New hours are in place for students who attend Vance County Schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
The new student hours include:
A group of 18 incoming first-year Vance-Granville Community College students recently completed the college’s “Summer Bridge” program in preparation for the fall semester.
Summer Bridge is a three-week program designed to enhance students’ transition from high school to college and prepare them to be successful during their freshman year at VGCC. On July 28, the college held a ceremony and reception to recognize students who successfully completed the program, including: David Fabian Garcia of Creedmoor; Kaeson Mayfield of Durham; Ariana Aguirre, Kamaric Harrison, Samantha Hernandez, Kalin Jackson, Heidy Reyes Morosumi, Shadi Nagi, Jeremee Silvers and Brittany Simms, all of Henderson; Lastacey Burwell of Kittrell; Amber Newton of Louisburg; Daniel Brown, Connor Elm, Chance Kiser, Khari Parker and Nicholas Sutton, all of Oxford; and Summer O’Brien of Roxboro. 
VGCC Academic & Career Coach Sherri Alston served as the primary instructor for the program. At the ceremony, she said that the group had fun with creative, hands-on activities as they became oriented to the college and learned about campus support resources. “I’ve been blessed to see how you all have grown even in a little, three-week span,” Alston told the assembled students.
The class nominated Heidy Reyes Morosumi and Khari Parker to speak on their behalf during the ceremony. “Through Summer Bridge, we have met new people, we have made new friendships and we are now more ready to start college than we were three weeks ago,” Reyes Morosumi said. “Thanks to Summer Bridge, we have learned what we need to do to in order to be successful in college.” She said that participants would benefit from the study tips, time management tips, financial tips and advice on how to relieve stress that they had received. Parker described Summer Bridge as “an awesome experience,” adding, “These three weeks have been a truly great way to start our college transition. Ms. Alston has been our first college instructor and a great mentor.”
VGCC Academic Skills Center Coordinator Jason Snelling and Assistant Coordinator Tim MacNeil also addressed participants and their family members at the ceremony, about the “academic enrichment” component of Summer Bridge. They called upon Jermee Silvers and Summer O’Brien to talk about their experience, which included lessons on critical thinking skills, writing essays and tackling word problems in math. “Tim and Jason taught us a lot of ideas in these three weeks that I will use in the future at Vance-Granville,” O’Brien said. “The most interesting thing we did was have a debate on defining what a sandwich was,” Silvers recalled. “We also learned about the importance of communication as a two-way street.”
VGCC Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Levy Brown offered remarks in which he congratulated the students. “You are now prepared to be successful here as a new VGCC Vanguard,” Brown said. “As you move forward, it’s important that you have a plan and that you have a vision.” He said that for some, their vision would be to graduate and go on to a four-year university, while for others, it would be to graduate and go directly into the workforce. “Vision causes individuals to excel in life,” Brown told the students. “If you have a vision, you know where you are going, you have developed a plan, and you will excel. Vision causes you to see years ahead. You all are our future. So write down your vision of where you want to go.”
VGCC Dean of Enrollment and Outreach Jeffrey Allen concluded the program by saying to the students, “Welcome to the VGCC Vanguards family.” For more information about the Summer Bridge program, contact Allen at allenjl@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3405.
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DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 21, 2017) – Feel good, do good and look good this September by donating blood or platelets with the American Red Cross and get a free haircut coupon from Sport Clips Haircuts. Blood and platelet donors of all blood types, especially type O negative and O positive, are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply following a critical summer blood shortage.
“We are excited to continue the Saving Lives Never Looked So Good campaign and partnership with Sport Clips this September,” said Donna M. Morrissey, director of national partnerships, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “We are grateful for Sport Clips showing its support of the Red Cross and saying ‘thank you’ to those helping save lives through blood donations.”
Those who come out to give blood or platelets Sept. 1-30 will receive a coupon for a free haircut via email several days after their donation. The coupon is valid through Nov. 11, 2017, at participating Sport Clips locations. Donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon.
“Sport Clips is proud to support the blood collection efforts of the Red Cross on a national level,” said Amanda Palm, corporate communications manager of Sport Clips. “There is always a need to maintain the blood supply in our country, and a free haircut is a simple way we can thank donors for their lifesaving donation.”
Donors are urged to make an appointment to donate using the free Blood Donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross and Sport Clips encourage donors to use the hashtag #SavingLivesLooksGood to share their new looks and invite others to give.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
Stem
9/12/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Granville Central High School, 2043 Sanders Rd
Henderson
9/5/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Vance Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About Sport Clips Haircuts
Sport Clips Haircuts is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. It was established in 1993 and began franchising in 1995. The sports-themed haircutting franchise, which specializes in haircuts for men and boys, is ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “Fastest-Growing Franchises” and in the top 10 in its “Franchise 500.” There are more than 1,600 Sport Clips stores open in the U.S. and Canada. Sport Clips is the “Official Haircutter” of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), offers veterans preferential pricing on haircuts and franchises, and was named a “2016 Best for Vets: Franchises” by Military Times. Sport Clips provides “haircuts with heart” through its annual Help A Hero fundraiser that has given $5 million to the VFW; national partnership with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants; and other national and local philanthropic outreach. Sport Clips is a proud sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and Furniture Row Racing’s Erik Jones, and partners with numerous NCAA and professional sports teams. To learn more about Sport Clips, visit sportclips.com.
High school students from across the region recently attended “Mini-Medical School” camps organized by the Wake Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in partnership with Vance-Granville Community College. The camp was held first in June at VGCC’s South Campus, located between Butner and Creedmoor, and in July at the college’s Franklin County Campus, just outside Louisburg. Between the two locations, 44 students completed the program.
This was the college’s fourth summer partnering with Wake AHEC on the Mini-Medical School, which is an intensive, week-long day camp that uses computational science (computer simulation) and hands-on activities to study key aspects of medicine.
Students learned about topics that included anatomy and physiology, bioprocessing, biochemistry, pharmacology, cardiology, epidemiology, medical genetics and genomics. The course was taught primarily by Becky Brady, a registered nurse and chemical engineer. VGCC Bioprocess Technology program head/instructor Dr. Tara Hamilton also taught a session at each camp.
Faculty members from VGCC programs that prepare students for health-related careers — including Nursing, Medical Assisting, Radiography, Pharmacy Technology and Human Services Technology — gave students information about academic pathways and employment prospects and conducted hands-on activities on the last day of the camp.
Students not only had a chance to learn about careers and hone their science skills, but they also became certified in CPR and Youth Mental Health First Aid during the course of the program.
The students who completed the school at South Campus included Connor Frutos of Apex Friendship High School; Nicole Newton of Bluestone High in Skipwith, Virginia; Alexis Watt of Bunn High School; Jaimes Veneziale of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh; Joshua Bringas-Garcia and Victoria Shaw, both of Cary High School; Ian Foley of East Chapel Hill High School; Aaryaan Shaik of Enloe High School in Raleigh; Jace Johnson and Colson Teal, both of Falls Lake Academy in Creedmoor; Abigail Thomas of Franklin Academy in Wake Forest; Harrison Gibson of Franklinton High School; William Stevenson of Grace Christian School in Raleigh; Daniel Asanov, Megan Gregg and Melissa Hierman, all of Green Hope High School in Cary; Kiara Glydell Gamayot of Knightdale High School; Beth Yakaboski of Middle Creek High School in Apex; Sridhanueshwar Devanand of Panther Creek High School in Cary; Hayley Smith of Person High School; Sampath Petchetti of Raleigh Charter High School; Zorriah Raynor of Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School; Meredith Elliott and Emily Wright, both of South Granville High School; Eshaa Vijay of Triangle Math & Science Academy in Cary; Phuan Deshazo of Voyager Academy in Durham; and Andrew Keeton of J.F. Webb High School in Oxford.
Those who completed the program at Franklin Campus included Hunter English of Bunn High School; Bethany Melega of Chapel Hill High School; Craig Geter of East Wake High School; Maia Sichitiu and Ayaon Yadav, both of Enloe High School in Raleigh; Robyn Hamilton, Jarrod Hubbell, Amanda Murray and Sabrina Smith, all of Franklinton High School; Juan Castro and Emely Pacheco, both of Friendship Christian School in Raleigh; Ivan Alvarez of Heritage High School in Wake Forest; Patricia Beasley of Longleaf School of the Arts in Raleigh; Madeline Stallsmith of Oxford Preparatory School; Anika Palekar of Panther Creek High School in Cary; Yanni-Taylor Shaw of Ravenscroft School in Raleigh; and Dalia Leggard of Wake STEM Early College High School.
Wake AHEC serves nine counties in central North Carolina from its office in Raleigh: Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Lee, Person, Vance, Wake, and Warren counties. AHECs are located throughout North Carolina and are affiliated with the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill School of Medicine. The mission of the statewide AHEC Program is to meet the state’s health and health workforce needs. NC AHEC provides educational programs and services that bridge academic institutions and communities to improve the health of the people of North Carolina with a focus on underserved populations.
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L.B. Yancey Elementary School won the “School of the Year” award presented at the end of the school system’s Convocation for all employees at McGregor Hall in Henderson on August 17.
Superintendent Anthony Jackson presented the award to Dr. Carnetta Thomas, principal of L.B. Yancey.
The school captured the honor for its outstanding year in student achievements, positive school climate, cooperation and cohesion of the school staff members and involvement in its community.
Thomas holds the award and is joined by school staff members in the photo.
Pinkston Street Elementary staff members won the “Spirit Award” for Vance County Schools at the district’s Convocation for all employees on August 17.
Staff members were recognized as recipients of the award after their fantastic job in showing great school spirit as they were introduced at the Convocation in McGregor Hall.
All staff members wore “Pinkston Street Army” t-shirts, completed in Army green with gold lettering, and joined in a rousing cheer to show they are ready to begin the 2017-2018 school year.
They were led by Principal Heddie Somerville and Assistant Principal Jacqueline Crosson. They are shown in the photo, from left, with Principal Carnetta Thomas of L.B. Yancey Elementary School.
Superintendent Anthony Jackson presented Somerville with the large “VCS Spirit Award” pencil that is given to the school displaying the best school spirit at the event.
Staff members at Eaton-Johnson Middle School and Henderson Middle School, finished second and third, respectively, in the judging for the “VCS Spirit Award.”
Vance-Granville Community College Practical Nursing students recently learned more about the home health career field from representatives of Well Care Home Health, who visited the college’s Main Campus in late July.
The company, based in Wilmington, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “Well Care is a unique company in providing home health,” Clinical Coordinator Mary O’Shea, a registered nurse, told the students. “It is an independent, family-owned business that is not affiliated with a major hospital, and it’s one of the few five-star-rated quality home health agencies in the state.” O’Shea said Well Care has grown dramatically over the years and now serves 42 counties in North Carolina, including the VGCC service area. “It’s awesome to be part of an organization that strives for excellence all the time,” O’Shea added. 
O’Shea said she could identify with the students, who were close to graduating, recalling that she graduated from the Watts School of Nursing in Durham. “I admire you guys for sticking with it,” she told them. “Nursing has given me a great career over 25 years, and I’ve always been able to find a job that allowed me to fulfill my family responsibilities. I don’t know a lot of professions could say that they did that.” O’Shea said that about half of her career has been in the home health field. “Home health is a really unique animal,” she said. “There isn’t another part of nursing where you go into someone’s home, where you’re invited into their home.”
She explained that Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) “have a vital role in the home health world” and often perform tasks, such as complicated wound dressings, that only registered nurses would perform in a hospital setting. O’Shea noted that Well Care home health nurses generally see each patient three times a week. “You arrange your schedule for each day’s various home visits, and are paid per visit,” she said.
Next, Well Care Human Resources Recruiter Kendra Dillingham addressed students and offered tips on obtaining jobs, including interviews, resumes and communicating with potential employers, as well as specific details about careers at her company. She said that one of the advantages of a home health career is that nurses have opportunities to get to know their patients very well. “Something I love about the health care community is that you all have so many opportunities to switch types of work and types of patients you work with,” Dillingham said. She added that computer skills are important for employment as a Well Care nurse because her company uses electronic medical records “100 percent.”
The three-semester VGCC Practical Nursing diploma program prepares individuals to provide nursing care to meet the health care needs of the individual throughout their lifespan. The role of the LPN is a dependent role under the supervision of the registered nurse (RN) and other health-care providers approved by North Carolina law. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN), which is required for practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation/long term care/home health facilities, clinics, and physicians’ offices. For more information, contact VGCC Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow at jastrowe@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3457.
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