example of this commitment.

“This program removes one of the larger barriers of education – students getting to and from college,” Desmarais said.

Thanks to a combination of grant funds and VGCC Endowment Fund donations, the KARTS service is provided free-of-charge to students attending all four VGCC campus locations – Henderson (Main), Louisburg (Franklin), Creedmoor (South) and Warrenton (Warren).

Students can make appointments for KARTS by calling (252) 438-2573 and then dialing “0.” Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance. For more information on the KARTS program, please click here.

VGCC is currently piloting and tracking the success of another program aimed at reducing perhaps the largest barrier in education – the financial barrier.

“We know that students who get Pell Grants have a lot going on in their lives,” Desmarais stated. “They have a lot of challenges in terms of working and going to school, transportation, living arrangements, and sometimes they aren’t as successful at the school part as they’d like because life gets in the way.”

Explaining that students have to maintain a certain grade point average (GPA) to keep their financial aid, Desmarais said the college is offering a “Second Chance Scholarship” to those that may have fallen below the required GPA.

“We [VGCC] help connect them with other agencies to help them solve non-school problems that are getting in the way of them being successful here. Once we do that, we provide what we call a second chance scholarship for them to improve their GPA so that they can get back on financial aid.”

With all of this, Desmarais said the college is writing its narrative as a student-ready college. “We are going to be here for the students that we have. We are not a selective institution, but we are a quality-proud institution.”

To learn more about VGCC, please visit the college’s official website at www.vgcc.edu or visit its YouTube channel by clicking here.

To hear the interview with Desmarais in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

 

 

 

‘ABBAMANIA’ Taking Over McGregor Hall This Valentine’s Day

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at McGregor Hall with a night of “ABBAMANIA: An ABBA Tribute” on Friday, February 14, 2020. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Come enjoy a rock musical which takes you back to the disco era with one of the best pop bands in history, ABBA. “ABBAMANIA” features nine incredible musicians and singers performing 21 of ABBA’s hits, with all the costume changes, choreography, live band, backup singers and the big studio sound.

Tickets for this event may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

VGCC Set Stage for Graduate to Succeed in Nursing Career

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Brittni Griffin had a career goal in mind from a young age. “In the fifth grade, I decided what my purpose in life was,” Griffin said. “I was determined to become a registered nurse.”

Brittni Griffin graduated in May of 2015 with her Associate Degree in Nursing from Vance-Granville Community College. Today, she is employed as a clinical team lead for a unit at Duke University Hospital. (Photo courtesy VGCC)

She eventually learned that her local community college could help make that dream a reality. In her senior year of high school, Griffin was accepted to Vance-Granville Community College and soon began taking the prerequisite courses that she would need before entering the selective Associate Degree Nursing program.

“In the spring of 2012, I had completed all the required courses that were needed for the ADN program, and I applied for entry into the program,” she recalled. “I was one person away from being able to enter the program, which meant I had to wait until the following year to try again.” Despite her disappointment, Griffin persisted and was accepted into the college’s ADN program the following year.

“I graduated in May of 2015 with my Associate Degree in Nursing,” she said. Griffin also served as president of her graduating class. Now, she could finally achieve her longtime goal of becoming a registered nurse. Griffin had accepted a job offer in nursing from Duke University Hospital even before she graduated.

“I started my career at Duke in August 2015,” she said. “In January of 2016, I jumped into taking one course at a time to start my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.” The additional degree would allow Griffin to advance in her career and actually brought her back to VGCC to take courses that would transfer to the four-year university level. She was accepted into the University of North Carolina at Charlotte BSN program in 2017 and graduated in May of 2018.

“In October 2018, I accepted a job offer as the clinical team lead of another unit at Duke University Hospital,” Griffin said. “As the clinical team lead, I act as the assistant nurse manager. I complete payroll, conduct counseling with employees, develop educational material for staff, and much more. Thanks to Vance-Granville Community College’s outstanding Nursing program, I was set up for success upon graduation. I am proud to tell people that I graduated from VGCC’s ADN program and refer people to apply often.”

Coop. Extension Announces 2020 Small Farms Week; Scholarships Available

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-Information courtesy Warren Co. Cooperative Extension Office

The 34th Annual Small Farms Week hosted by Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is March 22-28, 2020. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Farmers, Sustaining Farms.” The kickoff event is March 20 in Cherokee County, home of the 2019 Small Farmer of the Year.

The Small Farmers’ Appreciation Luncheon is Wednesday, March 25, and will be on A&T’s campus at the Alumni-Foundations Events Center. During this event, the 2020 Small Farmer of the Year will be named.

Registration is $30; however, this fee is waived for NC small farmers. To register, click here.

A limited number of scholarships will be provided for small farmers from selected counties interested in attending the activities to be held on campus as part of Small Farms Week, March 22-27, 2020. Small Farms Week events are designed to provide educational opportunities as well as celebrate and recognize the contributions that small farmers make to this state. The scholarship will cover registration fees and two-nights lodging (double occupancy).

To apply for a scholarship, please complete and submit the application by March 2, 2020. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please note that your application submission for a scholarship is not a guarantee for approval.

Individuals awarded scholarships will be notified in writing by March 13, 2020. Please note that scholarship recipients must be at least 18 years of age. Children are ineligible for a scholarship and should not apply.

NCCU-VGCC Agreement Supports Growing Life Sciences Industry

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and Vance-Granville Community College leaders signed an agreement on January 28, 2020, opening the doors for more students to earn the Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical sciences.

The memorandum of understanding is part of North Carolina’s Pathways to Success program and sets up a streamlined process for graduates of Vance-Granville’s two-year bioprocess technology associate of applied sciences degree to transfer those credit hours to NCCU’s baccalaureate program, entering as juniors.

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye and Vance-Granville Community College president Dr. Rachel Desmarais signed an agreement on January 28, 2020, opening the doors for more students to earn the Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical sciences. (VGCC photo)

“Training scientists for the pharmaceutical industry is vitally important for the region’s economy and a strong priority at the university’s Biomanufacturing Research and Technology Enterprise (BRITE),” said NCCU Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye.

“By partnering with Vance-Granville Community College, we have increased the pipeline of top students entering NCCU who will complete their Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences. We hope that many stay on, as well, to earn a master’s or a doctorate in integrated biosciences.”

As part of the two-campus agreement, Vance-Granville students can get ahead by taking NCCU coursework prior to officially entering the university. Options include a summer lab-skills workshop, externships at BRITE, and Stackable Credentials to Strengthen the Pathway to Biopharma, an online certificate program offering instruction in regulatory sciences, project management and other knowledge specific to the biopharma industry.

Akinleye and Desmarais shake hands after signing an agreement furthering the partnership between NCCU and VGCC. (VGCC photo)

“We are delighted to enhance our current partnerships with NCCU by providing a new pathway for VGCC bioprocessing graduates to obtain a four-year degree in pharmaceutical science,” said Vance-Granville President Rachel Desmarais. “NCCU is a valuable partner in creating pathways to success for our students.”

The Stackable Credentials program, which has a number of components, receives funding from NIIMBL, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, which contributed more than $400,000 in 2018 to boost the university’s ability to train researchers, technicians and others for the life sciences field.

Biotechnology and life-sciences are among North Carolina’s fastest-growing industry segments, employing more than 75,000 workers with average annual salaries of $90,000, twice the state average. Since 2008, life-sciences employment has increased by more than 19% statewide and is expected to continue to grow as more biological products are used in drug research, development and production processes. A 2018 survey by Deloitte projects that as many as 60% of jobs in pharmaceutical manufacturing will be lacking qualified candidates to fill them by 2025.

“There are a number of career opportunities that our VGCC bioprocessing graduates will be exposed to while completing the degree in pharmaceutical science at NCCU,” said Levy Brown, vice president of Learning, Student Engagement and Success at Vance-Granville.

BRITE Director Hernan Navarro said the institute’s workforce-development approach to education is part of its mission.

“Today’s agreement gives BRITE the opportunity to expand its student base and gives Vance-Granville Community College students a way to advance their careers, so it’s great for both,” he added.

Faculty and staff thanked for their work on the project were Vance-Granville’s Bioprocesses Program Director Stewart Lyon and Dean of Arts and Sciences Cecilia Wheeler, along with NCCU Pharmaceutical Science professors Kevin Williams and Andy Li, and BRITE academic recruiter Natacha Janvier-Derilus.

I Voted Sticker

Early Voting for March Primary Begins Feb. 13

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Early voting for the March primary will open on February 13, 2020, and close on February 29, 2020. Operational hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Warren County Board of Elections will be open on Saturday, February 15, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on the last Saturday, February 29, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After the close of early voting, voters must report to their precinct on Election Day (March 3, 2020); the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

The last day to make party changes is February 7, 2020.

The March primary is a party primary; voters will only be issued the ballot of the party for which they are registered. Contact the Warren County Board of Elections at 252-257-2114 or visit the NC State Board of Elections website to view your voter information.