Tag Archive for: #vancegranvillecommunitycollege

Granville County Public Schools

Two GCPS Students Complete Apprenticeship Program

Two Granville County Public School graduates have completed requirements of the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program.

Jared Gladki, a graduate of South Granville High, completed his apprenticeship at Revlon in Oxford. Jacob Ganzzermiller, a graduate of Granville Central High, completed his apprenticeship program at Buhler Aeroglide in Raleigh.

The two were recognized at a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 15, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne. Gladki completed a two-year degree in mechatronics at Vance-Granville Community College and Ganzzermiller completed at two-year degree in mechanical engineering technology at Wake Tech. Both students participated in a work-based training program with their respective companies; the apprenticeships come with the promise of a full-time, high-skilled job in local manufacturing companies.

The apprenticeship program is a partnership between GCPS, VGCC, Wake Tech, NCTAP and local industries.  High school students apply for and enroll in a fast-track program to complete their college engineering coursework – tuition free – while they work. The candidates who complete the apprenticeship are then offered full-time employment at their training sites and get a significant jump start on their career in advanced manufacturing, Winborne said.

GCPS Career Development Coordinator Tamara Rodebaugh attended the graduation ceremony and acknowledged the opportunities for these students and others. “Advanced

manufacturing is a growing sector in our region and offers high-skilled and high-paying careers for our graduates,” Rodebaugh said in the press statement.  “All interested students should reach out to their counselors or their Career and Technical Education teachers for more information. I look forward to having more GCPS students enter the selection process this fall,” she said.

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Spriggs Guest Speaker at VGCC Juneteenth Program June 17

Vance-Granville Community College will present an educational program Friday, June 17 as part of an observance of Juneteenth.

Members of the public, as well as VGCC students, faculty and staff, are invited to attend the program, which begins at 12 noon in the VGCC Civic Center, located on the college’s main campus, according to a press statement from Dr. Jerry Edmonds, III, VGCC vice president of workforce and community engagement. The event also will be livestreamed on the VGCC YouTube channel.

Guest speaker is Jason Spriggs, a Henderson City Council member. Spriggs, elected to the council in 2019, is also a board member of the Vance County United Way and the founder of Rural Change America.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 – June 19, 1865 – when Union troops reached Galveston, TX and announced the news of the last enslaved people in the country. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but it currently is not a state holiday in North Carolina.

Visit library.vgcc.edu  to read more.

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VGCC Postpones Graduation

After careful consideration, the VGCC Executive Team has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2022 Commencement Ceremony until Sunday, May 15th, 2022 at 4:00pm. The primary rationale for this change was based on the high probability of multiple thunderstorms forecasted for Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14. While the College does have a large indoor space in The Civic Center, the capacity is too small to allow a full graduation. Vance Granville would have to severely limit the number of guests each graduate could bring, even at maximum capacity. The decision also took into account the lingering Covid concerns associated with large indoor gatherings as Covid cases are once again on the rise. The decision to reschedule the commencement ceremony was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students, family members, faculty and staff.

VGCC’s 38th Annual Golf Tournament May 9-10; Register Now!

Registration is underway for the 38th annual Vance-Granville Community College golf tournament. Golfers interested in signing up to play need to swing into action before the April 15 deadline.

The VGCC Foundation Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, May 9-10, at the Henderson Country Club.  Gupton Services, Inc. of Henderson will serve as the event’s presenting sponsor.

The tournament is a primary fundraiser for the VGCC Foundation, according to a press statement from VGCC’s Jerry Edmonds III, vice president of Workforce & Community Engagement.

All proceeds from the tournament are used to fund student scholarships and to support the mission of the college.

The golf tournament provides resources for VGCC’s efforts to remove barriers to education as it enhances and expands ways to address need-based aid for students and promote equitable outcomes for all learners, said Tanya Weary, executive director of the VGCC Foundation.

But the tournament also provides an opportunity for golfers and non-golfers alike to come together and demonstrate their support of VGCC and its impact on the broader community.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais said she welcomes the opportunity to interact with all those who come out to play or watch. “We look forward to fellowshipping with our golf friends and thank you for your support of the VGCC mission,” Desmarais said.

The golf tournament will be held over two afternoons. Golfers who want to register in teams are asked to do so on the event’s website https://www.vgcc.edu/golf. Entry fee includes lunch, a golfer swag bag and a cookout at the end of each day.

There also are sponsorship opportunities available for businesses looking to promote their brand and support a worthy cause. Donations may be made via the event website or by emailing  foundation@vgcc.edu.

Presenting sponsor Gupton Services is a local HVAC, roofing and building automation systems company that traces its origins back to 1921, when C.P. Tanner established a sheet metal-working plant in Henderson.  Tanner Roofing became Owen Gupton Roofing and in 2019, Henderson native Greg Etheridge became its owner and president.

“As a local small business, we are happy to take a leadership role in the community and to support Vance-Granville Community College,” Etheridge said.  “If you look at the research, the benefits of postsecondary education and skills training to both the individual and our community are enormous.  The VGCC Foundation helps make education affordable and accessible to this region, and we must encourage that, in order to promote economic mobility and job security for our citizens.”

VGCC continues to be a source of economic growth because it provides an educated and skilled workforce that improves the quality of life for individual students and the community.  Careers in HVAC, electronics engineering, mechatronics, welding and auto mechanics are just a few areas in high demand.

Whether just entering the job market or making a career change, VGCC helps students along their career paths as they develop the skills needed to fill jobs in high-demand areas.

VGCC Dr. Levy Brown

VGCC’s Dr. Levy Brown Hired For State-Level Post

Dr. Levy Brown, a vice president of Vance-Granville Community College, has accepted a position as senior vice president/chief academic officer for the North Carolina Community College System in Raleigh. He will begin his new job in January 2022.

In a written statement, Brown said he appreciates his time at VGCC and is excited about the opportunity to pursue new professional endeavors. “VGCC has a number of brilliant students, faculty, staff and community members. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead and serve alongside these individuals during my time at the college,” Brown stated. “Looking ahead, I am humbled by the opportunity to partner with my colleagues to make a difference at the system level. We have myriad opportunities to make a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and staff across the Great 58,” he said, in reference to the 58 community colleges that comprise the state system.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais thanked Brown for his leadership during his time at VGCC. “Dr. Brown’s focus on building student supports and investing in faculty development has put our college on a transformational path for student success,” she stated.
“I look forward to working with Dr. Brown in a new capacity as he leads academics for North Carolina community colleges.”

Cecilia Wheeler will be acting vice president of learning, student engagement and success while VGCC conducts a nationwide search beginning in the fall of 2022. Wheeler, a 32-year VGCC employee, is Dean of Arts and Sciences. She has delayed her retirement plans to serve in the capacity of vice president until a candidate is in place, hopefully by January 2023.

In his new role, Brown will oversee a variety of areas, including systemwide academic educational delivery activities such as adult basic skills, curriculum programs, student support services and workforce continuing education. He also will be responsible for leading and coordinating instruction and student learning supports among other critical areas that impact the student experience.

He fills the position vacated by Dr. Kimberly Gold, who was promoted at the state board’s November meeting to the position of chief of staff with NCCCS.

Brown’s prior work includes several leadership roles with Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC), including Vice President of Learning, Student Engagement and Success; vice president of Academic Affairs, and Vice President of Student Services. In his current role, he serves as the college’s Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer. He is responsible for leading and working collaboratively with credit faculty and staffers in the areas of academic programs, student success, equity and inclusion, enrollment management, K-12 partnerships and other areas. Brown is serving as the college’s primary lead for their work with Achieving the Dream. He continues to work alongside a cadre of faculty and staff to improve student outcomes. Further, he is one of the leaders at VGCC tapped to focus on the adult learner experience through NC ReConnect.

Prior to joining VGCC, Brown served as Dean of Arts & Sciences at Lenoir Community College. Also, he has served in various leadership roles and has taught at other higher education institutions in North Carolina. Brown has been actively engaged in service at the local, state, and national level. On the national level, Dr. Brown serves on the Commission on Student Success for the American Association of Community Colleges and he was recently named a 2021-22 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow. Together, the 2021-22 fellows are leaders at colleges that collectively serve more than 400,000 students. As well, 67 Rising Presidents Fellowship alumni have become presidents of community colleges that collectively serve an additional 953,000 students nationwide. Locally and regionally, Brown has served on various boards and committees including, but not limited to, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce (current chairperson), Teach for America-Eastern North Carolina, North Central North Carolina Boys and Girls Club, and the Transfer Advisory Committee (TAC).

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in library science from North Carolina Central University, and a doctorate in educational leadership with a focus on higher education from East Carolina University.

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VGCC To Launch New Technology Platform To Support ‘Modern Learner’

Vance-Granville Community College plans to launch a new technology platform for student services that school officials said will help students across the four campuses whether they are taking in-person classes, virtual classes or a combination of the two.

The school is partnering with software company ConexED,  whose technology is intended to promote student success, according to information from VGCC’s Chris LaRocca.

“ConexEd provides a unified student services platform, eliminating the need for multiple platforms and logins while reducing ‘roadblocks’ for students, so they can reach the appropriate college personnel,” according to the statement. Faculty and staff also will benefit from the new platform as they work with students to handle scheduling, reporting and other support services.

Dr. Levy Brown, vice president of learning, student engagement & success, said the partnership will aid VGCC’s efforts to connect with the “modern learner” and called the upgrade “a positive step that will help VGCC students achieve their goals.”

VGCC offers classes at four campuses, as well as online. ConexED will help all students, regardless of location, to, for example, schedule appointments and conduct meetings over video-conferencing.
“Enhancing technology for students has become even more important since the pandemic began, so we are excited to implement new solutions that can help VGCC students access a number of different resources, no matter where they are or how they’re attending classes,” said Dr. Ken Lewis, VGCC’s vice president of institutional research & technology.

Advising and registration for the college’s Spring 2022 semester are currently ongoing. For more information on enrolling at VGCC, visit www.vgcc.edu and click on “Admissions.”

More than 210 educational institutions and 1,100 tutoring centers across 12 countries use ConexED. For more information, visit www.conexed.com.

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VGCC Online ‘Holiday Mini-Term’ Classes Run Nov. 29 to Dec. 24

Vance-Granville Community College is offering more than a dozen online classes as part of its Holiday Mini-Term. The deadline to pay for the classes is Wednesday, Nov. 23 at noon.

The mini-term will be sandwiched in between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve – Nov. 29-Dec. 24, according to information from VGCC.

Current students should speak with their academic advisor to learn more about the classes; new students should contact the admissions office at 252.738.3327 to get started with the enrollment process.

Following is a list of classes that will be offered:

  • College Transfer Success (ACA 122)
  • Introduction to Business (BUS 110)
  • Introduction to Computers (CIS 110)
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJC 111)
  • Law Enforcement Operations (CJC 121)
  • Corrections (CJC 141)
  • Crisis Intervention (CJC225)
  • Personal Health/Wellness (HEA 110)
  • Critical Thinking (HUM 115)
  • Music Appreciation (MUS 110)
  • American Government (POL 120
  • General Psychology (PSY 150)
  • Introduction to Sociology (SOC 210)

Visit vgcc.edu to learn more.

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

The Local Skinny! VGCC Helping Entrepreneurs

Vance-Granville Community College’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) is open for business.    Students and community members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce recently to mark this momentous occasion.  The Nov. 9 event coincided with Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The EIC is located at VGCC’s South Campus in Creedmoor and serves all four campuses in the VGCC system.

The EIC supports VGCC’s mission of strengthening the state’s economy by helping students and clients living in rural areas achieve their entrepreneurial potential by exposing them to entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurial opportunities, according to a press release from VGCC.

By educating, inspiring and supporting a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success, VGCC and the EIC help N.C. entrepreneurs succeed by offering them the training and learning opportunities that prepare them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and ideas. 

 This effort also enhances VGCC’s Small Business Center offerings of Ice House, Kauffman FastTrack and NC REAL Entrepreneurship training, among others. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais recently joined other community college presidents in signing the national Entrepreneurship Pledge.

“I think that the Center is a great opportunity for networking, gaining business skills, and preparing for the future in business,” said Tanya Weary, dean of business & industry solutions. “I am really excited for VGCC. This is the start of something that will grow and develop.  The opportunities this innovation environment will create are endless.”   

Serena Aycock, one of the members of the newly formed Vanguard Entrepreneurship Club, was on hand to take part in the ribbon cutting.  “I am absolutely inspired and honored to attend this great community college,” Aycock said. “I feel the energy of success in this room during this unforgettable ribbon-cutting event.”

The Center has had support from NC IDEA.  NC IDEA is an independent private, 501(c)(3) foundation whose vision is to help North Carolinians achieve their entrepreneurial ambition to start and grow high potential companies. NC IDEA fosters sustainable economic development with competitive grants and programs for entrepreneurs and funding to strengthen the North Carolina entrepreneurial ecosystem.  Thom Ruhe, President & CEO was present to support VGCC’s continued entrepreneurial efforts.   Also present were Dr. Rebecca Corbin, President & CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship; Alyssa Martina, Director of Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Elon University; and Dr. Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Global Programs, UNC Chapel Hill were present to support VGCC’s entrepreneurial efforts;  and representatives from the four counties that VGCC serves.

To learn more about VGCC’s entrepreneurial endeavors, contact Tanya Weary at wearyt@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3521.

TownTalk: Randy Owen Looks To The Future After Retirement

When Randy Owen says he’s not one to sit around and do nothing, he really means it. Although he is enjoying a short time off at the moment, Owen said he will be officially retired from Vance -Granville Community College on November 1. That also happens to be his first day at his new job as a paramedic at Rex Health Care’s catheterization lab.

Owen spoke with John C. Rose on Town Talk Wednesday, and he said the afternoon’s activities involved playing a little golf. When November rolls around in a couple of weeks, however, he will be working 12-hour shifts several days each week, which he said he looks forward to.

His first career began when he joined the Henderson Fire Department back in 1990. What began as a job as a firefighter and EMT morphed into becoming first a part-time instructor at VGCC and then a full-time instructor and coordinator of fire and rescue training.
“I fell in love with the instruction part of it,” Owen said. He got a certificate to teach CPR and then got his EMS certification. He credits Ranger Wilkerson, Danny Wilkerson and Curtis Tyndall with getting his career off on solid footing.

His second career will be challenging, but it’s a challenge he said he looks forward to. “I love a challenge,” he exclaimed. “I’m really, really looking forward to doing some patient care.”

Whether it’s caring for patients, co-workers, family or his community, Owen does so with a smile and great enthusiasm.

He said he is grateful for the support that he and his family have received in the past few years since his daughter Reagan’s diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia. There have been fundraisers and many other expressions of support as medical bills continued to mount.
“It was very, very stressful,” he recalled, when Rae Rae spent eight long months at Duke for treatment. Community support “touched us in such a special way,” he said. Right now, she’s doing well, although she faces a pulmonic valve replacement in the future. “She should be put in line pretty soon,” he said.

In his new job, he’ll work fewer days, but longer shifts, and the schedule is more flexible. This is another aspect of the job that appeals to Owen because that means he can donate his time to help with other organizations.

Amanda Riggan, founder of Hungry Heroes, called him recently and asked whether he could help with an upcoming event in the area. “I just jumped on board and said, ‘most definitely!’”

“It’s amazing what she does for our public safety people,” he said of Riggan and the organization that provides meals and stocks kitchens for first responders like firefighters and rescue personnel.

Offering food to those who serve in their community is a little “give back,” he said. “One little thing we can do is feed them.”

In his role as coordinator for the fire and rescue training program at VGCC, Owen saw to it that the 50-plus agencies in the four counties that VGCC serves had the appropriate training classes.

One program that he remembers well involved helping first responders deal with stress.

The idea was to debrief after a traumatic event like a fire or a car accident, let folks explain their role and “get it off their chest and grieve about it.”

It’s important for supervisors and chiefs to monitor their team for signs of stress and get on top of it quickly, he said. “Stress is a big part of this job – It takes a special person to do it.”

Owen should know.

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TownTalk: VGCC Offers 8-Week Terms To Adapt, Respond To Students’ Needs

Whether they come to learn job skills or start their journey toward earning a college degree, students at Vance-Granville Community College have some interesting options when it comes to the length of time they take to complete a class.

It’s called “compressed learning,” and VGCC director of Advising & College Success Amy O’Geary discussed some of the options available for VGCC students with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk.

A traditional college semester is 16 weeks long, but O’Geary said that, as students’ needs change – maybe they hold a full-time job while going to school – and the environment changes – think virtual learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic – the way school is organized needs to change, too.

“It’s hard for people to predict what they’re going to be doing for 16 weeks,” she said, adding that the shorter terms can more easily accommodate schedules and commitments.

The first 8-week term began in August, and registration is underway now for the second term, which begins Oct. 13. And then on Nov. 1, registration for Spring 2022 begins.

O’Geary said the shorter terms are designed to give students more valuable assignments for their learning – it’s not a matter of cramming more information into a shorter time-frame. Another benefit of offering two shorter terms, she said, is to keep students motivated.

“A lot of times, when students come to us, they’re ready,” O’Geary said, with emphasis on “ready.” They’re ready to get started right then, she said. “When they have to wait until January, sometimes they can lose their momentum.”

She said a lot of the major programs at VGCC have gone to the 8-week format, and even more will be offered for Spring 2022 and beyond.

Some of the classes O’Geary highlighted are keyboarding, intro to computers and public speaking, all of which provide essential skills for employees in today’s workplace.

Computers are used everywhere, and knowing how to properly use a keyboard, as well as the various software programs, are valuable to today’s workers.

But public speaking?

“A lot of people shy away from public speaking,” she said. “There aren’t many jobs that don’t require public speaking. (And) the more you do it, the better you get.”

Whether it’s a question of brushing up on computer skills or learning something entirely new, VGCC encourages students to start whenever they can and then just keep moving forward.

And for some, working in eight-week bursts instead of the traditional semester, may be a better option to keep moving forward.

Visit www.vgcc.edu to learn more.

 

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