Tag Archive for: VGCC

VGCC celebrates first graduates supported by ‘VanGuarantee’ scholarship

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HENDERSON, N.C. — When six students walked across the stage to receive their degrees at Vance-Granville Community College’s May commencement exercises, they quietly made history. They were among the first graduates of the college who had received the “VanGuarantee” scholarship to help eliminate any financial barriers standing between them and their academic goals.

The innovative scholarship program was first announced in 2016 by the president of the college, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, with the first scholarships being awarded in the fall 2016 semester. The VanGuarantee was made possible by a $1.6 million bequest to VGCC from the estate of Wilbert A. Edwards, a resident of Oxford at the time of his death and a native of Vance County. The gift, announced in 2015, is the second largest in the history of the college. 

Three of the VanGuarantee recipients participating in Commencement were graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing program: Brittany Champion of Creedmoor, Courtney Humphries of eastern Granville County and Erin Woodlief of Franklinton. Alicia Toler of Raleigh, a former Granville County resident, graduated with an Associate in Arts degree. Kristen Honaker of Henderson completed a degree in Pharmacy Technology. Tanisha Silver of Warrenton graduated from the Medical Office Administration degree program.

“Receiving the VanGuarantee meant a lot to me,” Silver reflected. “I received a community college grant for the fall 2016 semester, but I still didn’t have enough to pay for my books. I was told about the VanGuarantee scholarship, and I was ecstatic about it. It has helped me out a lot, because it has made it possible for me to finish school.” Silver is currently in the job market for employment in a doctor’s office or hospital setting and is considering continuing her education at the bachelor’s degree level. A former certified nursing assistant and a mother, she said she waited until all of her children were in school to work on advancing her own career through education.

Toler said she was very appreciative of the opportunity that the VanGuarantee provided her. She intends to transfer into a four-year university to study nursing. “Had it not been for the VGCC Financial Aid Office staff, particularly Ms. Tonya Strum, telling me about the VanGuarantee scholarship, I don’t think I would have been able to stay in school,” Toler said.

At least two graduates are already employed, Champion in the emergency room at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham and Humphries at Maria Parham Health in Henderson, working in Outpatient Surgical Services. “I am very thankful that I was able to receive the VanGuarantee this year,” Humphries said. “It has helped me finish my last two semesters of RN school. I am truly blessed beyond words!”

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. The program is one of a number of “promise” or “guarantee” programs across the country, created by individual colleges or by states, in response to growing concerns from policymakers and students about the rising cost of higher education. In 2016, the VanGuarantee was recognized by the White House and national groups focused on college affordability.

Some college promise programs are open only to recent high school graduates, but the VanGuarantee applies to all eligible adults in the four counties, reflecting VGCC’s longstanding tradition of helping adults retrain for new careers at any age.

Among the eligibility requirements for the VanGuarantee, students must reside in the college’s service area (Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties) and qualify for in-state tuition. Eligible students must enroll in at least nine credit hours per semester in any VGCC curriculum program and not already possess a post-secondary degree from any college or university. They must first apply for and meet the eligibility requirements for federal and state financial aid programs. Next, they apply for endowed VGCC scholarships. When students still lack the funds to pay for their education after exhausting those and other sources, the VanGuarantee program helps to fill the gap. That makes the program an example of what is often called a “last-dollar scholarship.”

Once enrolled in the VanGuarantee program, students must maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) to continue receiving the scholarship.

For more information on applying for the VanGuarantee, students can visit www.vgcc.edu/fao/vanguarantee.

–VGCC–

VGCC Receives Largest Grant in School History

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CREEDMOOR, N.C. — Vance-Granville Community College today announced it received an in-kind software grant from Siemens PLM Software, with a commercial value of $31 million.

The in-kind grant gives students access to the same technology that companies around the world depend on every day to develop innovative products in a wide variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, machinery, shipbuilding, high-tech electronics and many more.

Graduates with this type of software training are highly-recruited candidates for advanced technology jobs.

The in-kind grant was provided by the Siemens PLM Software’s academic program that delivers PLM software for schools at every academic level. Siemens PLM Software is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services.

The in-kind grant for VGCC includes Siemens PLM Software’sTecnomatix® portfolio, the industry-leading digital manufacturing software.

This is in addition to a previous in-kind grant that included the company’s Solid Edge® software, an intuitive product development platform for accelerating all aspects of product creation, including 3D design, simulation, visualization, manufacturing, and design management.

Both software packages will be used by students in VGCC’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology degree program.

“Vance-Granville Community College would like to thank Siemens PLM Software for this generous grant of advanced engineering software that enables our students to better prepare for successful advanced technology careers,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “By using the same technology in the classroom that is used by companies all over the world to develop a wide variety of products, our students gain important real-world experience during their studies that will serve them well after graduation.”

“Despite an immediate, critical need for qualified technology-trained professionals in manufacturing, our customers have difficulty finding qualified candidates,” said Dora Smith, global director, Academic Partner Program, Siemens PLM Software. “Working with Vance-Granville Community College, Siemens PLM Software is helping prepare students with the knowledge and experience to fill this skills gap and become highly qualified employees.”

About Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College, one of the 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System, is the local source for higher education and training in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, north of the Research Triangle. Established in 1969, VGCC today serves students at four campuses (one in each county of the service area) and online. The college offers more than 40 curriculum programs, as well as occupational certifications, continuing education, adult education, customized training for employers and the first two years of a four-year degree. VGCC’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology degree program is based at the college’s South Campus, located near Creedmoor in southern Granville County. For more information, visit www.vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

Legal note

Note: Solid Edge and Tecnomatix are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

VGCC Radiography students attend state conference, where instructor receives award

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Second-year students in the Radiography program at Vance-Granville Community College attended the recent annual conference of the North Carolina Society for Radiologic Technologists (NCSRT), Inc., at Great Wolf Lodge in Concord.

While at the conference, VGCC Radiography instructor Lewis Daughtry, Jr., was awarded the NCSRT Imaging Professionals for Excellence Award. At each conference, this award recognizes one professional currently working in North Carolina who has made a significant difference to the imaging profession and in the lives of patients, peers, and the community.

Daughtry was secretly nominated for the award by second-year Radiography students for his dedication to the program and its students. “I was surprised and honored when I found out the nomination came from our students,” Daughtry said. “The faculty of the Radiography program at VGCC have a rigorous curriculum to prepare our students for the national registry. To get a show of appreciation from a group that you are challenging to be the best technologists they can be is humbling.”

A resident of Burlington, Daughtry joined the VGCC Radiography program as an instructor in 2013. He continues to also work as a technologist at UNC Hospitals. Daughtry earned his bachelor’s in radiologic science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s in business administration at Elon University. He is credentialed by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists in Radiography, Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

“I enjoy teaching because it is a rewarding way to directly impact my profession,” Daughtry reflected. “The radiography profession gives one limitless opportunities to have a positive impact on patient care, as well as numerous pathways to personal and career growth. I have personally been able to enjoy positions that have ranged from x-ray, MRI, CT, IT, management and teaching, all as a result of having a foundation in diagnostic radiography. Through teaching, I not only give others the opportunity to have a gratifying career in a profession I love, but feel an obligation to give the profession that has been so good to me the best possible technologists to keep the profession strong and continue to elevate patient care.”

“On behalf of the NCSRT, Inc. Board of Directors, I would like to personally thank you for your continued, dedicated service to our profession,” Michelle Walden, a board member and faculty member at Fayetteville Technical Community College, wrote in a message to Daughtry. “You are truly a wonderful role model for your students, peers, colleagues, and friends throughout the profession.”

Also during the conference, VGCC students participated in the Radiography Tech Bowl, a quiz bowl-type event that allows students to test their knowledge of radiography concepts against other schools from throughout the state.

The mission of the NCSRT, Inc., founded in 1939 as the North Carolina Society of X-Ray Technicians, is to give health care professionals the knowledge, resources, and support they need to provide quality patient care. The society works to enhance the delivery of radiologic care and to ensure its safety, quality, and efficiency. NCSRT is an affiliate of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Based at VGCC’s South Campus between Butner and Creedmoor, the two-year Radiography degree program prepares graduates to be radiographers, skilled health care professionals who use radiation to produce images of the human body. For more information on Radiography, contact Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas at (252) 738-3397.

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Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company endows VGCC Scholarship

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Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, which has a major manufacturing and distribution facility in Oxford, recently established a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College.

For the company, headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the scholarship marks an enhancement of its partnership with the community college. The company was the presenting sponsor of VGCC’s 33rd annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament in May, which set a new record for fundraising success.

Mike Little, president of Santa Fe Natural Tobacco, said his company values VGCC’s important role in economic and workforce development. “It’s important for us at Santa Fe to be involved in our community and supportive of our community,” Little said. “In addition, if we can help prepare people for professional life who might work for us one day, that’s a win-win.” He added that VGCC, particularly through its Continuing Education division, has been helpful to his company. “Vance-Granville has already provided us with great training that has deepened the skills of many of our employees, and we look forward to continuing that partnership,” Little said. 

The “Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Academic Achievement Award” will be the company’s first endowed scholarship at a community college, according to Little. His company is a subsidiary of Reynolds American, which, Little noted, is also interested in philanthropy and supporting higher education. In awarding the new scholarship, preference will be given to students enrolled in programs that help meet the employment needs of manufacturers, such as Welding Technology, Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Business Administration.

“Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company is a strong community partner and supporter of Vance-Granville,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “We are grateful to them for investing in our students and in the future of our region.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 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.

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NCCU and VGCC Launch Program for Early Childhood Teachers and Specialists

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DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Department of Human Sciences and Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) have signed an agreement to offer two education-related bachelor’s degree programs on the community college campus in Henderson, N.C.

NCCU will provide the second two years of study at VGCC for students with Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as provide support services and access to NCCU’s resources, such as the Shepard Library on campus. VGCC will recruit qualified students for the two programs and provide classrooms, labs and other resources as needed on campus.

The new offerings include a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, which typically leads to a teaching certificate for working in preschool and kindergarten programs in North Carolina. The bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Development and Family Relations focuses on child development and prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings, including individual and family counseling programs, youth centers, social services, child care agencies and others.

NCCU and VGCC have had an existing partnership for criminal justice majors called Eagle Voyage that started in 2016.

“We are excited about this opportunity to form an additional partnership with Vance-Granville Community College,” said NCCU Interim Chancellor Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye. “Preparing students to educate the youngest and most vulnerable among us is important work. We look forward to seeing these students soar to graduation, so they can begin to educate and inspire the newest generation of North Carolina citizens.”

“We are proud to be expanding our successful partnership with North Carolina Central University to provide new opportunities for our graduates to continue their training as educators and earn a bachelor’s degree here in our community,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “Providing clear academic pathways from the community college to the university level is one important way in which we support our Vanguards so that they can achieve professional success.”

Research has shown that high quality preschool and kindergarten experiences are instrumental in giving children, especially those from economically challenged backgrounds, a better chance to succeed in upper grades and throughout life. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2015 found the ability to master social-emotional skills in kindergarten was linked to adult performance in areas such as educational attainment, employment, criminal activity, substance use, and mental health.

Students who graduate from the four-year Early Childhood Education program must take the N.C. Teaching License exam to work in public schools with preschoolers or kindergarten classes. Prior to graduation, all students must have a directed teaching experience in a public-school kindergarten or a state or nationally accredited early childhood education program.

North Carolina Central University prepares students to succeed in the global marketplace. Flagship programs include science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines, nursing, education, law, business and the arts. Founded in 1910 as a liberal arts college for African-Americans, NCCU remains committed to diversity in higher education. Our alumni are among the nation’s most successful scientists, researchers, educators, attorneys, artists and entrepreneurs.  Visit www.nccu.edu.

 

VGCC to offer Enrollment Day on June 29

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Vance-Granville Community College will hold “Enrollment Day” on Thursday, June 29, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., at all four of its campuses.

During those extended hours, VGCC admissions, financial aid and advising staff members will be ready to assist anyone who is interested in enrolling at the college for the Fall 2017 semester, which starts on Aug. 14.

Students are encouraged to pre-register at www.vgcc.edu/enrollmentday.

Refreshments and free VGCC t-shirts will be available for incoming students on Enrollment Day while supplies last.

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 classes at VGCC is ongoing, through Aug. 10. For more information on enrolling for the fall, call (252) 738-3234 or visit any campus.

–VGCC–

VGCC celebrates Male Mentoring students

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The second annual PRIDE awards were presented as the Male Mentoring Success Initiative (MMSI) at Vance-Granville Community College recently held a ceremony to recognize outstanding students who have excelled in the program.

The ceremony, held May 3 at VGCC’s South Campus, began with welcoming remarks from the dean of that campus, Cecilia Wheeler. “Being involved in this program shows that you are leaders,” Wheeler told the students.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Male Mentoring PRIDE awards. As Anthony Pope, co-coordinator for the MMSI, explained, PRIDE stands for “Pin Recognizing Individuals Demonstrating Excellence.” Each honored student received a lapel pin and a certificate.

For their longevity being active in the program, Anthonie Mycal Elam of Warrenton and Jerry Pierce Jr. of Stem received the PRIDE Awards for Tenure.

PRIDE Awards for Engagement went to Johnathan Williamson of Oxford and Christopher Blue of Henderson for being active in the program and bringing in other students.

PRIDE Awards for Athletic Excellence went to three members of the Vanguards men’s basketball team, Christopher Pernell and NiQuan Cousins, both of Raleigh, and TyQuon Reid of Goldsboro.

Blue, Reid and Williamson also received PRIDE Awards for Leadership.

PRIDE Awards for Scholarship were presented to Williamson, Cody Boylorn and Tyler Boylorn, both of Franklinton, Osvaldo Hernandez of Stem, Brian Restrepo and David Restrepo, both of Youngsville,

Hadden Justice of Louisburg, and Francis Scotland of Oxford.

The event also featured by remarks by several students. Justice said he was enrolled in Automotive Systems Technology and became involved in the MMSI after finding out that the group would be taking a trip that included a tour of UNC-Charlotte. Taking the tour helped him decide to transfer to that university in the fall to study Motorsports Engineering after completing his VGCC diploma. Likewise, Scotland said that the MMSI trip gave him a closer look at UNC-Charlotte, where he may be continuing his education in engineering to the master’s level. Scotland recently graduated from the college with both an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science. He thanked Pope, Academic Skills Center Coordinator Jason Snelling, and the college generally for their support.

Former VGCC student mentee Harold Ragland, who is now a student at North Carolina Central University, returned to speak to the mentoring initiative’s current participants. “Be your own person, and be a leader in the community,” Ragland urged them.

Williamson, a Radiography student who has mentored some of the younger students in the program, said he appreciated the “opportunities for networking and learning” in the MMSI. “Some of the things you get here at VGCC you don’t get at the bigger universities, like the individual help and commitment,” Williamson noted. “We’ve learned in the mentoring program to represent ourselves and our school well.”

Several special guests who had participated in the MMSI speakers’ series during the year offered words of congratulations and encouragement to the students. These included former Harlem Globetrotter James “Twiggy” Sanders, attorney Roderick Allison (who also presented a solo on the trumpet), and attorney and former N.C. District Court Judge Quon Bridges.

In addition to the PRIDE awards, Anthony Pope presented a certificate to every student who actively participated in the program this year. In closing remarks, VGCC Dean of Enrollment & Outreach Jeffrey Allen thanked Pope and co-coordinator Michael Farmer for their efforts to support students.

Supported by a grant from the North Carolina Community College System, the MMSI at VGCC works to help male students stay in school and on track to graduate or transfer to a four-year university. For more information on the mentoring initiative, contact Anthony Pope at popea@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3395.

–VGCC–

Former Judge Quon Bridges speaks at VGCC South Campus

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Attorney and former N.C. District Court Judge S. Quon Bridges spoke to students, faculty and staff at Vance-Granville Community College’s South Campus as part of a speakers’ series sponsored by the college’s Male Mentoring Success Initiative (MMSI), as the spring semester drew to a close. Among those in the audience were Granville Early College High School students.

Bridges recalled his mother, who had recently passed away at the time he spoke to students. She had encouraged her 11 children to read and to stay out of gangs, he told the audience. Bridges then recalled a harrowing incident from his childhood when he found his mother, injured and bleeding, at home one night.

“She told me that some young men had beaten and robbed her,” Bridges said. “I picked up my baseball bat. I wanted to go look for these guys. But my mother grabbed my arm and said, ‘Son, I can get back what was robbed, but if you go out to get revenge, and you get hurt or get in trouble, I can’t replace you. Don’t be like those young men who did this to me. Make something of your life.’” He added, “I try to encourage all young people to do the same.”

Bridges said that young people need to “feel good about themselves” and avoid illegal drug activity. “You all have potential to do great things in life,” he told his audience. “You’re responsible for yourself. No more excuses! Get out there and do the very best you can do.”

Success, Bridges advised them, will not happen overnight. He talked about how, when he was a child, he and each of his siblings were given a wall in their house, on which they could post what they wanted. He would cut out pictures of courtrooms, lawyers and judges to post on his wall as a way of visualizing his future.

Bridges received his bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and his Juris Doctorate from the North Carolina Central University School of Law. He was appointed by former Governor Mike Easley as a district court judge for the 9th Judicial District in 2007. Prior to this appointment, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for 17 years. He began his career working for the North Central Legal Assistance Program before becoming a private practice lawyer. Bridges also is currently a member of the Oxford board of commissioners.

He encouraged students to continue their education, keep working hard and believe in themselves.

Supported by a grant from the North Carolina Community College System, the MMSI at VGCC works to help male students stay in school and on track to graduate or transfer to a four-year university. For more information on the mentoring initiative, contact Anthony Pope at popea@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3395.

–VGCC–

Spence Bailey named VGCC Director of Admissions

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Spence Bailey has been named the director of admissions at Vance-Granville Community College. As part of the college’s Enrollment and Outreach division, Bailey will lead a department that develops and maintains a student-centered process of admission, from engaging and recruiting prospective students to welcoming them to VGCC.

Bailey has been a member of the VGCC staff, as College Recruiter, since 2006. A resident of Oxford, he graduated from J.F. Webb High School and then started his higher education at VGCC. He then transferred to East Carolina University, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in communications. Bailey then worked for WCTI-TV, the local ABC affiliate in the New Bern-Greenville area, first as a creative services producer and later as a news photographer before joining the staff at VGCC. He has since completed a web design certificate at VGCC and will soon complete a master’s degree in network technology at ECU. 

Bailey is a graduate of Leadership Granville, a program sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with VGCC and Granville County Schools, and now serves on the program’s steering committee.

“A VGCC alumnus, Spence has been a dedicated, innovative member of our staff for more than a decade, collaborating with other faculty and staff, as well as community partners, to recruit students and inform them about all the opportunities available at the college,” VGCC Dean of Enrollment & Outreach Jeffrey Allen said. “We look forward to his leadership as our Admissions team continues to inspire and support new Vanguards who are joining our diverse community of learners.”

Bailey and his team are currently enrolling students for the fall semester, which begins Aug. 14. For more information, apply for admission online at www.vgcc.edu or call (252) 738-3234.

–VGCC–

Creedmoor attorney speaks to Vance County Early College students

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Shortly before the recent spring semester ended, attorney Roderick Allison of Creedmoor spoke to Vance County Early College High School students as part of a spring speakers’ series sponsored by the Vance-Granville Community College Male Mentoring Success Initiative (MMSI). VGCC staff member Anthony Pope, co-coordinator of the MMSI, introduced Allison as a “triple threat,” not only an attorney but also a comedian and a musician. Allison has performed comedy and made motivational presentations to groups across the country.

Allison talked with the students, who were joined by some faculty and staff from both the high school and the college, about their dreams and the need for hard work to achieve those dreams. 

“Find out what you’re good at, and focus on that,” Allison advised the students. “Also, know what you’re not good at. Personally, I’m not good at math.” He recalled that in high school, “I made all A’s in math because I’m funny. I made the math teachers laugh and I was creative, and they gave me good grades for the effort!”

Everyone has potential, he emphasized. “In school, I was smart, but mostly, I worked hard and I developed my talents. I ended up being the valedictorian of my graduating class at North Carolina Central University, even though others were smarter than me.” Allison put that same work ethic to practice in comedy, repeatedly practicing a routine in his basement as a young man. He told the young students that they cannot wait until later to develop their talents and skills. “Prepare now for what you want to be,” he said.

Supported by a grant from the North Carolina Community College System, the MMSI at VGCC works to help male students stay in school and on track to graduate or transfer to a four-year university. For more information on the mentoring initiative, contact Anthony Pope at popea@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3395.

–VGCC–