Tag Archive for: #vancecharterschool

SportsTalk: Vance Charter’s Collin Hughes Wins Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award

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In many ways, Vance Charter School Senior Collin Hughes is like any other high school athlete. He hit the gym to get in shape to get ready for basketball season. He wanted to tone up, maybe shed a few pounds to put him at his very best on the court.

But Collin stands out from his peers in a number of ways because of what he’s been dealing with for the past couple of years. And last week, Vance Charter School took a few minutes to celebrate a young man for overcoming adversity with the courage of a champion.

Collin is one of the finalists for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Courage award, presented jointly by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and Jersey Mike’s restaurants.

He accepted the award as VCS students, faculty, friends and his team of doctors looked on.

This award isn’t just about basketball, said VCS Principal Susan Satterwhite. “While athletic achievement is important, the Courage Award focuses on something deeper. It recognizes resilience when life is difficult, leadership when others are watching and determination when giving up might feel easier… Courage isn’t always loud. It’s often found in consistency, humility and perseverance,” she said.

Collin’s mom, Michelle, provided details of her son’s long journey through repeated bouts of sickness, hospitalizations and treatments since March 2024.

At first, they thought it was just a virus. But Collin had a rare autoimmune disease called autoimmune hemolytic anemia – AIHA. For unexplained reasons, the body attacks its own red blood cells, fighting them as if they were a virus, Michelle said.

A normal hemoglobin is in the 12-14 range. Collin’s hemoglobin, at its lowest, was a life-threatening 2.1.

During that initial hospitalization, he spent two weeks in the hospital. He went from a happy, normal boy to a very sick young man. He had blood transfusions, high doses of steroids and chemotherapy to try to stem the tide.

His body weakened, his muscular physique gone was a tough reality for him, his mom said.

“But he didn’t let those changes change him,” she said.

The steroids didn’t work at first, and he had to stay out of school because of his elevated risk of infection.

“He pushed through nausea and sweating to get through, that’s just who Collin is,” she said.

Another drop in his hemoglobin prompted another trip to the hospital. But Collin didn’t just lie in bed – he started designing t-shirts and eventually developed his own brand, Humbl.

“He wanted to do something positive with his free time,” she said. He created a website and sold his shirts.

Thankfully, his labs improved and Collin was discharged. All those steroids and the chemotherapy infusions, however, caused some pretty significant weight gain.

But Collin has an “uncanny ability to ignore the bad and remain focused on his goals,” said his mom.

He greeted people who came to give blood at blood drives in his honor. That summer, he worked at the school’s basketball camp and was a camp counselor at Camp Kerr Lake.

Another bout with fever landed him in the hospital yet again, taking about a week to improve.

His doctors quashed his hopes for playing soccer his junior year. But they couldn’t keep him from being at practices and games to encourage his teammates from the sidelines.

And then it was basketball season. Collin hit the gym between 5 and 6 in the morning to drop the weight and get in shape.

He met his goal of building back muscle and improving his endurance to earn a starting spot.

They introduced him as “The Comeback Kid” on Nov. 19, the first game of that season.

By January 2025, he was back in the hospital, in significant pain from gallstones but with a positive attitude.

Always a positive attitude.

“His courage on tough days was contagious,” Michelle recalled.

His doctors wanted to operate to remove his gall bladder, but that would mean he’d miss the rest of the season.

Collin struck a deal with the doctors to postpone the surgery and Collin scored 8 points the next night.

The Knights ended up TENAC conference champs in 2025.  Collin got the “Heart and Hustle” award.

This year, the VCS Knights are an impressive 12-0 in Triangle North Conference play and are 19-2 overall.

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Games on Tuesday – Boys

  • Vance Charter 73 Eno River 58
  • Wake Prep 57 Louisburg 24
  • Bunn 40 Roanoke Rapids 36

Games on Tuesday – Girls

  • Vance Charter 64 Eno River 7
  • Wake Prep 42 Louisburg 35
  • Bunn 60 Roanoke Rapids 39

Games on Wednesday – Boys

  • Vance Charter @ Excelsior
  • J.F. Webb vs. South Granville
  • Big 7 Conference Tournament

Games on Wednesday – Girls

  • Vance Charter @ Excelsior
  • South Granville vs. Orange
  • Big 7 Conference Tournament

College Games on Wednesday – Men

  • Louisburg College vs. Bryant & Stratton

College Games on Wednesday – Women

  • Louisburg College @ Cape Fear CC

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RAM Pop-Up Clinic Scheduled For Mar. 28, 29 In Henderson For Free Medical, Dental, Vision Care

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The Remote Area Medical pop-up clinic is scheduled to return to Henderson for a fifth consecutive year, providing medical, dental and vision care absolutely free of charge for anyone.

The two-day clinic takes place at Vance Charter School, 2090 Ross Mill Rd., on Saturday, Mar. 28 and Sunday, Mar. 29, and clinic co-leader Lara Kendall says many of the details are the same as for previous clinics. Because patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, she recommends that folks arrive as early as they possibly can to make sure they can get the care they’re seeking.

The parking lot will open Friday, Mar. 27 at 11:59 p.m. The Saturday clinic begins at 6 a.m.

If you’d like to volunteer to help at the clinic, please visit https://www.ramusa.org/ to sign up to be a general support volunteer. No special skills are needed, Kendall pointed out – just a willingness to be there…and getting up a little bit early.

The clinic could use a few more dentists to help out, she said, and they are always happy to have additional vision and medical providers as well.

In addition to the more routine services like basic vital screenings and blood panels, patients can see doctors, nurses and physician assistants for other types of care. Dentists and hygienists will perform dental cleanings, fillings and extractions as well as other more complicated types of oral surgery.

And patients who come for vision services can come in, have their eyes examined and walk out with a brand-new pair of eyeglasses that were made right on the spot.

Just more than 300 patients received services at last year’s clinic, and Kendall recalled one of her favorite moments from last year’s clinic.

A little boy, who had just seen the dentist, came running out of the clinic, announcing happily to all around him that he could eat whatever he wanted. “I can chew it all as hard as I want,” she recalled the youngster saying.

For many, the RAM clinic is the way they get health care. They don’t have to show proof of insurance or even an ID card, Kendall said.

“It’s really heartening to know that the clinic we’re putting out there is serving its purpose,” she said, adding that it’s also “a little bit disheartening that the need is that great in the community.”

The RAM clinic provides a “Band-Aid solution” to the issue of having access to care in this area and across the country, she added.

Kendall, who grew up on Sanibel Island off the Florida coast, said she remembers having to go to the mainland for doctor or dentist visits. A series of bridges connects the island to Florida, and when hurricanes caused problems, they’d have to use fishing boats to ferry them back and forth.

People who lack access to quality health care can feel just as isolated as she did growing up on an island, and Kendall said her experiences have fueled her desire to help provide people the care they deserve.

Now a junior at Duke, Kendall said she aspires to go to medical school and work in disaster relief to provide medical services following hurricanes and other types of natural disasters.

Granville-Vance Public Health is a strong partner for this year’s clinic, and Kendall said interpreters will be on hand again this year to assist with provider-patient communication.

Speaking on behalf of this year’s team of Duke students working to plan the clinic, Kendall said they are dedicated to the effort and truly care about everyone who participates, from the volunteer doctors, nurses and dentists and patients to the volunteers that help make the clinic run smoothly.

“We are so deeply grateful for the community of Henderson,” Kendall said. “We really do have the best intentions. We just want to make a difference and help people.”

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Vance Charter’s Parent Info Session Rescheduled To Feb. 3

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Lottery applications for Vance Charter School for the 2026-2027 academic year are being accepted now through Feb. 27.

The parent information session scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 has been postponed, school officials report. The two information sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3 and Thursday, Feb. 19. Each session will begin at 6 p.m. in the school’s media center.

Applications can be accessed at www.vancecharter.org. The lottery will be held Mar. 7, according to information from John Sossamon, vice chair of the school’s board of directors.

Learn more at https://www.vancecharter.org/

Find details about the lottery process at https://www.vancecharter.org/page/vcs-lottery-info

Vance Charter School Lottery Application Period Jan. 26-Feb. 27 For 2026-27

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Lottery applications for Vance Charter School for the 2026-2027 academic year will be accepted beginning Jan. 26. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 27.

Applications can be accessed at www.vancecharter.org. The lottery will be held Mar. 7, according to information from John Sossamon, vice chair of the school’s board of directors.

Two parent information sessions will be held – one on Tuesday, Jan. 27 and a second on Thursday, Feb. 19. Each session will begin at 6 p.m. in the school’s media center.

Learn more at https://www.vancecharter.org/

Find details about the lottery process at https://www.vancecharter.org/page/vcs-lottery-info

 

RAM Clinic Returns To Henderson Mar. 28-29 To Provide Free Medical Care

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The Remote Area Medical clinics are returning to Henderson to provide free medical, dental and vision services on Mar. 28 and 29.

The RAM Volunteer Corps is looking for health providers who are willing and interested in helping make this weekend clinic another successful event.

Clients can get dental cleanings, fillings, extractions and x-rays from dental health professionals, vision exams, eye health evaluations and prescription glasses (made on site), women’s health exams, prescription consultation and more during the two-day event.

The clinic opens each day at 6 a.m. and will be on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. No ID is required and no insurance information will be needed to access the clinic and care. The clinic once again will be held on the campus of Vance Charter School, 2090 Ross Mill Rd., Henderson. The parking lot will be open at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 27.

Learn more at https://www.ramusa.org/ or call 865.579.1530.

2025 Duke RAM Clinic Provides 305 Patients With Free Dental, Vision, Medical Care

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This year’s Duke Remote Area Medical pop-up clinic served 305 patients in what amounts to more than $200,000 in free dental, medical and vision care.

This is the fourth year for the clinic, which set up shop most recently on Mar. 1-2 at Vance Charter School.

Over the course of two days, Duke RAM Co-Presidents Anvi Charvu and Lara Kendall said the patients had a total of 476 encounters with health care professionals – each patient could have more than one service if they needed it.

Since it first came to Henderson, the Duke RAM clinic has provided medical, dental and vision care to 1,020 patients that is valued at more than $926,000.

In this most recent clinic, more than 80 percent of the patients were seeking care from Duke RAM for the first time. Eight patients traveled more than 100 miles. The Duke RAM clinic does not ask for proof of insurance or other documentation in order to receive care.

A few statistics from the 2025 clinic’s 305 patients:

  • no dental insurance – 62 percent
  • no vision insurance – 65 percent
  • no health insurance – 43 percent
  • unemployed – 24 percent
  • Black – 38 percent
  • Hispanic – 30 percent

A total of 383 volunteers came together to provide a wide range of services. Doctors, optometrists and dentists, hygienists, nurses and other volunteers gave of their time to make the clinic a success.

A few facts from the 2025 clinic:

  • Dentists, hygienists and assistants performed 70 cleanings/fillings, 55 dental x-rays, and 90 tooth extractions.
  • Optometrists performed 163 eye exams, and volunteers created 195 unique pairs of prescription eyeglasses.
  • Physicians and nurses completed 84 general adult exams and 12 child wellness exams.

Numerous groups also provided support and organizers expressed gratitude for all the help they provided:

  • First Baptist Church
  • Sunrise Biscuit Co.
  • Granville-Vance Public Health Department
  • Sunflower Direct Primary Care
  • NC MedAssist
  • Medical Arts Pharmacy
  • AmeriHealth Caritas NC
  • Backpack Project
  • Edmonds Tennis & Educational Foundation

“We are so grateful for our Durham and Henderson partners who support our clinic efforts with such a strong sense of service. Our clinic could not be possible without such support,” the co-presidents stated in a written report shared with WIZS News.

TownTalk: 4th Annual VCS Golf Tournament Mar. 27

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The fourth annual golf tournament sponsored by the Vance Charter School Booster Club is coming up on Mar. 27, but there are only two team slots left, so register soon if you want to take part.

VCS Booster Club President Caroline Overby and VCS Athletic Director Lance Stallings are looking forward to the event, which will be held at Henderson Country Club. The first tournament had 12 teams participating, and last year’s event had a then-record 17 teams, Stallings said on Monday’s TownTalk.

This year’s goal is 20 teams and they’ve already got 18 signed up – well on their way to meet the mark. “We’ve been blown away with the support early on,” Stallings said. Registration continues until Mar. 7.

Overby said the tournament will begin at 12 noon with a shotgun start. As the golfers complete their rounds, they’ll be able to head back to the club house before the awards presentation at 6 p.m.

This year marks the first time that the event will include a silent auction and live music from  Whiskey Bent band from Oxford. Overby said she and event organizers are confident that these additions will add to the festivities.

“It’s going to be a great day of golfing,” Overby said, in support of the athletic department and student athletes at Vance Charter.

Stallings said the booster club helps the athletic department by supplementing what the school is able to provide its teams and athletes – from extra team meals to pitching machines for the baseball team. The booster club goes “the extra mile,” he said. “It’s difficult to have a successful athletic department without having a booster club…it’s a great partnership that we have with them and we’re grateful for them.”

Overby praised local businesses and others for their support as well.

Presenting sponsors for this year’s golf tournament are Chick-fil-A, Drake & Seymour Dentistry and Sossamon Funeral Home.

But there are additional opportunities for sponsorships, including Gold level ($1,700) Silver level ($1,250) and Blue level ($700).

To find out more, contact Stallings at 252.431.0440 or Overby at 252.213.7121.

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Vance Charter Lottery Mar. 1; Application Period Runs Jan. 21-Feb. 28 For 2025-26

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The Vance Charter lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will open on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Parents of prospective students have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 to complete the online application. Find the application at www.vancecharter.org under VCS Lottery Info.

Because there is a limited number of spaces per class, it is possible more students will apply than there are available openings.  If this situation occurs, the school will admit students through a blind lottery.  Each application will be numbered and the numbers will be pooled per class.  Due to using an automated lottery program, the numbers will be generated randomly until all spaces in each grade level are filled.  The remaining students will be placed on a waitlist in order of their number’s removal through the automated lottery process.

The school will host two informational sessions:  Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 13, also at  6 p.m.

The lottery will be held on Saturday, Mar. 1. Attendance is not necessary, as final results will not be available until verification checks are performed.  Likewise, all applicants will receive email/text notification within one week of the actual lottery  to share final results.

Please remember that siblings of Vance Charter students who do not currently attend Vance Charter School must submit an application to be included in the lottery. This includes incoming kindergarten students.

 

SportsTalk: Yount Battles Rain And Injuries With Vance Charter Soccer

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Weather has certainly been a problem for local sports teams. Johnny Yount,  girls soccer coach at Vance Charter, is no exception. “The entire field has been unplayable for much of the season,” Yount said on Wednesday’s SportsTalk.  “There’s not a lot we can do about it,” he continued.  Vance charter has cancelled two games due to rain. They should have played seven games but so far have only managed to get five soccer matches in.  Missed games are difficult to make up. So far though, Vance charter is 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference. He says the team is young with four seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores and three freshmen. They’ve had to make a lot of changes this season as well due to injuries. Yount said it does create opportunities and he continues to ask the team to challenge themselves on the field. Yount added that “what I want is winning student athletes versus winning records.” Additionally, Yount says the team is still finding its chemistry, though and he wants them to have fun and engage.

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