Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
VGCC celebrates Male Mentoring students
The first-ever PRIDE awards were presented as the Male Mentoring program at Vance-Granville Community College recently held an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding students who have participated in the program.
The ceremony, held May 2 in the VGCC Civic Center, began with welcoming remarks from the president of the college, Dr. Stelfanie Williams. “I want you to know how important you are to us as male leaders in our college and in our community,” Dr. Williams told the students being recognized. “We are glad that Vance-Granville has played a part in your growth and development.
The highlight of the evening was the first presentation of the Male Mentoring PRIDE awards. As Greg Nash, co-coordinator for the Male Mentoring program and chair of the VGCC Adult Basic Skills department, explained, PRIDE stands for “Pin Recognizing Individuals Demonstrating Excellence.” Each honored student received a lapel pin designed by Nash.
The PRIDE Award for Engagement went to Computer Technology Integration student Bradley Gooch of Oxford and Vance County Early College High School/College Transfer student Christopher Blue of Henderson for being active in the program and making a concerted effort to keep in touch with their coaches (members of the VGCC faculty and staff) on a consistent basis. Gooch has served as vice president of the Male Mentoring Club this year, and Blue has served as recorder/treasurer.
For their longevity being active in the program, College Transfer student Moises Ortiz of Louisburg and Computer Technology Integration student Jordan Bunting of Rocky Mount received the PRIDE Awards for Tenure.
College Transfer student Benjamin Marshall of Butner received the PRIDE Award for Leadership for his work to share the program’s vision with others and helping with various events. Marshall has served as Male Mentoring team leader for VGCC’s South Campus.
The PRIDE Awards for Scholarship were presented to students who have completed at least 50 credit hours while maintaining a GPA of 3.2 or higher. The honorees were Warren Early College High School/College Transfer student Christopher Ford of Manson (who has served as president of the Male Mentoring club this year), Franklin County Early College High School student Sean Griffith of Wake Forest and Computer Technology Integration student Dajuan Harrison of Henderson.
Students and staff members presented highlights of Male Mentoring events and activities from the past year. Academic and Career Coach Seletha Pherribo discussed an educational trip to Washington, D.C., that included a White House tour. Academic and Career Coach Anthony Pope, co-coordinator for the Male Mentoring program, recounted a visit to Warren Early College High School by former Harlem Globetrotter James “Twiggy” Sanders that the program sponsored. VGCC Criminal Justice student Matthew Jaurique recalled another guest speaker, former Dallas Cowboy Greg Ellis. Tim MacNeil, assistant coordinator for the VGCC Academic Skills Center, talked about the “Math Matters” presentation by distinguished N.C. State University professor Lee Stiff. Student Christopher Blue recapped a presentation by Delores S. Eaton and what her story taught him about African-American history. College Transfer student Mikal Williams gave his perspective on the recent Male Mentoring trip to Atlanta, which included stops at several historically black colleges and universities. Donal Gooch, a student-athlete on the VGCC Vanguards basketball team, discussed a tour of the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner. The tour was designed to bring awareness to students of federal government career opportunities and to highlight the importance of developing strong critical thinking skills through education. Gooch’s teammate, Alcyone Moore, recalled a presentation by Psychology instructor Peter Metzner, “Relax Your Way to Better Grades.”
In addition to the PRIDE awards, Anthony Pope presented a certificate to every student who participated in the program this year. In closing remarks, VGCC Dean of Students George Henderson congratulated students on their success and thanked the coaches for making a difference in the lives of their mentees.
Supported by a grant from the N.C. Community College System, the VGCC Male Mentoring program involves an active, intensive, and engaging process of academic coaching and case management to help male students succeed. For more information on the mentoring program, contact Anthony Pope at popea@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3395, or Greg Nash at nashg@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3305.
Henderson Summer Sanitation Schedule
Summer Sanitation Schedule
The City of Henderson Public Services Department Sanitation Division will be going to a summer schedule starting on Monday, June 6, 2016. The scheduled pick-ups will start at 6:00 AM on the morning of your regularly scheduled day. This schedule will require you to place your recycle bins and your brush items curb side the night before your scheduled pick-up.
Please visit https://ci.henderson.nc.us and search Muni-code for a copy of the Sanitation Code. Any questions should be directed to Jeanetta Lyons or Michael Ross at 252-431-6115. Thank you for your consideration during the summer months.
VGCC graduates 13 cadets in school’s 102nd BLET Class
Thirteen cadets graduated on May 17 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College, in a ceremony held in the Civic Center on Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.
Graduates of VGCC’s 102nd BLET class included Nathaniel Tyler Davis of Butner Public Safety; Mikel Donte Hargrove, Alphanso Fitzgerald James and Candice Nicole Pegram, all of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Samuel Kice Jarrell of the Henderson Police Department; Charles Edward Chapman of the Person County Sheriff’s Office; Macon Jabbriel Davis of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; O’Shea Deon Jones and Steven Llemarr Taylor, both of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office; William Michael Huffaker, Christopher Ryan Lanham, Kevin Valton Parrish and Adam Graham Rooker.
The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by students from the ROTC program at Northern Vance High School, and the singing of the national anthem by NVHS student Jaylen Webb.
In welcoming remarks, Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCC’s vice president of academic and student affairs, thanked the many leaders from local law enforcement agencies in attendance for partnering with the college. “Thank you for supporting our cadets, providing many of our instructors, and hiring our graduates, as together, we promote increased safety and quality of life for the communities we serve,” Ballentine said. She congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the rigorous, 667-hour training program and encouraged them to continue their education. “I wish you success and safety as you protect and serve all of us,” Ballentine added.
Speaking on behalf of the class, Cadet Candice Pegram thanked the many instructors who had trained them, as well as the family members and friends who were there to support the graduates. “We all started here in January with different mindsets and experiences, wondering what to expect,” Pegram said. “Now that we are finally finished, we can walk away with knowledge, training and an open mind, with the hope for a long, successful career.”
Graduates selected Roxboro Police Department Detective Sgt. Christopher Dickerson, one of their instructors, to serve as their featured speaker. Dickerson graduated as a member of BLET Class 81 at VGCC in 2006. He thanked the college faculty and staff “for setting the standards in law enforcement and for continuing to support these officers every day, long after they graduate.” Dickerson honored the sacrifices that the cadets, as well as their family members, had made while in training. “This is only the beginning,” he said. “Not only is law enforcement a career path, it’s actually a way of life.” Law enforcement, Dickerson added, is “the greatest profession in the world,” and he knew that the graduates had chosen it out of a genuine desire to serve. “I welcome you all to the family of law enforcement,” he said.
Andrea Ferguson, the program coordinator, and instructor Glen Boyd presented awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Huffaker won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in weapons firing. Lanham earned the Physical Training Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo. Jarrell took home the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the written tests each cadet must pass.
For more information on the BLET program, contact Ferguson at fergusona@vgcc.edu.
VGCC pins Associate Degree Nursing graduates
Vance-Granville Community College recognized 51 students who graduated this spring from the Associate Degree Nursing program with a pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center on May 11.
Among those honored with distinctive nursing pins at the ceremonies were 14 who graduated through the LPN to ADN Transition Program, which helps Licensed Practical Nurses to continue their education and then become Registered Nurses. These graduates were Shelley Hawkins of Creedmoor; Jaleesa W. James of Durham; Charidy A. Scott of Franklinton; Tabitha L. Blanchard, Emily “Jill” Carpunky and Kimberly Watson, all of Henderson; Susan J. Collins of Louisburg; Christy Elliott of Nelson, Va., Angela Almengor, Suzanne Butler and Lovelyn Imoh, all of Raleigh; Chamara D. Enis of Stovall; Morgan Yount of Timberlake; and Felicia L. Spruill of Warrenton.
The graduates who took courses in the traditional five-semester sequence included Caroline Rhodes of Butner; Ryan M. Erlenmeyer of Chapel Hill; Jennifer A. Taylor and Emma C. Weaver, both of Creedmoor; Clarence M. Allen, Hardeep Dhillon, Meagan C. Long and Nneka A. Nweke, all of Durham; Meredith Alshibah and Samantha A. Smith, all of Franklinton; Jenna E. Jarrell, Meredith Manning, Samantha Patrick, Tenisha Ragland-Colvin and Fara L. Vass, all of Henderson; Sada’ Reed of Kittrell; Amy Althiser, Jessica Johnson and Devan F. Wilkins, all of Louisburg; Melanie Hilliard of Macon; Princess T. Couch, Elaine A. Harrison, Hope Lassiter, Erica Caudle Medlin, Andrea Norris, Keisha Terry and Sophie Tyler, all of Oxford; Onyekachi Amadi and Kimberly Fakhoury, both of Raleigh; Jennifer Smith of Rolesville; Wanda Burwell of Stovall; Mica Durham, Laura Graham and Gian Carlo Sagulili, all of Wake Forest; Tarsha Richardson of Warrenton; and Olivia Austin and Shannon M. Paulson, both of Youngsville.
In welcoming remarks, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams congratulated the students on their success. “The class of 2016 is the most recruited class in our history,” she said, noting both the employers and the four-year universities who had expressed interest in the graduates. “Over half of the class has already accepted registered nursing positions or will continue working with their current employers, and I’m so proud of that,” the president said. “Graduates, just as VGCC has made an impression on your lives, you will make a difference in the lives of others as registered nurses. We are proud to have trained you for such a worthy endeavor.”
Class of 2016 President Caroline Rhodes made welcoming remarks on behalf of her classmates. “We have fought long and hard for this day,” she said. “Our blood, sweat and tears have paid off. We are ready to embark on the next chapter of our lives.” Rhodes thanked the graduates’ friends and families for their love and support, and the VGCC faculty and staff for their patience, diligence and compassion. “We will take the knowledge that you have instilled in us and use it in our future careers to be the best nurses that we can be,” she said.
Student Melanie Hilliard then presented a gift on behalf of the class to the college: a piece of artwork that depicts figures from nursing history and includes the “Florence Nightingale Pledge.”
Academic honors were presented to graduates who completed the program with at least a 3.5 grade point average: Durham, Enis, Harrison, Imoh, Medlin, Taylor, Wilkins and finally Erlenmeyer, who was recognized for having the highest GPA in the class.
Nursing instructor Tracey Hight also presented cords to students who participated in community service projects as members of the National Student Nurses Association, including Amadi, Austin, Couch, Graham, Lassiter, Paulson, Ragland-Colvin, Reed, Rhodes, Smith, Taylor, Terry, Tyler, Vass, Weaver and Wilkins.
Longtime VGCC Nursing instructor Camella Marcom served as guest speaker for the ceremony. She currently teaches at her alma mater, East Carteret High School in Beaufort. “I welcome you to the great profession of nursing,” she said to the Class of 2016. She tried to think back to her own pinning in 1982. “I cannot for the life of me remember one thing that was said,” Marcom said, to laughter. “But I do remember how I felt that day, and how much becoming a nurse meant to me and my family.”
“It’s not possible for you to know the power of your prepared mind and your newly acquired knowledge and skills until you actually use them, but you will, and through this, you will touch the lives of so many who need you,” Marcom said. She asked the graduates to remember just three words she said: “You are ready.”
Instructor Anna Seaman described the significance of the nursing pin. The unique green and gold pin identifies each nurse as a VGCC graduate, and indicates that the graduate has the training and competence to serve as a professional nurse. During the ceremony, graduates were pinned by VGCC Nursing department chair Erica Jastrow and instructor Kim Radcliffe, and received lamps and roses from instructors Heather Wilson and Holly Cathcart. Meanwhile, Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas read their biographies. After all graduates had received pins, the lights in the Civic Center were lowered, and instructor Brooke Darnell led students in reciting the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” by lamp-light.