Students Celebrate Community College Day at the General Assembly

RCC SGA students at the General Assembly.

Students from community colleges across North Carolina visited the General Assembly today to voice their support for raising instructor pay, funding community colleges for year-round instruction and maintaining affordable tuition rates.

"The affordability, the quality and the accessibility offered to me during my community college experience paved the way for my success," says La'Quon Rogers, a student at Pitt Community College in Greenville and president of the North Carolina Community College Comprehensive Student Government Association (N4CSGA). "Instructors go above and beyond to ensure that their students have everything they need to enter the workforce or transfer to a university."

Three students from Randolph Community College attended Community College Day. During the visit, students had the opportunity to meet with their district's legislators, attend a meeting of the N.C. House's Education – Community Colleges Committee and be formally recognized by both chambers. The RCC students participating were Kylar Martin, SGA president; Selena Cecilio, an SGA delegate; and Joe VanBencoten, SGA vice president. All three are Associate in Science students from Asheboro.

N4CSGA representatives also presented a petition with more than 1,000 student signatures to the leadership of the General Assembly, symbolizing the broad student support for the budget priorities related to tuition rates and instructor pay.

The N4CSGA is a student-led organization that represents all student government organizations within the North Carolina Community College System.

Gov. McCrory Appoints Graves to N.C. Board of Pharmacy

Robert A. Graves, director of safety and emergency preparedness at Randolph Community College, has been appointed to serve a five-year term as the public member of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Graves was appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory; the appointment is effective May 1, 2015, and will expire on April 30, 2020.

The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy consists of six board members, (five pharmacists and one public member), and 21 employed board staff. Graves replaces J. Parker Chesson on the board.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1134-graves-bop.html.

Monica Spencer Honored for Academic Excellence; Academic and Curriculum Awards Given

Monica Spencer of Asheboro was honored as RCC’s 2015 Academic Excellence Award winner on Thursday. Dr. Robert S. Shackleford, RCC president, presented Spencer with a plaque signifying her accomplishment.

Spencer is one of 58 students from each community college in North Carolina who were recognized in April for academic excellence. AEA selection requirements are consistent with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society criteria. Students must be currently enrolled, must have completed at least 12 semester hours in an associate degree program, and must have a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.25. A committee at RCC selected the final recipient based on faculty recommendations and a short essay. Governor Pat McCrory has proclaimed April 2015 as North Carolina Community College Excellence in Education Month.

For more on this story and a list of all the academic and curriculum award winners, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1132-rcc-academic-awards-2015.html.

Randolph Community College’s Phi Beta Lambda Brings Home State Awards

Eight students from Randolph Community College’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter competed recently at the North Carolina PBL State Leadership Conference held in Charlotte and all came home with awards. Phi Beta Lambda is a national organization for students preparing to pursue business occupations.

Thirty-four North Carolina two- and four-year colleges participated in the academic events, with the RCC chapter winning several awards in addition to the individual awards, according to Erin Palmer, RCC Business Administration instructor and chapter advisor.

“The chapter was recognized as the chapter with the largest increase in membership over last year,” Palmer said. “We also were recognized for designing the NCBPL conference pin for 2015.”

For more on this story and list of individual winners, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1131-rcc-pbl-awards.html.

RCC Celebrates Academic Achievement at Spring 2015 Phi Theta Kappa Induction

Beta Theta Rho, the local Five Star Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Randolph Community College, welcomed 74 new members during its Spring Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 11, in the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center auditorium on the Asheboro Campus.

Jonathan Jarrett, Beta Theta Rho treasurer, led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the invocation. Clark Adams, RCC English/Communication instructor and one of the chapter advisors, welcomed the crowd and explained the mission and purpose of Phi Theta Kappa. He explained that Phi Theta Kappa is about giving more than just the minimal effort. “These students represent the best that RCC has to offer, and are to be commended for their dedication to their academics,” Adams said. He emphasized that the new inductees should continue to go above and beyond what is expected of them in their academics, professional lives, and personal lives.

For more on this story and a list of inductees, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1130-spring-2015-ptk-induction.html.

Mental Health & Substance Abuse Symposium Set for May 1 at RCC

Randolph Community College will host a symposium on Friday, May 1, designed for mental health and substance abuse professionals. "Understanding Addiction: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Symposium" will be held from 8 a.m. - 12 noon in the Continuing Education and Industrial Center on the Asheboro Campus.

This year's event will focus on providing an in-depth professional development opportunity for substance abuse professionals, educators, counselors, community resource providers, and anyone that may work with those struggling with an addiction. Sessions will also focus on recognizing addictive behaviors and the connections between substance abuse and mental health illness.

Speakers will include Pam Wiggins, N.C. Mentor; Jeff Pruett, Project Lazarus; M.Lt. Maxine Wright, Asheboro Police Department (retired); and Ann Shaw, NAMI. Participants will be awarded 0.4 CEUs. The cost is $10, but scholarships are available.

This event is supported by a grant from the Randolph Hospital Community Health Foundation.

For more information and to preregister, contact RCC at 336-633-0268.

Asheboro City Schools, Randolph County Schools, Randolph Community College Unveil Pathways to Prosperity Project

At a press conference on April 14 in the Computer-Integrated Machining lab of RCC’s Continuing Education and Industry Center, Asheboro City Schools, Randolph Community College, and Randolph County Schools unveiled a partnership project, called Pathways to Prosperity, to create seamless educational pathways for students to go from local high schools to community college into lucrative advanced manufacturing jobs.

Dr. Stephen Gainey, superintendent, Randolph County Schools; Dr. Terry Worrell, superintendent, Asheboro City Schools; and Dr. Robert Shackleford, president, Randolph Community College, announced the initiative, which will be implemented in fall of 2015 with four pathways in advanced manufacturing. They are Computer-Integrated Machining, Welding Technology, Mechatronics Engineering Technology, and Electrical Systems Technology.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1127-pathways-to-prosperity-unveiled.html.

RCC Students Open Photography Exhibit at Carrboro Century Center

A group of Randolph Community College Photographic Technology students are displaying their work at a gallery in the Carrboro Century Center lobby through the month of May. The public is invited.

The gallery show was organized by photo student TJ Carr and will include medium-format, black-and-white film pieces that the students printed themselves in the RCC darkroom.

The Carrboro Century Center is located at 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1126-carrboro-photo-gallery.html.

Randolph Community College’s Shane Bryson Honored with Karen Yerby Award

Shane Bryson

Shane Bryson of Thomasville, Randolph Community College student activities coordinator, received the Karen Yerby Award at the Spring 2015 North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (N4CSGA) conference recently. Bryson has been serving as senior advisor to the group for two years.

The Karen Yerby Award is presented to the individual who has been of the greatest assistance to the N4CSGA. The recipient may be a student, advisor, college representative, or community member who has given of his or her time to see the N4CSGA reach new heights. This award is selected by the N4CSGA Executive Board.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1125-bryson-yerby-award.html.

Open House Set for April 24 at RCC’s Richard Petty Education Center

Randolph Community College’s Automotive Systems Technology and Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology programs will host an Open House from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (floating) on Friday, April 24, at the Richard Petty Education Center on the Asheboro Campus. Richard Petty’s show cars and trailer will be on site for the event, which is open to the public.

The Open House will feature tours and student demonstrations. “We are inviting new students, potential students, and the public,” said Dan Moore, department head for Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology. RCC instructors will be on hand to answer questions.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1124-petty-center-open-house.html.

Randolph Community College Nursing Assistant I Course Begins May 26

Randolph Community College will offer a Nursing Assistant I course through its Workforce Development & Continuing Education division beginning Tuesday, May 26. Both daytime (8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) and afternoon/evening (4:15-9:30 p.m.) sections are available. The class meets Mondays through Thursdays and runs through July 27. The application deadline is May 15.

The course has been scheduled to make it convenient for students who may be enrolling in nursing programs at RCC or four-year colleges and universities this fall but who need to complete the Nursing Assistant I requirement before admittance, according to Amy Phillips, Nursing Assistant coordinator/instructor.

The eight-week course prepares graduates to provide personal care and perform basic skills in a variety of health care settings. The course includes class, lab, and clinical components. Upon satisfactory completion, the graduate is eligible to test for listing as a Nursing Assistant I on the N.C. Nurse Aid Registry at the N.C. Department of Health Service Regulation.

Students are urged to contact RCC immediately for an application and to learn about admission requirements, such as a physical examination, which must be completed before students begin the course. Seats in the classes are limited and are available on a first-come, first served basis.

The cost of the course is $180, plus fees; limited scholarship money may be available.

For an application and more information on requirements and scholarships, visit the RCC Continuing Education and Industrial Center at 413 Industrial Park Avenue, or call 336-633-0268.

Gene Haas Foundation Provides $10,000 for RCC Scholarships

The Gene Haas Foundation has provided $10,000 in scholarship money to the Randolph Community College Foundation for scholarships for students in RCC's Computer-Integrated Machining program.
The scholarship money was divided into three $2,000 scholarships and four $1,000 scholarships for students with unmet financial need.

The 2014-2015 recipients are Elton East, Brandon Payne, and Benjamin Pugh, all of Asheboro; Ben Cotner of Climax; Jonathan Kimble of Mt. Gilead; Mike Church of Ramseur; and Miguel Salinas of Siler City.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1122-haas-scholarships.html.

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers Visits RCC Aquaponics Lab

U.S. Congresswoman Renee Ellmers visited Randolph Community College on March 31, touring the Aquaponics Lab and speaking to a group of student leaders and college personnel.

Ellmers said her visit to Randolph County was a part of her work on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, in which she is trying to promote two areas: 1) renewable energy and 2) smart grid technology. After touring the lab, Ellmers said, “Every time I come to campus, I learn something new, and I’m always impressed.”

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/headlines/1121-ellmers-visit.html.