Tag Archive for: VGCC

Quilting classes start up again at VGCC in January

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— courtesy VGCC

As the cold winter weather brings to mind the original use for quilts, Vance-Granville Community College’s long-running Quilting program resumes in January, with three 14-week class schedules.

Peggy Stocks of Manson teaches the classes that will meet on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon, starting Jan. 10, and on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m., starting Jan. 11.

Velvet Boyd of Warrenton, a former student of Stocks, teaches the class that will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6-9 p.m., starting Jan. 24. All the classes are held in Building 5 on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.

Students come to VGCC from near and far because a Quilting class, particularly one that lasts as long as 14 weeks, can be difficult to find. At a cost of $100, which comes out to less than $2.50 per hour of instruction, the class is also quite affordable.

Stocks has been teaching the art of Quilting for VGCC’s Continuing Education division since 1995. She has been a quilter since 1980. She credits the VGCC Quilting program’s longevity to the fact that many people come back again and again to take the class and continue learning, but adds that beginners are always welcome. “The students who are new get help and inspiration from those who have done it for a long while,” Stocks said. “I just love doing it. I’ve learned from many other people, and I use my experience to teach others. There’s a lot to learn. It’s not as simple as you might think.”

A student works on a quilt in a VGCC classroom.

VGCC Personal Enrichment Coordinator Gail Clark noted that Quilting students benefit from talented instructors. “Peggy focuses on hand-quilting, and many students are able to complete their quilt in a single semester, following her hands-on, personalized instruction,” Clark said. “Peggy’s students also get together to create and donate quilts. Some of her students have entered quilting contests and received ribbons and awards.” Both Boyd’s and Stocks’s quilts have represented VGCC in state community college system art exhibitions, as well. Boyd has been quilting for 20 years and went from taking VGCC Quilting classes to teaching them in the early 2000s. Her students work on a combination of hand quilting and machine stitching.

Stocks said the appeal of a quilting class goes beyond learning skills. “It’s all about taking some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy fellowship with the other students, to be creative and to do something worthwhile – something that doesn’t involve an electronic screen!” she said.

Clark said that men and women of all ages find the classes to be fun, thanks largely to their patient, helpful teachers.

Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/personal-enrichment or at any VGCC campus. For more information, contact Gail Clark at (252) 738-3385 or ped@vgcc.edu. VGCC will be closed from Dec. 21, 2017, through Jan. 2, 2018.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

VGCC Natural Hair Care, Manicuring classes start in January

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— courtesy VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College will offer a pair of continuing education courses that provide job training related to the cosmetology industry, starting in January. Both the Natural Hair Care and Manicure/Nail Technician courses are scheduled for Monday-Thursday evenings from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Jan. 8 through June 5, both in Building 3 on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.

In Natural Hair Care, students will learn about the general sciences and practices specific to infection control, bacteriology, client consultation, twisting the hair, wrapping, blow drying and thermal ironing, extending, locking, business management, and professional ethics in the workplace.

The Manicure/Nail Technician course covers techniques of nail technology, hand and arm, massage, and recognition of nail diseases and disorders. Topics include OSHA/safety, sanitation, bacteriology, product knowledge, salesmanship, manicures, artificial applications, pedicures, massage, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to safely and competently perform nail care, including manicures, pedicures, massage, decorating, and artificial applications in a salon setting and even the best massage bangkok salons.

Students who successfully pass each course will be eligible to take the respective state licensure exam for Natural Hair Care or Manicurist.

The cost of each course is $201.25, plus the cost of the textbook and other applicable fees.

Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule or at any VGCC campus.

For more information, contact Director of Occupational Extension Kyle Burwell at 252-738-3300 or oex@vgcc.edu. VGCC will be closed from Dec. 21, 2017, through Jan. 2, 2018.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

VGCC honor society students collect supplies, books for local kids

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— courtesy VGCC

(VGCC Photo)

The Vance-Granville Community College Alpha Sigma Chi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently conducted a service project by collecting school supplies and books for children in grades K-12 who are affected by domestic violence. Children in such situations may be forced to relocate suddenly, leaving their school supplies at their former homes and putting them at an educational disadvantage. Donation boxes were placed at all four VGCC campuses. The donations were delivered to Infinite Possibilities, Inc., a domestic violence organization that serves Vance and Warren counties. Pictured above with some of the collected items are, from left, chapter advisor and VGCC English instructor Maureen Walters, chapter Vice President of Leadership Pamela Campbell of Littleton, advisor and art instructor Isaac Talley and chapter President Brenda Ellis of Durham. For more information on Phi Theta Kappa, contact Maureen Walters at 252-738-3406 or waltersm@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

VGCC Pharmacy Technology program leads service projects

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— courtesy VGCC

The Pharmacy Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College has continued its tradition of community involvement with a pair of recent service projects during the fall semester.

First, Pharmacy Technology faculty and students, with help from their colleagues in other VGCC Health Sciences programs, spearheaded a relief drive to help people in the Caribbean who had been affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Pharmacy Technology Program Head Dr. Erica Fleming grew up on the Caribbean island of Anguilla and has family there. Students and faculty set up stations at each of VGCC’s four campuses on two days in late October, where they collected various items and accepted cash donations.

From left, in front, Center for Innovative Learning student Anthony Dixon, VGCC Pharmacy Technology student Tommy Hicks, Pharmacy Technology Program Head Dr. Erica Fleming, Pharmacy Technology student Malissa Chandler and CIL student Jonathan Manzo; and from left, in back, CIL Principal Calvin Timberlake, CIL student Eric Sapp and School Resource Officer Elliott Carver of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office.

“I would like to thank all of the Health Sciences students who participated,” Fleming said. “We brought all the bags of collected items to the Pharmacy Tech lab on Main Campus, where we sorted and packaged them to provide food, clothes, personal care items and household items to four families in the ‘NC for Puerto Rico’ relocation support network. Cash donations will go to provide support for families on my home island of Anguilla.”

During the hurricane relief drive, Fleming said, her program also forged a new community partnership with Granville County Schools’ Center for Innovative Learning (CIL) in Oxford. “Students at the CIL donated items they collected in their own drive to support our event,” Fleming noted. “The CIL supplied us with new books, folders and school supplies, winter items, socks, undergarments and household cleaning supplies. We want to say a very special ‘thank you’ to Mrs. Louise Terry, school counselor, for coordinating the drive at CIL.” She added, “To everyone who gave to this effort, we say ‘thank you’ for showing our neighbors both here in North Carolina and in the Caribbean that you care.”

Seated, from left, VGCC Pharmacy Technology students Tommy L. Hicks of Franklinton and Malissa S. Chandler of Durham use smartphones to identify and classify medications while Pharmacy Technology program head Dr. Erica Fleming (standing at right) sorts through medications during the “Operation Medicine Drop” event at Walgreens in Creedmoor.

The Pharmacy Technology program also partnered with the Creedmoor Police Department and Walgreens of Creedmoor on “Operation Medicine Drop,” a drug collection event, on Oct. 28. Within four hours, 6,377 dosage units/pills of non-controlled substances and 365 dosage units/pills of controlled substances were collected, according to the police department. The collection consisted of outdated or unused prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, syringes and veterinary prescription drugs.

“This is the third year that the Pharmacy Technology program has participated in the event, and the fourth year for me,” Fleming explained. “Each year, we have collected numerous ‘C-II’ controlled medications and have safely disposed of thousands of prescription and no prescription medications. The community is reminded that flushing of medications is never advised, because we want to avoid contamination of our local water sources.”

For more information on the VGCC Pharmacy Technology program, call Dr. Fleming at (252) 738-3482.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

Legacy of local couple lives on with VGCC scholarship

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— courtesy VGCC

The tragic 2015 murders of Granville County residents Jerome and Dora Faulkner shocked and saddened the community. Their loss was particularly felt at Oxford’s Mountain Creek Baptist Church, where the Faulkners were dedicated members.

In the midst of their grief, members of the church started a scholarship fund in their memory at Vance-Granville Community College. Dora had completed her Nursing degree at VGCC, while Jerome had taken many continuing education courses at the college, some related to his electrical contractor’s license and others in the Emergency Medical Services and fire services fields, in his role as a volunteer firefighter.

A huge outpouring of generosity from the community has made this particular memorial scholarship fund one of the largest ever established at the college. Earlier this year, the scholarship became endowed at VGCC’s highest level, as the “Jerome and Dora Faulkner Memorial Presidential Scholar Award.” Jesse Edwards of Henderson, an Associate Degree Nursing student, recently became the first student to receive the scholarship at that level.

From left, VGCC Endowment Specialist Kay Currin, Mountain Creek Baptist Church members Annette Myers and Ann Fiscus, both of Oxford, and VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson gathered at the recent VGCC Scholarship Awards Dinner. Fiscus, also a nurse, was a friend of Dora Faulkner. (VGCC photo)

Church treasurer Annette Myers, who is also a member of the VGCC Board of Trustees, spearheaded the effort to establish the scholarship fund. “While it is so difficult to adequately express our love for Dora and Jerome,” Myers said, “we hope that, through this scholarship, they will impact generations to come, and this act will help ease some of the deep pain our community feels.”

A Franklin County native, Jerome T. Faulkner served as a deacon and usher at Mountain Creek Baptist Church. He was a founding member of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, serving as chief and president of the board of directors. A father and grandfather, Jerome was an electrician by trade.

Dora Boyd Faulkner was a longtime resident of Granville County and a native of Norfolk, Va. After graduating from VGCC in 1984, she worked as a nurse at Revlon and at Central Regional Hospital. Dora was also a first responder with the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department for several years.

In awarding the new scholarship, preference will be given to students in a health-related program of study, such as Nursing or Radiography. Recipients must also meet certain academic requirements.

“We express our gratitude to the members of Mountain Creek Baptist Church, whose gifts have created this memorial scholarship to support VGCC students,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of the college. “We’re deeply touched by their generosity and honored by their faith in the college that served Jerome and Dora Faulkner and helped them to serve their community. This scholarship is a fitting tribute to the Faulkners’ legacy, which will forever inspire our scholarship recipients as they prepare for their own careers of service.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,100 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.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

VGCC graduates 11 cadets in school’s 105th BLET Class

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— courtesy VGCC

Eleven cadets graduated on Dec. 12, 2017, 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 105th BLET class included Christian Sean Bulloss, Robert Joseph Hannon and Brandon Tyler Lomena, all of Butner Public Safety; Tyrell Jamal Perry of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office; Bradley James DeLello of the Greenville Police Department; Matthew Austin Davis and Christian Jurelle Teasley Hill Purnell, both of the Henderson Police Department; Brandon Michael Vajanyi of the Louisburg Police Department; Kyle Samuel Whitson of the N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation; and John Blackwell Hardy III and Logan Thomas Hite, both of the Oxford Police Department.

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 Jadyn Jones.

In front, from left, VGCC Basic Law Enforcement Training Class 105 graduates Christian Jurelle Teasley Hill Purnell, Logan Thomas Hite, Christian Sean Bulloss, Brandon Tyler Lomena and Robert Joseph Hannon; and in back, from left, graduates Brandon James DeLello, Matthew Austin Davis, Brandon Michael Vajanyi, Kyle Samuel Whitson, Tyrell Jamal Perry, John Blackwell Hardy III and VGCC law enforcement training coordinator Andrea Hyson. (VGCC Photo)

In welcoming remarks, Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s interim vice president of academic affairs, applauded the graduates and thanked their families for being their “support systems” during the 16-week program. Brown expressed his appreciation to all the faculty and staff who had instructed Class 105.

Speaking as leader of the class, Cadet Tyrell Perry added his thanks to the instructors. He presented a plaque on behalf of the cadets to Sgt. Richard Creech of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, honoring him as an “outstanding instructor.”

Graduates selected Lt. Gregory Earp of the Clayton Police Department, one of their instructors, to serve as their featured speaker. Perry said that the cadets had appreciated and benefitted from Earp’s “witty humor and years of experience.” He has been teaching part-time for VGCC since 2005.

Earp cautioned graduates that a law enforcement career takes an emotional toll. “During the journey you are about to embark upon, you will bear witness to some of the ugliness that this world has to offer. It will leave you with scar tissue,” Earp said. Nevertheless, he told the new officers that they would also have a wide variety of career opportunities open to them. “The great thing about this profession is that you can find your passion within this job and make it your own,” he said.

Andrea Hyson, the training program coordinator, presented awards to several students. Perry received a special Leadership Award. Davis won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in firearms qualification. Whitson earned the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo during physical training. Bulloss 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 Hyson at hysona@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

(VGCC in an advertising client of WIZS.)

VGCC to offer Food Truck Entrepreneurship on Main Campus with new instructor

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— courtesy VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College will soon offer its Mobile Food Truck Entrepreneurship Workshop Series at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County for the first time. Previously, the course was offered on the Franklin County and Warren County campuses.

A partnership of VGCC’s Small Business Center and Personal Enrichment department, the program will be held in Building 7 on Main Campus on four Monday evenings, Feb. 5 through Feb. 26, 2018.

Serving as instructor for the first time will be Ray Chow, founder of Hibachi Xpress and Catering by Ray. Chow has worked in restaurants since he was seven years old. A graduate of N.C. State University, he started Hibachi Xpress restaurant in Cary, and expanded to three locations, as well as managing some of his family’s other restaurants in the Raleigh and Wilmington areas.

In 2011, Chow expanded his restaurant/catering business with the addition of a food truck to participate in different festivals and large gatherings. Over the years, the popularity of food trucks has continued to grow, and in 2014, Hibachi Xpress shifted focus towards catering and the food truck business, moving away from the brick and mortar stores. Chow is also a co-founder of “foosye,” a startup tech company building innovative technology applications tailored to the food truck industry.

The first class in the series, “The Art of the Food Truck,” will be held on Feb. 5 from 6-9 p.m. This workshop serves as an introduction to the program and covers the fundamentals of owning and operating a mobile food unit.

“Preparing for Success: Concept and Design” will follow on Feb. 12 from 6-8 p.m. The design of the food unit as well as budgeting and costs are covered in this session.

“Administrative Necessities” is scheduled for Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m. Participants will learn about federal, state and local regulations, zoning, licenses and permits they will need.

“Marketing for Success” will conclude the series on Feb. 26 from 6-8 p.m. This session will include a panel discussion with several food truck owners, focusing in part on how they promote their food trucks through social media and other forms of advertising.

The cost of the program is $60 for the first class. The other three sessions are offered free of charge.

Participants in the program will also be required to sign up as clients of the VGCC Small Business Center, which is free of charge, and to complete the ServSafe food safety certification course. A separate fee of $74, plus materials, is charged for ServSafe.

The deadline to register is January 29, 2018. For more information and to register, contact VGCC Small Business Center director Tanya Weary at (252) 738-3240 or smallbusiness@vgcc.edu or Gail Clark at (252) 738-3385 or ped@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

VGCC enrolling students for spring semester

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— courtesy VGCC

Area residents have until Jan. 4, 2018, to complete the process of registering for the spring 2018 semester at Vance-Granville Community College, but college officials urge prospective students to register before the holidays.

The semester begins on Jan. 8, with classes offered on schedules of 16, 12 and 8 weeks. Course schedules are available online at schedules.vgcc.edu.

For new students, the process of enrollment begins with completing an application for admission at www.vgcc.edu/application along with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. Then, students will 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.

One relatively new resource for students residing in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties is the VanGuarantee scholarship program. The VanGuarantee is designed to cover tuition, student fees and/or textbooks for eligible students whose financial needs are unmet by federal financial aid and other means of support. For more information on all the various types of financial aid, contact the VGCC Financial Aid Office at fao@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3280.

The college offers classes at four campuses and online, including six degree programs that are offered completely online: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Medical Office Administration – Coding Specialist and Supply Chain Management.

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.

For more information on enrolling, call (252) 738-3234 or visit any campus.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

Wake Electric grant provides technology for VGCC Library

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— courtesy VGCC

A grant that Wake Electric Membership Corporation awarded to Vance-Granville Community College has been used for a project to provide enhanced technology for students in the Library on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

The $3,000 Classroom Technology grant purchased three 48-inch LED smart TV monitors allowing for large-screen displays in each of three study rooms in the library, as well as a Microsoft Surface tablet device that can also be used by students in those study rooms.

“We are very excited that our students can now use this interactive technology in our library to help them study and succeed in their classes,” said VGCC Director of Library Services Elaine Stem, who applied for the grant. “Our study room usage has doubled in the past year, and I know this new technology will only increase the demand for the study space.”

Stem explained that the rooms previously had 19-inch monitors, which were not well-suited for use by groups of students, or even by individual students needing high-quality visual representations. “We are very appreciative to Wake Electric for supporting VGCC students,” Stem added.

Whitney Duke of Henderson, a student in the VGCC Associate Degree Nursing program, uses one of the new monitors to study bones in a study room at the VGCC Main Campus Library. (VGCC photo)

Wake Electric awards Classroom Technology grants to public K-12 schools and community colleges in its service area. The funds for the grants come from WEMC members who agree to round up their light bill to the nearest whole dollar through the “Operation RoundUp” program. Wake Electric is a non-profit electric utility serving over 42,500 consumers in parts of Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance, and Wake counties.

For more information on library services at VGCC, call (252) 738-3279 or visit library.vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

SGA leaders take office at VGCC

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— courtesy VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College’s Student Government Association (SGA) has installed a group of officers to serve during the 2017-2018 year.

The officers, elected by VGCC students earlier in the fall semester, include President Sovanny “Sophie” Taylor of Louisburg, Vice-President Aaron Williams of Kittrell, Secretary/Treasurer Brianna Barnes of Manson, Parliamentarian Jai Butts of Durham, and Public Information Officer Fakea Walker of Oxford. All five are students in the College Transfer program at VGCC. Taylor and Williams are both Franklin County Early College High School students.

VGCC Student Government Association officers for 2017-2018 include, from left, Public Information Officer Fakea Walker, Secretary/Treasurer Brianna Barnes, President Sovanny “Sophie” Taylor, Parliamentarian Jai Butts and Vice-President Aaron Williams. (VGCC photo)

As SGA president, Taylor is also the student trustee, representing the interests of her fellow students at all meetings of the VGCC Board of Trustees.

The Student Government Association is designed to promote the general welfare of the college in a democratic fashion and to facilitate communication among the student body, the faculty, and the administration. SGA also provides a means through which students can promote interest in student activities, both on and off campus. For more information on SGA, contact Jermiel Hargrove, coordinator of Student Activities and Athletics, at (252) 738-3246.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)