Randolph Community College Magazine - Summer 2016

RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE Summer 2016 | Magazine

Designing Woman

In this issue:

Science Geeks • Photo Stories • Naming Occasions • And more...

Panther Pride

On the Cover

Photo by Jay Capers. Carolina Panthers team photographer Melissa Melvin Rodriguez (above) came back to RCC to talk to current students about her career and covering an NFL team.

After finishing the program in 2012, Melissa did internships at the Charlotte Observer, Durham Herald-Sun, Fayetteville Observer, Winston-Salem Journal and with the Panthers before being hired as the team photographer.

Photo by Perfecta Visuals/Jerry Wolford and Scott Muthersbaugh.

Randolph Community College Interior Design graduate Kara Cox relaxes in her home office in Greensboro. Kara already had a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UNC when she decided to go back to school at RCC to study interior design. This is not unusual for RCC students, especially those entering specialty programs. See Kara’s story beginning on page 27.

2|SECTION NAME

RANDOLPH C O M M U N I T Y

C O L L E G E

Magazine | Summer 2016

CONTENTS President’s Message.................................................................................................4 EPIC News.............................................................................................................5-10 Seriously Awesome..........................................................................................11-16 Across Campus................................................................................................. 17-22 RCC Foundation..............................................................................................23-38 Cover Story....................................................................................................... 27-30

RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE Board of Trustees F. Mac Sherrill, Chairman Fred E. Meredith, Vice Chairman John M. Freeze James G. Gouty J. Harold Holmes Lillian B. Jordan

Jorge A. Lagueruela T. Reynolds Lisk Jr. Curt J. Lorimer Bonnie R. Renfro Cynthia G. Schroder R. Andrews Sykes

 www.randolph.edu  www.facebook.com/RandolphCommunityCollege  www.linkedin/edu/school?id=32471  @RandolphCC

Information: 336-633-0200 Alumni Relations: 336-633-1118 Public Relations: 336-633-0208

The Randolph Community College Magazine is produced twice a year by Randolph Community College and the RCC Foundation.

Magazine Staff

Design & Production

Contributing Writers

Photography by Felicia Barlow Photography by

Shelley Greene, Managing Editor Cathy Hefferin, Editor W. Clark Cate Griffin Adams Kelly Heath Felicia Barlow Lorie Heath Kelly McCroskey Joyce McCroskey Lorie Wolford Joyce Wolford

Kris Julian Felicia Barlow Kris Julian

Jay Capers Cathy Hefferin Cathy Hefferin Lisa Hughes Kris Julian Lorie McCroskey Joyce GuestWolford photographer credits Guest photographer provided in articles. credits provided in articles.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE “So what?”

This might seem like a bold question to ask, but, as we have added programs and improved our facilities at Randolph Community College over the past few years, I realize some might wonder why we needed to do that and what the results of those efforts have been.

Since 2007, we have added a host of new programs to meet the needs of our community and our students, including the following: • A Human Resources concentration for our Business Administration degree • Cosmetology, including Cosmetology Instructor and Manicure/Nail Technician • Healthcare Management • Human Services • Mechatronics • Medical Assisting • Medical Office • Welding We have also expanded existing programs, such as Automotive Systems Technology, Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology, and Computer-Integrated Machining. We have added instructional supports such as the writing lab, the math lab, and a tutoring center. Our Career and College Promise program, which features two college transfer and 22 technical pathways for high school students, has doubled our high school enrollment. Our efforts with our partners at Asheboro City Schools and Randolph County Schools in the Pathways to Prosperity effort have resulted in pathways for advanced manufacturing and soon-to-bedeveloped healthcare pathways. Further, we want to expand college opportunities for students at Uwharrie Charter Academy and the county’s private schools.

While we have expanded programs, we have also improved our facilities so our students have an environment in which to learn and grow that is up-to-date and functional. With the addition of a new Welcome Center, the renovation of an old Klaussner facility into the Continuing Education and Industrial Center, the expansion of a small body-shop in the more spacious Richard Petty Educational Center, improvements to our Basic Skills area, and other projects large and small, our goal is to always be good stewards of the funds we receive while offering programs that will help our students enter exciting careers and providing the best learning environment we can for all the different types of students we serve.

“So what?” As you will see from some of the articles in this issue, our students and their stories are the answer. The impact that your community college has on those students, many of whom are your family, friends, and neighbors, is in many ways immeasurable. But, over the coming months, we want to give you some updates and some stories and share that impact.

Stay tuned…

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | 4

Outstanding Outcomes Advisory Group Provides Sounding Board, Sage Advice

By Cathy Hefferin When Randolph Community College President Robert S. Shackleford became the fourth president of Randolph Community College in 2007, he made partnerships with a wide variety of community leaders and organizations an integral part of his presidency. He established the President’s Community Advisory Council, which holds a luncheon meeting twice a year. It is a chance for Dr. Shackleford to give updates on college activities and accomplishments and to seek feedback for future initiatives and direction.

The various members of this advisory committee – community leaders, legislators, local government leaders, and city and county school personnel – take their roles seriously as evidenced by the great attendance each fall and spring. Attendees at the most recent meeting included N.C. Senator Rick Gunn, N.C. Representative Allen McNeill, N.C. Representative Pat Hurley, Sheriff Robert Graves, Randleman Mayor Bucky Jernigan, Ramseur Mayor Danny Shaw, Asheboro Mayor David Smith, Asheboro City Schools Superintendent Terry Worrell, and Randolph County Schools Superintendent Stephen Gainey, just to name a few.

Dr. Shackleford decided this spring would be a good time to pause and look back at what the College had accomplished in the last nine years and ask a very important question about 5|EPIC NEWS

results, which he talks about in his message on page four of this magazine.

In addition to the new programs, expansion of existing programs, and expansion of/updates to facilities, Dr. Shackleford talked about the personal outcomes of many of RCC’s students. Here are a few of the remarkable stories he presented:  Tammy McDuffie graduated from RCC’s Cosmetology program in 2013 and opened her own shop in Asheboro.

She employs another one of RCC’s first Cosmetology graduates, Felix McNeill. Tammy is now the stylist for The Laurels of Chatham, and she is always looking for ways to give back to the community.  Hali Pritchard graduated from the Cosmetology program at RCC in 2013 and worked in a salon uptown before deciding to purchase an established salon. She changed the name of the shop and currently has two other graduates of RCC’s Cosmetology program on her staff.  Ben Cotner came to RCC after several dead-end jobs and recovering from making some not-so-good life choices. He was working part time at a grocery store, trying to make ends meet with a newborn at home. Ben graduated this May with an associate in applied science degree in Computer-Integrated Machining, a program in which he was an Academic Achievement award winner, and was employed before graduation with a plastics manufacturer in Seagrove.

 Of the 15 second-year Computer-Integrated Machining students who graduated in May, 12 were already employed, and the others had job offers on the table.  Kaitlyn Hunt, a graduate of the Radiography class of 2015, had this to say: “Patient care! Patient care! Patient care! Almost daily I was taught/shown tips and tricks to make my patients’ lives easier while they are with me.

From a simple smile to explaining my every move BEFORE I do it, my patients are always happy to see me! I have Anna (Phillips) and Tami (Goins) to thank for my dedication for my patients.”  Megan Short Young, an honor student from the Radiography class of 2015, said: “The program was great in giving me the knowledge and skills that I needed in order to become an X-ray tech. The anatomy and physics helped me a lot in my CT program and has continued to help me get through MRI school. When I compare myself to the other MR technologists that have not been through X-ray school, I feel that I have the upper hand because I know more anatomy and I am able to look at past X-rays, films, images, in order to help determine or pinpoint the area of interest as well as know where any implants are located. It also helped with personal skills and being able to talk to my patients in a confident manner.”

Stephani Ingram – ED, Moses Cone; Terri Leonard – ED, High Point Regional; Casey Lewis – Birthing Suite, High Point Regional; Jennifer Loflin – Maternity, Randolph Hospital; Angela Melcher – ICU, Randolph Hospital; Cloie Thomas (Wilson) – MPS, Randolph Hospital; Tiffany Yow – Hospice and Home Care, Randolph Hospital; and Cassie Welch – MTU, High Point Regional.

The last student highlighted by Dr. Shackleford was actually present at the Advisory Council meeting and spoke briefly.

His statement: “My name is Paul Sanders and I am currently enrolled in the new Human Services program at RCC. I am a drug addict who spent 17 total years in prison on four different occasions. I am an active member of Narcotics Anonymous and frequently speak to NA meetings across North Carolina, and I have been clean for around 10 years. RCC has given me an opportunity to help people who have the same problems I have had, and I can now show them that they are not failures and that they can find a new way of life.”

 In the Associate Degree Nursing program, 46% of May graduates had employment before graduation. They included Mandi Brown – MTU, High Point Regional; Brooke Key – PEDS, Randolph Hospital; Josh Dennis – Oncology Department, Forsyth Medical Center; Danielle Fisher – Labor & Delivery, Randolph Hospital; Amanda Hilliard-Ziemba – PCU, Randolph Hospital; EPIC NEWS | 6

RCC Competes in High Altitude Balloon Launch

By Cathy Hefferin Randolph Community College was among 10 community colleges that successfully launched high altitude balloons during the second annual North Carolina Community College High Altitude Balloon Payload Competition on April 9 at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory. The event was sponsored by NASA-funded North Carolina Space Grant.

Although all the teams successfully launched, the launch period was not without mishap due to the gusty winds (<30mph gusts) that day in Hickory.

Edgecombe Community College, the third team to launch, lost control of their balloon in a particularly strong wind gust and the payload bounced hard on the pavement, nearly hitting a videographer, before taking off. “Thank you, Jesus,” yelled one of its team members.

The CVCC team lost a balloon to the rafters of the Tarleton Center gymnasium while it was being inflated. A second balloon helped them achieve a successful launch.

The Guilford Technical Community College team’s balloon came loose from the payload at launch, and the team had to retreat back inside to inflate a second balloon. Their second launch was successful.

Throughout the morning while the teams were preparing for launch in one of four launch lanes in the gymnasium, updates from the GPS trackers in the balloons were announced over the loudspeaker.

After launching at 10:30 a.m., it was reported that Southwestern Community College’s balloon was traveling 30 miles per hour at around 21,000 feet altitude, just past Lake Norman and heading toward Concord; it reached a maximum altitude of 91,000 before popping at around noon near Carthage. At around 10:58 a.m., Edgecombe Community College’s balloon was reported at 55,000 feet just past the Uwharrie National Forest; at 11:48 that balloon touched down just south of Sanford.

Randolph Community College, scheduled to be the ninth team to launch, pulled off a successful, but nail-biting takeoff at 12:35 p.m. The gusting wind blew the payload into a tree on the edge of the CVCC parking lot and the payload was dragged up through the tree before clearing and soaring into the bright Carolina blue sky.

RCC’s team unfortunately lost GPS contact with their balloon, and they were unable to track its flight.

Luckily, a farmer near Kenansville, N.C., spotted the payload after it landed and called the contact number. The payload was retrieved on Tuesday, April 12, undamaged except for a broken antenna. Photos were retrieved from the on-board camera, and the other data is currently being analyzed.

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UP ,U P.. .

RCC’s payload was designed as a high altitude organism survey to seek out what organisms and what type of environment these organisms dwell in and how that affects what we know about our earth and its future.

RCC’s team consisted of students Madeline Cofer, Kris Lindstam, Laramie Lipman, Dustin Manuel, and Deeanna Sutton, all of Asheboro; and faculty advisors Dr. Patrick Healy, chemistry instructor, and Dr. Raymond

Dumeh, physics instructor. All of the students are Associate in Science majors, with the exception of Manual, who is double majoring in Electrical Systems Technology and Mechatronics. Manuel and Sutton both graduated in May.

Also accompanying the team and assisting were Bryan Marbert, department head for sciences, health, and physical education; and Dr. Donna Perry, division chair for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The student teams were to be judged on their designs, ability of the payload to conduct data collection (photo the Earth, take high-altitude atmospheric samples) and retrieval of the payload.

The community college teams had been working since last fall on this project after qualifying through a rigorous application process that included presentation of a solution for a hypothetical engineering problem. Each team member who successfully completes all phases of the project will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The team traveled from RCC to Hickory on Friday afternoon before the Saturday launch. The main topic of conversation – where the balloon might end up based on predicted weather patterns. “I dreamt it landed at my house,” Sutton confessed.

(Continued next page)

EPIC NEWS | 8

...& AWAY! Once at CVCC, the teams checked in at the Corporate Training Center with Dr. Doug Knight, the launch master and an adjunct physics professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University. They went through an extensive checklist before discovering they needed several items before the launch, including fish scales, masking tape, work gloves, extra batteries, and some kind of ring to keep the parachute straps from tangling. Team members and advisors split up to shop for the items.

Back at the hotel lobby, the team worked on solving the problems discovered in the prelaunch check. At 8:58 p.m., Dr. Perry walked in with two embroidery hoops (one plastic and one wood) and they think one of these will work for the parachute ring.

The team was also advised to put a sticker on the payload that says, “This is not a bomb” – for the benefit of anyone who might find the payload after landing. The students end up staying up most of the night making last minute adjustments.

Congrats!

RCC’s high altitude balloon launch team (pictured above just after the balloon launch) received a congratulatory letter from United States Senator Thom Tillis recently (right).

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Additional colleges participating in the project were RowanCabarrus, Central Piedmont, Durham Technical, Craven, and Pitt community colleges.

During an after-flight assessment review a few weeks later, RCC’s team was congratulated by Professor Marbert. “You completed the project and got it off the ground,” he told them.

“The tracking didn’t go quite as well as we expected, but that was a really great beginning.” Marbert noted that the team had gotten a taste of what they are going to see at a four-year university. “The project almost starts to push into graduatelevel work,” he said. “We appreciate your hard work on this…

You did a great job!”

Dr. Dumeh encouraged the team to keep in touch. “A lot of big companies start with projects like this,” he said. “It’s not easy to put a team together with different personalities. You now know your strengths and weaknesses.”

RCC hopes to participate in the competition again next year.

A View from Above The high altitude balloon was recovered on a cattle farm in Kenansville, N.C. (south of Goldsboro). This is around 194 miles from the launch site in Hickory. Above are a few pictures from the onboard camera after launch. Below, team advisor Patrick Healy collects the balloon and payload from the farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner, Mr. Murphy.

EPIC NEWS| 10

A Writer Among Us

Photos by Charles Arthurs

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By Clark Adams One does not have to look far to find talent at Randolph Community College. With over 200 full-time employees, a plethora of skill sets, interests, and expertise can be found on a daily basis as one surveys the hallowed halls.

One of those employees is Dr. G. Warlock Vance, English/ Reading Instructor, who began teaching full time at RCC in August 2011. Dr. Vance was born in Tucson, Ariz., and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts/Writing Certificate in Creative and Expository Writing as well as Master of Arts in English literature at Kent State University, and Ph.D. in English literature at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dr. Vance became interested in writing through older family members who were talented storytellers. His mother also worked for a publishing company and frequently brought many books home with her, which she would read to him as a child. By the time he was 7 years old, he began to write his own stories and when he got into high school, he studied typing because he knew he wanted to be a writer.

Dr. Vance’s early influences were short story writers, and he enjoyed the work of John Steinbeck, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ray Bradbury, and Joseph Conrad, and later became interested in Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft.

Dr. Vance’s earliest writing was a combination of journalism and fiction, but quickly developed into largely supernatural tales. After a number of years, he began writing mystery/crime fiction, such as his novel, “The Missing Narrative of Neptune,” released in 2008, which tells the story of an investigator who is hired to find an ancient book.

When Dr. Vance develops characters and settings for his fiction writing, he typically has an overall concept in mind and the characters and setting come out as he goes along. In his most recent novel, “The Bad Man,” published in 2015, the protagonist is a hitman who wants to quit the Mob. Dr. Vance

knew this was not an original theme; however, he had an idea of how he could put his own spin on the storyline as he imagined this man partnered with someone who is mentally handicapped, yet who is even more deadly than the narrator.

“What if, in order to quit [the Mob], the protagonist had to kill this other man?” he asked himself. “The part that interested me was the moral dilemma. After that, the setting, New York City, seemed a natural one.”

Nearly 99% of the writing that Dr. Vance does occurs at his home office/library. According to Dr. Vance, “I can write best when it’s quiet, thus late at night, but I tend to wear headphones and listen to various kinds of music — jazz, electronica, and the like.” That other 1% occurs when he is waiting in a café or in someone’s office and the noisier the better. He always carries a notebook, tunes out the hubbub, and writes.

In order to stay motivated as a writer, Dr. Vance enjoys seeing a narrative grow and to become its own thing. Each one takes on its own personality. Quite often the storyline will go off on some tangent that he hadn’t anticipated. He explained, “This is one of the things that makes it truly interesting — simply letting the novel go in its own direction and see where the manuscript leads me. Also, seeing my ideas eventually come to fruition in a printed piece that can be shared with others — that’s most satisfying.”

How does Dr. Vance’s own writing influence his work in the classroom? He draws upon all of his experiences and lessons as a budding writer that he passes along to students in his Composition classes. His knowledge of the fiction writing process particularly enhances his teaching of Literature. Dr. Vance’s enthusiasm emanated as he explained, “I especially enjoy encouraging others to try their hand at fiction and poetry. It’s great to know that others can build upon whatever tips I can share.”

As a published author, Dr. G. Warlock Vance brings a unique perspective to the classroom where he continues to shape and mold student writers for their academic and professional pursuits.

SERIOUSLY AWESOME | 12

The journey has just begun Dallas Herring Achievement Award Nominee

By Cathy Hefferin Poverty, a single parent with serious health problems, a baby brother who needed care and attention, and starting over as a junior in a new high school were all major challenges for Jennifer Martinez.

But with remarkable determination and some help from Randolph Community College, Jennifer has become a prime example of Dr. Dallas Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.” As such, Jennifer was RCC’s nominee for the statewide Dallas Herring Achievement Award in 2016. Dr. Herring’s philosophy is the guiding principle of the community college system, which he helped establish.

Jennifer was born in Los Angeles and moved with her mother to Michigan when she was a baby. She started high school in a small, economically-disadvantaged school with a diverse population. After her family relocated again in 2010, she enrolled at Asheboro High School, where “the students were way ahead and very prepared,” she said. It also had a limited minority population compared to her former school.

The move was traumatic. They had chosen Asheboro because it was warmer (and better for her mother’s health) and a family friend lived there. On the way, their car broke down stranding Jennifer, her younger sister, her 5-month-old brother, and her mother. “A stranger took us in for a week,” Jennifer said. When they finally made it to Asheboro to stay temporarily with the family friend, Jennifer was enrolled at Asheboro High School as “homeless” because she had no permanent address.

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Jennifer concentrated on her studies, but couldn’t participate in many after-school activities because she rode the bus and had to help take care of her little brother.

When it came time for college, Jennifer chose Randolph Community College for the same reason many students do — it was close to home and affordable. She said RCC created many opportunities for her. She enrolled in the Associate in

Arts program and was accepted into the College’s prestigious Student Leadership Academy. She was named a Randolph Rotary Scholar, had a work/study job in Student Services, and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

She graduated in May 2014 with a 4.0 GPA, winning both the Academic and Curriculum Awards for her program of study.

She credits her RCC instructors who instilled in her an “I can do it” attitude. One of her instructors said, “Jennifer faced insurmountable challenges as a student, tending to her younger brother during a period when her mother was unable to care for him. In addition, Jennifer performed as an exemplary student, having no car…and seldom missed classes nor her commitments as a work/study, with a smile and absolute steadfast perseverance.”

Today, Jennifer is a biology major at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is active in UNCG’s leadership programs, and, until recently, she still worked four evenings a week in RCC’s Welcome Center. She gave that up to enroll in Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, which is needed for her medical aspirations. She will graduate from UNCG in December 2016, and she hopes to enroll in the Physician Assistant graduate program at East Carolina University.

Jennifer says her personal motivation is her family. “My Mom was born in Mexico, and she worked so hard to give us a better life,” she said. Jennifer wants to establish a stable career so she can give back to her family, especially her little brother. “I don’t want him to go through what I have.”

Photos by Charles Arthurs

SERIOUSLY AWESOME | 14

Contributed photo

Rewriting His Story David Adkins Reinvented Himself With Help From RCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Small Business Center

Not too long ago, David Adkins was your average guy. He enjoyed martial arts, working, being with friends, and pursuing his interests. He was a manager of five restaurants; he had graduated from an auto mechanics program and had worked in that field for some time. When things changed, he was working two part-time jobs that enabled him to pursue formal training in animation, pay his bills, and have enough time for his personal life.

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What changed? Two organs failed him. Kidney and pancreas failures sent him to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He is a double transplant survivor now, but his challenges severely limit his ability to work. He is on disability as a result and has to be careful with how hard he pushes himself physically.

What is a person of action to do when their action is limited?

Embrace entrepreneurship! David has become a self-published author in the fantasy genre and is a frequent presence at various nationwide conventions.

Contributed photo

He has published 3 books:

“Sons of Solistar, The Broken Chain,” 130 pages, on sale at Amazon.com http://amzn.to/1Zw8FqY

“Sons of Solistar, The Dead Chain,”

160 pages, on sale at Amazon.com. http://amzn.to/1WDYNgX

“Sons of Solistar, The Deceptive Chain,”

180 pages, on sale at LuLu.com http://bit.ly/1WDZcQu

David has attended, as a guest or panelist, over 40 conventions in the past two years. He is currently working on partnerships with current comic book artists like “Hip Hop and Cemetery Plots”; a solo comic book project, “And We Were Gods”; and three novelettes based on “And We Were Gods” to be partially funded by a kickstarter effort.

Additionally, he is working on a charity fantasy/hero convention at the Randolph Mall in Asheboro. He is partnering with Happy Hollow Drop-In Daycare and Golden Corral. The charitable focus is on “Camp Corral” and “Pets are Heroes.” At this convention, David will attend and has secured such wellknown comic artists as Dan Johnson, Bill Lunsford, John Czop and William Boyner. There will be multiple costume contests, panel discussions, an auction, a dance off, and there will be costumed heroes on hand for picture opportunities.

The future holds opportunities in merchandising, animation, live action movies, and e-comics. More books will be a staple output of his creative bend and perhaps graphic novels as well.

What help did Randolph Community College’s Small Business Center offer? According to Daniel Farmer, director of the SBC, things like helping him secure a radio advertising spot on WZOO for free; helping him form his LLC; marketing assistance for his intellectual property items; starting his business plan; product pricing; financial awareness of his business and what it needs to do in order to survive and grow; tax and accounting advice; and ongoing business advice to help him as challenges come up.

“We were happy to help him achieve a lot under challenging circumstances,” said Farmer. “We look forward to helping him as his business grows and flourishes. David has overcome some real challenges, and we were honored to be a part of his journey.”

SERIOUSLY AWESOME | 16

 Not Your Typical College Student…

Randolph Community College’s second-year Photojournalism II students were given an assignment during the spring semester to complete a “Non-Traditional Student Photo Story.” The goal is a longer-term photo story, introducing the conflict of the student’s story and sharing with the viewer a sense of resolution (not all picture stories have a final resolution).

In this issue, on pages 17-20, we are featuring two of the best completed assignments for spring 2016 by students Allison Isley and Whitney Keller.

The PHO-227 course provides additional experience in news photography and counts for eight credit hours toward a degree. Topics include expanded coverage, illustration, layout, picture usage, picture stories, editing, survey of regional newspapers, employment opportunities, portfolio development, and job seeking skills. Students in this course are on track to complete their associate in applied science degrees this summer.

The course is taught by Jay Capers, who has been an instructor at RCC since 2011. He earned his B.S. in Mass Media/Communication from Fitchburg State University and was a staff photographer at a Rochester, N.Y., newspaper for over 10 years.

The Power of a Mother’s Love (Photo Story by Allison Lee Isley)

As if 33-year-old Judy Leal doesn’t already have enough on her plate being enrolled as a full-time student at Randolph Community College, she is also a single mother of an 8-year-old. Leal is attending RCC to double major in Radiography and Physical Therapy Assistant. She is also getting her certification to become a Spanish translator. While having a huge school work-load, she still emphasizes the importance of spending as much time as possible with her son, Eduardo. Leal understands the vitality of being attentive, loving, and caring toward her son, no matter how busy and exhausted she is.

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ACROSS CAMPUS | 18

Full-Time Mom, Full-Time Student, Full-Time Life (Photo Story by Whitney Keller)

Desiree Trogdon, 31, is a stay-at-home mom to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;wonderful, messy, loud, and so very funnyâ&#x20AC;? Ezra, 5, and Seth, 2. Trogdon is a full-time student at Randolph Community College working toward an associate degree in Human Services Technology.

Balancing a one-income household, sharing one car, with no babysitter in sight, Trogdon must take classes online or at night, which has proven to be quite the scheduling challenge.

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ACROSS CAMPUS | 20

NC Science Festival Sophomore Year at RCC RCC’s STEM Division and Science Department hosted the school’s second annual North Carolina Science Festival event on April 14, which was designed to connect our students and the community with local experts and resources.

RCC was fortunate enough to have experts on site from the N.C. BioNetwork, the North Carolina Zoo, and even the Stormwater SMART Outreach, who provided learning experiences for all ages at the festival.

RCC had 200 visitors and students who were able to participate in hands-on science experiments and demonstrations.

The N.C. Science Festival at RCC was made possible through the efforts of Kevin Jones, science lab facilitator; Heather Adams, biology instructor; and Bryan Marbert, department head for sciences/health/physical education.

“We appreciate the N.C. BioNetwork bringing their Mobile Training Lab all the way from Greenville (yes, that was an 18 wheeler that expanded into a lab!) to engage our students and visitors,” said Dr. Donna Perry, division chair. “(They) provided a variety of science activities like making ice cream, immunoassays, and cleanroom gowning.”

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Sensory Overload

Feeling the

BURN Controlled Burn Teamwork makes the dream work

RCC firefighter cadets and photojournalism students come together to learn more about their respective future professions.

On this day, the firefighter cadets were learning how to properly extinguish vehicle and liquid propane tank fires. At the same time, the photojournalism students got to explore what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to photograph a scene that mimics a real-world experience.

Photo by Whitney Johnson Keller

Photo by Olivia Jackson

Photo by Allison Lee Isley Photo by TJ Carr

Photo by Caitlin Penna

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Message from the RCC Development Director This was the first time in six years that we did not host Dancing with the Randolph Stars. Initially it was very scary to end our run with the largest fundraiser in the Foundation’s history. The event was a fun way to raise a lot of money for our students.

And although the 2015 event was still very successful, it was becoming clear that it was time to try something new. We made some wonderful friends during our six-year run and raised awareness of the RCC Foundation in our community.

In July of 2015, our Board voted to move toward a more donor-centered model of raising money for the students of RCC. As we set out on this new pathway, I found it was such a blessing to have more time to get to spend with the people who support Randolph Community College.

Lorie McCroskey

Foundation Staff Shelley W. Greene Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement 336-633-0174 | swgreene@randolph.edu Lorie M. McCroskey Director of Development 336-633-1118 | llmccroskey@randolph.edu Selina L. Moore Development Specialist

336-633-0296 | slmoore@randolph.edu Joyce B. Wolford Executive Director, RCC Foundation 336-633-0295 | jbwolford@randolph.edu www.randolphccfoundation.org www.facebook.com/randolphccfoundation www.facebook.com/RandolphCC.alumni

Foundation Board of Directors Elizabeth H. Aldridge Steven E. Eblin Vickie H. Gallimore James G. Gouty Neal Griffin III Dr. J.B. Griffith III Baxter Hammer Ann M. Hoover Elbert Lassiter Curt J. Lorimer 23|RCC FOUNDATION

Gail H. McDowell Nicki McKenzie Waymon Martin Daffie H. Garris Dr. Cynthia G. Schroder H. Dean Sexton Dr. Robert Shackleford Jr. F. Mac Sherrill Mini Singh

It’s interesting to learn how different each one of our donors are, and yet they all share the same love for and commitment to RCC. What an extraordinary opportunity we have had this year as we began finding ways for our supporters to give to areas of the College that most closely match their passion.

Because of the generosity of our donors, we have 20 new endowed scholarships, many new designated scholarships, and several new funds and sponsorships.

I have made some wonderful new friends this year and learned so much about the people who quietly support our College. Working at the RCC Foundation is so much more than a job. I truly love what I do, the people I work with, and all of our donors and supporters.

Our students are so lucky to have a community of supporters who are making sure they have everything they need to be successful.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet with me this year. Your stories have been inspirational and your generosity will live on in our students’ lives forever.

Lorie McCroskey Director of Development

Concept design photo

Integrating Greatness Gene Haas Foundation to Give RCC Foundation $1 Million for Naming of Computer-Integrated Machining Program/Lab

The Randolph Community College Foundation has learned it will receive a $1 million gift from the Gene Haas Foundation to support RCC’s Computer-Integrated Machining program.

Randolph Community College will name the machining program, classrooms, and lab – located in the Continuing Education and Industrial Center at 413 Industrial Park Avenue – the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute.

The $1 million gift will be used to expand the program, according to Dr. Robert Shackleford, RCC president. “The funds will help us close both the skills gap and the interest gap in Computer-Integrated Machining,” said Shackleford.

“We’ll close the skills gap by continuing to provide the very best in machining education, and by producing more qualified workers; and we’ll close the interest gap by using some of the funds to expose high school students to the career possibilities in advanced manufacturing.”

Shackleford noted that RCC’s machining faculty and staff have had a close, long-standing relationship with the Gene Haas Foundation. “In addition to the efforts of the entire machining program, Garret Parker, department head of ComputerIntegrated Machining, has been particularly instrumental in developing and nurturing this relationship,” Shackleford stated.

Parker and Shackleford visited Haas Automated, Inc., and the Gene Haas Foundation in Oxnard, Calif., in January.

RCC’s Computer-Integrated Machining program has been designated a Haas Technical Education Center by Haas Automation since July 2007. To qualify, a school must meet quality standards established by Haas Automation and the HTEC Council. The program is also accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

Providing funds to community colleges and vocational schools for students entering technical training programs, especially machinist-based certificate and degree programs, is of particular interest to the Gene Haas Foundation. Haas Automation is the largest and most modern machine tool builder in North America.

“There are 318,000 manufacturing jobs going unfilled due to a lack of skilled workers,” said Kathy Looman, administrator, Gene Haas Foundation. “That number is growing, as so many people employed in this industry are baby boomers who are retiring. Manufacturing is a very promising industry that is vital to the U.S. and global economies. It offers high-paying, cleantechnology careers. Growing a local, qualified workforce is a win-win effort, both for young people seeking career paths, and for local manufacturers who need qualified workers.”

RCC doubled the space for its Computer-Integrated Machining program when it opened the Continuing Education and Industrial Center in January 2013. Yet, local manufacturers still say they need more qualified machinists. Of the 15 RCC machining students who graduated in May, 12 were already employed, and the others had job offers on the table.

Signs bearing the new name will be placed at the roadside, on the facade of the CEIC, and on three sides of the building designated for CIM. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of the new signage will take place Friday, Oct. 7, just before the fall NASCAR race in Charlotte.

ABOUT THE GENE HAAS FOUNDATION: Founded by Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation, Inc., Haas Formula One Team and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, the Foundation has awarded more than $45 million to more than 2,000 charitable organizations and schools since 1999. Haas’ commitment to the importance of U.S. manufacturing has compelled him to direct his foundation board to focus on manufacturing education in the form of scholarships and other support for CNC machinist training. For more information about the Gene Haas Foundation or Haas Automation, visit www.ghaasfoundation.org or www.haascnc.com.

Haas has funded numerous student scholarships for RCC’s CIM students, and a majority of the machining equipment in the lab is from Haas Automation. “This $1 million gift will be used to further develop the machining program,” said Shackleford.

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The Gift That Keeps On Giving

RCC Names JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center

Randolph Community College recently named its Corporate Training Center the JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center to honor the longtime supporters of the College and the RCC Foundation.

The local philanthropists recently joined the RCC Foundation’s Legacy Society, and combining their past giving and pledges comprises a gift of more than $250,000.

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Around 70 Randolph Community College leaders, employees, and supporters were present at the unveiling of the JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center name on May 19. They included RCC Board of Trustees members, RCC Foundation board members, community members, and friends and family of JB and Claire Davis.

RCC President Robert S. Shackleford Jr. noted during the ceremony that JB Davis – retired president of Klaussner Furniture Industries – worked closely with him to help secure the former Klaussner Furniture warehouse that was turned into RCC’s Continuing Education and Industrial Center at 413 Industrial Park Drive.

The 3,000-square-foot Corporate Training Center housed in that building provides a state-of-the-art facility for businesses and industries to hold conferences and meetings. Shackleford displayed a graphic that showed the Corporate Training Center had been used for 467 events involving more than 35,400 people since its opening in January 2013.

Shackleford commented: “JB and Claire Davis are two of Randolph County’s finest citizens and have a passion for the things that make our community great. We are very fortunate that they have been friends of Randolph Community College for many years. We will use their wonderful gift in service to the community. We are so happy to honor their generosity and kindness in naming this most visible of RCC facilities after them.”

In 2003, the bell and clock tower in front of the Foundation Conference Center was dedicated to JB Davis thanks to donations from KFIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s officers, employees, and friends. The Klaussner group raised $125,000 for the tower and surrounding brick plaza, and $82,000 to establish the JB Davis Scholarship.

JB worked at Randolph Community College as a counselor in Student Services early in his career. He left RCC to go to work for Stuart Love Furniture, which eventually became KFI. Claire served on the RCC Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dancing with the Randolph Stars planning committee. She was instrumental in developing the event in the beginning, serving on the Invitations/Programs/Decorations Committee in 2010 and on the Sponsorship Committee in 2014 and 2015.

The RCC Board of Trustees approved the naming during their regular meeting on March 17.

JB and Claire Davis have supported a number of charities in Randolph County, from Hospice to the YMCA. They also helped create the Merce Clinic, which offers medical and dental services to low income and uninsured residents of the county.

JB Davis was named Citizen of the Year in 2009 by the Asheboro/ Randolph Chamber of Commerce.

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Kara Cox

Designing Woman

Photo by Perfecta Visuals/ Jerry Wolford and Scott Muthersbaugh

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A Fresh, Modern Approach to Classic

By Cathy Hefferin Kara Cox is a bundle of energy. But it’s not nervous energy. It is more of a fluid energy, born out of her creativity.

“I don’t think I knew in high school exactly what I wanted to do,” she said. “I knew I wanted something creative,” unlike the other members of her family. “My dad was a doctor. My mom was a career counselor at UNCG. My brother is an attorney. They are not creative people,” she laughed.

The 36-year-old designer, clad in a tie-dyed T-shirt dress, her dark blond hair pulled back with a simple hair band, talked about her career trajectory while sitting in the stylish living room of her Irving Park home, which was undergoing a major renovation thanks to a new project she was in the midst of. She is the owner/operator of Kara Cox Interiors, a full-service interior design firm “with a fresh approach to classic interiors” according to her website, karacoxinteriors.com.

Kara grew up in Asheboro, graduated from Asheboro High School, and enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill right after high school to study journalism with an advertising concentration. After graduating from UNC, she moved to New York City and went to work for SAKS Fifth Avenue. Her goal was to work in marketing and public relations for the fashion industry.

But she was only in New York for about six months.

She was dating her now-husband, Stephen Cox, who was also from Asheboro. “After he proposed, it didn’t make sense for him to move there,” said Kara. His family owns Cox’s Harley Davidson, and he was involved in that business.

From New York City to Asheboro seemed just too much of a culture shock, so when she moved back, they decided to live in Greensboro, “because we were 25, and we wanted the excitement of a bigger city,” she said.

Kara went to work as a fabric purchasing agent for Klaussner Furniture but struggled to transition from the fashion industry.

“Furniture made sense,” she said. “It’s still trend based.” After working for Klaussner for about a year and learning a lot about the furniture industry, she went to work for Home Accents Today (a monthly magazine and online news source covering the home furnishings field) as a product editor. She traveled nationally and internationally to trade shows, but one thought nagged at her: “I don’t want to write about this; I want to be the one doing it.”

When Kara got pregnant with her first child, she realized she couldn’t keep up the travel schedule with Home Accents Today, so she decided to take a step back and stayed home with her baby girl for a year. When her daughter turned 1, Kara decided to go back to school for an Interior Design degree.

“Randolph Community College was the best fit,” she said. “I already had the background of a four-year degree. But it was important to me to go into the profession with a degree. It builds a good solid foundation.”

Kara said the biggest turning point for her at RCC was completing the required internship. She chose to work for Lindsay Henderson Interiors, a residential designer in Greensboro. “I had saved a brochure of hers from a show house that I attended as a member of the Junior League,” she remembered. “I had been watching her business for years. She was well established and had highend clients. So I called her out of the blue. She had just lost an assistant, so she agreed to the internship.” Kara worked there for 2 ½ more years after her graduation from RCC as Henderson’s design assistant.

“When you have the goal of owning your own business, hands-on is important, but you also need to know how to run a business,” she mused. Kara said she learned a lot from Henderson, but noted that she is “on a constant learning curve.” Since completing her apprenticeship, Kara has hired a business coach and completed other training. “The design business is really unique,” she said. “It combines retail and service models. You have to sell your services and creativity, not just a product.”

(Continued next page)

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“I view our house as a design lab .... That’s how I Kara and Stephen learn, taking on had lived in the same Irving Park new projects.“ home since before their a home office when she and her husband bought their current home in October 2015.

“That’s the opposite of the way most people do it,” she admitted.

children were born. They had not planned on moving.

“But I said if I ever moved, it would be to a house with a separate entrance for a home office,” she said.

Kara opened her business in 2010. “It was interesting timing,” she said. The fact that it was just a couple of years after the downturn in the economy was a “blessing in disguise. I was able to start slow and build from there. It was part time for about two years and in 2012 it really became a full-time career.” Since then, she has added two part-time employees.

Kara has participated in two Traditional Home Magazine show houses. She has had her work published three times in national magazines (including Traditional Home and HGTV Magazine), plus on online blogs and websites. Her former Irving Park home was also featured in Greensboro’s O.Henry Magazine.

When she first started out, Kara established an office on Battleground Avenue just north of the city, but then moved to

“I was intrigued by the look of this house when it came on the market,” said Kara. It was just a few blocks from their current home, but Kara saw it as a challenging design project as much as a new home for her family. “This house had all terra cotta floors. It was very Floridian with heavy wrought iron and a massive raised hearth,” she explained. “It was built in 1954, but it had become more transitional over the years. I wanted to take it back to a more mid-century feel.”

Since Kara regularly used social media to promote her business, she started writing about her efforts to transform the house. A representative of Domino design magazine reached out to her.

They were looking for a kitchen and bath remodel and wanted to partner with someone and publish the house in the fall issue.

“It’s amazing exposure for my business,” said Kara, adding that the deal included partnering with brands for product placement, an area she is interested in expanding into which means the implications of the partnership are huge.

Kara (second from right) with some of her Interior Design classmates and instructor Holly Barker (far right).

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accessories, colors and modern art.” Kara said she also likes to expose clients to original artists, particular Southern artists. “I love abstract art and figurines, mainly regional artists. I always try to work original art into every project whether the client wants to collect something that will gain value or if they just want to include something they will love. That is really an integral part of my business.”

This spring, Kara was chosen as a Top 50 Semi-Finalist in the Traditional Home Rising Stars of Design competition.

Win or lose, Kara is moving full-steam ahead with her design firm.

She is involved in the design of a new house being built near her in Irving Park. Coincidentally, her old mentor, Lindsay Henderson, is designing the house being built right beside it.

“The interior design business is very different today,” she said. “You have to spread revenues out in multiple revenue streams – not just design.”

“I love the idea of product development,” she continued. “I have been in every aspect of the business now: manufacturing, editorial and design.”

Kara was preparing to have her kitchen and bathrooms gutted the day after our interview. The plan was to have the remodel complete for the house to be photographed at the end of June and the story published in September.

What had she planned for the home? “White walls, light wood floors,” she said. “Everyone in Greensboro is still doing dark floors… traditional style. This house called for light and open…more contemporary…a California modern vibe.”

“The number of decisions that have to be made within one room of a house is in the thousands,” she said. “With design, it is so important to have input in the flow and function of the home from the start. Even builders miss that stuff.”

Kara feels that education is key to giving every project and every client the most value. “I have studied art history, color theory, and the construction process,” she said. “I am very value-driven in what I want to bring to my clients. That has helped me build my business.”

Kara is the daughter of Larry and Janice Simpson of Asheboro. Her father was the original founder of White Oak Family Physicians, and became the company doctor for Klaussner Furniture in 1990.

Her husband, Stephen, is the vice president of business development for Cox’s Harley Davidson and owner of Securis, a data destruction company based in the Triad.

Not that she follows strict rules of design. “We are hanging a TV above the fireplace even though this is our formal living room,” she said. “We will watch ball games in here.” Once a Tarheel, always a Tarheel.

Kara is confident her family can handle the upheaval. “The kids are used to transition,” she said. Her daughter, Avery, is now 9 and her son, Davis, is 5. Both she and her husband have to travel for business. “They have to go with the flow.”

“I don’t get attached to things – houses or furniture,” she continued. “I view our house as a design lab for me. Stephen said, ‘We’ll live here until the kids go off to college.’ I said, ‘Honey, probably not.’ That’s how I learn, taking on new projects. I’m teaching myself about this era.”

Kara said she values the technical skills she learned at RCC. She said drafting, taught by former instructor Gerald Hampton, was one of her favorite classes. “Even though I learned CAD, I still hand draft every design and floor plan. If it works on paper, it works in a room. I still use that every single day on every project.”

She said another favorite class was color theory. “It is the class that everyone hates because the teachers are tough. But I thrived on that. Color is the foundation for every single design. That was a huge lesson.”

Kara describes her design style as “a fresh, modern approach to classic. I like to marry traditional shapes with more current

Inspiration Kara keeps a congratulatory note from RCC President Robert Shackleford on the bulletin board in her home office, alongside photos and notes from her children.

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Giving Appreciation - RCC Foundation Infinity Gala The RCC Foundation hosted its annual donor appreciation event on June 4 at AVS Catering & Banquet Centre. At this year’s Infinity Gala, donors who have committed to an ongoing annual gift of at least $1,000 were recognized as President’s Infinity Circle members, and many of these donors were also recognized for establishing new endowed funds.

Legacy Society members were recognized for their commitment of a bequest to RCC, and three new members were inducted into the Society.

Rather than holding a major fundraising event this year, the RCC Foundation’s Board of Directors elected to focus on a development model that fosters donor relationships and focuses on personalized fundraising. As part of the transition, the donor appreciation event was moved to June and was a tribute to the Foundation’s Dancing with the Randolph Stars fundraiser that had an extremely successful six-year run. The Infinity Gala featured audience choice dancers from the last two Dancing with the Randolph Stars events—Leslie Caviness and Justin Parks in 2014, and Kelly Heath and Kris Julian in 2015. Close to 90 people attended the event.

Photos by Erin Mizelle

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Don’t underestimate a Randolph County girl!

By Felicia Barlow You know the saying, big things come in small packages?

Meet Traci Fisher: the first African-American female officer hired at the Asheboro Police Department. At 5’3’’ with a heartwarming smile and sweet southern accent, she doesn’t ‘look’ like a police officer. At least, not to some people. Traci says she heard that more than she cares to remember. But Traci didn’t let anything or anyone stand in her way.

She knew from a young age that she wanted “…to make a better opportunity for somebody.” When Traci was 9 years old, her parents divorced. She admits her father hasn’t done everything right over the years. Traci says those ups and downs in their relationship only motivated her more. But she says her faith solidified her choice to become a police officer.

Traci earned her Associate in Arts degree from RCC in the spring of 2015. That same summer, she joined RCC’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program. It didn’t take long for Traci to make an impression. In fact, the Asheboro Police Department offered her the position of police officer trainee soon after she started the BLET program.

Traci says she had lots of support from her family and classmates during that busy time. “They treated me like a little sister because I was the only girl!” Traci recalls. She knew she couldn’t compare herself to the guys in her class. That’s why from the start she said, “I’m going to be the best I can be.”

Traci says she was truly honored to be offered a job at the Asheboro Police Department and adds that “it’s a great place to call home.” She says she has the utmost respect for the veteran female officers who have shared their knowledge with her. One piece of metaphoric advice really stuck with Traci: don’t try to step into someone else’s shoes…do the best job you can and fill your OWN shoes.

When it comes to the next generation, Traci has solid advice for young women who have big aspirations for their future. She says “nothing can stop you… remember, you CAN do this!”

Wise words from a Randolph County girl who never let anything get in her way.

Well done, Officer Fisher, well done.

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Photos by Sydney Bartholow

Small Package =

BIG

DREAMS

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HONORING

Those who helped bring us to ‘GREAT’ RCC Retirees Welcomed Back It was another year of fun and fellowship as RCC retirees returned to campus on May 6 for the Retiree Luncheon. The annual event is hosted by the RCC Foundation. Members of the RCC Foundation Board of Directors, RCC Board of Trustees, and RCC President Robert Shackleford were on hand to welcome the retirees back to campus.

Attendees included (above from left) Glenda Martin, Arlene Phillips, Betsy Kinney, Amy Brantley, Patsyanna Barker, Dr. Shackleford, Wanda Brown, Amy Phillips, Nancy Hinshaw, Elaine Cox, Jane Allen, Frances McGee, Don Childers, and Frances Moffitt.

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Scholarly Pursuits

Meet Our 2016-17 Presidential Scholars

By Kelly Heath

Five outstanding Randolph County high school students have been chosen in a competitive process as Presidential Scholars at Randolph Community College for the 2016-2017 school year.

Abigail Jordan Baynes of Asheboro, a home school graduate; Megan Esla Faulkner of Southwestern Randolph High School; Chasity Lou Hartke of Randleman High School; Alyssa Brook Hollady of Faith Christian School; and Morgan Rhae Kinney of Eastern Randolph High School will receive two-year RCC scholarships through the Presidential Scholars program funded by the Randolph Community College Foundation.

that is renewable for their second year of study. The students have the opportunity to participate in RCC’s prestigious Student Leadership Academy, serve as Ambassadors for the College, and meet regularly with President Shackleford.

Abigail Baynes plans to study nursing at RCC with the ultimate goal of earning her B.S.N. She has already earned 18 college credit hours at RCC as a dual enrollment high school student and is an active volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Megan Faulkner plans to major in early childhood education and was a founding member of Reading Round Randolph.

She is a Beta Club member and has been involved with the Richland Baptist Youth Group for 10 years.

High school students from public, private, and home schools throughout Randolph County were invited to apply for the scholarships. Students who met the preliminary requirements were invited to attend a Presidential Scholars Day at RCC on March 1, where they learned more about the College and were interviewed by a committee of faculty and staff members.

Finalists were chosen and invited back for a second interview with RCC President Robert Shackleford Jr., who made the final choice of five recipients.

Chasity Hartke plans to begin her nursing career at RCC. She has served as a Student Government Association representative and also as secretary for Randleman High School’s Health Occupations Students of America Club.

Students’ academic records and extracurricular/community activities weighed heavily in the selection of recipients, as did the interviews.

Morgan Kinney plans to be a college transfer student at RCC with an intent to go into athletic training. She has been on the volleyball team for four years, involved with the Richland Baptist Youth Group for seven years and has also been on the Future Farmers of America floriculture team.

RCC Presidential Scholars receive a $2,500 scholarship for their first year of study ($1,250 for fall and $1,250 for spring)

Alyssa Hollady also plans to major in nursing. She has served as a volunteer for the Franklinville Community Christmas dinner since 2009 and has also been actively involved in community service projects at her school.

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Armadillo ARCHIVES Then and Now...

From the dark recesses of our Armadillo Archives, we pulled this “golden oldie” photo of our Administration/Education Center entrance. After intense research (mainly, asking our unofficial campus historian, Clark Adams) we’ve determined the picture was taken in the mid-1970s (1974-77, to be exact).

For comparison’s sake, we tried to replicate the photo with a new one (see inset, next page). The small oak tree that appears to be freshly planted in the older photo has clearly grown into a majestic marvel. Less noticeable is the absence of the Welcome Center/Student Services Center and the

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J. W. “Willie” Plummer Vocational/Technical Center (these buildings would begin construction in 1978, along with the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center). Despite a few other natural and cosmetic differences, one thing has remained true over these many years: Randolph Community College is dedicated to our mission statement of creating opportunities and changing lives... ...whether you are wearing bell-bottoms or skinny jeans... ...and that’s timeless.

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Randolph Community College & RCC Foundation 629 Industrial Park Avenue Asheboro, NC 27205

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RCC students Brandon Watt (left) and Madeline Cofer get into the Mardi Gras theme of the Student Government Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Fling, held on April 20.

Randolph Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Randolph Community College. The College is authorized by the State Board of Community Colleges to award the Associate in Applied Science degree, the Associate in Arts degree, and the Associate in Science degree. 3,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $5,041.68. EOE.