Tag Archive for: @VanceGranville

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VGCC “Boot Camp” Offers Skills To Get Jobs, Plan For Careers

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Vance-Granville Community College is offering a job readiness “boot camp” for anyone interested in learning valuable skills to get employed and stay employed.

All four campuses are having the four-day sessions, designed to provide 24 hours of instruction, according to information from Tanya S. Weary, dean of business & industry solutions at VGCC.

The class is limited to 10 students, and will focus on several key topics, from interviewing and resume writing to goal setting and communication.

Participants should be at least 16 years old, according to Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of occupational extension. This type of employability skills class has been offered in the past by VGCC, but this is a new format designed to provide students with skills necessary to obtain and maintain employment.

Find the location to fit your schedule:

  • Main Campus: June 7-10
  • Warren Campus: June 21-24
  • South Campus: July 12-15
  • Franklin Campus: Aug. 2-5

For more information, contact VGCC at 252.738.3276 or visit https://www.vgcc.edu/coned/hrd/

TownTalk 5-5-21 VGCC Applied Technologies

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Vance-Granville Community College offers an array of certificate and degree classes under the heading of Applied Technologies – from welding to mechatronics, these programs are designed to put students on a new career path or gain additional skills in their current field of work.

Robinette Fischer chairs VGCC’s applied technology department. She and Rusty Pace, who heads up the school’s welding program, discussed the various areas of study available at the college with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

Welders are in short supply in the four counties that VGCC serves, Pace said. “There is a shortage of qualified welders,” he said. On top of that, the average age of a qualified welder is late 50’s or close to 60 years, so as more workers reach retirement age, industry will be looking for replacements.

Students in the welding program can earn a two-year degree or diploma, and Pace said evening classes offered at Main Campus provide convenience for those who may be working during the day.

Fischer said she fields calls regularly from businesses and industries asking for candidates to fill job openings. Electricians, heating and cooling (HVAC) technicians and welders are just a few of the jobs that are in demand.

Andrew Lynam of Youngsville, seen here in the Welding shop on VGCC’s Main Campus, is the college’s recipient of the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award for 2018. (VGCC Photo)

“The jobs are out there,” Fischer said. “And they pay well.” More women are applying to these programs, she said. “We’re trying to market more to women and make it understood that (they are) as capable as anyone else,” she said.  “There’s no reason that women can’t go into those occupations and be successful.”

Pace said students who complete the welding program at VGCC will leave qualified in one of several areas of welding and must meet American Welding Society standards. Successful completion of the program prepares students for at least an entry-level welding job.

Other programs in the applied technologies department offer certificates, diplomas and degrees.

The carpentry program is being offered again after a pause, Fischer said. Other areas of study include electrical system studies for residential and commercial wiring, automotive, HVAC, mechatronics and electrical engineering (geared to a manufacturing environment that includes motors and other types of controls).

Whatever the program, Fischer said students have access to help all along the way. “If you’re wanting to go from ground zero to the top, we’re here for you and we’ll make that possible,” she said. We’ve got people to help you from the time you come in and say what program you’re interested in, getting you registered and started,” Fischer continued.

Pace said he and his fellow instructors help students not just have a job in welding, but have a career in welding. “The best place to start is at Vance-Granville,” he said.

Classes start May 24 for the summer term; the fall semester begins Aug. 16. Visit www.vgcc.edu to learn more.

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS and WIZS.com. This is not a paid ad.)

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Gifts from Pruitts Create VGCC Scholarships

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— press release courtesy of VGCC

Before his recent passing, W. Leonard Pruitt and his wife, Dr. Dorothy Pruitt, both of Oxford, established two scholarship funds at Vance-Granville Community College to support students preparing for careers in health care.

First, a gift from the Pruitts will create the Leonard and Dorothy Pruitt Presidential Excellence Award, a full VGCC scholarship, which will cover a student’s tuition, books and fees. In awarding this scholarship, preference will be given to students in Health Sciences programs at the community college, as well as students from Granville County.

Second, a planned bequest will fund the Dr. Dorothy Jean Gooch Pruitt and Mr. William Leonard Pruitt Endowed Scholarship Fund for the ECU Medical and Health Sciences Foundation, a unique scholarship that will take students through the community college and then to East Carolina University.

When fully endowed, this fund will provide scholarships for multiple full-time VGCC students each year, who are planning to transfer to study health sciences at East Carolina University. This scholarship will also target students from Granville County. Future student recipients, to be called “Pruitt Scholars,” will receive funds to cover all their tuition, books and fees at VGCC. After they transfer to ECU, these scholars will have many of their educational expenses covered by a similar scholarship that the Pruitts have established there.

Dorothy Jean Gooch enrolled at East Carolina in 1953 to study Home Economics. After moving back to her native Granville County to teach — first at Oxford High School and later at J.F. Webb High School — she met Leonard Pruitt. Together, the couple has made an indelible impact on their community.

Mr. Pruitt was a tobacco buyer for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for 40 years, and raised beef cattle, fruits and vegetables for many years, as well. Along the way, he became well-known in Oxford for helping his neighbors, delivering produce (especially strawberries) to friends, and regularly lending a hand at the school where his wife, Dorothy, worked. He served on the Jury Commission of Granville County and was recognized for community service by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Pruitt was also an active member at Oxford Baptist Church, where he was named “Deacon Emeritus.” He died on March 31, 2021, at the age of 95.

Likewise, Dr. Pruitt has been active in her community, serving Granville County and the state of North Carolina for a total of 46 years as a teacher, principal, Department of Public Instruction consultant and Granville County Board of Education member. She was the first woman elected to that board, which she eventually chaired. Among her many honors, Dr. Pruitt accepted a national model school award from President George H.W. Bush while she served as principal at C.G. Credle Elementary School, received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, and was inducted into the ECU College of Education Educators Hall of Fame. Recognized as an “Incredible ECU Woman” in 2010, she is a member of the ECU College of Health and Human Performance Cornerstone Society.

The Pruitts have already established several scholarships at VGCC in honor of Mr. Pruitt’s late sister: the Myrtle Jane Pruitt Presidential Scholar Award and five Myrtle Jane Pruitt Academic Achievement scholarships.

“A true team in every sense of the word, Dr. Dorothy Pruitt and Mr. W. Leonard Pruitt were partners for 58 years, and we join Dr. Pruitt in mourning the loss of her husband,” said Eddie Ferguson, executive director of the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. “They shared a belief in education and together, they have established innovative scholarship funds that will provide life-changing educational opportunities for deserving students, particularly those with a desire to transfer to Dr. Pruitt’s beloved alma mater.”

“We are grateful to the Pruitts for their incredible generosity and their passionate support for education, which will help our students prepare for their own careers of service,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC. “The success of future ‘Pruitt Scholars’ will serve as a lasting tribute to Dr. Pruitt and Mr. Pruitt’s love for their community, for our college and for our partners at ECU.”

The VGCC Foundation (formerly known as the Endowment Fund) has enabled more than 9,700 scholarships to be awarded to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

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VGCC Joins #CCMonth Celebration

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Vance-Granville Community College added its name to the list of community colleges across the country to participate in #CCMonth, a month-long campaign to raise awareness about advantages of attending a community college and how they influence economies, academics and equity.

The campaign, coordinated by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), coincides with April’s designation as Community College Month. It’s a way to showcase that public community colleges are “a uniquely American educational model that was designed to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality higher education for all people,” according to a press release from VGCC’s Director of Communications Chris LaRocca. From nursing programs to trade certifications, community colleges “also serve as an onramp to bachelor’s, master’s and higher-level degrees for many students, and particularly for the most demographically and socioeconomically diverse students,” he stated.

Community college can accommodate adult students who work and go to school at the same time, and also make education accessible for many students who otherwise would not be able to access higher education.

“Community colleges are engines of diversity, equity and inclusion,” said ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown. “They give opportunities to all students, and they support all students throughout their educations, whether they attend to attain an associate degree or certificate, intend to transfer on for a bachelor’s or higher degree, or they take one or a few courses to learn a new skill or expand their horizons.”

The campaign is expected to have strong participation from community colleges and their supporters throughout the country.

The Local Skinny! April 15; Small Biz Summit on Agriculture

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VGCC to hold Small Business Summit focused on Agriculture

Vance-Granville Community College will present the 9th Annual Small Business Summit, entitled “Ag Alternatives & Legacy Farms,” on Thursday, May 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

This event will provide attendees with a day of agriculture education and information sharing, including discussions of niche farming, agritourism and farm modernization, led by a diverse group of successful farmers and business owners. Attendees will also learn about agriculture-related grants and financing options.

The event will be held outside, at Seven Springs Farms and Vineyards (332 Axtell Ridgeway Road, Norlina, NC), and all CDC-recommended social distancing and mask protocols will be followed.

Attendance is free of charge to the first 50 people to register. Lunch is included with registration and will be provided by The Meat Up Spot, a regional food truck (a vegetarian option will be available).

“Agriculture is an important part of our local economy, with many of our small businesses being involved in food and farming, so we are excited to focus on this sector,” said Tanya S. Weary, VGCC’s Dean of Business & Industry Solutions.

Derrick Jackson of Grass Grazed Farm in Durham will serve as the keynote speaker, discussing “A New Farming Model.” Jackson and his wife, Paige, operate a 60-acre farm, where they focus on sustainable pastured livestock, ethical practices and regenerative agriculture.

Other sessions include a panel on “High Tunnel Production,” led by N.C. Cooperative Extension including Dean’s Greens Farm, Rocky Ridge Farms and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; “Land of Opportunity: Heir Property, Startups, and Finding Your Niche” with Patrick Brown of Brown Family Farms/Hempfinity; a session on “Agritourism, Partnerships and Building Community,” featuring Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards and Lake Gaston Outfitters; and a presentation on “Finding Resources: Cost-Share, Grants, and Financing Your Agribusiness.”

The event is hosted by the VGCC Small Business Center, with co-sponsors including Warren County Economic Development, The Meat Up Spot, Sweet Delights, Grass Grazed, and Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards.

The deadline to register is May 10. For more information, contact Small Business Center Director Sheri Jones at joness@vgcc.edu.

Register Here — https://www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=530410026

(This text above is a VGCC Press Release.)

Audio of The Local Skinny! for 4-15-21

“The Local Skinny!” March 18; Eddie Ferguson VGCC Foundation and more

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It may seem like a small detail, but Vance-Granville Community College officials have decided to change its fundraising arm from an endowment to a foundation.

Eddie Ferguson, executive director of the VGCC Foundation, said that changing one little word could make a big difference in fundraising opportunities.

Ferguson spoke with John C. Rose Thursday on The Local Skinny and said the move to become a foundation opens up additional opportunities for funding. The community college awards more than $250,000 each year to more than 350 students on the four campuses, he said.

“We’re very excited about becoming a foundation,” Ferguson said, as a way “to broaden our appeal to many more businesses and particularly other foundations that may want to support community colleges.”

Ferguson cited a recent example: VGCC secured a grant from the Cannon Foundation to repurpose some space at Main Campus and also to purchase equipment and truck driving simulators at the Warren Campus. Some foundations, he said, do not give to endowments, but by becoming a foundation, VGCC could receive additional grants like this one.

“The name change allows us to offer not only the ability to raise money for scholarships but also to help the college raise additional funds for the different types of initiatives and program that we need to create and enjoy,” he said.

Another advantage of a foundation is to raise funds for the college itself, the same way a capital campaign works, he said. “We have many programs that we’d like to expand upon and start and repurpose,” Ferguson said.

There are several ways to give to VGCC, including individuals writing checks and donating appreciated stock to churches and businesses establishing scholarships in memory or in honor of others. VGCC is still a 501c3 entity, which means that contributions may be tax deductible. Over the last 30 years or so, he said, the community has created hundreds of scholarships for VGCC students. That support has not wavered during the pandemic, he added.

“It’s an indication of support the community has provided to Vance-Granville,” he said. “They see the value of Vance-Granville in the community,” and Ferguson said the foundation name will enhance the giving opportunities for individuals, churches and other community businesses.

He estimated that between 15 percent and 20 percent of students receive scholarships. “In a rural community like ours, money is important, so we try to help students as best we can,” tuition, books and other fees can be costly, so “the more we can reduce the cost of education, the more a student can take advantage of education and improve their lot in life with economic mobility.”

To learn more, email Ferguson at fergusone@vgcc.edu or phone him at 252.738.3264.

Visit www.vgcc.edu and click on “Giving” to make a contribution online.

(THE LOCAL SKINNY! ON WIZS AT 11:30 A.M. MON-THURS ALSO TYPICALLY FEATURES CALLS FROM LISTENERS, ITEMS FOR SALE AND THE VANCE COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION REPORT.  CLICK HERE FOR THOSE “TRADIO-LIKE” ITEMS AND CLICK HERE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION REPORTS.)

buy, sell, trade items.NC Coop Extension

VGCC Law Enforcement Training Division Receives Reaccreditation

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— VGCC Press Release

Vance-Granville Community College’s Law Enforcement training division received word last week that three programs have been reaccredited until May of 2026.

Last month, a field representative from the Criminal Justice Standards Division of the State Department of Justice conducted an audit of Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), Speed Measuring Instrument Training, and General Instructor Training programs. The audit included a review of program-related files campus facilities, and program equipment to ensure compliance with guidelines set by North Carolina Training and Standards Commission.

Law Enforcement Training Coordinator, Glen Boyd, said, “Our training and administrative staff work tirelessly to maintain the integrity and proper documentation of our programs. We would like to thank our partner agencies for trusting us to provide training for their agency.”

VGCC’s Law Enforcement Training program has been providing training at all levels for over 40 years. The program partners with and serves law enforcement and corrections agencies in Granville, Vance, Franklin and Warren counties.

For more information about VGCC law enforcement­­ programs please visit https://www.vgcc.edu/program/blet/ or contact Glen Boyd, Coordinator of Law Enforcement Training, at boydg@vgcc.edu or Trudy Hargrove, Administrative Assistant, at hargrovet@vgcc.edu.

VGCC is Workforce Development, Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship Haven

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With the stroke of a pen, Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Demarais joined more than 200 of her colleagues across the country to show support of entrepreneurship.

Demarais was joined by Tanya Weary, dean of South Campus and Dr. Jerry Edmonds, vice president of Workforce Development and Community Engagement on Tuesday, Feb. 23 for the virtual signing of the “Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge,” which took place at the community book read and discussion for Who Owns the Ice House: Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur.

The pledge outlines five action steps to increase focus on entrepreneurship and the impact community colleges have on the economic well-being of the communities they serve, according to information from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).

In signing the pledge, more than 200 community colleges across the country are making a commitment to play a greater role in stimulating economic development in their communities. “An entrepreneurial mindset is critical to solving today’s challenges for tomorrow,” Demarais said.

“As a lead workforce developer in our region, it is imperative that VGCC support economic development through both skills and entrepreneurial training,” she added. Programs offered through the VGCC Small Business Center as well as incorporating entrepreneurial thinking in the school’s trades programs contribute to promoting the idea of entrepreneurism, she said.

According to NACCE President and CEO Rebecca Corbin, the pledge is a way for community colleges to advance entrepreneurship and create jobs across the country. Community college presidents who take the pledge commit to these five action steps:

  • Develop transparency of community college and community assets
  • Create internal and external teams dedicated to entrepreneurship
  • Increase entrepreneurs’ engagement in community colleges
  • Engage in industry cluster development
  • Create broad exposure to their college’s commitment to entrepreneurship.

The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) is the nation’s leading organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges. The association represents more than 300 community and technical colleges who serve more than three million students. For more information, visit www.nacce.com. Follow NACCE on Twitter at @NACCE and like NACCE on Facebook at National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship.

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TownTalk 02-24-21; VGCC Personal Enrichment

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Vance-Granville Community College is again offering a variety of personal enrichment classes beginning in early March at several of its campuses. Whether you’d like to brush up on your motorcycle-driving skills or want to learn how to create a TED Talk, there is a class for you, according to Cherrelle Lawrence, VGCC dean of the Franklin Campus and dean of corporate learning and professional development.  You’re out of luck if you wanted to learn how to make a porcelain doll, however; that class has been filled.

Lawrence and Denise Miller, personal enrichment coordinator for VGCC, spoke on Town Talk Wednesday with John C. Rose about plans to re-open the personal enrichment classes that had been on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Membership in the classes is limited due to COVID-19 safety protocols, but registration is open now. Visit vgcc.edu/coned/ped to see the complete listing and to register.

Click Play for Audio of VGCC Personal Enrichment as well as Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks program information about “Know Your Rights.”  “Know Your Rights” will also be presented here on WIZS.com Friday.  Story continues below.

The two-day motorcycle skills class is “really, really fun,” said Lawrence. Whether you’re a novice biker or just someone who hasn’t ridden in a while, this class could be for you, she said.

The class is next weekend – Mar. 6-7, and costs $180. Upon successful completion of the class, participants will have received all necessary training for a motorcycle certification. VGCC provides the motorcycles for the class.

A couple of popular classes, Lawrence said, are two adult defensive driving classes. The Alive@25 class is for those under the age of 25 who want to take the class as a way to reduce points against them for lesser traffic charges such as speeding. The four-hour course is quick, she said, allowing drivers to complete the program in one session. This program is through the local district attorney’s office. The other defensive driving program is for drivers older than 25. Check with your attorney to see whether this program is right for your situation.

The cost for the defensive driving courses is $65. The first will be held on Mar. 9 at the Franklin campus and the second at Main campus on Mar. 23.  Each class is from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Alive@25 classes will be held on Mar. 11 at Main campus and Mar. 25 at the Franklin campus.

Jamica Whitaker is the instructor for the Art of Public Speaking class. Participants will have the chance to put their newly honed speaking skills to work and produce a TED Talk presentation by the end of the class, which runs from Mar. 9 to April 13, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A TED Talk is a video presentation, less than 18 minutes long, that combines Technology, Entertainment and Design.

Contact Miller at millerD@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3631 for more information or help registering for a class. Visit vgcc.edu to learn more.

Sheri Jones VGCC

VGCC celebrates Entrepreneurship Week

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— courtesy of Vance Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week (Feb. 13-20, 2021) with a variety of virtual events for the community.

National Entrepreneurship Week (NEW), established by the United States Congress in 2006, is a celebration of small businesses, innovators, and creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life and drive economic vitality. “NEW is a time to celebrate, to be inspired and to get motivated to do what you love,” said VGCC Dean of Business & Industry Solutions Tanya Weary, who is coordinating the observance along with VGCC Small Business Center Director Sheri Jones.

VGCC’s online events kick off on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 9 a.m. with a video posted to the VGCC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/vancegranville), entitled “What is Entrepreneurship?” followed on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 9 a.m. with another video posted on the Facebook page, called “Do What You Love!”

On Monday, Feb. 15 at noon, VGCC will present a lively, one-hour seminar, entitled “Give It to the People: Your Brand, Your Voice, Your Business,” with instructor Chisa D. Pennix-Brown, the CEO of Lady Bizness. Attendees will learn how to empower their brand, enhance their voice and increase their business. There will be opportunities to ask questions of the presenter. Registration in advance is required through www.vgcc.edu/entre/.

The next day, Tuesday, Feb. 16, at noon, the community is invited to “Lunch with an Entrepreneur – Learn the Failures and Successes of Starting a Business,” with Jason Shearin, a seasoned entrepreneur and owner of Lake Gaston Coffee in Littleton. Shearin will lead a discussion on what it takes to own your own business and will take questions from participants. Registration in advance is required through www.vgcc.edu/entre/.

Dean Tanya Weary will lead a webinar, “Business Plan 101,” on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at noon. She will explain how one of the most important tasks in starting a new business or growing an existing business is the business plan. Registration in advance is required through www.vgcc.edu/entre/.

On Thursday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m., the college will showcase one of its recent alumni, Greg Kelly, who graduated from the VGCC Truck Driver Training (CDL) program, on VGCC’s Facebook page.

On Friday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m., the community can attend a virtual “StartUp Crawl” in order to learn about, and take a virtual tour of, a pair of local business incubators: Frontier Warren and the Creedmoor Business Center. This will be accessed on the VGCC Facebook page.

The series concludes on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 9 a.m., with a session called “Taking the Initiative.” This video, posted to the VGCC Facebook page, is designed for people who have ideas for small businesses and are ready to take the next steps. Sheri Jones, director of VGCC’s Small Business Center, will discuss what these aspiring entrepreneurs need to do.

The Small Business Center has a variety of resources to support entrepreneurs through education and training. For more information on the Small Business Center, contact Sheri Jones at joness@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3240.

For more information about National Entrepreneurship Week, contact Tanya Weary at wearyt@vgcc.edu, visit www.vgcc.edu/entre/ and follow the VGCC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/vancegranville).

–VGCC–