– information courtesy of Vance County Schools
Family, friends, educators and community leaders watched proudly as 277 graduates representing the Vance County High School Class of 2025 received their diplomas, the first of two commencement exercises today for Vance County Schools.
The morning commencement took place Friday, May 23 at 9 a.m. in Viper Stadium, and began with the posting of colors presented by the Vance County High School proudly honored 277 graduates during its 2025 commencement ceremony, held Friday, May 23, at 9:00 a.m. in Viper Stadium. The event was a celebration of the accomplishments, perseverance, and bright futures of the Class of 2025.
Vance County Early College commencement will take place this afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. in the Wayne Adcock Auditorium, located in the Center for Innovation. This is a ticketed event.
The ceremony opened with the Posting of Colors presented by the North Carolina 81st Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard based at VCHS, followed by the National Anthem by Dr. Korwind Stokes, VCHS choral director at VCHS.
A special farewell address was delivered by Lia Machado, who offered a heartfelt send-off to the graduating seniors. She said, “In a world that often pressures you to conform or second-guess your worth, holding onto your values and beliefs becomes an act of quiet strength. It’s not always easy—there are moments of doubt and setbacks—but staying grounded in who you are lays the foundation for resilience and self-respect.”
Students received their diplomas from Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III, Superintendent Dr. Cindy W. Bennett, and Vance County Board of Education Chair Dorothy W. Gooche.
The Class of 2025 showcased exceptional achievement across academics, leadership, service, and postsecondary readiness:
○ 2 graduate earned Summa Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 4.0+) ○ 4 graduates earned Magna Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 3.6–3.9) ○ 12 graduates earned Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 3.25–3.5) ● College and Career Readiness
○ 204 college credit hours earned by VCHS students
○ 2 graduates earned Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification
○ 96 students earned WorkKeys certifications,
- Scholarships and Higher Education
○ The Class of 2025 has earned more than $1,343,872 in scholarships and grants
○ 138 students have been accepted to two- or four-year colleges and universities
○ 5 students recognized as North Carolina Scholars
○ 16 members of the National Beta Club
○ 7 members of the National Honor Society
○ 48 graduates completed the AVID (Advancement Via Individual
Determination) program
○ Awards included the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the President’s Award for Achievement, and Music Honors
○ 12 graduates committed to serve in the United States Armed Forces, demonstrating their courage and commitment to our country.
Whitt delivered inspiring remarks, urging graduates to continue striving for excellence and to lead lives of purpose and impact.
As the Vance County High School Class of 2025 prepares to take their next steps into higher education, careers, military service, or other pursuits, the entire Vance County Schools community celebrates their accomplishments and looks forward to the bright futures ahead.
Congratulations, Vance County High School Class of 2025!
Looking Ahead
The celebration at Vance County High School marks the beginning of a series of graduation events across the district:
- AdVance Academy – Friday, June 6 at 2 p.m. at the Center for Innovation ● Vance Virtual Village Academy – Friday, June 6 at 4 p.m. at the Center for Innovation
(Note: All events require a ticket for entry.)
City Utility Customers’ Water Meters Being Read Again Following Cyber “Event”
/by WIZS StaffUPDATED May 27, 2025 at 6:30 P.M.
Henderson’s utility customers have gotten a notification about water meters being read again in the wake of what city officials are calling a cyber “event” that created a massive disruption in the billing process.
“We would like to inform our utility customers that we have begun reading meters for the first billing cycle to be processed since the cyber event,” the notice stated.
It’s a good first step toward returning to normal since the city got hit by a cyber attack that affected the way it generates bills for utilities customers. Another bit of good news: customers who had their bills set up on bank draft should see that draft process resume, unless the customer has requested to have their account removed from the bank draft option, according to information from the city’s Customer Service Director Sharon “Shay” Bennett.
The next bill customers receive will include usage from the meter’s previous reading prior to the cyber event through the date the meter is read over the next month.
“We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to recover from this issue,” the notification read.
Although the city was unable to issue bills for several months following the time the problem was discovered, it was recommended that customers continue to pay their bills based on their last billing statement and to keep receipts for payments made until the system was back on line.
Clarke Elementary Principal Dr. C’Monee’ Wilkins Named NCAE’s 2025 Principal Of The Year
/by WIZS StaffClarke Elementary School Principal Dr. C’monee’ Wilkins has been named 2025 Principal of the Year by the N.C. Association of Educators.
This distinguished award honors outstanding leadership, a deep commitment to student and staff success and steadfast support for public education.
Wilkins has more than a decade of experience in education. She was selected following an interview process led by the NCAE Division of Principals/Administrators Board, who chose her for her strong instructional leadership, innovative approaches and dedicated advocacy for educational equity, according to information from NCAE Press Secretary Adrian Ezell.
NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly said, “We are honored to name Dr. Wilkins as our Principal of the Year. Her transformative work is a powerful reminder of the impact strong educational leadership can have on a school community. We are proud of all she has accomplished and excited to see what she will do next.”
Under Wilkins’s leadership, Clarke Elementary has seen remarkable gains. The school’s overall performance grade has improved, and math proficiency in grades 3-5 has tripled. She credits these achievements to the school’s structured coaching model implemented through its Opportunity Culture framework.
Beyond academic outcomes, Wilkins has championed partnerships with organizations such as Student U and Duke University to secure grants that provide critical academic support, mentorship and family engagement resources – helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
“Strong schools are built through collaboration, vision and dedication to student success,” Wilkins said. “Through strategic coaching, thoughtful advocacy and continuous learning, I strive to ensure that Clarke Elementary remains a model of excellence where every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
The NCAE Principal of the Year Award is presented annually by the NCAE Division of Principals/Administrators. Nominees are judged on professional practice, advocacy for the profession, community engagement and leadership skills.
The NCAE is the largest association of professional educators in North Carolina.
Warren County C.E.R.T. Training Set For June 7, 8
/by WIZS StaffFollowing a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to fully meet the demand. People will have to rely on each other to meet immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads for a period of time.
The Warren County Community Emergency Response Team Program – C.E.R.T for short – was developed to provide basic training in safety and lifesaving skills for the general public. The county is offering a training to residents of Warren County to learn from experts about how to prepare for a major disaster.
The class is free, but class size is limited. Registration is required and applications are due no later than Friday, May 30.
The curriculum will cover the following modules:
✓ Emergency Preparedness
✓ CERT Organization
✓ Fire Safety
✓ Disaster Psychology
✓ Terrorism and CERT
✓ Emergency Medical Operations-Part 1
✓ Emergency Medical Operations-Part 2
✓ Light Search and Rescue Operations
✓ Course Review and Disaster Simulation
The next C.E.R.T. training will be held in two 9-hour sessions on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Warren County Emergency Services headquarters, 890 U.S. Highway 158 bypass, Warrenton.
Students must be 18 years of age or older to register and must complete all 20 hours of the course to receive a certificate of completion.
To register, contact Chris Tucker at 252.257.1191 or by email at christucker@warrencountync.gov.
Mayor Pro Tem Remains Topic Of Conversation For Henderson City Council
/by Laura GabelIt is possible that the Henderson City Council will decide once again on who should be the mayor pro tem, a role that Council Member Garry Daeke had held since December 2023 until he was unseated in February 2025 and replaced with Council Member Michael Venable.
During the Council’s regular May meeting, however, Council Member Lamont Noel asserted that the February action was procedurally incorrect and set in motion a recommendation that later became a motion to return Daeke to the pro tem role. That motion was seconded and passed.
Then, at what was advertised to be a budget public hearing on Thursday, May 22, Council members picked up the issue yet again – this time with some clarification from the city attorney about proper procedures and following policy.
Noel acknowledged during the Thursday meeting that he’d mistakenly cited a policy that applies only to a special called meeting, not a regularly scheduled meeting, about the requirement that all Council members be present in order to add an item to the agenda.
In fact, agenda items may be added during any regular meeting and it’s done routinely. Although three Council members were absent in February, among them Daeke, a quorum was present and that is all that’s needed to hold a meeting or to add agenda items.
An agenda item may be added at a special called meeting only if all members are present.
As City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry explained to Council members, he consulted with the School of Government to try to get a handle on this tangled-up issue.
“If you decide to revote, that is fine,” Kingsberry said. But it’ll have to wait until a regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
The budget public hearing, which did take place following about 25 minutes about the mayor pro tem topic and a closed session called for during the meeting, is NOT a regular monthly meeting and Council Member Sara Coffey was not present.
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SportsTalk: Minor League Baseball Update & Canes Are Still Alive
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis give an update on what happened in Minor League Baseball over the weekend with teams from North Carolina. The guys also talk about the Carolina Hurricanes Game 4 win in the Eastern Conference Finals and where they go from there.
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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Memorial Garden at VCRFM
/by WIZS StaffOn the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report from Michael Ellington:
Today’s segment highlights the Memorial Garden at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market and offers a reminder of an upcoming market advisory board meeting and pesticide training.
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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SportsTalk: ACC Baseball Tournament Underway
/by Scout HughesUPDATE – FINAL SCORE FINALS
North Carolina 14 Clemson 4
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
UPDATE – FINAL SCORES SEMIFINALS
Clemson 9 Georgia Tech 4
North Carolina 7 Florida State 5
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
UPDATE – FINAL SCORES QUARTERFINALS
Georgia Tech 10 California 3
Clemson 7 NC State 6
Florida State 14 Duke 7
North Carolina 7 Boston College 2
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
UPDATE – FINAL SCORES 2ND ROUND
California 14 Wake Forest 12
Clemson 6 Virginia Tech 1
Duke 4 Pittsburgh 3
Boston College 12 Virginia 8
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and George Hoyle speak about the ACC Baseball Tournament, which is already underway. That and much more on SportsTalk!
(Original Episode of SportsTalk Recorded on 5/21/25.)
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Highway Patrol Reminds Drivers To Be Safe As Holiday Weekend Ushers In Summer Travel
/by WIZS Staff— information courtesy of the N.C. State Highway Patrol
An estimated 45 million Americans are expected to travel domestically this Memorial Day weekend with 87% of those people taking road trips, according to AAA. The State Highway Patrol is working to ensure residents and visitors to our state reach their destinations safely.
As the Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol will utilize educational and enforcement efforts to reduce collisions from leading factors such as speeding, impaired and distracted driving, as well as reducing the severity of collisions through the enforcement of restraint laws.
Memorial Day also marks the start of the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers as the summer months historically see an increase in teen driving deaths. Parents and teens are encouraged to strictly adhere to North Carolina graduated driving requirements. For more information on the requirements please visit https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/
Additionally, the State Highway Patrol will be partnering with the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Click It or Ticket campaign. This campaign involves two seven-day enforcement periods, with the first being May 19-25 and the second being May 26-June 1. The campaign emphasis is being placed on seat belt and child restraint violations.
Motorists can report dangerous driving behaviors to the State Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (*47).
Vance County High School Commencement First Of 4 Ceremonies To Be Held
/by WIZS Staff– information courtesy of Vance County Schools
Family, friends, educators and community leaders watched proudly as 277 graduates representing the Vance County High School Class of 2025 received their diplomas, the first of two commencement exercises today for Vance County Schools.
The morning commencement took place Friday, May 23 at 9 a.m. in Viper Stadium, and began with the posting of colors presented by the Vance County High School proudly honored 277 graduates during its 2025 commencement ceremony, held Friday, May 23, at 9:00 a.m. in Viper Stadium. The event was a celebration of the accomplishments, perseverance, and bright futures of the Class of 2025.
Vance County Early College commencement will take place this afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. in the Wayne Adcock Auditorium, located in the Center for Innovation. This is a ticketed event.
The ceremony opened with the Posting of Colors presented by the North Carolina 81st Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard based at VCHS, followed by the National Anthem by Dr. Korwind Stokes, VCHS choral director at VCHS.
A special farewell address was delivered by Lia Machado, who offered a heartfelt send-off to the graduating seniors. She said, “In a world that often pressures you to conform or second-guess your worth, holding onto your values and beliefs becomes an act of quiet strength. It’s not always easy—there are moments of doubt and setbacks—but staying grounded in who you are lays the foundation for resilience and self-respect.”
Students received their diplomas from Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III, Superintendent Dr. Cindy W. Bennett, and Vance County Board of Education Chair Dorothy W. Gooche.
The Class of 2025 showcased exceptional achievement across academics, leadership, service, and postsecondary readiness:
○ 2 graduate earned Summa Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 4.0+) ○ 4 graduates earned Magna Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 3.6–3.9) ○ 12 graduates earned Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 3.25–3.5) ● College and Career Readiness
○ 204 college credit hours earned by VCHS students
○ 2 graduates earned Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification
○ 96 students earned WorkKeys certifications,
○ The Class of 2025 has earned more than $1,343,872 in scholarships and grants
○ 138 students have been accepted to two- or four-year colleges and universities
○ 5 students recognized as North Carolina Scholars
○ 16 members of the National Beta Club
○ 7 members of the National Honor Society
○ 48 graduates completed the AVID (Advancement Via Individual
Determination) program
○ Awards included the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the President’s Award for Achievement, and Music Honors
○ 12 graduates committed to serve in the United States Armed Forces, demonstrating their courage and commitment to our country.
Whitt delivered inspiring remarks, urging graduates to continue striving for excellence and to lead lives of purpose and impact.
As the Vance County High School Class of 2025 prepares to take their next steps into higher education, careers, military service, or other pursuits, the entire Vance County Schools community celebrates their accomplishments and looks forward to the bright futures ahead.
Congratulations, Vance County High School Class of 2025!
Looking Ahead
The celebration at Vance County High School marks the beginning of a series of graduation events across the district:
(Note: All events require a ticket for entry.)
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 05-23-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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