GTCC SUMMER NEWSLETTER • JULY 2015
Commencement
Guilford Tech graduates largest class in college’s history
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uilford Technical Community College’s Class of 2015 made history on May 7 as the college’s largest graduating class. Approximately 1,412 students graduated this academic term (2014-2015). Nearly 1,000 graduates participated in GTCC’s 49th Commencement at the Greensboro Coliseum. In his lively keynote speech to the Class of 2015, Dr. Anthony Brown, interim vice president of Student Support Services at GTCC, quoted inspiring words from Thomas Edison to Taylor Swift. But the heart of Brown’s message to the Class of 2015 was: “Don’t miss your opportunity.” The opportunities students receive at GTCC, he said, are something that many students would not receive at a four-year institution. “Those students also receive a chance — a chance to continue your education, a chance to move into a career, and a chance to make new friends. … It’s that chance, that opportunity, that faith that will keep you going in life. … Opportunity is that single petal that comes from a bed of thorns. It’s the sun that you see peeking through the clouds, when you are deep in the valley.” There is no easy path to success without hard work and failure, Brown
said. And along the way there will always be naysayers and cynics, “but you have to ignore them. Stay focused because you have bigger plans. Get into your Taylor Swift mode and ‘shake them off, shake them off!’” Joseph Partin, outgoing Faculty Association president, emphasized in his address to the graduates the concept of sharing. Borrowing an example from pop culture, Partin pondered the idea of a world without “Sesame Street” and the Muppets. “What would have happened 46 years ago if Jim Henson and his collaborators didn’t get together and share something educational and fun with all of us,” Partin asked. “… As faculty, we have one more challenge for you: Start thinking about ways you can use your degrees and share your collective knowledge to work with and help others.” People like Jim Henson and his collaborators created something special that continues to affect us today, he said. “Imagine for a moment if Jim Henson would’ve kept Kermit and the gang to himself, and was unwilling to
share, how different our lives might be,” Partin said. “Changing the world for the greater well-being is something we should aspire to, and hopefully we can make this happen. But this can only be accomplished if you are willing to share what you’ve learned.” During the ceremony, several graduates were recognized for their outstanding traits of leadership, good citizenship and academic excellence. Read more. “It’s that chance, that opportunity, that faith that will keep you going in life.” – Dr. Anthony Brown, keynote speaker
GTCC President Dr. Randy Parker and President’s Medal recipient Elizabeth Pucel.
Dr. Randy Parker, GTCC Board Chair Jarvis Harris and Teaching Innovation Award recipient Joseph Badick. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
Commencement Doors open for Basic Skills Plus grads
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ride and gratitude. You feel it the moment you step into the room. It’s there in the words that Estefania Alfaro Ruiz scrolls across a whiteboard in bold, colorful letters: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP AND SUPPORT. It’s there on the faces of friends KaDeidre Hamilton and Mirote Wright, who are in the restroom down the hall giggling while applying each other’s makeup. And it’s in the care that instructors Jean Miller-Levette and Kathy Brown take as they set up a smorgasbord of their students’ favorite foods, including a white sheet cake to mark the occasion. It was an emotional day for the 10 graduating students of GTCC’s Basic Skills Plus – Nursing Assistant (NA) Track program. On May 15 they became the first to graduate from the program and overcame a lot of barriers to get there. For many of these students, the program became their first step toward stable employment and a degree. The 14-week Basic Skills Plus – NA program allows students to earn their GED and NA certificate simultaneously – and at no cost to the student. The culmination of their success was recognized in an intimate ceremony on the High Point Campus, where each graduate received their Nursing Assistant (NA) certificate. On that Friday morning, the bond the students formed not only with each other but also with their teachers and GTCC staff was evident. For instructors Miller-Levette and Brown, teaching and molding these 10 students was an unforgettable experience. “I’m very, very proud of this group,” Miller-Levette said. “It has not been easy. It has been very trying, but I
Basic Skills Plus - NA Track Class of 2015. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
knew there were people here with a desire to succeed. I know you can make it.” Brown added: “You will forever stay in my memory.” Tears of gratitude, pride and hope were shed. Hands were held. Several students spoke of the obstacles they overcame to get to this point in their life. Others shared their gratitude through song or a poem. “The door is wide open,” said Warren Crow, director of Health Careers and Nursing Assistant Training Program at GTCC, during his remarks to the graduates. “Ms. Levette and Ms. Brown have been your alchemists, and
have been successful in creating gold. So shine every day.”
Warren Crow, director of Health Careers and Nursing Assistant Training Program.
Enroll today: Basic Skills Plus – NA Track The next Basic Skills Plus – NA Track program will be offered in the fall. For more information, contact the GTCC Adult Education Intake Office at (336) 454-1126, Ext. 55087. 2
Building for the Future
GED/AHS Class of 2015. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
Commencement held for Adult High School and GED students
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he General Education Development (GED) and Adult High School (AHS) Commencement Ceremony was held on June 6 at Koury Auditorium on the Jamestown Campus. Approximately 27 students participated in the ceremony. Four students received special recognition for their achievements. Jana Carver, Shaquan Stewart and KaDeidre Hamilton received the GED Achievement Scholarship Award, and Mauria Alina Islam Khan received the Adult High School Achievement Scholarship Award. Read more.
GTCC recognizes honors students
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TCC recognized its honors students for the 2014-2015 academic year on April 21 during the 34th Annual Honors Ceremony. Academic Awards were awarded to students with the highest program GPA (minimum 3.5) of anyone enrolled in the curriculum. Curriculum Awards were given to students in each degree program who are outstanding in his/her academic achievement and has potential for success in the field he or she has chosen. Each department selects a student. Special recognition was given to Gary Johnson, this year’s North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award recipient. Three years ago, Johnson was involved in a severe car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury and loss of mobility. What followed were eight tumultuous months of black outs, daily and persistent headaches, short-term memory loss and angry outbursts. He ended up losing everything. His job. His car. His home. His clothing. He came to GTCC to rebuild his life. Read more.
Gary Johnson (left) and Dr. Randy Parker (right). (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
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Building for the Future
and Randolph Community College. NCCGL focuses on developing a highly trained workforce for the logistics and supply chain industry and provides education, workforce development and advisory services to individuals and businesses. Read more.
Center for Creative and GTCC opens new veterans center Performing Arts
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GTCC hosts dedications for new facilities Business & Industry and Conference Center
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he college held a building dedication ceremony on June 10 for its Business and Industry (B&I) Building and Conference Center on the college’s Donald W. Cameron Campus in Colfax. The 94,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification and features a variety of green-building practices. The $48 million B&I Building houses a modern Conference Center with a 250-capacity auditorium; a catering kitchen; a model warehouse featuring the latest distribution equipment; flexible lab space to accommodate training for new, existing and expanding industries; and seven general purpose classrooms. In addition, the Cameron Campus is home to the North Carolina Center for Global Logistics (NCCGL), a collaborative effort between GTCC and Davidson County Community College, Forsyth Technical Community College
n May GTCC opened the doors to its new Veterans ReTCC celebrated an exciting in the college’s source Center, a designated space chapter on the college’s Jamestown history on April 16 with the official unveiling of the Campus devoted to serving the needs of military and veteran new Center for Creative and Performing Arts Theatre. students. Located on Resource the High Center Point Campus, for loThe Veterans will servethe as aCenter centralized Creative and Performing Arts Theatre will serve as cation for military and veteran students to network with each an additional teaching and performance spaceThe for1,000 other in a welcoming andlab comfortable environment. students enrolled in GTCC’s Creative and Performing square-foot-space will feature a computer lab, lounge area, Arts programs, comprised of entertainment periodic visits from Veterans Affairs counselors, technology, and other theatre and music. The two-story 11,705 square-foot-faresources. cility a modified black box stage andand theater Florafeatures Taylor, coordinator of GTCC’s Veterans Military seating for 82. Assistance Program, says the Center was modeled after United TheOrganization GTCC Theatre Program presented Service (USO) Centers offered in“Greater select airports. Tuna, ” the first public performance in the new She wanted the GTCC Veterans Resource Center toCenter mirror for Creative and Performing Arts Theatre, to a sold-out the same relaxing and friendly atmosphere USO Centers are audience on 17. in the transition of student veterans well-known for,April and aid The Center for Creative and Performing Arts Theatre returning to the classroom. is“When the final piece in aoflongtime vision cen-you you get out the service, you to trycreate to findone where all of the Creativeveterans and Performing fittralized in. It canlocation be veryfor isolating for military enrolling in Arts programs and stimulate further collaboration college,” Taylor said. “The Veterans Resource Center willbeprotween on cross-departmental andplace vide ourstudents military and veteran students withprojects an inviting toperformances. share stories and similar experiences and ease what can In addition to thetransition. new theatre, themore. college also offers sometimes be a tough ” Read two performance venues: a major production studio n May GTCC opened the doors to its new Veterans Rewith seating for an audience of 225; and an outdoor amsource Center, a designated space on the college’s Jamestown phitheater accommodating more than 550. Read more. Campus devoted to serving the needs of military and veteran
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GTCC President Dr. Randy Parker. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
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Building for the Future
(Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
GTCC opens new veterans center The Veterans Resource Center will serve as a centralized location for military and veteran students to network with each other in a welcoming and comfortable environment. The 1,000 square-foot-space will feature a computer lab, lounge area, periodic visits from Veterans Affairs counselors, and other resources. Flora Taylor, coordinator of GTCC’s Veterans and Military Assistance Program, says the Center was modeled after United Service Organization (USO) Centers offered in select airports. She wanted the GTCC Veterans Resource Center to mirror the same relaxing and friendly atmosphere USO Centers are well-known for, and aid in the transition of student veterans returning to the classroom. “When you get out of the service, you try to find where you fit in. It can be very isolating for military veterans enrolling in college,” Taylor said. “The Veterans Resource Center will provide our military and veteran students with an inviting place to share stories and similar experiences and ease what can sometimes be a tough transition.” Read more. 5
Campus News Alums share wisdom with single parents
gle parent alumni and founder of the nonprofit A Joyous Transition Family Resource Center. “I kept coming back to Miss Hurley because she gave me dnalyn Hurley has touched a lot of wisdom. She gave me knowledge.” lives. Each alum stressed to current stuThrough her work as a counselor at dents to take advantage of all the GTCC, she has provided support and resources available to them, particularly encouragement to countless students, the single parents’ support group. particularly single parents. “Everything you need is in this Twenty years ago, Hurley founded a room,” said Donnell Seyni, a certified single parents’ support group to provide Life Coach, author and inspirational an outlet for single mothers and fathers speaker. needing encouragement and fellowship. For Monique Banks, who helped This year, the group celebrated its 20th start the single parents’ group, Seyni anniversary with a luncheon on the was the one she leaned on when they Jamestown Campus. Six alumni of the were both single parents starting out at single parents’ group returned to camGTCC. pus to share with current single parent “I don’t know what I would have students their stories of struggle and done without her,” Banks said. triumph. The luncheon was an opporWith the single parents’ group, Banks tunity for alumni to encourage, inspire found solidarity. That bond, she said, and uplift current students. helped her survive. For these five women, the single “There are a lot of things people don’t parent support group was their refuge. know we go through,” she said. They formed lasting friendships, babyBanks graduated last year with a sat each other’s kids and leaned on one bachelor’s in social work. She plans to another during tough times. open a home for single mothers one “I learned to embrace everything that day. came my way and it was all because The afternoon discussion uplifted of Miss Hurley and the single parents’ Loretta Harris, a psychology student at group,” said April Thompson, a sinGTCC and member of the single par-
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ents’ support group. Her emotions were evident in her smile and the tears she wiped from her face. She found solace in knowing that other single moms understood what she’s going through. “I got so much inspiration from them,” Harris said. “I can’t wait for us to do it again. I’m just appreciative.”
GTCC alum Alicia Pender (left) with GTCC counselor Ednalyn Hurley (right). (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
“I learned to embrace everything that came my way and it was all because of Miss Hurley and the single parents’ group.” - April Thompson, GTCC alumni
Ednalyn Hurley (middle) pictured with single parents’ support group alumni. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
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Campus News George Fouts receives highest honor from State Board
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he State Board of Community Colleges has awarded George Fouts with the I.E. Ready Award, the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the Board. Dr. Linwood Powell of the State Board of Community Colleges presented Fouts with a medal during a reception honoring Fouts on April 23 at GTCC. Two months later, the State Board of Community Colleges named Fouts as interim president of the North Carolina Community College System. He will assume the interim role on September 1 when current System President, Dr. R. Scott Ralls, begins his tenure as President of Northern Virginia Community College. Fouts of Jamestown, N.C. served two terms (1991-1994; 1997-2001) as executive vice president at Guilford Technical Community College. He retired to pursue teaching Developmental Education as an adjunct instructor (2002-2010) at GTCC and became the grant coordinator of the Developmental Education Initiative (2009-2010), a threeyear effort (2009-2012) to make developmental education more effective and efficient in order to help underprepared students get on the completion track. A teacher, mentor and leader, Fouts’ career in the N.C. Community College System and his major contributions span more than 40 years. “It has been my good fortune to work for a System that provides an opportunity for so many North Carolinians to improve their lives and, in doing so, to improve the future of our state, ” Fouts said. Read more. George Fouts. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC)
Manufacturing Institute president visits GTCC
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ennifer McNelly, president of the Manufacturing Institute, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, led a discussion with local manufacturing and workforce agencies on June 15 at GTCC. McNelly discussed current issues facing the manufacturing industry, including how to attract qualified, skilled employees. McNelly has extensive experience in workforce development, employer engagement and business. As president of the Manufacturing Institute, she has driven an agenda focused on improving and expanding manufacturing in the United States through education, innovation and research. Her visit coincided with the National Aviation Consortium (NAC) Peer-to-Peer Conference June 16-18 at GTCC’s Donald W. Cameron Campus. GTCC is one of five NAC partners in the country.
Ralph Soney and Jennifer McNelly. (Carla Kucinski/GTCC.)
Newsletter receives national award
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he National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) has awarded Guilford Technical Community College’s Marketing and Public Information Office with a national bronze Paragon Award for its electronic newsletter. NCMPR’s prestigious Paragon Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges. It’s the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges. 7
Student Success GTCC brings home four national medals
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TCC claimed four national medals at the 51st Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase of hands-on skill and leadership competitions. Kathleen Mavarakis of Summerfield, N.C. won a gold medal in Medical Assisting and Logan Brown of Stoneville, N.C. also won a gold medal in Dental Assisting. This is the first time GTCC competed in the Medical Assisting contest. In addition, Kathleen Keene of Thomasville, N.C. won a silver medal in Criminal Justice and Sam Gladden of Greensboro, N.C. won a bronze medal in CNC Turning – a first for GTCC. Read more.
ladden, to right: Sam G rs are from left n. ne in ow w Br al n ed ga m akis, Lo GTCC Kathleen Mavar e, en Ke en le th Ka
Student receives $5,000 ‘Troops to Trades’ scholarship
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Jeffrey Reichl. (Courtesy of
Jeff Underwood/GTCC.)
he Nexstar Legacy Foundation has announced GTCC student Jeffrey Reichl as the first recipient of the $5,000 Troops to Trades/AC Pro scholarship. Reichl of Greensboro, N.C. served in the Army for five years as a part of the historical 82nd Airborne. He served two tours overseas in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a Parachute Infantryman. He states: “My military service is something I am very proud of. I did a lot of great things for my country. My deployments helped me to become the man I am today. I will never regret my choice to serve with the U.S. Army Paratroopers.” Read more.
Piedmont Gas recognizes GTCC culinary students
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iedmont Natural Gas recently recognized GTCC students Jeffrey Craddock and Sarah Mayer for their outstanding achievements in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management programs. Craddock of Greensboro received a professional knife kit, and Mayer of Jamestown received a $500 scholarship. Recipients were selected based on cumulative GPA, extracurricular activities and overall contributions to the program. Read more.
linary Arts and t chair of GTCC’s Cu en l Gas; rtm pa de m eri at Piedmont Natura J Rush, int From left to right: L counts representative Ac y Ke o, ) or nt C. Sa TC y /G nton ement; Anthon ent. (Antionette Hi Hospitality Manag nt scholarship recipi 8 Sarah Mayer, stude
Student Success SECU awards continuing education scholarships
GTCC Model UN Club claims regional awards
The State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation has awarded six GTCC students with an SECU Continuing Education Scholarship, each valued at $750. The scholarship recognizes students enrolled in the Nursing Assistant I Training Program and Quick Careers Training Programs (Medical Interpreter – Spanish/English Training; Pharmacy Technician Training; and Welding Training). Read more.
The Guilford Technical Community College Model United Nations Club received several awards recently at the Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) competition April 9-11 in Charlotte, N.C. GTCC student Michael Cuddy of Greensboro received the Outstanding Delegate Award – Nigeria Security Council for his work in the Security Council committee, which debated the topic of international terrorism and dealt with a simulated crisis in which foreign ambassadors were kidnapped by terrorist organizations. GTCC students Ameera Abu-Zuauiter and Faiza Chaudhry, both of Greensboro, received the award for Most Improved Delegates — Turkey General Assembly. Abu-Zuauiter and Chaudhry helped pass resolutions on both topics debated: Communicable Diseases: Countering the Threat of the Ebola Virus Disease; and Enhancing Water Quality Management and Sustainability. Read more.
Jordan Smith and Candice Lockhart.
GTCC awards developmental education scholarships
(Antionette Hinton/GTCC.)
GTCC students Jordan Smith and Candice Lockhart have received the 20142015 Developmental Education Scholarship. The recipient is chosen based on academic performance, character and service to the college and the community. Read more.
Nyla Allen named top 10 player in the country When Nyla Allen entered her final season playing basketball for Guilford Technical Community College, she did so with focus and drive. That summer, she worked out every day so that, in her words, she “could come out with a bang.” And she did. This season, Allen racked up a number of accolades including NJCAA Region X Player of the Year and NJCAA Division II Player of the Week. She capped off the season with the title 2014-2015 NJCAA Division II First Team All-American. In other words, she’s one of the top 10 players in the country. The distinguished title was not only a first for Allen, but also the college. “I didn’t come here saying I want to be Player of the Year; it came to me,” said Allen, a forward from Greensboro. “I had intentions on doing everything right as a player — and as myself — and do whatever coach needed me to do. All of it came as a surprise, but I worked hard for it.” Read more. The GTCC Newsletter is produced quarterly by the Office of Marketing and Public Information.
EDITOR
Carla Kucinski DESIGNER
Antionette Hinton CONTRIBUTORS
GUILFORD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Carla Kucinski
PO Box 309 Jamestown, NC 27282 336-334-4822 www.gtcc.edu
Antionette Hinton Carla Kucinski
PHOTOGRAPHY