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Enriched by Students
ECC Runs with Tackle the Tar
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Thirty-eight students, faculty, and staff participated on the Edgecombe Community College team at Tackle the Tar held May 18, 2019.
Tackle the Tar is a 5K obstacle course race and family fun day sponsored by the Rocky Mount Rotary Club.
Proceeds support scholarships for local students attending Edgecombe and Nash community colleges and NC Wesleyan College. Last year Edgecombe Community College received $22,000 from Tackle the Tar.
The fastest runner on the ECC team, which competed in the Local College Heat, was radiography student Suzanne Peaden, who finished seventh with a time of 30:48.1, followed by radiography student Tamisia Lynch, who finished eighth with a time of 31:14.6.
Finishing next from ECC were accounting student Darius Hyman and Tarboro High School student Jordan McLeod, who is enrolled in ECC classes. They crossed the finish line together placing fourteenth and fifteenth in the Local College Heat.
“It was really fun,” said student Kenny Harrell. “The race was more challenging than I expected, but I enjoyed it. I’ll probably do it again next year.”
ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod, who ran in his first Tackle the Tar, was equally as enthusiastic. “It was a blast, a great thing to do for a great cause,” he said, “and we definitely had terrific representation from Edgecombe Community College.”
Samanthia Phillips, dean of students, coordinated the ECC team. In addition to the runners, ten ECC students and employees served as volunteers for the event.
Students Attend Uplifting Black Men Conference
Twelve students and staff from Edgecombe Community College and Edgecombe Early College High School attended the fourth annual Uplifting Black Men conference at Virginia Tech.
Hosted by Virginia Tech’s Black Male Excellence Network, the conference was held February 23, 2019, and drew nearly 500 attendees.
The conference theme was “Resilient Beyond Measure.” Michael Vick, former quarterback for the Hokies and a member of the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, was the keynote speaker. He discussed the importance of building confidence, determination, and turning dreams into realities. He also spoke on the challenges that life presents.
ECC student Twain White says the Uplifting Black Men conference was a “great experience. This conference taught me how to become an effective leader. I had the chance of meeting young men who want to make a change in their lives and do something great within the community.”
“As a young black male, it is always an honor to be able to participate in events like this. It does not matter how many times we may fall in life, but how many times we get back up and start all over again,” White added.
Honor Society Wins Ten Awards
Edgecombe Community College’s student honor society won ten awards at the March 2019 Phi Theta Kappa Carolinas Regional Convention.
Three students, a graduate, and Advisor Tamara FrankPourvady represented ECC’s chapter, Alpha Omega Nu, at the annual convention held March 1-3 in Columbia, SC. At this conference, chapters and individuals are recognized for their hard work throughout the year.
ECC’s chapter received the following awards: Chapter Awards • Five-Star Status (the highest level a chapter can attain) • Carolinas Super Stars (for a high level of involvement in the region) • Excellence in Regional Honors in Action Project • Excellence in Regional Service Project • Best in Theme (or Category), Honors in Action Project • Best eNewsletter • Best Yearbook Individual Awards • Robert Lachapelle IV – Hall of Honor Certificate • Robert Lachapelle IV – Distinguished Chapter Member • Tamara Frank-Pourvady – Horizon Award (for advisors)
Edgecombe Community College’s honor society has been a Five-Star chapter since 1996 and a Carolinas
Nine students and three staff members from Edgecombe Community College and Edgecombe Early College High School attended the Uplifting Black Men conference at Virginia Tech. Shown from left are Jamar Edge, Antonio Mayo, Antonio Coleman, Joseph Lyles (seated), Nyeem Davis, Jozaih Pittman, Twain White, Abdur Grant, Wardell Clark, and Gerald Williams. Thomas Bracy and William Parker also attended but are not pictured.
Super Star chapter since this award was established in 2000. Typically, only about sixteen chapters in the twostate Carolinas Region achieve Five-Star and Super Star designation.
To be a member of Phi Theta Kappa, students must have completed twelve credit hours in an associate degree program and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Students must then maintain at least a 3.25 grade point average to remain in the group.
Members of the Phi Theta Kappa student honor society are surrounded by the regional awards the chapter received. From left are Hattie Bullock, Michael Parker Jr., Melanie Goff Bradley (chapter alumna), and Tiffiny Wolf.
Student Government Association executive officers elected by the student body for 2019-2020 are (l-r) Shyann Warren, vice president; Isabella Garay, public information officer; Tiera Wheeler, secretary/treasurer; William “Bricen” Duff, Edgecombe Early College High School representative; Ta’jerick Jones, Curriculum representative; Lexus Regan, parliamentarian; Sidavia Foggs, president, and Meosha Draughn, SGA advisor.
Fifty-three Edgecombe and Nash middle school and high school counselors, CTE coordinators, career development coordinators, and career coaches attended a Counselor Institute held June 10-12, 2019, at ECC. Schools represented were W.A. Pattillo, Phillips, Red Oak, South Edgecombe, Southern Nash, and West Edgecombe middle schools; Edgecombe Early College, Nash Central, North Edgecombe, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount, SouthWest Edgecombe, and Tarboro high schools; Martin Millennium Academy; and North East Carolina Preparatory School.
Despite soggy weather, thirty-eight Edgecombe Community College students and staff donned rain gear to work in the spring Adopt-A-Highway cleanup sponsored by the College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod (middle back) was among the volunteers. Thirty-six bags of trash and recyclables were collected by the group during the drive, held in April 2019. The Alpha Omega Nu chapter at ECC has been responsible for a threemile stretch of road in front of the Tarboro campus since 2000.
The State Employees Credit Union Foundation awarded six scholarships to Continuing Education students at Edgecombe Community College. Shown from left are ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod; Brittany Harrelson, ECC; scholarship recipients Monica Boney and Matellies Williams; Cathy Dupree, ECC and SECU board member; and Doug Spencer, SECU. Scholarship recipients not shown are Chastity Davis, Destinee Fils-Aime, Latora Hines, and Ashley Vaughan.
SECU Foundation Awards Six Scholarships
In summer 2019, the State Employees Credit Union Foundation awarded six scholarships to Continuing Education students at Edgecombe Community College.
Each student received an SECU Bridge to Career Workforce Development scholarship valued at $500 for study at ECC.
In 2018, the SECU Foundation introduced the SECU Bridge to Career program. Available to all NC community colleges, the initiative helps remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industryrecognized credentials.
At Edgecombe Community College, the SECU Bridge to Career scholarship recipients are: • Monica Boney – Nurse Aide I • Chastity Davis – Nurse Aide I • Destinee Fils-Aime – Nurse Aide I • Latora Hines – Nurse Aide I • Ashley Vaughan – Nurse Aide I • Matellies Williams – Nurse Aide I
The SECU Bridge to Career program focuses on assisting unemployed and underemployed adults, military veterans, and members of the National Guard with marketable job skills that lead to sustainable wage careers within their local communities.
From left, the team of Harry Snell, Copeland Lachapelle, and Emilee Moore took first place in the nation in the Career Pathways Showcase – Industrial and Engineering Technology.
Students Win Gold Medals at SkillsUSA Nationals
For the fourth year in a row, Edgecombe Community College students brought home gold from the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in June 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The conference is the world’s largest showcase of skilled trades. The highlight of the conference was the SkillsUSA Championships on June 26-27, during which 6,500 student contestants participated in 103 hands-on skill and leadership competitions.
Garrett Parker was a national champion in the Principles of Engineering and Technology division. Parker captured the same first place award at the 2018 national SkillsUSA competition.
Parker received an associate in science degree from ECC in May and also graduated from the Edgecombe Early College High School in May.
The team of Copeland Lachapelle, Emilee Moore, and Harry Snell took first place in the nation in the Career Pathways Showcase – Industrial and Engineering Technology. Moore and Snell are ECC and Edgecombe Early College High School students. Lachapelle graduated from Hobgood Academy in May and took classes at ECC while he was in high school.
Moore also is now a two-time national champion. She was a member of the 2018 winning team in Career Pathways Showcase – Industrial and Engineering Technology.
Students were accompanied to Louisville by advisors Rebecca Stamilio Ehret and Trey Cherry, who are ECC instructors.
Jobi Cook, associate director of the North Carolina Space Grant, traveled to Tarboro on June 21, 2019, to present members of Edgecombe Community College’s critECCly stable team with awards won in the NC Space Grant Community College High Altitude Ballooning Challenge and Competition held in April. ECC’s team received plaques for winning Best Overall Team and Best Photo/Video. From left are ECC instructors Trey Cherry and Rebecca Stamilio Ehret, students Copeland Lachapelle and Emilee Moore, Jobi Cook, and ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod.
ECC students Jonah Ussery (left) and Jasmine Harris decorate pumpkins during Fall Fest held in October 2019 on the Tarboro campus. Hosted by the Student Government Association, Fall Fest also featured food trucks, music, a photo booth, games, and giveaways. Transportation was provided for students on the Rocky Mount campus so that all students could participate.
The first class enrolled in the new Advanced Manufacturing Academy completed the program in August 2019. The class prepares students for careers in manufacturing and is a collaboration between ECC, Ramp East, and Turning Point Workforce Development Board. During the final class, students interviewed with local companies including LS Cable, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, Manpower, and World Cat. Shown with students is George Anderson, instructor and director of customized training.
Earlie Barnes (left), nursing instructor, will advise the College’s new chapter of the Associate Degree Nursing Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society.
Edgecombe Community College nursing students have a new opportunity to be recognized for academic achievement. In August 2019, the College received a charter for a chapter of the Associate Degree Nursing Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society.
Alpha Delta Nu is the only national nursing honor society for Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students.
The new chapter will be called the Eta Kappa chapter. “We are pleased that your institution has taken this initiative to recognize excellence in your students, and we wish you the best as you implement your program,” stated honor society officials in a letter to the College.
According to Earlie Barnes, nursing instructor and advisor of the new chapter, “We wanted to establish a professional honor society that would recognize excellence in student nursing and bring recognition to our great institution. Students are acknowledged and valued here at Edgecombe Community College, and this is an official way of conveying that.
“In addition, recognition at the national level aligns us with other community college nursing programs that also recognize outstanding students with induction into the national honor society.” Induction into the honor society will benefit ECC students by strengthening their opportunities for job placement and scholarships, Barnes adds. “This also will provide them with an awesome accomplishment.”
From left, William Parker, US Army; Angie Estes, financial aid advisor and VA coordinator at ECC; and Dr. Greg McLeod, ECC president, celebrate the new reserved parking spaces for ECC student veterans. The first of seven reserved parking spaces was unveiled on Veterans Day.
Parking Spaces Designated for Student Veterans
Reserved parking spaces for Edgecombe Community College students who are veterans or active duty military were unveiled during the Veterans Day Memorial and Recognition Ceremony held November 11, 2019, on the Tarboro campus.
ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod and Angie Estes, advisor and VA coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid, presented the first reserved parking space, which is located in front of the Fleming Building.
A total of seven parking spaces, four on the Tarboro campus and three on the Rocky Mount campus, will be reserved for student veterans. The spaces are strategically located in high volume traffic lots and are adjacent to building entrances.
Estes, who was a driving force behind the designation of reserved spaces for veterans, says, “These spaces are just another small way for us to show our appreciation to our veteran and active duty military students, a way for us to honor them. We are grateful for their service.”
The reserved parking signs are attached to posts painted in a stars and stripes theme. In order to be eligible to park in the reserved spaces, students will need to see Estes or another staff member in the Office of Financial Aid to obtain a veteran or active duty hang tag to display on the front dash or hang on the rearview mirror.
The reserved parking signs are attached to posts painted in a stars and stripes theme.
About 50 ECC students are veterans or active duty military.
The Human Services Club delivered food to the United Community Ministries Shelter in Rocky Mount and volunteered at the shelter. From left are ECC students/Human Services Club members Teresa Kelly; Clinton Royal; Devon Foggs, club president; Shirley Tate; and Reneé Pearson, program chair and club advisor.
Human Services Club Combats Hunger
The Human Services Club at Edgecombe Community College reached out to the community in November 2019 to combat hunger.
Club members collected and delivered more than eight large bins of food to the United Community Ministries Shelter in Rocky Mount. After delivering the food, club members volunteered at the shelter by serving food to the homeless, preparing food boxes for families, and stocking the food pantry.
“These students exemplify the essence of a human services professional,” says Reneé Pearson, human services technology program chair and Human Services Club advisor. “They eagerly provided community support to some of the most vulnerable citizens of Edgecombe County.”
According to the hunger-relief organization Feeding America, Edgecombe County has the highest rate of food insecurity among North Carolina counties at 26 percent.
The human services technology curriculum at ECC prepares students for entry-level positions in institutions and agencies that provide social, community, and educational services. ECC offers a two-year degree in the field as well as a two-semester certificate in substance abuse.
Hoan Do, student success coach and an NBC “American Ninja Warrior” city finalist, entertained and advised the Edgecombe Community College community and seniors from Edgecombe high schools in October 2019. In a very engaging presentation, Do shared tips on how to be successful in school and in life. His remarks were sponsored by the Student Success Center.
Graduates of Health Occupations programs at Edgecombe Community College were honored by College staff, family, and friends during the annual Health Occupations Recognition Ceremony held January 31, 2019.
More than 200 students completed programs in community health coach, introduction to direct care, direct care basics, medication aide, medication aide trainer, nurse aide I and II, nurse aide I refresher, phlebotomy, and personal health care aide state training. Some students completed more than one program and earned multiple credentials.
“We are very proud of these graduates and applaud their efforts to enter the heathcare field,” says Toria Moore, chair of Health Occupations. “We all are working toward the same goal: creating a skilled workforce and supporting people who have a genuine interest in improving their lives.”
Associate Degree Nursing students who are members of the Student Nurses Association participated in the 2019 Twin Counties Heart & Stroke Walk at Rocky Mount Mills on October 26, 2019. Shown are (front, kneeling) Amanda Cary-Bunn, Kalen Burwell, Veronice Simmons, Alexis Ellis; (back) Ama Selly, Sonya Smith, Mandy Smith, Kerstan Riley, Kaila Bolden, Heather Dew (with daughter Amelia Boykin behind her), and Lakeshia Reives. Heart & Stroke Walk is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease and stroke. The ECC Student Nurses Association raised $1,265 in donations to support this initiative.
Eighth graders from Edwards, Nash Central, Parker, Red Oak, Rocky Mount, and Southern Nash middle schools and Tar River Academy toured the Lamm Building on ECC’s Rocky Mount campus in April 2019 through Communities in Schools. Students participated in interactive demonstrations and learned about various career pathways offered at the College. Shown is Suzi Shippen-Wagner, program chair of surgical technology, demonstrating a camera used to view the inside of the body during laparoscopic surgery.
The Conetoe Family Life Center delivered fresh fruits and vegetables to campus on Tuesdays throughout the summer to sell to students, faculty, and staff at the ECC Farmers Market. Vouchers were available for students to use. The initiative was sponsored by the Student Success Center and Single Stop.
