Tag Archive for: #vancegranvillecommunitycollege

VGCC student recognized as a Microsoft Office ‘Master’

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Andrew S. Dawson of Henderson recently became the first Vance-Granville Community College student to earn the “Microsoft Office Specialist Master” certification.

The certification is awarded to someone who successfully passes a set of certification exams that test proficiency in multiple Microsoft software applications. Dawson completed the Excel 2013, Excel 2013 Expert-level, Access 2013 and Word 2013 certifications, all during the spring 2016 semester. He said he hopes in the future to accomplish the same certifications for the newest (2016) versions of the Office programs.

VGCC offers a number of nationally-recognized Microsoft Office certifications, free of charge, to students, faculty and staff. The “Microsoft IT Academy” program helps ensure that test-takers have the most up-to-date knowledge and skills that are valued by employers. VGCC was one of the top five community colleges in North Carolina for the number of participants in the certification program in 2015.

Dawson is a student in the Computer Technology Integration – IT Support Track program. He is projected to graduate from the college in the spring of 2017 and plans to pursue an information technology career. A full-time student, Dawson is also a part-time tutor in the VGCC Academic Skills Center.

“Andrew is a very dedicated and knowledgeable student, and we’re so proud of his achievements,” said VGCC Information Technology program head Faith Harris. She added that Dawson’s certification will help him succeed in the job market.

“It’s kind of mind-boggling that this will be a great addition to my resume, and I got it for free as a student,” Dawson noted.

For more information on VGCC Information Technology offerings, contact Faith Harris at (252) 738-3235 or harrisf@vgcc.edu.

VGCC Trustees elect Danny Wright as chair; Wester, Seifert reappointed

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The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees selected Danny W. Wright of Henderson as its next chair, succeeding Deborah Brown, as the board met for its bi-monthly meeting on Monday, July 18, on the college’s Main Campus.

Herb Gregory of Oxford was re-elected as vice chair, while Brown, a Henderson resident, was elected secretary of the board, succeeding Dr. Doris Terry Williams.

Wright first served as a trustee in 2011-2013, having been appointed by N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue, and then returned to the VGCC board in January 2015 as an appointee of the Vance County Board of Commissioners. He is a certified public accountant who retired as a county commissioner in 2010 after serving for 28 years.

Brown, who currently serves as a Vance commissioner and is also appointed to the Board of Trustees by that body, thanked her fellow trustees for the support they gave her as chair. She became the chair in July 2012.

“Mrs. Brown has supported this institution, challenged this institution and kept us focused on important things,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, Vance-Granville’s president. “Thank you for that.”

Two long-serving board members began new terms. Resident Superior Court Judge Henry W. “Chip” Hight, Jr., who serves the Ninth Judicial District, swore in Trustees Sara C. Wester and Donald C. Seifert, Sr., both of Henderson, to new four-year terms on the board. Wester was reappointed by the Vance County Board of Commissioners; Seifert, by the Vance County Board of Education. Wester was first appointed in 2004, while Seifert has been a trustee since 1996 and served as chair for nine years.

Building 10 Opening

An update on capital projects was provided, noting that the Building 10 renovation has been completed, final inspections have been performed and the building is ready for occupancy. Located across Poplar Creek Road from the rest of VGCC’s main campus, the building will house classrooms for Emergency Medical Services, Fire/Rescue Programs, Basic Law Enforcement Training, Law Enforcement In-Service training and other workforce programs. A dedication is planned for early August.

Investment Committee

Seven “very good, solid responses” were received to the Investment Committee’s request for proposals (RFP) for investment management services, said Steve Graham, VGCC’s vice president of finance and operations.

The Investment Committee, co-chaired by Trustees L. Opie Frazier, Jr., and Donald C. Seifert, Sr., reported that responses to the RFP will be reviewed and scored in July. A selection committee will hear finalist presentations in August. In September, a finalist will be presented to both the VGCC Endowment Fund Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for approval.

Budget Amendments

Upon recommendation from the Budget Committee, chaired by Danny W. Wright, the 2015-2016 Budget Resolution was amended. The State Current Fund increased $2,126,684 to $23,633,789, the County Current Fund was unchanged at $2,390,408, and the Institutional Fund increased $218,052 to $13,119,445, for a combined Amended Operating Budget of $39,143,642. The Capital Improvement Budget increased $191,042 to $2,404,460. The total Combined Amended Budget is $41,548,102.

Fall Semester Enrollment

In her report to the board on recent activities and upcoming events, Dr. Stelfanie Williams informed the Trustees that the new Fall Semester starts Monday, Aug. 15. She said she has encouraged staff and faculty to focus on enrollment growth as the new academic year begins.

“I challenge the board to join us in our effort for ‘each one’ to ‘reach one,’” she said. “Try to find someone you think would benefit from the courses we offer, and help them get enrolled for fall.”

Dr. Williams also announced the following upcoming board events: the annual Board Retreat for the Trustees on Aug. 22, a North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees Fall Leadership Seminar in Charlotte on Sept. 7-9, and an Ethics Training session on Nov. 17.

Other Action

In other action:

  • The Trustees, on recommendation from the Curriculum Committee, approved the Sustainability Technologies program for closure by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and termination by the North Carolina Community College System. VGCC will contact students who have taken courses in the program to give them an opportunity to complete the credential before termination is effective in the summer of 2017. Low enrollment was cited as the reason for closing the program.
  • On recommendation from the Executive Committee, new and amended board policies were approved by the Trustees. The policies cover areas of public information and campus safety, academic and student affairs, and finance and operations.
  • An informational report on new employees, retirements, resignations and changes in positions was given by the Personnel Committee, chaired by Trustee Sara C. Wester.

The next meeting of the VGCC Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, Sept. 19, at the Main Campus.

Fourteen graduate from EMT-Paramedic training at VGCC

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Vance-Granville Community College honored 11 men and three women who completed the college’s year-long Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program on July 13.

The graduates included Michael Hunter Robbins of Bunn; Catherine Garner of Creedmoor; Fuller Caton, Herbert Hill Davis, James Hughes, Cassidy Ivey, William Jenkins, Tyler McDaniel and Courtney Moss, all of Henderson; David Drumheller of Mebane; Jonathan Kraemer of Raleigh; Harvey Grim of Roxboro; Joseph Farlow of Timberlake; and C.J. Phillips of Youngsville.

Vivian Loyd, a Registered Nurse and Paramedic Level II instructor, was the instructor for the class.

EMT-Paramedic instruction includes 596 hours of didactic (classroom) training and 500 hours of clinical education, or field internship. To be eligible to take the EMT-P course, students had to have already completed a 203-hour EMT-Basic course and passed a state exam.

An EMT-Paramedic has enhanced skills beyond the EMT-Basic level, including being able to administer additional interventions and medications. The EMT-P delivers the highest level of pre-hospital medical care in North Carolina.

In order to successfully complete the EMT-P course, students had to pass several different exams, including a “scope of practice” exam. This scenario-based evaluation tested the hands-on and critical thinking skills of students, as they delivered the appropriate treatment to multiple trauma patients and dealt with pediatric, environmental, and mental-illness situations. Each student also had to complete an 80-hour Anatomy and Physiology course.

Now that students have completed the EMT-P course, they must take the 100-question North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services credentialing exam to become state-certified.

VGCC offers Emergency Medical Services training from the basic to the Paramedic level, in addition to continuing education. For more information on enrolling in these courses, call Stephen Barney at (252) 738-3273.

VGCC to offer second Enrollment Day on July 20

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Vance-Granville Community College will hold the second “Enrollment Day” of the summer on Wednesday, July 20, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., at all four of its campuses. On Enrollment Day, VGCC counselors and other staff members will be ready to assist anyone who is interested in enrolling at the college for the Fall 2016 semester, which starts Monday, Aug. 15. No appointments are required.

For new students, the process of enrollment begins with an application for admission and an application for financial aid. Then, students must request their official high school transcripts, and in some cases, their transcripts from other colleges they have attended. Next, they should meet with an academic/career coach and schedule a placement test, unless it is waived. Finally, students complete an orientation session, either online or in the traditional face-to-face format. On Enrollment Day, incoming students will be able to accomplish all of these tasks or schedule them, so they can stay on track to start classes in August.

VGCC’s Main Campus is located on Poplar Creek Road in Vance County (about midway between Henderson and Oxford) at the intersection with Interstate 85 (Exit 209).

The Franklin County Campus is located just west of Louisburg on N.C. 56.

South Campus is on N.C. 56 between Creedmoor and Butner.

The Warren County Campus is located at 210 West Ridgeway Street (U.S. 158 Business) in Warrenton.

Registration for fall classes at VGCC is ongoing, through July 29. For more information, contact VGCC at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus.

New VGCC Scholarship established in memory of Sam Watkins

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A new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College will honor the memory of longtime Vance County business and community leader Sam Watkins Jr.

His son, Trey Watkins of Wake Forest, recently visited VGCC to formally establish the “Sam Watkins Jr. Academic Achievement Scholarship” on behalf of himself and his wife, Sarah.

Sam Watkins, who died in 2014 at the age of 80, was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a U.S. Army veteran. For many years, he was the president of Rose Oil Company, a member and chairman of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, and a member of the Maria Parham Medical Center Board of Trustees.

Watkins co-founded the Henderson Downtown Development Corporation, from which the North Carolina Main Street Program evolved. In 2008, he and his twin brother, George, were the recipients of the Community Hero Award given by the Vance County Commissioners for making the community a better place in which to live. He was a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and, in 1985, he was Vance County’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year. He served on the local Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Citizens Bank and Trust Company Board, and chaired the local North Carolina National Bank (NCNB) Board in Henderson. In his later years, his proudest accomplishment was the forming of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, responsible for building a new public library and cultural center in Henderson. Watkins was also a beloved father and grandfather.

In awarding the new scholarship, preference will be given to students in the VGCC Nursing program. “We would like to support students with compassion, who show commitment and pride in their work in the health care field,” Trey Watkins said. “My father loved both the hospital and the college, so this would be a fitting tribute.”

Sam Watkins supported and partnered with the college in his economic development roles, and VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams remembered him with fondness. “Sam Watkins was a tireless leader and advocate for his community,” Dr. Williams said. “His legacy of service will continue through a scholarship that will help Vance-Granville students for generations to come.”

Just as Trey is establishing this scholarship in his father’s memory, Sam and George Watkins endowed the S.M. Watkins Sr. Memorial Academic Achievement Scholarship at VGCC to honor their father in 1991.

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,500 scholarships 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 Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

Community College System’s top honor presented to former VGCC president

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Dr. Ben F. Currin, the former president of Vance-Granville Community College, formally received the highest honor bestowed by the North Carolina Community College System, the I.E. Ready Award, at a recent ceremony.

Held on May 27 at the Brio restaurant in Raleigh, the luncheon marked a VGCC “family reunion” that brought together longtime college trustees, Endowment Fund Board members and senior administrators. Exactly half of VGCC’s six presidents were in attendance, including Dr. Currin; Robert A. Miller, who succeeded Currin; and Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the current president. Currin was joined by his wife, Betsy, herself a veteran educator and former vice president of Nash Community College.

Janet Lowder of Albemarle, N.C., the vice-chair of the State Board of Community Colleges, was on hand to officially present the award and medallion to Currin.

Named for Isaac Epps Ready, the first state director of the North Carolina Community College System, the prestigious award was created in 1983 to recognize individuals who have made significant, statewide contributions to the establishment, development or enhancement of the System. Previous winners of the I.E. Ready Award include former governors, former state legislators, former members of the State Board of Community Colleges, former Council of State members, former United States Senators, former college trustees, former college presidents and former System presidents.

Currin’s 40-year career in public education included serving as president of VGCC for 18 years starting in 1981. Under Currin’s leadership, VGCC grew from one campus to four, with a total of almost $18 million worth of new construction at all the campuses. Early in his tenure, VGCC also reactivated the college’s Endowment Fund, which grew from $12,000 in 1982 to $5 million at the time of his retirement and provided scholarships for numerous students. In retirement, Currin, who lives in Raleigh, continues to serve on the Endowment Fund Board of Directors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Currin said that VGCC’s service area was “the most gracious community I’ve ever lived in.” He recalled the generous support that the college received while he was president, sometimes quite unexpectedly. In 1998, retired librarian Nannie A. Crowder of Henderson and retired business executive Robert B. “Bob” Butler of Warrenton died on the same day, leaving more than $800,000 and more than $2 million, respectively, to VGCC. In Butler’s case, the bequest was a complete surprise, as he had no history of giving to the college and had not told college officials of his intentions. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Currin marveled, adding that he was equally impressed with all the other, smaller donations from citizens and businesses in the four-county area.

“It was just the most rewarding job I’ve ever had,” he said of his VGCC tenure. “I’m so proud to have served and to have been part of the growth of the college. I’m very honored and thankful for being recognized.”

During the ceremony, several attendees made remarks honoring the former president’s leadership, including James Edwards, the current VGCC director of communications who was hired by Currin in 1989 as marketing director; Eddie Ferguson, the Endowment Fund director who is also Currin’s cousin; Robert Hubbard, who was recruited by Currin to serve on the Endowment board and is now its vice-chairman; Opie Frazier and Donald Seifert, both longtime VGCC trustees and Endowment board members; and Robert Miller, who served under Currin both in the Rocky Mount City Schools and as a VGCC official.

“He hired me for my first job out of college, 46 years ago,” Miller said. “I cannot think of any individual that would be more deserving of this award than Ben Currin. I not only appreciate what he’s done for me, but what he’s done for education and what he’s done for Vance-Granville Community College.”

Dr. Williams congratulated Currin and thanked him for his service to the college and to North Carolina. “When I became president of VGCC in 2012, one of the first people I called was Dr. Currin. He then took me to lunch, and we go to lunch every few months or so, but I have to say, this is my favorite lunch, because I’m so happy to share this moment with you,” Williams said to her predecessor. “You are such a deserving recipient of the I.E. Ready Award. You have left a great legacy at our college, and it is an honor to continue to move the college forward and build upon that foundation that you created.”

A native of Granville County and a graduate of Oxford High School, Currin received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959. He earned his master’s degree in education in 1962 and his advanced graduate certificate in professional education in 1963, both from UNC. He received his doctorate in education from UNC in 1970 in education administration with a minor in political science.

Currin assumed the VGCC presidency after having served as a teacher, coach and public school administrator, including 11 years as superintendent of Rocky Mount City Schools. While in Rocky Mount, he also taught graduate courses at East Carolina University as an adjunct professor.

VGCC student leaders graduate, continuing their education

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Vance-Granville Community College recently celebrated the graduation of a number of outgoing leaders in its Student Government Association (SGA), sending many of them off to four-year universities, including Duke, East Carolina, N.C. State, N.C. Wesleyan, NCCU and UNC-Charlotte.

Among them is Lydia Hendrick of Oxford, SGA senator for the college’s South Campus, who graduated with both an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science degree as a Granville Early College High School student. Hendrick accomplished that feat in four years rather than the typical five. She is now on her way to Duke University in the fall with her entire first year covered by the Washington Duke Scholars Program. “It is a relatively new program designed to support first-generation college students with demonstrated financial need,” Hendrick explained. “I am so grateful that I received this scholarship and the opportunities that come with it; without it, attending Duke University would just be a far off dream.” She called her VGCC degrees “the best foundation that I could ever have to build upon.”

Like Hendrick, SGA Secretary/Treasurer Isabelle Louise Snyder of Butner also graduated with both degrees through Granville Early College High School. Snyder, her high school valedictorian, is planning to continue her education at N.C. State University. Daniel Davis of Norlina, the SGA Parliamentarian, completed both degrees as a Warren Early College High School student and served as the college’s student speaker for commencement. He is headed to East Carolina University in the fall to study business, with future plans to go to law school. “Early College at VGCC gave me a smooth transition from high school to the college experience,” Davis said. “It made me responsible and gave me more confidence.”

His Warren Early College High School classmate, Shane O’Malley of Inez, the senate chair for Main Campus and Warren Campus, is transferring to N.C. State to major in animal science. Her goal is to become a veterinarian. “I definitely feel that my experience at Vance-Granville has prepared me well to take on a four-year university, because I’ve been taking college classes since I was a freshman in high school,” O’Malley said. She decided to go to VGCC through the Early College program “to get on my career path as fast as possible,” she said.

Another future member of the Wolfpack is SGA Vice President Cassandra Saroza of Louisburg, who was a Franklin County Early College High School student and graduated with an Associate in Arts. At NCSU, Saroza intends to double-major in biological sciences and psychology and minor in cognitive science. She will her start her four-year university experience with a study-abroad trip to Colombia in June and July, which will earn her a Sociology credit. She has received several scholarships from NCSU. Saroza praises her VGCC instructors, whom she called “passionate about the subjects they teach, and always willing to help you….Everyone at VGCC wants you to succeed.”

SGA President Aleria Perry of Henderson, Public Information Officer Keyanté Lindsey of Oxford, and Samantha Huffman of Durham, senator for South Campus, also each completed an Associate in Arts degree. Perry, a U.S. Army veteran, is planning to continue her education without having to leave VGCC’s campus through the new Eagle Voyage program at North Carolina Central University. The program will offer a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Perry would like to attend law school after completing that degree, and credits her VGCC graduation with giving her “a boost in self-esteem.”

Lindsey, meanwhile, is planning to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to study physical therapy. At VGCC, he was a member of the Vanguards basketball team and performed in the recent dramatic production of “Deathtrap.” He and his fellow officers are proud of what they accomplished through SGA. “We made a big difference on campus,” Lindsey said, citing VGCC’s first-ever pep rally and talent show, for which he and O’Malley served as emcees. “We’ve gotten great feedback from events like that.” He said he would always appreciate the friendships he made at the college. “It’s like a big family here,” Lindsey said.

Angelique Taylor of Macon, assistant secretary/treasurer for SGA, graduated with a degree in Human Services Technology/Substance Abuse. She completed her degree while raising a child as a single mother. Now, Taylor will attend North Carolina Wesleyan College on a full scholarship. She plans to double-major in biomedical science and psychology, with ultimate plans to go to medical school and specialize in forensic pathology. “I want to be an example for single mothers to say if I can get through this while pregnant and raising a child, you can do it, too,” Taylor said. “So many single mothers think they have to wait until their child is older to go to college, but at Vance-Granville, there are people here to help.”

Dianna DeWeese of Creedmoor, senate chair for South Campus, completed degrees in Accounting and Business Administration. She is transferring to N.C. State University to continue studying the same subjects. N.C. State’s bachelor’s degree in accounting is consistently ranked as one of the top 35 undergraduate accounting programs in the country. DeWeese, who came to VGCC after being retired, is interested in forensic accounting. “I’m the first person in my family to get a college degree,” she said, excluding her husband, Jacob, who graduated from the VGCC Culinary Arts program last year. She encourages VGCC students “to take advantage of every opportunity that Vance-Granville gives you.” DeWeese served as a tutor, a student ambassador and president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She recalled that people she met as an ambassador later provided her with letters of recommendation.

One graduate, Emory Gant-Hawkins of Henderson, SGA senator for Main Campus, completed a Culinary Arts degree but is actually returning to VGCC in the fall to complete a degree in Business Administration.

“We are proud of how these graduates have developed their leadership skills and served their fellow students,” VGCC Vice President of Employee and Public Relations Stacey Carter-Coley. “They seized some unique opportunities that our college afforded them and have positioned themselves well for future professional and personal success. We are grateful for their contributions, which have set positive examples for Vanguard student leaders.”

VGCC to offer Enrollment Day on June 16

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Vance-Granville Community College will hold “Enrollment Day” on Thursday, June 16, from 9 a.m. until noon, and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., at all four of its campuses. During those times, VGCC counselors and other staff members will be ready to assist anyone who is interested in enrolling at the college for the Fall 2016 semester, which starts Monday, Aug. 15. No appointments are required.

For new students, the process of enrollment begins with an application for admission and an application for financial aid. Then, students must request their official high school transcripts, and in some cases, their transcripts from other colleges they have attended. Next, they should meet with an academic/career coach and schedule a placement test, unless it is waived. Finally, students complete an orientation session, either online or in the traditional face-to-face format. On Enrollment Day, incoming students will be able to accomplish all of these tasks or schedule them, so they can stay on track to start classes in August.

For the convenience of working adults, a similar enrollment event will be held on the evening of Tuesday, June 28, between 5 and 7 p.m., at all four campuses.

VGCC’s Main Campus is located on Poplar Creek Road in Vance County (about midway between Henderson and Oxford) at the intersection with Interstate 85 (Exit 209).

The Franklin County Campus is located just west of Louisburg on N.C. 56.

South Campus is on N.C. 56 between Creedmoor and Butner.

The Warren County Campus is located at 210 West Ridgeway Street (U.S. 158 Business) in Warrenton.

Registration for fall classes at VGCC is ongoing, through July 29. For more information, contact VGCC at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus.

VGCC celebrates Male Mentoring students

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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.

VGCC graduates 13 cadets in school’s 102nd BLET Class

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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.