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.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Former-Judge-Quon-Bridges-speaks-at-VGCC-South-Campus.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-08 12:34:112017-06-08 12:34:11Former Judge Quon Bridges speaks at VGCC South Campus
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.
“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.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/VGlogoWIZS.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-08 12:25:442017-06-08 12:25:44Spence Bailey named VGCC Director of Admissions
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.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Creedmoor-attorney-speaks-to-Vance-County-Early-College-students-1.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-08 11:57:092017-06-08 11:57:09Creedmoor attorney speaks to Vance County Early College students
Students in the Pharmacy Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College have been participating in a unique “community pharmacy practice” clinical rotation at a Granville County nonprofit organization.
Under the supervision of Pharmacy Technology Program Head Dr. Erica Fleming, students completed part of their clinical rotation at Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM) in Oxford on Fridays during the spring semester. The students provided health services for ACIM clients such as blood pressure checks, diabetes risk assessments and medication therapy services, while also providing information on vital health issues, stroke awareness and chronic disease state management.
The mission of ACIM, an organization made up of Granville County churches and faith-based organizations, is to provide food and other resources and services to Granville County citizens in need. In addition to food items, ACIM is able to provide financial assistance for housing and utilities to clients who meet certain eligibility requirements.
This marked the fourth semester that VGCC students have worked with clients at ACIM. Sue Hinman, ACIM’s executive director, said the partnership with the college is the first of its kind for her organization. “This partnership is awesome,” Hinman said. “My clients are getting to know the students, and it makes a huge difference that our clients know that there is someone they can talk to and get information about medications, so that they can take better care of themselves.” She added that by collaborating with the Pharmacy Technology students and faculty, she and her volunteers have also gained a better understanding of the medications that their clients are taking.
Fleming said that the partnership is helping not only the community, but also the students. “Rotating here is an example of community pharmacy practice,” she said. “We want to expose our students to this area in the field of pharmacy and expand their perspective. This experience gives students another way to apply what they learn in class. It’s a good way to learn about various diseases, because we never know what we are going to encounter.” Fleming said students sometimes need to research problems that clients have and come back the next week to offer them possible solutions. “We screen people for diabetes and high blood pressure and counsel them on their medications,” she said. “We also provide them with information about services that can help them pay for prescriptions, like NC MedAssist.”
Fleming added that through her program’s “Rx 4 Life” project, her students give each ACIM client a handy medication card that they can keep in their pocket. On the card, clients can make a list of all their medications, the reasons they use them and when to take them. The card also has spaces for important phone numbers and other information.
“The purpose of the project is to empower patients to take an active role in managing their medications, to increase patient medication knowledge, to optimize medication use to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients and to provide patients with a portable medication record,” Fleming said. Another card that students created and distributed to clients has information on the signs of stroke, as well as the client’s target weight, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood glucose. Awareness of the targets for these major risk factors of stroke gives patients specific areas to focus on when setting health care goals. Spaces on the card allow them to track their actual data over time.
Fleming said that overall, the ACIM partnership has helped her program “to develop community ties and promote awareness of us as a resource.” She estimated that her students have seen almost 400 clients to date.
Tamika Everett of Creedmoor, one of the spring semester students, recalled one remarkable incident. “We had a client who lived by herself,” Everett said. “She came in to receive services from ACIM, not intending to visit us, but she saw us and came over.” The students checked her blood pressure and were shocked to find that her systolic blood pressure number was over 220, which generally indicates a life-threatening hypertensive crisis.
Fleming notified the client’s primary care provider and immediate family members, and then took her to a nearby emergency room for monitoring and treatment. “We’re glad we were able to help her, because who knows what would have happened?” Everett wondered. Fleming said that is just one dramatic example of how area residents visit ACIM because of one particular need but end up receiving help with other needs, including health and medication management issues.
For information on volunteering at ACIM, call (919) 690-0961. For more information on the VGCC Pharmacy Technology program, call Dr. Fleming at (252) 738-3482.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/VGCC-Pharmacy-Technology-students-serve-community.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-08 09:47:262017-06-08 09:47:26VGCC Pharmacy Technology students serve community
Vance-Granville Community College students recently earned several awards at the 52nd annual SkillsUSA North Carolina State Leadership and Skills Conference, which was held in Greensboro. A record 2,600 participants competed in 110 contests at the conference, billed as the largest showcase of career and technical education in the state.
VGCC Culinary Arts student Shirley Bennett of Durham took home second place in commercial baking, while her classmate, Marcus Brown of Henderson, placed third in the same competition, in which students had to produce cookies, bread and muffins on a large scale.
Two other Culinary Arts students, Hayya Wright of Louisburg and Tyneshia Brackett of Creedmoor, placed third and fifth, respectively, in the culinary arts competition. The contest challenged participants to think on their feet in a “mystery box” format, in which each student was given a box of ingredients and asked to prepare a soup and an entree in a limited amount of time.
Tonisha Chavis of Oxford, a Cosmetology student, placed fifth in the SkillsUSA nail care competition, which was held at the Greensboro Coliseum. The culinary and baking contests were held at Guilford Technical Community College.
VGCC students were accompanied to Greensboro by Culinary Arts instructor Jillian Whitlow and Cosmetology Program Head/instructor Tomeka Moss.
SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. With 18,000 chapters and more than 335,000 active members, SkillsUSA is a national membership organization serving middle-school, high-school and college/post-secondary students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. Among the benefits to VGCC students are opportunities to participate in competitions, which are designed by industry experts and showcase the nation’s top career and technical education students.
“We are very proud of our students for demonstrating that they are among the best in North Carolina,” said Steve Hargrove, VGCC’s Public Services department chair and lead advisor for the SkillsUSA chapter.
For more information on SkillsUSA at VGCC, contact Steve Hargrove at hargroves@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3467.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/VGCC-students-excel-at-SkillsUSA-state-competition.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-08 09:42:052017-06-08 09:42:05VGCC students excel at SkillsUSA state competition
Teamwork is what got a group from Vance-Granville Community College onto the track at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway — not only the teamwork demonstrated by students and faculty from curriculum programs at the college, but also by a team of sponsors from the community who supported them.
For the first time, VGCC sent a team to compete in an event as part of the GreenpowerUSA racing series supported by Siemens and the Sports Car Club of America. GreenpowerUSA is a national organization that promotes education in sustainable engineering and technology by offering challenges for schools based around designing and building a single-seat, electric-powered racecar. The series is open to middle schools, high schools, colleges and corporate teams. After the University of Alabama dropped out of this year’s GreenpowerUSA program, VGCC was the sole remaining college at the Greenpower Grand Prix at Indianapolis on May 1.
The Indy race followed a 10-week period of intense work by VGCC students to design, procure parts, manufacture parts and construct the car. It’s obviously not a cinch to construct a car, for it is a really arduous and tedious process. And the limelight that comes after a really good model is made is completely well-deserving. For example, the Cybertruck Takes A Joy Ride Through Pop Culture right after it was unveiled and has already become popular with all celebrities. But anyway, after Mechatronics Engineering Technology students designed the basic layout, Welding Technology student Joshua Pfohl of Wilton, with assistance from classmate Jared Q. Siemers of Wake Forest, fabricated the frame of the car. From there, the Welding team worked with the Mechatronics students, including Jerry Pierce, Jr. of Stem, Thomas Boyd of Henderson, Kyle Painter of Berea and Charles Nordcliff of Creedmoor, to complete construction and start testing. The drivers for the team were recruited from among the VGCC student body. Driving the car and setting the driving strategy in the final race of the weekend were Jessica Baker of Wake Forest (a pre-Nursing/general education student), Alexa Clayton of Rougemont (Cosmetology) and Olivia Williamson of Oxford (Radiography). None of the students had raced before.
Faculty members leading the effort included Applied Technologies Department Chair Keith Shearon, Welding Program Head Rusty Pace and Engineering Technologies Program Head Wesley Williams.
A number of local business sponsors joined to support the effort, including PowerSecure of Wake Forest, Charles Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC of Henderson, Vance County Tourism/East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame, VanNess Chevrolet of Creedmoor, Duke Energy, Toyota of Henderson and Superior Tooling of Wake Forest. In addition, Action Graphics & Signs of Bullock affixed graphics representing the sponsors onto the sides of the car and provided some parts and expertise. The college’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant funded many of the components and raw materials for the collaborative project.
The Greenpower Grand Prix at IMS featured 27 teams from the United States and Britain coming together to race. The Indy event included two 90-minute races over the 2.6-mile MotoGP layout, during which pit stops were conducted for two driver changes. VGCC’s car placed 21st in the first race and came in 13th in the second. At the finish of the second race, the VGCC car was the fastest on the track. “For that car to have never run a race before, show up and run two races without failing during either, and to finish 13th in the second race, is a phenomenal feat,” Shearon said. He added that the drivers achieved faster speeds than he had expected. Being at the enormous speedway, student Jerry Pierce added, was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
GreenpowerUSA racecars are built to a specification that includes a single-sourced 24V DC electric motor and two specific 12V DC batteries that are meant to provide similar performance capability between teams, according to Shearon. Teams focus on the engineering problems of reducing friction, total driver/vehicle weight, increasing reliability, and improving aerodynamics. The largest technical challenges are chassis and bodywork design.
“The GreenpowerUSA program is a very good STEM catalyst,” Shearon said. “These projects promote science, technology, engineering and math to students through a hands-on experience as team members. GreenpowerUSA builds teamwork, releases creative energy and inspires confidence through personal achievement.” He added that the effort was “groundbreaking for VGCC, in the sense that we’re going way outside of our community and getting some recognition for our engineering and welding programs.” Shearon expressed his appreciation to the Welding and Mechatronics programs for collaborating so well, and to the local community sponsors for supporting the team.
Shearon said that the college plans to expand the program next year with more cars and hopes to encourage other local schools and colleges to compete. For more information on the TAACCCT grant program and participating in the next GreenpowerUSA project as a student, contact Zane Styers at styersz@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3342 or Keith Shearon at shearonj@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3256.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/VGCC-team-competes-in-electric-car-race-at-Indianapolis-Motor-Speedway-with-help-from-sponsors.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-05 16:55:522020-02-14 02:57:11VGCC team competes in electric car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Troy Glover of Youngsville recently made history at Vance-Granville Community College, when he became the first person to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam at the college’s Franklin County Campus.
According to VGCC Medical Assisting instructor Patrice Allen, the college has been working for the past several years to become an approved testing site that could administer the certification examination, which was established by American Medical Technologists (AMT). “We were finally able to begin the testing process this spring,” Allen said. “This is a set-up that can be offered not only to our students but also to students from other accredited medical assisting programs who would like to sit for the test here in lieu of going much further out of the area for that same process.” Several graduates from other schools have visited the campus to take the exam since Glover did.
By passing the exam, Glover, who graduated with his Medical Assisting diploma from VGCC in 2016, now holds the RMA title, which is less common in North Carolina than the title of Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). “This will help me to stand in the job market,” Glover said. “I want to thank Mrs. Allen for all her encouragement.” He said that the exam was certainly difficult, but being able to take it at VGCC made the process easier. “It’s less stressful being in familiar territory,” Glover noted.
Glover retired after many years of working in the Wake County Public School System in the special programs and technology departments. “I had always wanted to work in health care after I had the experience of being an athletic trainer when I was a student at Louisburg College and later at East Millbrook Middle School,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do after retiring. I thought, why not do something I wanted to do a long time ago?” Now, Glover is taking his new certification into the job market. “There are lots of diverse job opportunities for a medical assistant, many of which I didn’t even realize,” he said. He is particularly interested in working in physical therapy. Glover said that although he has completed his medical assisting training, he is still coming to VGCC for a CPR class.
VGCC offers both a one-year diploma and a two-year associate degree in Medical Assisting, an allied health profession whose multi-skilled practitioners perform administrative, clinical and lab procedures. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting continues to be projected as one of the fastest-growing occupations in America. As VGCC’s program is nationally accredited, graduates are eligible to sit for the AAMA certification examination to become Certified Medical Assistants.
For more information either about enrolling in Medical Assisting or about testing, contact Patrice Allen at allenp@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3631.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Recent-VGCC-Medical-Assisting-graduate-first-to-take-RMA-exam-on-campus.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-05 16:54:242017-06-05 16:57:08Recent VGCC Medical Assisting graduate first to take RMA exam on campus
Vance-Granville Community College’s 33rd annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, presented by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, hit a new record total by raising $116,675 to help fund scholarships for deserving students and support the mission of the college. That result surpassed the $104,160 generated in 2016, in what was previously the highest-grossing golf tournament in VGCC history.
A total of 161 golfers formed 41 teams to play in either the morning or the afternoon round on May 2, 2017, at Henderson Country Club.
“We are so appreciative of all the golfers and sponsors who demonstrated their commitment to education and economic development again this year,” said VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams. “Such strong community support made this our most successful tournament ever and beat our previous fundraising record for the sixth consecutive year. Since 1985, VGCC golf tournaments have now raised more than $862,000, making a significant impact on our students and our college.”
At the dinner held to round out the day, players received trophies as they also took home an assortment of door prizes and participated in a silent auction. VGCC student Evan O’Geary of Henderson, who is also the reigning “Miss Henderson,” expressed her thanks to those who participated in the tournament.
In the morning round, the team of Jordan Peterson, Michael Patterson, Tim Gemmell and Billy Gillispie took home the “first net” trophy.
The team of Xavier Wortham, Cecil Lockley, Darryl Moss and Mike Bonfield won “second net.”
The “first gross” trophy went to the AAA team of Hal Finch, Kyle Holtzman, David Thomas and Blair Thomas.
In the afternoon round, the Union Bank team, which included John Burns, Gene Edmundson, Andrew Byrd and Carlston Harris, finished with the “first net” score.
The team of Jan Fletcher, Steve McNally, George Foster and Steven Brame won “second net.”
The “first gross” trophy in the afternoon went to the Institutional Interiors team of Tim Hill, Billy Stanton, Macy Foster and George Watkins.
Dennis Daniel took the longest-drive prize on Hole 1 in the morning round, while Tripp Watkins of the Rose Oil team had the longest drive in the afternoon.
David Rigsbee of the Durham Coca-Cola team won the closest to the pin prize on Hole 11 in the morning, and Chris Cheever of the MR Williams team took that honor in the afternoon round.
Numerous companies and individuals supported the VGCC tournament as sponsors. In addition to presenting sponsor Santa Fe Natural Tobacco, the “Premier Sponsors” included Ardagh; Charles Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC; Bridgestone; Carolina Commonwealth; Coldwell Banker Advantage; Duke Energy; Durham Coca-Cola; First Citizens Bank Investor Services; Glen Raven; Maria Parham Health; Novozymes North America, Inc.; Private Wealth Management of N.C.; Robling Medical; Rose Oil Company; Union Bank; Universal Leaf North America U.S., Inc.; and Wester Insurance Agency.
Platinum sponsors were Altec; CertainTeed; Granville Health System; HD Supply; Institutional Interiors; Inter Technologies Corporation; K-Flex; Kilian Engineering; MR Williams; Park Automation; Sullins Engineering; The Athlete’s Foot; Vanco Outdoor Equipment; and Variety Stores, Inc.
Gold sponsors for the tournament were Carolina Sunrock; Encore Technology Group; Golden Skillet; Ted’s Catering Service; and Winston International.
Green sponsors included 220 Seafood Restaurant; Backyard Retreat Pools & Spas; Barnett Real Properties, Inc.; Bearpond Fresh Market; Burger King; CEI – The Digital Office; Cleary & Spears, DDS, PA; Dr. Ben Currin; Greystone Concrete Products; H.G. Reynolds; MARS Petcare; Mast Drug Company; Mpact Training Solutions; Nick & Sons Truck Repair; Prim Development & Residential Rentals; RFR Metal Fabrication; Southern Laundry; Vescom North America; Wake Electric Membership Corporation; Watkins Plumbing; J.M. White Funeral Service; and Keith and Stelfanie Williams.
Silver sponsors were AAA Gas & Appliance Company and Circuit Technology, Inc.
Tee box sponsors were Ahner Security; ARC3 Gases; Dr. Angela Ballentine; Banzet, Thompson, & Styers PLLC; Brame Specialty Company; Brassfield Commercial Realty; C & P Body Shop; Carolina Country Snacks; Stacey Carter-Coley; Dave Carver; Century 21 Country Knolls Realty, Inc.; City Tire, Inc.; Clayton Homes-Oxford; Comfort Zone Designers; Cross & Currin Attorneys at Law; Dave, Kay and Alexandria Currin; Dabney Drive Animal Hospital; Alex Drake, DDS, PA; Early Insurance Services, Inc.; EarlyFalsom Properties, Inc.; Encore Technology Group; Eddie and Debra Ferguson; Flowers Funeral Home; Frazco, Inc. Insurance – Real Estate; Fred’s Towing & Transport, Inc.; Granville County EDC; Hight Warehouses, Inc.; Hopper, Hicks, Wrenn, PLLC; Innovative Green Builders; Medical Arts Pharmacy; Morton and Sherman Implement Co., Inc.; Mosely Plumbing Company, Inc.; Marsha J. Nelson; One Source Document Solutions; Pete Smith’s Tire and Quick Lube; Phillips Dorsey Thomas Waters & Brafford, P.A.; Professional Pharmacy-Oxford; REW Medical Wear; Riggs-Harrod; Robco; Sam Royster, Attorney at Law; Sherman & Boddie, Inc.; Skipper Forsyth’s Bar-B-Q; Southern Educational Systems; Stainback, Satterwhite & Zollicoffer, PLLC; Sunrise Biscuits of Oxford; The Daily Dispatch; Curtis and Joanne Thompson; Vance Construction Company; Vance-Granville Deans; VGCC Communications Department; VGCC Franklin Campus; VGCC South Campus; Waste Industries, Inc.; Whitco Bug Warriors; J.M. White Funeral Service; William L. Stark and Company; and WOW Wash on Wheels.
The following individuals and businesses made contributions or other gifts to support the tournament:
Ace Hardware of Oxford; Bamboo Garden; Bojangles; Carolina Country Snacks; City Tire; Cracker Barrel of Henderson; Fastenal; George’s of Henderson; Golden Skillet; Harvest; Bob Hubbard; Ichibar; Institutional Interiors Inc.; International Paper; Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse; Nan’s Young Fashions; Pino’s; Rose Oil Company; Schewels Furniture Company; Smithfield’s Chicken ‘n Bar-B-Q; Staffmark; Stella & Dot – Michele Burgess; Tarheel Vending and Wholesale; The Angus Barn; The Peanut Roaster; Tournament Promotions; Vance Furniture; Vanco Equipment Services; Variety Wholesalers/Roses Stores; Robert Winston; Jim Beck; Jim Crawford; Joe and Betty Jo Hamme; Ann Lee; John Nelms; Newton Instrument Company; Revlon; Tom Robinson, Jr., CPA; Tru-Green Landscaping; Linda Weaver; and Sara Wester.
Each year, the golf tournament is the major fundraising event for the VGCC Endowment Fund, through which more than 8,800 scholarships have been awarded to students since 1982. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/VGCC-Golf-Tournament-sets-new-record-with-more-than-116000-raised.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-01 17:01:112017-06-01 17:01:11VGCC Golf Tournament sets new record with more than $116,000 raised
Eleven cadets graduated on May 16 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 104th BLET class included Jill Nicole McLean of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Spencer Reid Warehime of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office; Shawn Maurice Brown, Jr., of the Henderson Police Department; Alonza Kyle Fitts of the Louisburg College Campus Police Department; Jacob Matthew Gardner, Thomas Sellers Marrow and Joshua Taylor Mills, all of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation; Kevin Wayne Murphy of the Oxford Police Department; Christopher Michael Agamaite of the Roxboro Police Department; Mark Donald McNamara of the San Jose (California) Police Department; and Kirk Richardson of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by students from the ROTC program at Northern Vance High School, and the singing of the national anthem by NVHS student Jaylen Webb.
In welcoming remarks, Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs, thanked the many leaders from local and state law enforcement agencies in attendance for partnering with the college. “We are honored to work with you, and we thank you for supporting our cadets, providing many of our instructors, and hiring our graduates, as together, we promote increased safety and quality of life for the communities we serve,” Ballentine told the law enforcement representatives. “All of today’s graduates are either employed or have at least accepted conditional job offers from law enforcement agencies.” She congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the rigorous, 667-hour training program and encouraged them to continue their education. “I wish you success and safety as you protect and serve all of us,” Ballentine added.
Speaking as leader of the class, Cadet Jill McLean thanked the many instructors who had trained them, as well as the family members and friends who were there to support the graduates. “These past four months have flown by,” McLean reflected. “This class has taught us a lot about ourselves and what it takes to do this job. I could not have asked for a better group of guys to take on BLET with. We are a ‘family’ of eleven. These guys have made my job as class leader extremely easy.”
Graduates selected Sgt. Christopher Dickerson of the Roxboro Police Department, one of their instructors, to serve as their featured speaker. He is a 2006 graduate of the VGCC BLET program. “This profession is the greatest profession in the world,” Dickerson said of law enforcement. He noted that in 2016, a Gallup poll found that Americans had a higher opinion of their local police than in any survey since 1967. Dickerson recalled, “I asked you why you wanted to be a police officer, as I do in every class. I heard ‘I want to help my community’ or ‘I want to make my family proud.’ Not a single one gave a selfish response, and that’s why you’re here today.”
He asked the graduates to “remember your drive and what put you in this class” and “never forget your first badge. By pinning that badge on your chest, you have joined the largest family in the entire world.”
Andrea Hyson, the training program coordinator, and instructor Glen Boyd presented awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Murphy won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in firearms qualification. Fitts earned the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo during physical training. McLean 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.
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https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/VGCC-graduates-11-cadets-in-school’s-104th-BLET-Class.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-06-01 13:11:352017-06-01 13:14:14VGCC graduates 11 cadets in school’s 104th BLET Class
Vance-Granville Community College recognized 41 students who graduated this spring from the Associate Degree Nursing program with a pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center on May 10.
Among those honored with distinctive nursing pins at the ceremonies were seven who graduated through the LPN to ADN Transition Program, which helps Licensed Practical Nurses to continue their education and then become Registered Nurses. These graduates were Ashley Brooke Jones of Bullock; Brittany Mechel Champion and Martina Usher McKinnon, both of Creedmoor; Theresa Ann Channer of Durham; Kimberly Ramsey Ilupeju of Hillsborough; Heather Margaret Pipkin of Kittrell; and Jahid Kwaku Ross of Winston-Salem.
The graduates who took courses in the traditional five-semester sequence included Peggy Marie Forsythe of Bahama; Amber Buchanan Womack of Bullock; Connie Frances Bass of Creedmoor; Taylor Sommer George, Fathia Gyamfi, April Latoya Harris, Lucy Wambui Ngethe and LaDonya Santrell Tinnin, all of Durham; Jenna Marie Davis, Heather Jade Floyd, Emily Gordon McGhee, Erin Breslin Woodlief and Lonnie Linwood Wright, all of Franklinton; Madelaine Lyon Sachs of Henderson; Reneé Kathleen Jackson of Kittrell; Jordan Lynne West of Littleton; Rachel Anne Edwards and Victoria Mae Turner, both of Louisburg; Marissa Abuyen Coghill, Talia Monique Dyce, Stacy Nicole Miles and Sharon Nikita Ray, all of Oxford; Sara Elizabeth Wheeler and Katherine Darby McRae, both of Raleigh; Courtney Mae Humphries and Abbey Gentry Loftis, both of Roxboro; Sandra Holland Enloe of Stem; Heather Jean Avery, Brooke Ashton Hursey and Kayla Dawn Roberson, all of Wake Forest; Taylor Reneé Crisp and Amanda Lee Oser, both of Warrenton; Sonia Beverly Childers of Wendell; and Deborah Yvett Janifer of Youngsville.
In welcoming remarks, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams congratulated the students on their success. “The class of 2017 is the most recruited class we’ve had in our history,” she said, noting that at least 26 had already obtained employment by the time of the ceremony. She thanked the graduates’ families and friends, as well as their instructors, for their support. “This occasion demonstrates the excellence of our esteemed Nursing faculty and the other faculty and staff who have educated, inspired and supported the graduates to this achievement,” Williams added. “Graduates, just as VGCC has made an impact on your lives, you will make a difference in the lives of others as registered nurses,” the president told the members of the class. “We are proud to have trained you for such a worthy endeavor.”
Class of 2017 President Brooke Hursey made welcoming remarks on behalf of her classmates as they reached the culmination of what she termed “a long and very difficult journey.” She thanked the graduates’ families and friends “for not allowing any of us to quit,” and their instructors, “for the education you have provided and the foundation you have helped us lay in nursing.” Hursey added that during the program, the class had become like a family and had overcome “huge obstacles.”
Student Heather Floyd presented a gift on behalf of the class to the VGCC Nursing department: a plaque engraved with a quote attributed to Florence Nightingale, “I attribute my success to this — I never gave or took any excuses.”
Academic honors were presented to graduates who completed the program with at least a 3.5 grade point average: Dyce, Enloe, Jackson, Jones and finally Sachs, who was recognized for having the highest GPA in the class.
Cords were presented to students who participated as members of the National Student Nurses Association, which sponsors community service projects and professional development. These students included Avery, Bass, Crisp, Davis, Edwards, Floyd, Forsythe, Humphries, Hursey, Jackson, Janifer, Loftis, McGhee, McRae, Oser, Roberson, Tinnin, Turner, Wheeler, Woodlief and Wright.
Former VGCC Nursing instructor Tracey Hight, who now works for Granville Health System, served as guest speaker for the ceremony. “It has been a pleasure to work with each student who will be pinned tonight,” she said. “I am grateful to be part of your nursing career.” She offered three pieces of advice to the graduates.
“First, treat your patients like they were your family members,” Hight said. “Patients are people, our people, the people we feel called to help.” Second, she told her former students, “have no fear and believe in yourself. The career path you have chosen is wide open. Do not be afraid of change and the doors that may open for you. Continue your education, reach for the stars and know that the options are endless.”
Finally, Hight said, “You are ready to go into the world and become a nurse. As scary as that seems now, you have had education to prepare you. You’re ready to become the nurse you’ve always dreamed of. After you pass the NCLEX [National Council Licensure Examination] and walk into your new job as a nurse and receive the name badge that says ‘RN,’ your heart will thump with excitement and your stomach will fill with anxiety. Just look at that name badge and those letters RN and remember that Ms. Hight said you were ready.”
Instructor Heather Wilson described the significance of the nursing pin. The unique green and gold pin identifies each nurse as a VGCC graduate, and indicates that the graduate has the training and competence to serve as a professional nurse. During the ceremony, graduates were pinned by Associate Degree Nursing program head/instructor Anna Seaman, and received lamps and roses from instructors Julia Falkner and Dr. Markiesha Edgerton. Meanwhile, Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow read their biographies. After all graduates had received pins, the lights in the Civic Center were lowered, and instructor Crystal Senter led students in reciting the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” by lamp-light.
