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Franklin Early College Student Receives Statewide Honor From N.C. Community College System

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An Early College student at Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin Campus has received the prestigious Academic Excellence Award given each year by the North Carolina Community College system.

Ann Sheteiwy is among the 2026 award winners, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

As she prepares to graduate with both her high school diploma and Associate in Science degree this spring, Ann reflects proudly on her journey of growth, both personal and academic. Though she has always aimed for perfection, an advanced mathematics course challenged her perspective. With support from VGCC tutoring services, she not only overcame the obstacle but now gives back as a peer tutor, helping others achieve success. “Academic excellence isn’t about perfect grades,” Ann shared. “It’s about growth, resilience, and the willingness to keep improving.”

Ann’s growth-focused mindset has guided her through several leadership and service roles, including Student Health Advisory Council representative, yearbook committee member, campus ambassador, and student representative on the College’s Culture Development & Campus Climate Steering Committee. She has served on mission trips to Egypt and the Philippines, volunteered in local nursing homes, and received the Senior Girl Scout of the Year honor for her leadership and compassion.

The Academic Excellence Award is the highest academic honor the North Carolina Community College System bestows on its students. Eligible students must be currently enrolled, have completed at least 12 semester hours in a curriculum degree program, and have a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.25. Each of the state’s 58 community colleges selects one Academic Excellence Award recipient annually.

In recognition of the award, Ann will receive a plaque and medallion at the College’s 2026 commencement. This year’s commencement ceremonies will take place in Henderson on Thursday, May 14, and Friday, May 15.

Good News: VGCC awarded grant for revamped Male Mentoring initiative

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Vance-Granville Community College recently received a $17,234 grant from the North Carolina Community College System to fund the Male Mentoring Success Initiative at the college for the 2016-2017 academic year.

All first-year male students at the college will now be involved in the expanded program, according to Anthony Pope, a VGCC academic & career coach who coordinates the initiative.

Representatives of VGCC and other colleges that received the grants attended a system-wide kick-off event on Aug. 30 at Wake Technical Community College. Then, in early September, VGCC held a series of study skills workshops at all four college campuses, entitled “How to Maximize Your Study Time,” as the Male Mentoring Success Initiative’s first events of the new academic year. The VGCC Academic Skills Center collaborated with the MMSI on those workshops. Pope added that collaboration with departments throughout the college is key to the success of the initiative.

Various VGCC faculty and staff members serve as “coaches” in the program. New for this year, Pope is recruiting student “mentees” who have already completed one year at VGCC to serve as “peer mentors” to students at one of the college’s four partnering Early College high schools.

For several years, under different names, the MMSI has worked to help male students stay in school and on track to graduate or transfer to a four-year university. Pope said that events planned for this year include tours of North Carolina universities, guest speakers and educational workshops. He also hopes to take a group of students to an NBA game and send a delegation from VGCC to the National Mentoring Summit, Feb. 1-3, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

For more information on the mentoring initiative, contact Anthony Pope at popea@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3395.