Tag Archive for: VGCC

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The Local Skinny! Job Fair Coming to VGCC

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More than 50 employers are expected to attend Vance-Granville Community College’s Spring Graduate Career Fair Thursday, and organizers are excited to see how the networking will take place between those who are looking to fill positions and those who may fit the bill.

With graduation just a few weeks away, VGCC Director of Career Services & Experiential Learning Dr. Krystal Foxx said representatives from nonprofits, government agencies, manufacturing, industry are just some of the employers that will be present at the career fair, which takes place in the VGCC Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, Apr. 24.

“As we consider the economic impact, we consider that now, more than ever, employers are looking to grow their work forces and expand, this is a great opportunity for any job seeker,” Foxx said. “Come out and see what’s available.”

VGCC Career Development Specialist Lorene Allen said planning for the career fair is a months-long process, including preparing students for what to expect on the actual day of the event.

Organizers had a Career Impact Day last week and had different people come to campus to help coach students on resume writing and share strategies about how to conduct themselves when speaking with a prospective employer.

The Dress for Success mobile boutique came, too, and students were able to get free outfits.

VGCC has a Career Clothing closet as well, and it will be open this week for students to come choose an appropriate interview outfit.

The career fair isn’t just for students, however. The public is welcome to attend. There is an online registration, but participants can register on site, too.

The first 100 to register in advance will get a swag bag filled with goodies and freebies.

Employers and vendors who participate in the career fair are invited to a luncheon at the conclusion of the event from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Contact Foxx at foxxk@vgcc.edu to sign up for that.

Employers should reach out to careerservices@vgcc.edu or phone 252.738.3466 to register. Visit the career services website to learn about all services at: Career Services Page. Visit VGCC Spring Career Fair 2025 | Handshake

 

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TownTalk: The Kyle Harris Story

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Kyle Harris is going to graduate from Vance-Granville Community College’s automotive systems technology program next month. But it will be the second time in as many months that he will be recognized for his efforts.

Harris accepted the Dallas Herring Student Achievement Award last week, given to one student or former student from across the state that best fits the philosophy of the community college visionary of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go,” according to a press release from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Each of the state’s 58 community college systems submits a nominee for the achievement award named for a person whose work set in motion what would become the N.C. Community College System.

The awards dinner was held on Thursday, Apr. 3 at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, Harris said on Monday’s TownTalk.

There were a lot of powerful people – politicians, donors to the Community College foundation, and others at that dinner. “They were all very interested in my story, and they gave me a round of applause that just really blew me away,” he said.

Things hadn’t been easy for Harris, a military veteran who found himself at the Veterans Life Center in Butner, unsure of what his next steps might be. He got sober and then he got to work on changing his life.

“I had lost a lot of hope in the fact that I would recover,” he said, recalling that period of his life that may seem in stark contrast to the life he leads today. “I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to reinvent myself,” Harris said. “it’s changed my life. It’s changed the life of my family.”

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Once he was at the Veterans Life Center, he said representatives from the community college came to help him figure out some next steps.

He’d been in the Signal Corps and Communication Corps when he was in the military, and “a lot of the skills I had didn’t transfer over into the civilian world.”

But he did know about mobile communication network maintenance and operations, along with troubleshooting wiring problems using wiring diagrams. With that information, Harris decided to try the automotive systems technology program, trading out communication wiring application for automotive wiring

“In the end, they’re all wires,” he said.

He’s already working at Southeastern Specialty Vehicles in Henderson, which builds ambulances and other emergency vehicles. It’s a challenging job, but it’s one he really enjoys.

With employment comes a level of financial stability Harris truly appreciates, and he said it has given him the self-confidence to assure that he “will never have to go back to a homeless situation.”

“We work on ambulances that service the community all across North Carolina, and places where I have friends and family,” he said, adding that he now feels like he’s paying back a community who supported him. “Now I’m able to help my community through my work, by producing the best ambulances to service our state.”

“Enrolling in the Automotive [Systems] Technology associates’ program is where my redemption story really began,” he noted. “I hope that my story reaches as many people as possible struggling in addiction, to not only choose sobriety but to enroll in a community college.”

It was a fellow veteran who made that first phone call on Harris’s behalf that got him to the Veterans Life Center and that person’s concern for another’s welfare is what got Harris to where he is today. Remembering the idea behind the Dallas Herring award – to take people where they are and carry them as far as they can go – is what he plans to do for others.

“I want to be that person for another veteran in this community one day,” Harris said. “There is a path forward…that if you choose a life of sobriety, the community is here to help you and that you can turn it all around.”

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Creates VGCC Presidential Scholarship With $25K Donation

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– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

 

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established a Presidential Scholar Award with a $25,000 donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation.

As a result of this donation to The VGCC Foundation, a $1,250 scholarship will be awarded to a student each year, beginning with the Fall 2025 semester. This is the fifth scholarship that the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established at VGCC to support a well-educated healthcare workforce, according to VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

“We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation,” said Tanya Weary, Executive Director of The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. “This newly created scholarship will make a significant impact on the lives of students by enabling them to pursue their educational dreams at Vance-Granville Community College.”

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit regional grant-making organization that supports and invests in initiatives that result in immediate and long-term improvement in the health status of the region. The organization focuses on Vance, Warren, Franklin and Granville counties – the same four counties served by VGCC. It was established in 2011 as the successor to the Maria Parham Healthcare Foundation.

The VGCC Foundation has more than 300 endowed scholarships for students—awarding more endowed scholarships than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. In addition to providing scholarships and emergency assistance to deserving students, VGCCF supports a broad range of special projects involving education, training, and economic development in our community.

Individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups and churches have endowed scholarships, as well as VGCC faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation have been used to honor or remember a person, group, busines or industry with a lasting gift to education.

To learn more about The VGCC Foundation, contact 252.738.3264 or foundation@vgcc.edu. For information about other scholarships available to Vance-Granville Community College students, please visit www.vgcc.edu/fao/scholarships.

VGCC MLK 2025: “Where do we go from here?”

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— information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Please mark your calendars and join Vance-Granville Community College for a heartfelt celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., hosted by VGCC’s Men’s Achievement Academy and Vance-Granville’s Initiative on Equity for Women (VIEW)!

This year’s celebration will reflect on King’s profound question, “Where do we go from here?” and explore how we can move forward together as a community. The event will honor Dr. King’s legacy by fostering unity, promoting equality, and inspiring collective action towards a more just and inclusive society. Through thoughtful panel discussions and communal fellowship, we will celebrate the progress we’ve made and reaffirm our commitment to continuing Dr. King’s work. Together we will envision a future where everyone can thrive and take steps to make that vision a reality.

  • Tuesday, January 28, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Vance-Granville Main Campus Civic Center (200 Community College Road, Henderson, NC)

All members of our community are invited to attend this free event, along with Vance-Granville’s students and employees. Refreshments will be prepared and served by Vance-Granville’s Culinary Arts program. To help event organizers plan, please RSVP at vgcc.jotform.com/240085947256059 or visit the event page on the College’s website at www.vgcc.edu

 

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The Local Skinny! Workforce and Continuing Education Open House at VGCC

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Vance-Granville Community College is hosting a Workforce and Continuing Education Open House at the Henderson campus on Saturday, Nov. 16.

School representatives will be on hand from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help prospective students learn more about the programs available across the four campuses.

Whether pursuing opportunities after high school or looking for a career change, VGCC may have just what you’re looking for.

According to the VGCC website, Continuing Education classes are designed for adults looking to enhance their job skills, update their knowledge or pursue personal interests.

Learn about the diverse program that VGCC offers, including Commercial Driver’s License, Healthcare, Public Safety, Welding and Business, just to name a few. Faculty members will be on hand to share additional program information and participants can attend break-out sessions about specific fields and certifications they may be interested in pursuing.

And to top it all off, you can get help with registration, financial aid and setting up your student account – all on the same day.

The Open House will be held in Building 7 at the Main Campus, located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.

Visit www.vgcc.edu and click on Latest News and Upcoming Events tabs to learn more.

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Vance-Granville Remote Day Friday

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— from Vance-Granville Community College

Due to the inclement weather, Friday will be a remote work, remote learning day at VGCC.

Vance-Granville Community College Graduation May 10

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On behalf of its faculty, staff, and 2024 graduating class, Vance-Granville Community College welcomes all members of the public to attend its 55th annual commencement exercises.

VGCC will honor 533 graduates who completed degrees or diplomas during the 2023-2024 academic year.

The 2024 graduation ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10, on the grounds of the College’s Main Campus in Henderson.

In addition to remarks from Vance-Granville’s president and trustees, guests will hear addresses from keynote speaker Rep. Frank Sossamon of the NC House of Representatives and Micah Jones, 2023-2024 president of the College’s Student Government Association.

No admission tickets are required; however, seating is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis. Guests are welcomed to bring lawn chairs for seating in the grassy area around the College gazebo.

Those unable to attend the ceremony in person are invited to watch a livestream of the event at the College’s official YouTube channel.

— information courtesy of VGCC

TownTalk: Community Resource Festival Coming To VGCC

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Organizers of the second Community Resource Festival say a multitude of vendors will come together under one roof to share information and network with individuals on Wednesday, Mar. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center.

More than 200 people came out last year to the first event, and VGCC’s Stephanie Tolbert and Huff Consulting’s Michele Walker hope more people will walk through the doors this year to visit with the 75 vendors who will be in attendance.

The vendors are a cross-section of civic organizations, all shapes and sizes of nonprofits, as well as local businesses, Walker said on Thursday’s TownTalk. She is the sales and accounts manager for Huff Consulting, and had the idea to put this festival on last year.

As VGCC dean of Business, Applied Tech and Public Service, Tolbert joined forces with Huff to plan the day’s events this year. She said everyone who stops in during the day will leave with a ball full of freebies, “but more importantly, knowledge about resources that they didn’t know existed in their backyards.”

Tolbert said the festival is a time for networking and forming new partnerships in the larger community.

The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is one of the event sponsors. In a written statement, Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson said “This is about
opportunities for all the people in our community to gather knowledge, opportunities and tools to make their lives and businesses more successful and engaging…Our joint efforts with Huff Consulting, Vance Granville Community College and Granville County Chamber of Commerce are designed to make us all
stronger, better, more informed and progressive.”

Granville County Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Ratliff encourages business and industry representatives to check out the event as well. In a statement, Ratliff called the community resource festival an “invaluable opportunity for business professionals to equip themselves and their teams with the tools they need for success.”

Be prepared to learn, network and share information, but make sure you bring an appetite – Smokin’ Souls and Bun on the Run food trucks will be set up on site as well. There will be a fun photo booth for some selfie fun and door prizes will be awarded every 30 minutes.

David Bullock with VGCC also will be on site with a drone demonstration.

Whether you only have a few minutes or can spend a few hours, the community resource festival will not disappoint.

 

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VGCC Franklin Campus Site Of Training Hub Designed To Bridge ‘Digital Divide’

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-Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Residents of Franklin County and other surrounding communities will soon have a new resource to help them succeed in an increasingly digital world.

DigitalBridge, a digital workforce development initiative of Wake Forest-based Wireless Research Center, has partnered with Vance-Granville Community College to launch a new training hub at the college’s Louisburg campus. Together, the institutions will bridge the digital divide for underserved local communities through accessible technology and training.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Vance-Granville Community College to support our communities,” said Erica Hixon, DigitalBridge executive director. “We are proud to join the community of resources to assist students and employers.”

DigitalBridge’s model is designed to deliver fast-track certifications and connect people directly to job opportunities. The initiative offers more than 130 courses and certifications for digital-skills training and certifications, provided at no cost to residents. Participants receive digital training, coaching, and job pairing matched to individual goals; in-person or remote learning at their own pace; and assistance from a career coach to guide their efforts.

Partnering with DigitalBridge is a natural extension of the college’s commitment to support residents of its four-county service area. While a degree or similar credential can open doors of career opportunity for many people, others might be better served through different forms of education, such as those provided by DigitalBridge.

“VGCC actively seeks out new ways and new partners to reduce the opportunity gap in our communities,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC president. “Digital literacy and technology skills are still areas where we see those opportunity gaps. We are excited to partner with DigitalBridge to support opportunity to better jobs in our service area.”

Starting mid-July, DigitalBridge representatives will be available at the Franklin Campus open computer lab each week Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The new partnership will officially launch Thursday, July 13 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at VGCC’s Franklin Campus, located at 8100 NC 56 Highway in Louisburg. In addition to representatives from the college and DigitalBridge, local leaders and government officials are invited to attend.

 

WRC is an independent nonprofit founded in 2010 to serve as a catalyst for collaborative innovation and technology-led economic development to improve communities. Today, WRC’s core initiatives are designed to improve wireless technologies, accelerate technology startups, support entrepreneurs and spur economic development through education programs and digital job skills training. For more information, visit www.wrc-us.org and www.mydigitalbridge.org.

For more information about VGCC and its programs, visit www.vgcc.edu.

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VGCC’s Edmonds Elected To Chair Triangle NC IDEA Foundation

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– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Vance-Granville Community College has announced Dr. Jerry Edmonds III, Vice President of Workforce and Community Engagement, is the newly elected chair for Triangle 501(c)(3) NC IDEA.

NC IDEA is a Durham-based, independent private foundation committed to equitably empowering North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential. Through a powerful combination of competitive grants and programs and a network of strategic partners, the organization supports the state’s most ambitious entrepreneurs as they transform their communities. Edmonds served on the organization’s board for two years prior to his election as chair; he has also been part of its North  Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council (NC BEC) since its formation in 2020.

“NC IDEA is fortunate to have a visionary board comprised of accomplished business leaders with the  bold ambition to empower North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential,” said Thom Ruhe, president and CEO of NC IDEA. “Our directors are distinguished members of the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Ruhe stated.

Before entering the higher education field, Edmonds held a variety of executive leadership positions for major corporations and has received numerous awards in areas including training, recruitment, marketing and leadership. He brought those perspectives to his roles as dean of Workforce and Economic Development and Small Business Center Director at Halifax Community College before joining VGCC’s executive team in 2019.

In  2018, Edmonds launched Willow Creek Tennis Retreat, LLC and the Edmonds Tennis and Education  Foundation, dedicated to utilizing the game of tennis to provide academic and athletic opportunities for  under-resourced youth throughout rural North Carolina.

Edmonds is joined on the NC IDEA Board by three newly elected members and six returning board  members, including past VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams.

Learn more about NC IDEA and its vision to empower the state’s entrepreneurs at https://ncidea.org/