-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
As hundreds of students were being honored with scholarships at Vance-Granville Community College’s annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, the college announced the creation of a new level of scholarship and celebrated the first Presidential Excellence Award in honor of Donald and Betsy Seifert.
The new award was fully endowed with a gift of $60,000 from the family of the Henderson couple, and future student recipients will receive an annual award of $3,000 to cover tuition, books and fees at the college.
The announcement came as hundreds of scholarship donors and VGCC students gathered for dinner in the Civic Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13, to recognize more than 300 students receiving scholarships for 2018-2019.
Above, Dr. Gordon Burns, interim president of Vance-Granville Community College, and Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, gather with Donald and Betsy Seifert, shown holding the check in the center of the photo, and the Seifert family to celebrate the creation of the first-ever Presidential Excellence Award scholarship. From left are Dr. Burns, the Seiferts’ son Sam Seifert, daughter-in-law Jennifer Seifert, son Brent Seifert, Donald Seifert, son Clem Seifert, Betsy Seifert, daughter-in-law Donna Seifert, son-in-law Sandy Gabel, daughter Laura Gabel, and Ferguson. Unavailable for the photo was daughter-in-law Amine Seifert. (Photo Credit: VGCC)
Donald C. Seifert Sr. has been a member of the VGCC Board of Trustees since 1996 and served as the chair of the board for nine of those years. Appointed to the board by the Vance County Board of Education, he also serves on the college’s Endowment Fund Board of Directors.
“Our parents have shown us, through their good examples, that we should give back to our community,” the members of the Seifert family said in their statement announcing the honor. “They have demonstrated over and over again just how to give and why.” The statement was read by Eddie Ferguson, director of the college’s Office of the Endowment.
“Community can be defined in many ways,” Ferguson read. “Community is our home, our neighborhood, our workplace, our church and our community college. (Our parents) give – and have given – generously of their time, their talent, and their treasure for many years…. Their community is so important to them – they have dedicated themselves to their community – their hometown.”
“Their children, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, and grandchildren establish this scholarship to honor two special people and their commitment to the place they call home. They will, no doubt, downplay their role and the many ways they support and contribute to this community. That is who they are and that is what makes them special to us and, we hope, to their community. Those of you who have helped to create scholarships that we honor tonight, thank you. Those of you who are scholarship recipients, go and be a blessing to others in your community – however you define your community,” the statement concluded.
The announcement by Dr. Gordon Burns, VGCC’s interim president, and Ferguson was a surprise to the father and mother. As the details of the scholarship were being announced, the family members filed into the Civic Center to join them on stage.
“It’s exciting to see the bar raised in our efforts to help students receive the financial assistance they need in getting an education so that they can pursue their dreams,” said Dr. Burns. “We commend the Seifert family for their passion for community and expressing that passion through the support of our students.”
The Seiferts have one daughter and three sons, all of whom attended the event, along with their son-in-law and two daughters-in-law: Laura Seifert Gabel and husband Sandy, of Oxford; Donald C. “Clem” Seifert Jr. and Donna, of Wilmington; Brent Seifert and Jennifer, of Salisbury; and Sam Seifert of Decatur, Ga., whose wife, Amine, was unable to attend.
With the new scholarship level, the Endowment Fund now has four tiers of scholarships. In addition to the new Presidential Excellence Award, a $25,000 donation creates a Presidential Scholar Award that provides $1,250 per year to a student; a Presidential Merit Award, started with a $15,000 donation, awards $750 per year to a student; and a gift of $10,000 starts an Academic Achievement Scholarship, which awards $500 a year to a student.
The scholarships presented to students at Vance-Granville this academic year bring the total to more than 9,400 awarded by the college to date. VGCC scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.
More photos: Check out our Scholarship Awards Dinner album on Flickr!
Don’t Miss the One-Night-Only Performance of ‘A Waffle House Christmas Musical’
/by WIZS Staff-Press release courtesy Kaine Riggan
The iconic television star Joyce DeWitt, who played Janet Wood on ABC’s Three’s Company for seven seasons, is coming to Henderson, North Carolina for a special, one-night performance of a holiday musical comedy by North Carolina playwright Kaine Riggan.
“A Waffle House Christmas Musical” follows an unlikely mix of characters who are getting snowed in at a Waffle House outside of Nashville on Christmas Eve. It features original Christmas music written by Randy Travis, T. Graham Brown and others and a comedic script by Riggan.
Kay Gobbell and television star Joyce DeWitt (Janet on Three’s Company) star in “A Waffle House Christmas Musical” December 1 at 8 p.m. at Henderson’s McGregor Hall. (Photo Credit: Hatcher and Fell)
Grammy-nominated country music star T. Graham Brown will also star in the show and sing the song he contributed to the work, which was originally commissioned by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission in 2007.
The show is the latest in a line of box-office successes at McGregor Hall, a newly-constructed 1000-seat performing arts center that has sparked a revitalization of Henderson’s historic downtown business district.
“This play is really my favorite kind of piece to do”, shared DeWitt in a recent radio interview on WIZS. “It has strong, real characters who deliver a message that is both hilarious and touching. It is the perfect show to put you in the Christmas spirit.”
DeWitt, a friend of the playwright who lives in Santa Fe, also played Waffle House waitress, Rita, in a sold-out, two-month run of the musical on Nashville’s Printer’s Alley in 2010.
Riggan chose his hometown of Henderson for this final workshop production of his work before it is pitched for publishing. Many of the show’s songwriters will attend the event, including another native North Carolinian, Jennifer Prince, who wrote one of the show-stopping musical numbers, “Packed Up, Prayed Up and Ready To Go.”
“A Waffle House Christmas Musical” plays Saturday, December 1 at 8 p.m. in Henderson. For tickets and information, visit www.McGregorHall.org or call (252) 598-0662.
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 11/20/18
/by CharleneVance County Schools 11/19/18
/by CharleneTigers Are Tough And Poised For Greatness Again
/by John C. Rose— by Patrick Magoon (patrickmagoon.com) of WIZS
— photo by Patrick Magoon
Clemson’s Saturday night game at Clemson Memorial Stadium was a special event for several fans, coaches, players and veteran soldiers in attendance. Before kickoff, current and former military personnel and Tigers’ seniors playing out their final home game of this season received words of encouragement and roaring applause from the nearly packed stadium. Fans of the Tigers’ stood in awe as a group of men in military uniforms shot their rifles in the air to honor the fallen soldiers who dedicated their lives to protecting this country.
Clemson advances to 11-0 on the season and remains undefeated against Duke after solid performances from defensive end Clelin Ferrell, senior Christian Wilkins, safety Tanner Muse and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Here is a recap of Clemson’s 35-6 bounce-back win over Duke.
The first half featured an intense battle between Duke’s defensive unit and Clemson’s potent offense. Duke’s energetic defense came out and made a statement early on in the first quarter by limiting Clemson’s offense to four plays or less on each of their first three offensive drives. The Tigers’ failed to put together a scoring play in the first quarter. Lawrence and company went 0 for 7 on third down in the first half, and their ground game was ineffective. The Tigers’ averaged just 1.7 yards per carry and accumulated 17 total rushing yards in the first half.
Duke, on the other hand, moved the ball well, reaching the red zone twice in 15 minutes, which allowed them to take an early 6-0 lead over Clemson. Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones was able to string together several quick passes and an impressive 37-yard pass to tight end Daniel Helm.
At the top of the second quarter, the Tigers’ picked up the pace. Lawrence, with the help of receivers Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross, put together an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive, which granted Clemson their first lead of the game. Ross’ highlight-worthy 41-yard touchdown catch down the sideline ignited a fire inside his teammates and gave Clemson the confidence they needed to keep Duke’s offense off of the field. Then with under two minutes left in the first half, Laurence led his offense down the field in eight plays – the result, Ross earned his second touchdown of the night, and the Tigers’ entered the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 14-6 lead. Duke never recovered after that drive.
The Blue Devils received the ball to start the second half and came up empty. Duke’s one chance to put more points on the scoreboard in the second half went down as a missed opportunity after Collin Wareham could not successfully clear the posts on a 42-yard field goal attempt.
Duke did an excellent job of slowing down Clemson’s rushing attack in the first half, but they could only contain Travis Etienne for so long. The Tigers’ wore out Duke’s defensive unit by pounding them with a physical ground game. Clemson controlled the pace of the game for most of the fourth quarter.
Clemson will travel to Pennsylvania to take on ACC coastal conference leader Pittsburgh Panthers on December 1, 2018, at 8:00 P.M. EST.
News 11/20/18
/by John C. RoseTown Talk 11/20/18
/by LarrySeiferts Honored By Family As New Scholarship Level Created At VGCC
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
As hundreds of students were being honored with scholarships at Vance-Granville Community College’s annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, the college announced the creation of a new level of scholarship and celebrated the first Presidential Excellence Award in honor of Donald and Betsy Seifert.
The new award was fully endowed with a gift of $60,000 from the family of the Henderson couple, and future student recipients will receive an annual award of $3,000 to cover tuition, books and fees at the college.
The announcement came as hundreds of scholarship donors and VGCC students gathered for dinner in the Civic Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13, to recognize more than 300 students receiving scholarships for 2018-2019.
Above, Dr. Gordon Burns, interim president of Vance-Granville Community College, and Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, gather with Donald and Betsy Seifert, shown holding the check in the center of the photo, and the Seifert family to celebrate the creation of the first-ever Presidential Excellence Award scholarship. From left are Dr. Burns, the Seiferts’ son Sam Seifert, daughter-in-law Jennifer Seifert, son Brent Seifert, Donald Seifert, son Clem Seifert, Betsy Seifert, daughter-in-law Donna Seifert, son-in-law Sandy Gabel, daughter Laura Gabel, and Ferguson. Unavailable for the photo was daughter-in-law Amine Seifert. (Photo Credit: VGCC)
Donald C. Seifert Sr. has been a member of the VGCC Board of Trustees since 1996 and served as the chair of the board for nine of those years. Appointed to the board by the Vance County Board of Education, he also serves on the college’s Endowment Fund Board of Directors.
“Our parents have shown us, through their good examples, that we should give back to our community,” the members of the Seifert family said in their statement announcing the honor. “They have demonstrated over and over again just how to give and why.” The statement was read by Eddie Ferguson, director of the college’s Office of the Endowment.
“Community can be defined in many ways,” Ferguson read. “Community is our home, our neighborhood, our workplace, our church and our community college. (Our parents) give – and have given – generously of their time, their talent, and their treasure for many years…. Their community is so important to them – they have dedicated themselves to their community – their hometown.”
“Their children, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, and grandchildren establish this scholarship to honor two special people and their commitment to the place they call home. They will, no doubt, downplay their role and the many ways they support and contribute to this community. That is who they are and that is what makes them special to us and, we hope, to their community. Those of you who have helped to create scholarships that we honor tonight, thank you. Those of you who are scholarship recipients, go and be a blessing to others in your community – however you define your community,” the statement concluded.
The announcement by Dr. Gordon Burns, VGCC’s interim president, and Ferguson was a surprise to the father and mother. As the details of the scholarship were being announced, the family members filed into the Civic Center to join them on stage.
“It’s exciting to see the bar raised in our efforts to help students receive the financial assistance they need in getting an education so that they can pursue their dreams,” said Dr. Burns. “We commend the Seifert family for their passion for community and expressing that passion through the support of our students.”
The Seiferts have one daughter and three sons, all of whom attended the event, along with their son-in-law and two daughters-in-law: Laura Seifert Gabel and husband Sandy, of Oxford; Donald C. “Clem” Seifert Jr. and Donna, of Wilmington; Brent Seifert and Jennifer, of Salisbury; and Sam Seifert of Decatur, Ga., whose wife, Amine, was unable to attend.
With the new scholarship level, the Endowment Fund now has four tiers of scholarships. In addition to the new Presidential Excellence Award, a $25,000 donation creates a Presidential Scholar Award that provides $1,250 per year to a student; a Presidential Merit Award, started with a $15,000 donation, awards $750 per year to a student; and a gift of $10,000 starts an Academic Achievement Scholarship, which awards $500 a year to a student.
The scholarships presented to students at Vance-Granville this academic year bring the total to more than 9,400 awarded by the college to date. VGCC scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.
More photos: Check out our Scholarship Awards Dinner album on Flickr!
Waste Industries Announces Holiday Pick Up Schedule
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson
Waste Industries will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 22, 2018. To make up for the missed day, regularly-scheduled Thursday pick up will be done on Friday, November 23; regularly-scheduled Friday pick up will be done on Saturday, November 24.
Waste Industries will also be closed Tuesday, December 25, 2018, in observance of Christmas and Tuesday, January 1, 2019, in observance of New Year’s Day. For the time period of December 25-28, 2018, and January 1-4, 2019, regularly-scheduled pick up will be delayed by one day.
For additional information on the holiday schedule for the Vance Granville branch, please visit the Waste Industries website by clicking here.
Oxford’s Annual Turkey Trot Scheduled for Thanksgiving Morning
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Laura Gabel, Area Congregations In Ministry (Food Bank – Oxford, NC)
The 14th Annual Turkey Trot is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 22 – Thanksgiving morning – in downtown Oxford. Registration for the fun run/walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at Oxford United Methodist Church, located at the corner of College and McClanahan streets. The entry fee is two cans of food or a monetary donation for Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM).
The route begins at the church, goes down College Street, through the campus of the Masonic Home for Children and ends at the Methodist Church. Come out for a fun morning as we give thanks while helping others!
Gospel Play ‘Such A Time As This’ to Benefit Recent Hurricane Victims
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Connie Ragland, A Brighter Horizon Project & Connie Ragland Productions
A gospel stage play entitled “Such A Time As This” will be held on Saturday, December 1 at 2 p.m. at E.M. Rollins Elementary School auditorium. The play is a story of triumph after tragedy and will speak to the heart and soul of anyone who has suffered loss. Come out and enjoy a day of praise, worship and healing.
Proceeds from this event will benefit Hurricane Florence and Michael victims from New Bern, NC. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youth and can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com. For groups, call Connie Ragland at 252-432-7127.