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VGCC Health Sciences Programs Has Dual Pinning Ceremony for 14 Graduates

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-information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

The Vance-Granville Community College School of Health Sciences’ Medical Assisting and Practical Nursing programs honored 14 students at their very first joint pinning ceremony on July 24. Family, friends, faculty and VGCC leaders attended the ceremony, which took place at the Civic Center on the Main Campus.

VGCC Vice President Kim Sepich offered a welcome and congratulations to the students upon successful completion of their programs. Dr. Mercedes Kamoru, program head for Medical Assisting, had five students honored at the ceremony. Nursing instructor Leslie Parrott had nine students honored.

Both programs had a student speaker who spoke on behalf of their peers, reflecting on their shared journey. Normalejandra Avila-Velazquez represented the Medical Assisting program, and Taushua Alston-Eaton represented the Practical Nursing program. The graduates expressed their gratitude to the faculty for their dedication and mentorship. They also thanked their families and friends for their unwavering support throughout their educational journey. The atmosphere was filled with emotion as graduates shared personal stories of their experiences and the impact of their loved ones’ encouragement.

The pinning ceremony is a rite of passage in the medical assisting and nursing profession, symbolizing the completion of rigorous training and the beginning of a career dedicated to caring for others. Each graduate was called to the stage, where they received their pin from a family member with faculty assisting them. The pins, shining brightly, represented not only the graduates’ academic achievements but also their readiness to serve with compassion and excellence.

Dr. Angela Thomas, dean of Health Sciences, led the Medical Assisting students through the Medical Assisting Creed; Dr. Brande McIlroy led the Nursing students through the Nursing Pledge and the traditional lighting of the lamps.

The pinning ceremony marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. The Class of 2024 is now ready to take on the challenges and rewards of the Medical Assisting and Practical Nursing professions, armed with the education, experience and passion to make a meaningful impact on their patients’ lives.

Those who could not attend may view the event’s livestream on the College’s YouTube page.

 

VGCC Medical Assisting Class of 2024:

  • Normalejandra Avila-Velazquez
  • Kimberly Ayscue
  • Amber Bolton
  • Amaya Sneed
  • Yolanda Taylor

VGCC Practical Nursing Class of 2024:

  • Taushua Alston-Eaton
  • Alexus Barnes
  • Susan Chebet
  • Evelyn Faucette
  • Regina Nderitu
  • Enock Tanui
  • Toshiba Valentine
  • Dawn Williams
  • Jennifer Young

 

Visit www.vgcc.edu to learn more.

SportsTalk: Margaret Foster, who helped NBC Sports in Paris, stopped by WIZS

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If NBC gave out medals for production assistants who went “above and beyond” to make sure the Summer Olympics broadcasts went smoothly, Margaret Foster surely would have brought home a Gold.

Foster, a 2023 graduate of UNC-CH, put her political science and French degree to good use during her three-week stint working behind the scenes at the beach volleyball venue.

It was during a study abroad semester in Paris that Foster decided she wanted to play a role.

“I saw the city preparing for the upcoming Olympics,” she said on Wednesday’s Sports Talk.

Her dad, Lee Foster, who grew up in Henderson, had some friends with ties to the business. One friend, Lance Stewart, was a big help, she said.

“He really helped me network with some of his former colleagues,” the younger Foster said, and she applied to be a production assistant/runner for the network.

Part of the job entailed being a liaison between the NBC crew on the ground and celebrities who visited the venue. Think Snoop Dogg, Al Roker and Hoda Kotb.

Starstruck moments? Foster said the employees sat in on seminars that spelled out the way to behave when big names were near. “We’re supposed to act professional,” she said, adding that she did manage to sneak some selfies.

But it also involved the logistical work of making sure that things were all set on the technical side. “It was 12-15 hours that first week, setting up everything,” she said.

But she also got to use her language skills and enjoyed being a bridge between the NBC English-speaking crew and the local French-speaking crews.

Foster characterized the work as “madness and a blur,” with crazy hours. Some of the beach volleyball matches, for example, began at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Paris time.

Towards the end of the Games, however, especially during the medal matches, things settled down a bit and it wasn’t so hectic.

One of her more hectic moments came when Snoop Dogg, the unofficial Olympic mascot, came to the beach volleyball venue. She said she was on her feet from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at least. And she found herself sprinting down the street to get a bag of ice and a Coca-Cola for the singer-turned Olympic cheerleader.

When Snoop wants a Coke – in a plastic bottle – that’s what he gets. And when he was visiting her venue, it was Foster’s job to make sure he got it.

As a poli sci major at UNC, Foster didn’t really envision a future in television. But with her Olympics experience under her belt, she’s giving it some thought. She’ll be moving to New York City in a few weeks to live with a best friend from college. And while she’s not sure what the future holds, she’s got some stories to tell about three weeks in Paris.

 

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Vance County Tourism

TownTalk: Catfish Drop for New Year’s by Vance County Tourism

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New York City’s Times Square has that iconic glittery orb. Raleigh has a giant acorn. Shoot, Mt. Olive has a giant pickle covered in lights. But this New Year’s Eve, families can head out to Satterwhite Point to witness a first: a giant blue catfish drop to usher in 2025.

It’s all part of a plan by Vance County Tourism and other partners, most recently the Vance County Board of Commissioners, who signed off on the event at their regular meeting held Aug. 5 meeting.

The idea has been in the works for a few years, said Pam Hester, Vance County tourism director. Hester and fellow tourism staffer Norman Dickerson were guests on TownTalk Wednesday to talk about the impact tourism and visitors had on the local economy in 2023, and to discuss how the county’s attractions affect the bottom line.

Adding another signature event like the New Year’s Eve catfish drop to the county’s calendar, she said, will only increase that economic impact. When families come out to the lake on Dec. 31, they can expect vendors, entertainment, fireworks and more before that big ol’ catfish is lowered from the sky to welcome the New Year.

Why a catfish? Back in 2011, a fisherman snagged a recod-breaking whopper from the lake – a 143-pound blue cat. Now, a local artist is creating another whopper, Hester said.

This one will most likely be hooked – by a crane – and dropped – not reeled in- on New Year’s Eve could be the next “big” thing to bring visitors – and their dollars – to the county.

Last year’s tourism numbers are impressive, and Hester said Vance County garnered $70.2 million in visitor spending. That’s an 8.1 percent increase in 2023 from the previous year, which surpasses both Granville and Franklin counties, but is not quite as much as Warren County, which saw a 10.8 percent jump in 2023 for a whopping $73 million in tourism dollars. Vance County is ranked 15th among the state’s 100 counties in terms of growth rate with that 8.1 percent; Warren (10.8 percent) and Franklin (10.6 percent) are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Booked hotel rooms generate an occupancy tax that goes to county coffers. That money, along with sales tax that comes from restaurants and other retailers, creates revenue for the county – in 2023, that figure is the equivalent of $119.76 per resident in tax savings.

“We’re lucky to have McGregor Hall and we’re lucky to have Kerr Lake,” Hester said. “They are our main attractions,” Hester said. In addition to the New Year’s Eve event, there are plans to further capitalize on Kerr Lake by creating an event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage.

Visit https://partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies to find a complete county-by-county breakdown of visitor spending in the state.

Here is a snapshot of the four-county area:

Vance County

Total visitor spending – $70.02 million

Lodging: $15.44 million

Food & Beverage: $23.13 million

Recreation: $9.5 million

Retail: $5.93 million

Transport: $16.02 million

Granville County

Total visitor spending – $60.98 million

Lodging: $13.31 million

Food & Beverage: $20.04 million

Recreation: $9.18 million

Retail: $4.49 million

Transport: $13.96 million

Warren County

Total visitor spending – $73.02 million

Lodging: $18.54 million

Food & Beverage: $21.28 million

Recreation: $10.41 million

Retail: $5.96 million

Transport: $ 16.83 million

Franklin County

Total visitor spending – $42.15 million

Lodging: $8.46 million

Food & Beverage: $14.55 million

Recreation: $5.81 million

Retail: $3.05 million

Transport: $ 10.28 million

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TownTalk: Janie Martin Is Vance County’s August Employee Of The Month

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners honored Vance County Sheriff’s Office Senior Administrative Assistant Janie Martin at its Aug. 5 board meeting as the county’s employee of the month.

In her presentation, colleague Debbie Scott said Martin is a champion at teamwork – someone who “never hesitates to get involved and be of assistance.”

Her initiative to handle whatever comes up within the sheriff’s office makes her “highly valuable…and an asset,” Scott continued.

Above all, her optimism, professionalism and dedication to her job show throughout the workday – and beyond. She is always just a phone call away, and often spends extra hours to make sure the office is running efficiently and effectively.

Sheriff Curtis Brame said Martin began her career at the sheriff’s office in 2013 as an employee at the detention center. In 2016, she became administrative assistant to then-sheriff Peter White.

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Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market
  • Regional Small Farms Bootcamp Workshop
  • Protection from Fire Ants
  • Protection from Crows
  • Lawnmower Safety

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TownTalk: The Salvation Army’s Maj. Beth Mallard

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The Henderson Salvation Army’s new leader, Maj. Beth Mallard, is taking stock of the current programs offered to local residents and to those who live in all five of the counties served by the Ross Mill Road facility.

Mallard likes what she sees, and yet she sees more in her vision. It’s all about stewardship – taking care of what’s already here and putting plans in place to make the best use of available facilities.

Mallard comes to Henderson from Winston-Salem, and she said both locations have similarities that have proven helpful to her: Winston’s Salvation Army also serves five counties, so operating within a large geographical footprint is not a daunting task; it also has a large food distribution program. Mallard said the Henderson Salvation Army has already tripled its food volume since last year. There also was a vibrant senior adult program, which she also sees in the local Ageless Wonders program on Tuesdays for senior adults as well as for mentally challenged individuals.

Things are growing at the Salvation Army, she said, so she’s taken a bit of time to see what’s needed and planning for ways to adapt to the needs of the community.

When the Ross Mill Road facility was being designed, there was a vision to use the property for recreation, and Mallard said those plans are taking shape.

“One of the visions was to have these beautiful fields (become) soccer fields in the back of the building,” she said on Tuesday’s segment of TownTalk.

The money’s not there yet, but until it is, the fields have been mowed and some goals have been moved in, so the hope is that the Boys & Girls Club members can use them this fall.

Proper construction and field preparation can come later, but in the meantime, the field can be used.

Stewardship.

A Biblical definition of stewardship involves managing all resources that God provides for the betterment of His creation. Food is one of those resources, and Mallard said the food distribution program is one way to help those in the community provide for themselves and for their families.

“There’s been an uptick in people needing food,” Mallard said. So the Salvation Army stepped up its food distribution program, but it’s something to continue to work on and improve in the coming years.

Right now, Social Services Director Gina Eaves is the sole box packer, and Mallard said she’d welcome additional volunteers to come help fill boxes with canned foods, shelf-stable items and frozen meats.

If you need food, please stop by the Salvation Army location on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you have ID, that’s fine, but if you don’t, you won’t be turned away.

Stewardship.

Mallard and her team also are managing the Salvation Army’s resources in what is sure to have a win-win outcome. This Saturday, Aug. 17, there will be a big sale at the site of the former family store located at 222 W. Montgomery St. “There’s a lot of good pieces down there,” she said.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., they’ll be making cash and carry deals to empty the former store of amazing finds, old and new.

“No offer will be refused to help clear the building out,” Mallard said. “I have plans.” Not only will it be used for warehouse space, but she wants to use it as a distribution site at Christmas.

Visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/henderson-nc/ to learn more about the programs and services of Henderson’s Salvation Army, located at 2292 Ross Mill Rd.

 

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The Local Skinny! H-V Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament Oct. 8

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The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce golf tournament is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, promising an afternoon of fun and fellowship as teams make their way through the links at Henderson Country Club.

Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson said she’s looking for at least 24 four-member teams to take part, so business and industry leaders, that’s your cue to get those teams formed and registered!

And the Chamber is accepting sponsorships, too – there are many different levels to choose from and lots of opportunities to have your business name and logo displayed throughout the event.

“It’s a great way to market your business – it’s a great marketing tool,” Wilkerson said on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny!

Margier White and State Farm are this year’s presenting sponsor, and Wilkerson invites others to join White by becoming a sponsor at a variety of other levels.

This marks the 26th golf tournament sponsored by the Chamber, which Wilkerson said alternates between HCC and Kerr Lake Country Club.

“It’s a fun day,” she said. Teams tee off in the afternoon, so there’s plenty of time to get in some work in the morning before reassembling the team on the golf course – all for a good cause.

The Chamber enjoys a membership of more than 300 members, and Wilkerson said she feels fortunate that new members come on board all year long. She and fellow Chamber staff offer a variety of classes and other types of engagement sessions to accommodate all members.

Call the Chamber at 252.438.8414 or email Wilkerson at sandra@hendersonvance.org to learn more about becoming a golf tournament sponsor or to register a team.

 

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Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Farmers Market Week

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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