Students in the Criminal Justice Technology and Paralegal Technology programs at Vance-Granville Community College recently heard from a guest speaker, who spoke about his work in the justice system and about opportunities to jump-start their own careers while they are still students.
The speaker was Juan C. Bais, chief investigator for the Public Defender’s Office in North Carolina Judicial District 10 (Wake County), who has formed a new partnership with VGCC to offer Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities in his office.
WBL allows a student to gain relevant experience with an employer, while also earning academic credit that counts toward a degree. Many VGCC programs include WBL courses, either as a requirement or as an elective, as in the case of Criminal Justice Technology. WBL plays a role in VGCC’s five-year “Quality Enhancement Plan” (QEP) called “Advising in 3D: Dream, Design, Discover,” which is focused in part on improved career planning for students.
Bais learned about the program through his fellow investigator in the Public Defender’s Office, Gregory Porterfield, a former VGCC Paralegal Technology student. Both Bais and Porterfield are also former Raleigh Police Department officers. In his current position, Bais said his job is “to get the facts to help the attorneys in the public defender’s office, because when a defendant is appointed an attorney, the attorney may not have all the information they need.”
In order to help handle a large workload on a tight budget, District 10 Public Defender Charles F. Caldwell agreed to allow Bais to recruit a VGCC student to join their team through the WBL program. “It’s a win-win, for us and for the student, who will be getting credit,” Bais said. “I’m looking for a student who’s willing to work hard. I want them to work alongside me, see how it’s done and then do the work under my supervision, so they get real investigative experience that they can put on a resume.”
Bais added, “from what I hear, you are getting great preparation for the workforce at VGCC, and Work-Based Learning is a great opportunity for you.” His general advice to students in the criminal justice field is “to develop people skills, be dedicated and document everything.”
Porterfield also addressed the students, explaining that his office’s mission “is to make sure people are treated fairly, and that innocent people don’t go to jail…You have to be open-minded and not assume guilt or innocence in this line of work. I love to figure things out and put the puzzle pieces together.” He said that students going into law enforcement should always “go the extra mile” and “ask the additional question” so that their work holds up in court.
“Work-Based Learning offers our students work experience that connects directly to their majors,” according to Antoinette Dickens, who coordinates WBL while also heading up the Paralegal Technology program. “A Work-Based Learning experience is not only something that builds a student’s resume and skills, but it also often leads to a job after graduation. There’s nothing like that hands-on experience.”
For more information on Work-Based Learning at VGCC, contact Antoinette Dickens at dickensa@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3609.
Granville Chamber accepting nominations for John Penn Award
/by WIZS StaffThe Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Recognition Committee announces that the committee is accepting nominations for the 2017 John Penn Citizen of the Year Award. This prestigious award, named for Granville County’s signer of the Declaration of Independence, is presented at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Banquet. The 2017 event will be held Monday, January 30, in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.
Chamber members received nomination ballots attached to their issues of the Chamber’s monthly newsletter. Nomination forms may also be obtained at a Chamber office or may be downloaded from the Chamber’s website, www.granville-chamber.com.
This award was designed to recognize a person(s) for outstanding service to the community. Past recipients are: Dr. Joseph Colson, Mrs. Robinette Husketh, Hubert Gooch, Rev. G. C. Hawley, Mrs. Gladys Satterwhite, Hugh Currin, Sr., Rev. Harrison Simons, Tom Speed, John Mackie, Dr. Roy Noblin, Dr. David Noel, John K. Nelms, J. J. Medford, Mrs. Mildred A. Jenkins, Tom Johnson, Mrs. Virginia Tuck, L. Clement Yancey, Mrs. Nancy W. Darden, Leonard M. Dunn, Mrs. Carlene Fletcher, Hubert L. Cox, Leonard Peace, Sr., Marshall Tanner, Harold Sherman, Boyce Harvey Paul Kiesow, Ms. Johnsie Cunningham, Stan Fox, Doan and Bette Laursen, Dr. John B. Hardy, Jr., L. C. Adcock, Jim Crawford, Xavier Wortham, Dr. Richard and Julia Ann Taylor and Gary Bowman.
Nominations are due Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
VGCC Work-Based Learning program partners with Wake Public Defender’s office
/by WIZS StaffStudents in the Criminal Justice Technology and Paralegal Technology programs at Vance-Granville Community College recently heard from a guest speaker, who spoke about his work in the justice system and about opportunities to jump-start their own careers while they are still students.
The speaker was Juan C. Bais, chief investigator for the Public Defender’s Office in North Carolina Judicial District 10 (Wake County), who has formed a new partnership with VGCC to offer Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities in his office.
WBL allows a student to gain relevant experience with an employer, while also earning academic credit that counts toward a degree. Many VGCC programs include WBL courses, either as a requirement or as an elective, as in the case of Criminal Justice Technology. WBL plays a role in VGCC’s five-year “Quality Enhancement Plan” (QEP) called “Advising in 3D: Dream, Design, Discover,” which is focused in part on improved career planning for students.
Bais learned about the program through his fellow investigator in the Public Defender’s Office, Gregory Porterfield, a former VGCC Paralegal Technology student. Both Bais and Porterfield are also former Raleigh Police Department officers. In his current position, Bais said his job is “to get the facts to help the attorneys in the public defender’s office, because when a defendant is appointed an attorney, the attorney may not have all the information they need.”
In order to help handle a large workload on a tight budget, District 10 Public Defender Charles F. Caldwell agreed to allow Bais to recruit a VGCC student to join their team through the WBL program. “It’s a win-win, for us and for the student, who will be getting credit,” Bais said. “I’m looking for a student who’s willing to work hard. I want them to work alongside me, see how it’s done and then do the work under my supervision, so they get real investigative experience that they can put on a resume.”
Bais added, “from what I hear, you are getting great preparation for the workforce at VGCC, and Work-Based Learning is a great opportunity for you.” His general advice to students in the criminal justice field is “to develop people skills, be dedicated and document everything.”
Porterfield also addressed the students, explaining that his office’s mission “is to make sure people are treated fairly, and that innocent people don’t go to jail…You have to be open-minded and not assume guilt or innocence in this line of work. I love to figure things out and put the puzzle pieces together.” He said that students going into law enforcement should always “go the extra mile” and “ask the additional question” so that their work holds up in court.
“Work-Based Learning offers our students work experience that connects directly to their majors,” according to Antoinette Dickens, who coordinates WBL while also heading up the Paralegal Technology program. “A Work-Based Learning experience is not only something that builds a student’s resume and skills, but it also often leads to a job after graduation. There’s nothing like that hands-on experience.”
For more information on Work-Based Learning at VGCC, contact Antoinette Dickens at dickensa@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3609.
News 12/02/16
/by LarryGranville Chamber to Host 75th Annual Banquet
/by WIZS StaffThe Granville County Chamber’s Annual Banquet has been scheduled for Monday evening, January 30th, 6:30 pm in Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus Civic Center.
The evening will once again include the presentation of the Chamber’s most prestigious award, the John Penn Citizen of the Year Award, recognizing outstanding community service. The Chamber’s Board of Directors is requesting that member businesses who are/will celebrate a significant business anniversary in 2017 notify the Chamber to be recognized – 5, 10, + years.
In celebration of 75 years, a very special program has been planned that is patriotic and indicative of the 1940’s when our Chamber was founded. “Letters from Home – The Patriot” stars Erinn Diaz, America’s Bombshell Patriot. This is “an exhilarating, energized, patriotic show that will have you singing, dancing, laughing, elbowing the person next to you and just bringing back amazing memories and definitely creating new ones. Erinn Diaz’ ageless tape dancing, timeless singing and goofy interaction with the audience members will have you ‘hootin’ and a hollerin’ for a long time.’
Banquet sponsors are: Duke Energy/Presenting Sponsor; BB&T, CertainTeed, Granville Health System, The School of Graphic Arts Print and Design Center and Vanness Chevrolet.
A buffet dinner will be provided. Tickets are $40 each. Corporate tables of 8, with reserved seating, are available for $300.00. Corporate tables of 10, reserved seating, are available for $380.00. Tickets/reservations are required prior to the event. Checks or credit card payments are accepted by contacting one of the Chamber’s offices – 919.693.6125/Wanda, wanda@granville-chamber.com or 919.528.4994/Toni Anne, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.
VGCC Early Childhood program ranked in top 10 nationwide
/by WIZS StaffThe Early Childhood Education program at Vance-Granville Community College recently received recognition as one of the top ten best values in its field across the United States. VGCC came in at number eight on the list of the nation’s most affordable online early childhood degrees published by Texas-based AffordableColleges.com.
The organization, which also recently recognized the VGCC Criminal Justice program, ranked community college programs based on how they combined quality with affordability. VGCC was praised not only for its affordable tuition and financial aid options but also for its low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1 and its technology resources. The organization’s stated mission is “to help students find a path to a rewarding, quality education that won’t leave them crippled by student debt.”
All of VGCC’s Early Childhood Education courses are offered either fully-online and/or in a hybrid format that combines online coursework with traditional face-to-face instruction. “After the spring 2017 semester, the only course that will not be offered fully-online will be our practicum course, in which our students apply what they’ve learned by working in an early learning or child care center under the supervision of qualified teachers,” explained Tracey Bennett Carter, who chairs the Education department at VGCC.
“We are excited that our program has been nationally recognized, which we attribute to our outstanding faculty, who maintain high academic standards to prepare students for the important work of nurturing and teaching young children,” Carter added.
The VGCC Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students to work with children from birth through age eight in diverse learning environments. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs; preschools; public and private schools; recreational centers; Head Start Programs; and school-age programs.
VGCC offers not only the two-year associate degree in Early Childhood Education, but also a three-semester diploma program and three certificate options, as well as a certificate in Infant/Toddler Care.
Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information on Early Childhood Education, contact Tracey Bennett Carter at (252) 738-3471 or bennettt@vgcc.edu.
Attention Vance County Seniors and Juniors
/by WIZS StaffAttention Vance County Seniors and Juniors, if you have been asked to participate in a WorkKeys review session please take advantage of it. You have been identified as a CTE concentrator. Congrats! You have an opportunity to earn a nationally recognized certificate valued by employers, did I mention national?
During the review sessions you will learn strategies for answering questions related to applied math, locating information and reading for information. These strategies will help you do well on the assessment in February as well as in your coursework and beyond. If you miss the review session you may contact Ms. Stevens, Career Development Coordinator, to find out how you can get information. Email: mstevens@vcs.k12.nc.us
Town Talk 12/01/16
/by CharleneCooperative Extension with Jean Bell 12/01/16
/by CharleneShooting reported on East Andrews Avenue in Henderson
/by WIZS StaffOn November 24, 2016 at approximately 1:12 AM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to 614 E. Andrews Ave in reference to property damage to a residence. Upon arrival, officers found that a bullet had traveled through the front door of the residence. Officers also learned that the shooting that took place was between an unknown male subject standing in front of the residence and subjects in the parking lot of 517 E. Andrews Ave. (Quick Stop). There were no reports of physical injury to the occupants of the residence.
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.
Vehicle B&E Reported at Time Warner Cable in Downtown Henderson
/by WIZS StaffOn November 28, 2016 at approximately 10:00 AM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to 215 Young St, Henderson (Time Warner Cable) in reference to a vehicle breaking and entering. Upon arrival, officers spoke with an employee who stated that sometime during the weekend someone broke into and entered one of their company vehicles (2008 Ford Escape). The reporting party advised that nothing appeared to have been taken.
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.