2025
Graduates Honored at Joyful PCI Ceremony
November 17, 2025
Pamlico Community College on Friday honored the perseverance and drive of men who recently completed PCC degree, certificate, and high school equivalency programs while housed at Pamlico Correctional Institution.
About 100 offenders at the Bayboro prison participated in the upbeat ceremony, which took place in the facility’s gym. In all, about 200 students have qualified for recognition for their academic achievements over the last year.
“Every one of you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished,” said Mary Grammer, the college’s coordinator of Correctional Education. “You deserve to be here. You’ve earned this.”
About 20 family members and friends of the men – some from as far away as Raleigh and Conway, S.C. – joined with PCI officials and state Department of Adult Correction leaders for the ceremony.
Friday’s graduation was the first all-programs ceremony held at the prison since 2019.
PCC is one of several community colleges in North Carolina to offer prison-based educational opportunities for offenders. Options range from high school equivalency and business education to hands-on training in trades such as electrical systems, horticulture, masonry, plumbing and truck driving.
The college also offers an innovative Human Services Technology (HST) program, which was launched in August 2017. Students who successfully complete the coursework earn an Associate in Applied Science degree.
Earning one or more academic credential while incarcerated can give justice-involved individuals a critical advantage when seeking employment and going on with their lives after they’re released from prison, college and prison leaders say.
Two HST graduates were the featured student speakers at Friday’s ceremony. After acknowledging his mother in the audience and telling a few jokes, Thaddeus “Thad” MacMoran said the HST program made a tremendous difference in his life.
“I’m learning to help others, and I learned a lot about myself,” he said. “I find I’m freer, in many ways, than I was out on the streets.”
Fellow HST graduate Victor Roberts said he had learned to have a contrite heart and to understand what can lead people to what he called “a path of carnage and destruction.”
“Today, I am free from old ways,” he said, encouraging the audience to not get weary as they seek their purpose in life. “All of us are somebody.”
In her keynote remarks, Dr. Brooke Wheeler, who serves as senior director for Education and Programs Services at the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, told the graduates about a new nationwide effort to improve reentry programs for offenders who leave prison.
She also urged the graduates to continue seeking educational opportunities and to do their best at everything they attempt.
“Mediocre is not good enough,” she said. “Be the best at whatever you do.”
Wheeler continued, “Don’t let this be the end. Let it be the beginning.”
Graduates were then called forward one-by-one to receive the credentials they had earned.
To conclude the ceremony, Associate Warden James Poling, who oversees the prison education department, and Warden Mark Fleming told the men to take advantage of the educational opportunities available to them at the prison. Acquiring education and skills while they are incarcerated will make them more likely to succeed after release, the officials said.
Following the ceremony, the crowd enjoyed some refreshments.
Schnell Featured in EdNC Profile Article
November 7, 2025
EducationNC (EdNC) recently published a profile of Pamlico Community College President Zac Schnell! Read it here: https://www.ednc.org/who-is-ncs-youngest-community-college-president/
Pamlico Joins NCSU’s Wolfpack Connect Plan
November 6, 2025
Qualified Pamlico Community College students now have a guaranteed transfer pathway to N.C. State University, thanks to a new statewide initiative linking all 58 of North Carolina’s community colleges to the state’s largest university.
Wolfpack Connect, launched through a partnership between the N.C. Community College System and NCSU, guarantees admission for community college students who earn an associate degree, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and meet the Raleigh university’s transfer deadlines.
The program opens doors to more than 100 eligible majors and concentrations at NCSU, creating a seamless transfer pathway for qualified PCC students.
“This is an exciting new opportunity for our community members to have a guaranteed option to transfer to N.C. State,” said PCC President Zac Schnell. “A student can start with us at PCC and save money during their first two years of college while also getting the N.C. State experience after their associate degree is complete with us. It’s great to see my alma mater provide this wonderful opportunity.”
To qualify for guaranteed admission through Wolfpack Connect, Pamlico students must:
* Apply and be accepted into Wolfpack Connect before completing 30 transferable credits at PCC,
* Earn at least 30 transferable credit hours with grades of C or better,
* Complete an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree aligned with their intended NCSU major,
* Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0,
* Meet all application deadlines, program-specific admission requirements and prerequisites, and
* Enroll in their declared NCSU major within four years of being accepted into the program.
PCC Math Instructor and Associate in Science program advisor Meredith Glover – herself an alumna of NCSU – will serve as the college’s point of contact for students interested in joining the program.
Wolfpack Connect will begin accepting eligibility forms in January 2026 for students planning to enroll at NCSU in Fall 2026.
Pamlico already offers similar transfer agreements with East Carolina University and Barton College. It is currently working on a new partnership with Western Carolina University.
Foundation’s Tourney Enjoys Great Success
October 21, 2025
More than 60 golfers hit the links last Saturday for a great time and to raise scholarship funds at the Pamlico Community College Foundation’s 24th Annual CarolinaEast Cup Fundraising Golf Tournament at Minnesott Yacht, Golf & Country Club.
Sixteen teams participated in the popular fundraiser, which featured ideal October weather, excellent playing conditions, great sportsmanship and a lot of fun.
Teams were divided into a First Flight, Second Flight and Mixed Flight, based on each group’s personnel, handicaps and abilities. Teams that finished first or second in each flight were recognized, while the team with the lowest overall score was named Tournament Champion and winner of the CarolinaEast Cup.
Most importantly, the tournament raised thousands of dollars for student scholarships and other PCC student initiatives, although a final event tally is not yet available.
“Thank you to everyone who helped us have a tremendously successful tournament,” said Foundation Executive Director Heather Arevalo, who organized this year’s golf tourney. “The turnout was great and the weather was picture perfect. We are so thankful to live and work in such a supportive and generous community.”
PCC President Zac Schnell added, “It was a lot of fun being on the course and greeting the golfers. We appreciate the support of our sponsors, our players and our volunteers. All of us are looking forward to next year’s tourney.”
As usual, the tournament featured a superball format with a shotgun start. Competitors enjoyed a continental breakfast, a congregate lunch and a day of fun and laughs on the picturesque course.
Winning team members received beautiful, customized trophies and various prizes. A putting contest, a 50-50 raffle, a door prize raffle and a silent auction rounded out the day.
This year’s winners included:
Tournament Champion team: Riley Davis, Billy Holton, Trevor Holton and James Walker
First-place First Flight team: Jay Abston, Spencer Bailey, Will Hudson and Ron Jones
Second-place First Flight team: Brian Dorn, Mike Fineham, Daniel Looney and Alex McCraight
First-place Second Flight Team: Mike Osswald, Marvin Sartin, Eddie Taylor and Willie Tyndall
Second-place Second Flight team: Charlie Bean, Don Harris, Steven Mills and James Moffitt
First-place Mixed Flight team: Scott Harris, Patti Hudson, Jack Kilpatrick and Danny White
Second-place Mixed Flight team: Micki Campbell, Tommy Campbell, Dwayne Cowell and Cheryl Thompson
Putting Contest winner: James Walker
Closest to the Curve winner (Hole No. 16): Daniel Looney
Closest to the Pin winner (Hole No. 14): Brian Dorn
50-50 Raffle Winner: Riley Davis, who donated his winnings back to the Foundation.
CarolinaEast Health System was the title sponsor and a Platinum sponsor of this year’s tournament. The Pamlico Small Business Center and American Welding Society District 4, Section 137 were Platinum sponsors.
Gold sponsors included: The Pamlico News; The County Compass; Robinson and Stith Insurance; Dr. Garnett Whitehurst; Taberna Country Club; and Jerry Casey Auto Sales of Grantsboro.
Silver sponsors included: Hardison Tire Co.; Little Italy Pizza; Realty ONE Group East – Kacy Forbes, Broker; Mariner Realty; Axelson Chiropractic; Iris Hudson; and Rose & Glenn Lore.
Putting Green sponsors included: Charles & Ann Holton; The Tillman Family; Forrest Farm Supply; American Welding Society District 4, Section 137; Martha Whitford; and The Arevalo Family.
Prize Sponsors included: Minnesott Yacht, Golf & Country Club; Harbor Pointe Golf Club; The Emerald Club; River Bend Country Club; Carolina Colours Golf Club; New Bern Golf and Country Club; Morehead City Country Club; Brandywine Bay Golf Club; Taberna Country Club; Star Hill Golf Club; Cypress Landing Golf Course; Ayden Golf & Country Club; Greenville Country Club; Harbor View Day Spa; Duke Energy; Harbourside Garden Co.; Piggly Wiggly of Oriental; and The Bike Box Project/Rock Steady Boxing.
Volunteers were: Heather Arevalo, Earl Canfield, Terri Fesmire-Kennedy, Meredith Glover, Iris Hudson, Carmen Kludy, Dr. Brandy Leder, John McCotter, Susan McRoy, Zac Schnell, Katie Shorter, Sandy Wall, Laura West and Ann Whitman.
PCC’s Beauty Programs Leader Outlines Plans
September 12, 2025
As an Esthetics instructor, it’s not surprising that Shanna Lewis has plans to dress up the appearance of Pamlico Community College’s Cosmetology Building in Bayboro.
She’d like to see a fresh coat of paint for the building’s interior, the creation of a mural on an exterior wall, and perhaps other improvements.
But as the college’s newly named coordinator of Beauty Arts Programs, Lewis’s plans for the Cosmetology and Esthetics programs housed in the building are more than just skin deep. She wants to grow enrollment in both Cosmetology and Esthetics, which she now leads, and she plans to explore adding new courses and programs in massage therapy, nail technician, natural hair care, and others.
“We have a vision of growing,” the peppy Lewis said in a recent interview. “This has always been my vision.”
The 47-year-old Virginia native also wants to build on the work of recently retired Program Director/Instructor Debi Fulcher, who led the college’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs for many years.
“She was a good role model,” Lewis said. “I watched her like a hawk.”
For his part, PCC President Zac Schnell says he is impressed with Lewis’s enthusiasm and commitment to the programs’ growth and success.
“Shanna brings new excitement to our college’s Beauty Arts Programs,” he said. “Her vision for Cosmetology and Esthetics goes far beyond mere surface beauty. She’s actively looking to grow programs that transform PCC students and the community.”
Lewis has been intrigued by beauty and style since she was a little girl. When she wasn’t playing with Barbie dolls, she was dressing up in her grandmother’s high heels and costume jewelry and experimenting with bright red lipstick.
“I was definitely not the tomboy playing in the dirt,” Lewis said with a chuckle.
She got her first experience working in the beauty industry at age 14 when she was hired as a shampoo technician – then called a “shampoo girl” – at a salon in her hometown. Lewis maintained her interest after her move to North Carolina, eventually enrolling at PCC to study Cosmetology.
She earned a Cosmetology diploma at Pamlico in 2007, and she went on to earn a Cosmetology Instructor certificate later from Carteret Community College.
Lewis was working as a stylist in Havelock when she ran into Fulcher and told her she’d be interested in working as a substitute instructor at PCC. She was hired in May 2013 and, after expressing an interest in teaching Esthetics, helped to launch the college’s Esthetics program shortly thereafter.
“This is my baby,” she said with a smile as she gazed around the Esthetics lab. “I envisioned this.”
Now, as PCC’s coordinator of Beauty Arts Programs, Lewis has an opportunity to leave additional impressions on the college. She plans to continue teaching Esthetics, but she also wants to engage with area salon owners and the public.
“I definitely want to get out in the community,” Lewis said, adding she wants to recruit potential students and to host special events such as guest speakers and time period-themed hair and makeup shows.
She also wants to ensure PCC is responsive to community needs, and she has actively sought input from current students on changes they’d like to see.
Lewis will have a strong team to help her. Cosmetology Instructor Elethia Woodham, who is a Pamlico County native and experienced instructor, remains on staff. Joining the team is adjunct Cosmetology Instructor Tishma McGarrell, a PCC graduate and skilled instructor. Woodham teaches the Beginning Cosmetology students, and McGarrell teaches the Advanced Cosmetology students.
Pamlico’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs are ideal for creative men and women who want to help people look their best. The programs feature small class sizes and individualized attention. High school students are eligible to begin the hands-on programs even before they graduate.
Graduates of the programs are eligible to test for their respective state licenses and embark on career paths that can be both potentially lucrative and personally satisfying.
For more information, contact Lewis at 252-249-1851, ext. 3135, or slewis@pamlicocc.edu.
College Seeks to Grow Cultural & LE Program
September 5, 2025
Pamlico Community College wants to grow its Cultural & Life Enrichment program – and it wants to hear from you!
PCC leaders are surveying the public to find out what kind of informative – and fun – non-credit classes adult learners would like the college to offer. They also want to know the types of personal enrichment classes area residents might be willing to teach.
“We really want to hear from the community about this,” said PCC President Zac Schnell. “We are open to feedback, so we are inviting area residents to let their voices be heard.”
College staffers have put together a short online survey. It can be accessed by a QR code or through this link: https://forms.gle/zANjkL47t2zLhjVi8.
For years, Pamlico has offered a wide range of personal enrichment courses, both at its Grantsboro campus and at off-site locations.
Popular classes have included quilting, sewing, pottery, astronomy, birding and more. Talented residents also have taught their neighbors how to play the guitar and how to play bridge.
Fees for the courses are low, and instructors keep the classroom atmosphere fun and stress-free.
“Culture grows when it’s shared, and life is enriched when we learn from one another,” said Lakissha Voliva, Delamar Center coordinator and organizer of the survey. “Our courses are about discovering passions, skills and stories that connect us all.”
She continued, “What do you want to learn? What do you want to teach? Together, we can make it happen. Come join us and make some new friends. We’d love to have you on campus.”
Voliva points out that Cultural & Life Enrichment instructors do not need to have teaching licenses or formal qualifications. They only need to have a passion for sharing their knowledge and skills with others.
For more information about the survey or the PCC Cultural & Life Enrichment program, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3113, or email cleclasses@pamlicocc.edu.
Enroll Now in PCC’s Grant Writing Course
August 25, 2025
Pamlico Community College’s Grant Writing course is a convenient way for men and women to learn how to secure the vital funding their organizations need to make a difference in the community and beyond.
This semester’s Grant Writing course is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 2. It will be available in a convenient Zoom-based format and will meet Tuesdays thru Nov. 18.
Class times will be 7 to 8:30 p.m., and the cost will be $70.55. The instructor will be professional grant writer Monica Minus.
“It’s important for area non-profits and other community organizations to know how to secure funding from public and private sources,” said Lori Giles, the college’s chair for Continuing Education and Technical Programs. “Competition for funding is becoming more intense, so this course is designed to equip people with the skills they need to create successful grant applications.”
Students who enroll in the course will develop effective grant writing skills. They’ll also learn how to research funding opportunities, write narratives, and develop budgets to successfully manage their grants.
“We have found it’s more convenient for our students to offer the Grant Writing course during the workweek and in a Zoom-based format,” Giles said. “Students can take the course from home and save on transportation costs.”
For more information or to register, call 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or email lgiles@pamlicocc.edu. Students also can register online at https://pamlicocc-register.fundfive.com/course/section/24677
Hill Takes Over PCC’s Environmental Program
August 11, 2025
Pamlico Community College’s new Environmental Science Technology Instructor Brandon Hill has never shied away from challenges.
As a youth, the 43-year-old Lenoir County native earned the Eagle Scout – the highest rank in Scouting. In high school, Hill filled his class schedule with four years of science and four years of math.
After terrorists attacked the country on 9/11, he left college and joined the U.S. Navy, serving for six years in two vastly different jobs. After his Navy stint, Hill returned to N.C. State University to earn a four-year degree in Environmental Technology and Management – a field he hadn’t before considered – and then became a science teacher.
Now Hill is taking on another challenge: He is taking over North Carolina’s only community college-based Environmental Science Technology program – the unique program nurtured, grown and led for nine years by current PCC President Zac Schnell, his boss.
“I always try to approach everything I do with excellence,” Hill said recently. “There is pressure to do a great job and build on what he’s created here. I feel I am up to it. There is a great team here, and I have had a lot of support.”
For his part, Schnell said he expects Hill to do very well.
“It is exciting to have another enthusiastic instructor on campus who is ready to help grow the Environmental Science programs here at PCC,” the president said. “Mr. Hill has a lot to offer future students, to help them understand the world around them, and to develop the skills they need to be successful in our changing world.”
Schnell continued, “I look forward to working with him and helping the Environmental Science programs grow. We’re also excited about growing the rest of the college, too. We are going to be trying some new things in the coming months.”
Hill said he had always been fascinated by nature and the science behind it. Growing up in the Kinston area, he spent a lot of time outdoors hiking and exploring his surroundings.
He graduated from Kinston High School and headed to Raleigh for college, eventually leaving to answer his country’s call. After his Navy days, he returned to NCSU with his eyes on an engineering degree, but it was not a good fit.
“It just didn’t feel right,” Hill said. “I came across the Environmental Technology and Management program. I took the introductory class, and I was sold.”
Interestingly, Hill and Schnell were enrolled in the same program at State and shared the same mentor, Professor Dr. Robert Bruck, but they did not know each other.
After graduating, Hill got his first experience at a community college when he took a job at Lenoir as chair of the college’s Sustainability Technologies program. He later accepted a private sector post as an energy analyst for Booz Allen Hamilton – a job that led him to earn a master’s degree from Virginia Tech.
Hill then returned to the classroom, first as a science teacher at Duplin Early College High School and then as an instructional designer at James Sprunt Community College. His most recent job was teaching science classes – biology, sustainability, physics, and environmental science – at East Duplin High School.
“I do like all sciences,” he said. “Science is science – I love it.”
That was when he spotted the posting for the Environmental Science Technology instructor job at Pamlico.
“I was enjoying my stint at East Duplin,” he said. “But I really wanted to dive into the science I’m passionate about and use it to make a bigger difference.”
Hill applied, interviewed and was hired. He helped out at the college’s STEM-themed day camp for middle-schoolers in July, but he officially started work at Pamlico this month.
He said the college’s Environmental Science Technology program – and its similar Environmental Management Technology program – is ideal for science-minded students who have a passion for protecting and conserving natural resources.
He calls them “pragmatic idealists who know their way around a molecule.”
Hill said, “This program is designed for students with a deep passion for science and a strong desire to make a meaningful impact, whether on their local community, region, or beyond. Driven by purpose, these students are committed to addressing pressing environmental challenges and stewarding resources responsibly to create a sustainable future.”
Both Hill and Schnell encourage interested students to check out Pamlico’s unique-in-North Carolina environmental program options. Courses are offered in person and online.
For more information about the college’s Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology programs, including enrollment, contact Hill at 252-249-1851, ext. 3115, or email bhill@pamlicocc.edu.
Sandy Wall can be reached at 252-249-1851, ext. 3010, or swall@pamlicocc.edu.
Cosmetology Director to Retire in August
July 24, 2025
After teaching hundreds of students how to help men and women look their best, Pamlico Community College Cosmetology Program Director/Instructor Debi Fulcher is hanging up her shears.
The upstate New York native, who has taught at the college since May 2007, will be retiring at the end of August.
“I got my cosmetology license in 1985,” Fulcher said recently. “I have been doing hair for 40 years.”
Along the way, she has trained and inspired scores of Pamlico students, many of whom have gone on to productive and rewarding careers. She also has become a familiar face to many in the community.
“Mrs. Fulcher is the heart and soul of our Cosmetology department,” said Derek Godwin, who oversees the college’s Bayboro-based programs. “She is the kind of leader whose kindness, dedication and quiet strength have held everything together for years.”
Fulcher is a natural when it comes to the cosmetic arts. She was first attracted to hairstyling as a girl after watching her aunt, who is a beautician.
“Just watching her, it seemed to be easy,” Fulcher said. “I pick up skills by watching others.”
She got her first hands-on experience at age 12 by cutting her younger brother’s hair – and she was good at it.
She and her family moved to Eastern North Carolina when she was in the ninth grade. After graduating from West Carteret High School in 1980, Fulcher worked several retail jobs, including grocery store cashier and convenience store manager.
One day, her stepfather mentioned Craven Community College was opening a new Cosmetology school in Havelock. Tired of ringing up grocery orders and stocking shelves, Fulcher enrolled in the program and thrived.
After getting her state license, she began working as a cosmetologist. Fulcher earned a teacher’s license in 2004 and took a job teaching in Johnston Community College’s Cosmetology Department.
Her experience as an instructor at Johnston led her to apply for a position with Pamlico, and she has been here ever since.
“It’s hands-on,” Fulcher said about teaching. “The reason I wanted to do this is because I wanted them to know the right way to do things. When it clicks with them, you see that nice light bulb go off.”
She doesn’t just teach students all of the hands-on skills they’ll need in a salon. Fulcher also trains them how to work with the public, including how to connect and build rapport with clients so they can understand their customers’ wants and needs.
“I teach students what I know, and they build on that,” Fulcher said. “When they do that, they become better than me.”
Fulcher said she’s seen a lot of styles come and go – and come back again – during her four-decade career, including bouffant and updos, perms and bobs, mullets and pixie cuts, and, of course, bright and vivid colors.
What she hasn’t seen is a lot of time away from her job. A self-described “workaholic,” Fulcher is looking forward to some off time when she retires.
She and her husband of 39 years, Jesse, plan to travel to every state in the union. Fulcher hopes to reconnect with far-flung family members and visit popular attractions. She also plans to eat at restaurants featured on the TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.”
Fulcher said she’ll continue to do hair for friends and family members, but won’t be taking on any new clients. And, of course, she’ll be thinking about her former colleagues and students.
“I’ll miss them,” Fulcher said.
Why Wait? Get a Jump On the New Semester!
July 7, 2025
Now is a great time for new and returning students to get a head start on the Fall 2025 semester at Pamlico Community College!
The official registration date for the upcoming curriculum semester is Tuesday, Aug. 12, but you don’t have to wait until then.
College officials are encouraging new and returning students to go ahead and enroll for the new semester, get their financial aid – if they qualify – in order, and choose their program and courses.
“If you are thinking about getting back to your educational pathway or starting a new one, the time to act is now,” said PCC Vice President of Instructional Services and Chief Academic Officer Neil Callahan. “Why wait until August? Academic advisors like myself are here to help you put together a plan and get started.”
He continued, “Check out our website. Look over our programs. Look over our Fall 2025 schedule of courses. We are here to help you.”
PCC is proud to offer students a high-quality education close to home. The college features small class sizes so students can get more personalized attention. It also offers seated and online courses, including some programs that can be completed entirely on the web.
New students are encouraged to contact PCC’s Student Services division to get the application and financial aid processes started. Staffers there can be reached at 252-249-1851, ext. 3001, or studentservices@pamlicocc.edu.
Meanwhile, current students are encouraged to reach out to their program advisors. Also, Callahan can be reached at 252-229-9710 or ncallahan@pamlicocc.edu.
Seated classes will begin Aug. 15. Online courses will start Aug. 28.
“We are looking forward to starting up the 2025-26 academic year,” said PCC President Zac Schnell.
We welcome all who are ready to join the adventure of education to advance their skills and abilities to help improve our community. If you are ready to take the leap forward, we got you!”
Two from PCC Complete State’s NC3MI Program
June 23, 2025
Two Pamlico Community College instructors recently took part in an intensive professional development program designed to improve their teaching and effectiveness in the classroom.
Business Administration Instructor Terri Fesmire-Kennedy and Music Instructor Dr. Stacey Russell successfully completed the N.C. Community College System’s Master Instructor Program, or NC3MI, earlier this year.
The five-month program is designed to teach instructors strategies to increase student success, including fostering connections with individuals and ensuring instruction is both engaging and impactful.
The two women were among 37 instructors from across the state to complete the NC3MI program, which is now in its second year.
PCC President Zac Schnell saluted the two instructors for their accomplishments and their commitment to self-improvement.
“Terri Fesmire-Kennedy and Dr. Stacey Russell’s completion of the Master Instructor Program exemplifies our college’s dedication to innovative teaching excellence.,” he said. “Their achievement reflects our ongoing efforts to provide students with an education that prepares them for the evolving workforce of tomorrow. Congratulations to Terri and Stacey for helping us lead the way!”
Fesmire-Kennedy has been employed as a full-time faculty member at Pamlico since 2017.
Russell, the only adjunct faculty member in North Carolina to complete the NC3MI program this year, teaches students enrolled in campus programs as well as those housed at Pamlico Correctional Institution.
The application process for the 2026 NC3MI cohort is scheduled to begin in October.
Student of the Year Keeps Doing Her Best
June 2, 2025
Rochelle Meadows believes if you decide to do something, you need to give it your best.
So, when the 44-year-old mother of three decided to enroll at Pamlico Community College, she went in determined to give it all she had.
“I say to always give your best,” the Aurora woman said in a recent interview. “I even teach my youth group that at church.”
Meadows was true to her word. She recently graduated from Pamlico with both an associate degree and diploma in the Early Childhood Education Career Track, plus four certificates.
Most impressively, she received the college’s Academic Excellence Award and was named 2025 Student of the Year. As the recipient of Pamlico’s Academic Excellence Award, she became the college’s 2025 honoree on the N.C. Community College System’s “Great within the 58” list of high-achieving students.
“Ms. Meadows is so deserving of the Academic Excellence Award and the PCC Student of the Year Award,” said Vice President of Instructional Services Neil Callahan, who was Meadows’s academic advisor in the Early Childhood Education program. “She has worked very hard these past several semesters to achieve her goal, and I am so proud of her. She is proof that perseverance and hard work pay off in the end.”
Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs added, “Rochelle is a great example of how hard work and determination pay off. She is well-deserving of the awards.”
Meadows’s road to college began when she read an announcement about registration at PCC. She had been a member of the Aurora High Class of 1999, the last group to graduate from the former high school, but it had been a while since she was a student.
Meadows put it off, but decided on the last day of Pamlico’s registration period to come to campus and give it a shot.
After enrolling for classes, Meadows stepped into a college restroom, looked in the mirror and said a prayer.
“I said, ‘I’m going to give this a shot,” she recalled. “I told God, ‘I’m going to show my faith, now I need you to show your power.’”
Meadows overcame her initial anxiety about classes and excelled. Determined to do her best, she often did her homework in her car or at her children’s activities so she could stay on track. And even when she encountered trouble with coursework or technology or even getting the correct textbook, Meadows said she received the support she needed from Pamlico’s instructors and staffers.
“The school is a great school,” she said. “The faculty were great. I didn’t have a problem with any of them. They always tried to help me in a timely manner. Everyone was wonderful. I’m just so thankful and grateful.”
Meadows is now focused on opening her own in-home daycare center.
“I love children,” she said. “The kids in my neighborhood named my house ‘the safe house’ because they can come talk and get help.”
Meadows recently completed the required fire safety course and is now enrolled in a CPR class. She has begun to transform her home into a center while she waits for the requisite inspections to proceed.
“I already have my house set up just like a daycare,” Meadow said with a chuckle, describing the tables, highchairs, posters and other furnishings she had accumulated.
She hopes to open the center later this year.
“Without God, none of this would have been possible,” Meadows said. “I thank my family, my church family, and my friends, too.”
She continued, “I didn’t come this far just to come this far. I’m moving forward.”
PCC Celebrates Joyous 2025 Commencement
May 19, 2025
Tassels were turned, goals were accomplished, and bright futures were launched last Friday evening at Pamlico Community College’s 2025 Commencement ceremony at the Delamar Center.
Fifty-one of the approximately 125 men and women in the college’s curriculum and Continuing Education programs who qualified for recognition over the last academic year participated in the ceremony.
Nearly every seat on the Delamar Center’s risers was filled with enthusiastic family members and friends, and the weather outside, while warm and muggy, was great for the prospective graduates’ customary walk from the Johnson Building to the auditorium.
President Zac Schnell, who was presiding over his first graduation ceremony as the college’s top administrator, led the audience in a brief moment of silence to honor the memory of Vice President of Instruction Michelle Willis-Krauss, who was serving as Pamlico’s interim President at the time of her death in November 2024.
He then focused his remarks on the members of the Class of 2025. Schnell compared the prospective graduates’ often-challenging academic journeys to the durian, which is an Asian fruit that, when first cut, has a disgusting smell, but also features delicious, custard-like flesh inside.
“You took a leap of faith,” Schnell said, telling the graduates they had many “smelly moments” of struggle and adversity along the way to completing their goals. “That struggling part is when we are learning the most. The reward, just like that durian fruit, is just on the other side.”
The president then introduced Monica R. Gibbs, a 2002 PCC graduate who is the founder of Gibbs Consulting LLC, which provides advocacy and media relations services to community-based projects and grassroots organizations. She also has worked with candidates for political office and lobbied state-level elected officials.
“This place gave me so much,” Gibbs said, recalling how she had planned to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study broadcast journalism but had been diverted by an unexpected pregnancy shortly after graduating from Pamlico County High School in 1997.
Gibbs enrolled at Pamlico in January 1999 with the goal of earning an associate degree and then transferring to UNC.
“I knew that I needed to start somewhere,” she said. “It was a perfect setup for me because I needed to focus.”
Through hard work and study, Gibbs excelled. She took on volunteer opportunities and spent lots of time in the college’s library researching information on the then-new internet.
Knowing it was a long shot, she applied to transfer to UNC. Gibbs was accepted and soon headed off to Chapel Hill to study journalism.
Attending Pamlico was key to that success, she said, urging graduates to appreciate how hard they have worked to get where they are.
“Community college takes intention and strength,” Gibbs said. “Don’t let anyone say you didn’t work hard. I’m proud to tell people I got my start at the smallest community college in the state.”
Following Gibbs’s remarks, Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs – no relation to Monica Gibbs – presented Rochelle Meadows of Aurora with the college’s Academic Excellence Award and Student of the Year honor.
Meadows, who graduated with an associate degree and a diploma in Early Childhood Education Career Track, plus multiple certificates, received a plaque, a medallion and a congratulatory letter from the state Community College System president.
Both Commencement speaker Monica R. Gibbs and local salon owner Amber Bailey Smith were honored as the college’s Alumni of the Year. The college generally honors one Alumnus of the Year, but the PCC Foundation Board of Directors, which chooses the honoree, was unable to decide between the two women because of their impressive achievements, so it honored both of them.
Following the award presentations, the graduates were called across the stage one-by-one to receive their credentials and to pose for a photo with Schnell.
PCC Chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs Lori Giles announced the names. When the graduates had received their respective credentials; Vice President of Instructional Services Neil Callahan pronounced them graduated and instructed them to turn the tassels on their caps as the audience cheered.
PCC Trustee Debra “Debbie” Harrison gave the welcome message at the ceremony, and pianist Paula Murray provided the music.
An outdoor reception with refreshments followed the ceremony.
A video of the event is available at https://youtu.be/YS1p9QFj-NM.
College Honors Its Top Employees for 2024-25
May 14, 2025
Pamlico Community College colleagues gathered for an End-of-Year Celebration on campus Wednesday (May 14) to honor the college’s top employees for 2024-25 and to enjoy a delicious cookout.
As in recent years, the presentation of the annual awards was the centerpiece of the event. It also provided an opportunity for colleagues to look back on the academic year, to get an update on the upcoming Commencement, and to enjoy each other’s company.
The day’s first award – Pamlico Correctional Institution Faculty of the Year – went to Ronald Scott, who teaches in the college’s innovative Human Services Technology program at the Bayboro prison.
Scott was unable to attend because of the recent death of his wife. Ed King, who serves as the college’s chair of Correctional Education, said Scott was a great instructor and a “tough” person who bravely gave his late wife’s eulogy at her funeral service last week.
Colleagues took part in a moment of silence for the Scott family after the award announcement.
Next up was the on-campus Faculty of the Year award, which went to Math Instructor Meredith Glover. Glover, a former high school math teacher, has been with the college since January 2024.
Vice President of Instructional Services Neil Callahan presented the award, calling Glover a “quick study” with a positive attitude. He also praised her zeal in accepting and completing assignments.
Glover’s mother, Teresa Williamson, attended the event. She is an adjunct math instructor at Pamlico.
Callahan next announced that Cristy Lewis Warner was the recipient of the Adjunct Faculty of the Year award. Warner, who works in Student Services, also teaches a section of the college’s ACA class.
Callahan praised Warner for her dedication to students, saying she had been a positive influence on countless people over the year. He also called her a “valued collaborator” in developing and refining the course.
Warner wasn’t finished picking up awards. Shortly after being named Adjunct Faculty of the Year, she was back in front of the crowd to accept the Staff Person of the Year award from Vice President of Financial Services Lee Tillman.
Warner has served in several roles over her 18 years at the college, always willing to lend a hand and pick up additional duties, as needed, Tillman said. Warner was praised for her commitment to helping students and for being a friendly, approachable representative of the college.
Friends and members of Warner’s family were on hand for the event, and a former colleague sent her a flower arrangement.
Each honoree received a certificate and a monetary award provided by the PCC Foundation. The three teaching-related awards are voted on by students. The staff award recipient is chosen by a vote of nominees’ peers.
President Zac Schnell thanked colleagues for their hard work this year and told them to expect great things in the weeks ahead.
“Thank you, guys, for a great academic year,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the new year and even better opportunities ahead.”
PCC Commencement Set for Friday at Delamar
May 12, 2025
Bright futures will be launched, and new adventures will begin when Pamlico Community College hosts its 2025 Commencement Exercises this Friday, May 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Ned Everett Delamar Center on the college’s Grantsboro campus.
One hundred twenty-three men and women in the college’s curriculum and Continuing Education programs have qualified for recognition over the last year.
Those students have earned a combined 212 academic and Continuing Education credentials, including 31 associate degrees, 14 diplomas, 71 certificates and 96 Continuing Education recognitions.
The Class of 2025’s youngest graduate is 17, and its oldest graduate is 70. In addition to Pamlico, about a dozen other N.C. counties are represented in this year’s class.
“We are all excited about Commencement,” said PCC President Zac Schnell, who will preside over his first graduation ceremony as the college’s top administrator. “It’s great to celebrate students’ achievements, and we are looking forward to seeing where our students go from here.”
PCC graduate and local business owner Monica R. Gibbs will give the Commencement address. She is an award-winning activist and business owner with a journalism background and more than a decade of community engagement and campaign consulting experience.
Gibbs, who is a 1997 graduate of Pamlico County High School, is the founder of Gibbs Consulting LLC, where she provides advocacy and media relations services to community-based projects and grassroots organizations. She also has worked with candidates for political office and lobbied state-level elected officials.
Her most recent roles include work with the U.S. House of Representatives, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch, and the NAACP.
During the ceremony, the college’s Academic Excellence Award/Student of the Year winner will be announced. The college also will honor its Alumnus of the Year.
A reception with refreshments will follow the ceremony.
Employees Spruce Up Grantsboro Campus
May 5, 2025
About 25 Pamlico Community College employees traded their desks and class notes for rakes and brooms Monday to do some spring cleaning and to dress up the campus for the May 16 Commencement ceremony.
President Zac Schnell and Director of Maintenance George Willey organized the event, which the president called Campus Beautification Day.
Schnell said the idea was to spruce up the campus and to build community spirit.
“I thought it would be something good to do,” he said as volunteers gathered in the Delamar Center Monday morning before starting their work.
“It’s not just for the upcoming graduation ceremony. There are some things we need to do.”
Several volunteers focused on spreading pine straw and mulch around the Johnson and Brinson Buildings. Others worked on the Delamar Center’s interior, particularly the auditorium’s stage and the windows of the entranceways.
Other campus spaces were cleaned up, as well. Because classes and meetings went on, not all employees
were able to participate.
Volunteers gathered for lunch after their chores. A similar event will be scheduled for the college’s Bayboro sites soon, Schnell said.
Pamlico Students Help People Look Great!
April 7, 2025
Pamlico Community College’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs offer potentially lucrative, hands-on career training for creative women and men who want to help people look their very best.
Cosmetology students learn to cut, color and style patrons’ hair. There is a classroom component as well as hands-on skills training, first with mannequins and later with customers.
PCC offers both a diploma and a certificate option in Cosmetology. To complete either option, students must earn the required number of credits as well as work the requisite number of training hours.
Meanwhile, the college’s Esthetics program focuses on patrons’ skin care. Students learn to give facials, waxing and other skin care procedures found in spas and salons across the country.
PCCs’ Esthetics program offers a certificate option, as well as a certificate option in Esthetics Instructor.
Both the Cosmetology and Esthetics programs, which are headquartered in the college’s Cosmetology Building at 703 Main St. in Bayboro, feature small class sizes and individualized attention. Interested students can begin the programs in high school through the Career & College Promise program.
Students who complete the programs are eligible to test for their respective state licenses.
For more information about Pamlico’s Cosmetology program, call Instructor Debi Fulcher or Elethia Woodham at 252-249-1851, ext. 3130. Their email addresses are dfulcher@pamlicocc.edu and ewoodham@pamlicocc.edu.
For more information about Esthetics, call Instructor Shanna Lewis at 252-249-1851, ext. 3135, or email her at slewis@pamlicocc.edu.
Energetic Saxby Looks to Boost Enrollment
March 31, 2025
Got a minute? Shellie Saxby would like to talk to you about Pamlico Community College.
The cheerful, vivacious New Bern woman is the college’s new director of admissions and its new recruiter.
Her job is to help students navigate the enrollment process and to promote the benefits of attending Pamlico for higher education.
“Pamlico has a lot to offer,” she said recently. “There are a lot of hidden gems at Pamlico.”
Saxby’s new post is a perfect fit for her. Before arriving at Pamlico, she worked in the admissions department at both Chowan University – her alma mater – and Roanoke-Chowan Community College.
While at Roanoke-Chowan, she learned a great deal about the challenges faced by small community colleges – knowledge and experience that she said she’s excited to bring to Pamlico.
“I wore many hats at Roanoke-Chowan,” Saxby said with a laugh. “I learned a lot of good things that I hope to bring here. I also want to learn the Pamlico way of doing things.”
PCC Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs, who is Saxby’s department supervisor, said he is pleased to have her on board.
“I am excited to welcome Shellie Saxby to Pamlico Community College and to the Student Services staff,” he said. “With her extensive experience within Student Services, she will undoubtedly add to the quality of support that is provided to our students, faculty and staff.”
Gibbs continued, “Shellie’s presence in the community will further highlight the many opportunities Pamlico Community College has to offer, strengthening our connection and outreach. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the positive impact she will make.”
President Zac Schnell added, “Shellie Saxby’s enthusiasm and passion for connecting with our students and community will undoubtedly spark new opportunities and growth. It’s exciting to have a new team member who is ready to champion the college and bring new ideas to our institution and our community.”
Saxby’s roots are in rural northeastern North Carolina, which is an area similar in many ways to Pamlico County. The youngest of four siblings, she grew up in Bertie County and graduated from Bertie County High School.
Saxby enrolled at nearby Chowan University – then Chowan College – and majored in criminal justice, with plans to become a parole/probation officer and eventually an FBI agent.
Plans changed when she took a work-study post in the institution’s admissions office. There, she found she enjoyed working with students, getting to know them and their challenges, and seeing them succeed.
“I like helping people,” Saxby said. “Helping people improve their lives – that is the main thing.”
The work-study post turned into a 13-year stint in Chowan’s admissions office. She left Chowan University to take the job – the one with many hats! – at nearby Roanoke-Chowan Community College.
She moved with her family to New Bern after her husband, Terrance Saxby, accepted the job as the head football coach and assistant athletic director at New Bern High School.
They had met as undergrads at Chowan and have been together for 25 years. The Saxbys have three sons.
Saxby started work at Pamlico in March. She has spent her first weeks getting to know the college, her colleagues and the community, which she says are important first steps to building connections.
“I think ‘connection’ is No. 1,” she said. “Building genuine connections and supporting the community is key to fostering a positive and collaborative environment.”
Saxby believes those connections, as well as meeting everyone with dignity and empathy, will help Pamlico grow its enrollment and thrive.
“Definitely don’t count us out,” she said with a smile.
To get it touch with Saxby, call 252-249-1851, ext. 3025, or email ssaxby@pamlicocc.edu.
Park Scholar Says PCC Helped Her Succeed
March 24, 2025
Even before she arrives at N.C. State University in Raleigh for her freshman year, Pamlico County High School senior Shelby Mehring is running at the front of the Wolfpack.
The 18-year-old from Olympia recently was awarded the prestigious, merit-based Park Scholarship, which will cover her tuition, fees, room and board, and related expenses for her undergraduate years at NCSU.
Additionally, Mehring will be bringing 25 hours of transferable college credit to State, thanks to her participation in the N.C. Career & College Promise (CCP) program.
By taking and passing college-level CCP courses offered by Pamlico Community College, she has a head start on both her undergraduate degree in Animal Science and her ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian.
“I knew being involved in the CCP program would prepare me for going to college,” Mehring said. “It’s definitely given me the confidence that I’m going to be successful.”
CCP courses offered through PCC enable motivated high school juniors and seniors to get a tuition-free head start on a college degree or a great hands-on career. The courses, which are offered in both seated and online formats, are open to high school juniors and seniors who attend PCHS, Arapahoe Charter School, Pamlico Christian Academy or a home school.
The credits that high schoolers earn by passing the tuition-free courses at PCC transfer to all public colleges and universities in North Carolina. Many of the state’s private colleges and universities accept them, as well.
Mehring has earned enough credits to cover nearly all of her general education requirements such as English, history and literature, which will put her ahead of many of her NCSU classmates. She’s excited about getting started on her undergraduate degree and eventually enrolling in NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
“I love science and I love animals,” Mehring said, singling out horses as her favorite. “I want to be a horse vet with a truck with my name on it.”
She enjoys volunteering with Horses of Pamlico, a local non-profit organization that treats horses that have been abused, injured or abandoned. Mehring also enjoys riding horses, although her busy schedule in and out of the classroom has meant she doesn’t get much time in the saddle.
She is the commanding officer of her high school’s Navy JROTC organization and has been a member and leader of the Hurricanes’ cross country and track teams. Mehring plays the violin and performs with her sister, Lila, at church services and other events, and she has been involved in a number of other school and community activities.
In the classroom, she excels. Mehring is ranked at the top of her class and has never received a grade lower than an A, although she says a Physics course she now takes is giving her a run for her money.
“I’ve always been committed to grades,” the high-achieving young woman said, adding that she can be a little demanding and “hyper-analyzing” of herself.
In her free time – if there is any – Mehring enjoys visits to the beach and caring for her family’s dog and chickens.
“Shelby is an outstanding student whose hard work and determination have earned her an extremely prestigious scholarship,” said Derek Godwin, who oversees the college’s CCP program. “As her college advisor, I’ve seen firsthand her incredible drive, intellect and passion for learning. She is truly destined for greatness!”
Despite her long list of accomplishments and honors, Mehring remains humble. She said she’ll miss Pamlico and attending high school with her sister, who is a sophomore, but she’s looking forward to new adventures in Raleigh.
“I’m definitely excited to get out there and meet people,” Mehring said.
Pamlico Announces New Health Care Courses
March 17, 2025
Pamlico Community College has announced a fresh slate of great short-term courses that can lead to jobs in the fast-growing health care sector.
Among the courses is a new, short-term Medical Assisting program that will be offered during the day and in the evening.
This new option, which is slated to launch this summer, is designed to reduce the time needed to become a medical assistant, college leaders say.
All of the upcoming courses are a wonderful way for men and women to enhance their skills or to try something in the health care field.
“We are constantly adding new sections of our health care courses because they are always among our most popular offerings,” said Lori Giles, the college’s chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs. “We are excited about Medical Assisting and all of our upcoming courses. They start at various times throughout the year, which means new and returning students can enroll at a time period that’s convenient for them.”
Some courses will be offered in a seated format, while others will be entirely online. Some will be available in a hybrid format. Financial aid is available.
Upcoming courses include:
* Medical Office Procedures, which will be entirely online. Students will learn all aspects of working in a medical front office, including business practices.
The course will begin May 5. Cost is $180.55.
* Medical Administrative Assistant, which is an online program scheduled to begin May 12 and run through Aug. 9. Participants will learn the skills necessary to be a medical office assistant. Cost is $180.55.
* Medical Legal Issues, which is an online course focusing on the laws and ethics in health care. The course will begin May 12 and will end Aug. 1. Cost is $180.55.
* Dental Billing and Coding, which is a two-course program offered entirely online. Students will learn the skills needed to process dental bills.
The first course will begin June 2. Each component course costs $180.55.
* Electronic Health Records, which will be offered entirely online. It will start June 9 and will run through Sept. 16.
Participants will learn the concepts and techniques of managing and maintaining electronic medical records. Cost is $180.55.
The college also plans to offer additional short-term health care courses this year, including Cardiac Monitor Technician, Community Health Worker, and an accelerated daytime version of its popular Nurse Aide I course. Visit https://pamlicocc.edu/programs/continuing-education/healthcare-occupations/ for updates.
For more information about any of these courses or financial aid, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or email lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
Oyster Revival Brings Hungry Crowd to PCC
February 24, 2025
Roughly 200 people came out to Pamlico Community College Saturday to eat their fill of oysters and chili and to raise funds for student scholarships at the 13th Annual Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff.
Organizers are still tallying up how much money was raised, but they said they were very pleased with the event’s turnout and spirit.
“The event was a resounding success – a vibrant celebration where our community’s spirit shone brightly,” said PCC President Zac Schnell. “With an incredible turnout and a great many warm, generous hearts coming together, we not only shared great food and laughter but also raised vital funds that will empower our students to keep learning and growing. Together, we are building a brighter future.”
PCC Foundation Executive Director Heather Arevalo, who spearheaded Saturday’s event, added, “We had a wonderful time for a great cause. It was great to see so many attendees. We thank them, our sponsors, and our volunteers for their tremendous support.”
The late Dr. Cleve Cox, who served as the college’s president in the early 2000s, conceived of the event as a way for area residents to come together, socialize, and raise money for a good cause.
By those measures, Saturday’s event was a tremendous success.
The hungry crowd began arriving long before the event’s official 3 p.m. start time. Frequent event attendees stood side-by-side with newcomers as an experienced team of cooks prepared and delivered steamed oysters to outdoor shucking tables.
Not far away, attendees lined up inside the Delamar Center to sample chilis from about a dozen crockpots and to visit with their neighbors.
Shortly before the event began, judges Sally Belangia, Stephen Crabbe, and John McCotter gathered at an indoor table to sample and score each entry in the chili contest.
Local musicians Hoff’n’Finch were back this year to provide the entertainment, playing a series of familiar pop and rock hits. Picnic tables were available for sitting and eating, while some visitors brought their own chairs so they could sit outside, listen to the music, and enjoy the day.
After an icy week, Saturday’s weather was sunny and clear, but chilly.
For the second year in a row, Albert Krelie won first place in the chili cookoff. His “Crazy Al’s” chili narrowly beat Tanya Banks’s “Buckaroo Bang” chili. Banks and fellow entrant Derek Godwin initially tied for second place, but a further review of the scores found Banks edged him out.
Krelie and Banks each will receive a trophy, a gift card, and, of course, bragging rights for a year.
Marian Canfield won the 50-50 raffle, taking home half of the $465 pot. Several door prizes donated by area businesses also were given away.
Arevalo’s daughter, Ashlynn, pulled the winning tickets.
The Foundation wishes to thank area businesses and individuals for agreeing to be sponsors, including Pearl Sponsors Duke Energy, Dr. Sherri Hicks of Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital, Garland F. Fulcher Seafood Co., and Carolina Bay Outfitters.
Briny-level sponsors included Arlington Place, Dr. Garnett Whitehurst, Dan Roberts of Edward Jones Investments, Rose and Glenn Lore, and Martha Whitford.
Prize sponsors included Bayboro Pharmacy, Minnesott Yacht Golf & Country Club, Nautical Wheelers, Duke Energy, Pamlico Gifts, PCC Cosmetology and Esthetics, Bethany Richards/Bike Box Project, and Harbourside Garden Co.
Supply donors were Albert Krelie, Brandy Leder, Debbie Harrison, Derek Godwin, Dr. Garnett Whitehurst, Ed King, Heather Arevalo, Joe Flynn, Juan Arevalo, Katie Shorter, Laura West, Lee Tillman, Rachel Tipton, Ray Moore, Rhonda Tillman, Starr Murphy, Susan Adams, Susan McRoy, Tanya Banks, and the Foundation team.
For more information about the PCC Foundation, call 252-249-1851, ext. 3084.
PCC Plans Slate of Health Care Courses
February 14, 2025
Registration for the Spring 2025 curriculum semester might be over, but new and returning students can still sign up for great short-term courses that can lead to jobs in the fast-growing health care sector.
Pamlico Community College is proud to offer a wide range of hands-on courses for adult learners through its Continuing Education division.
These courses are a wonderful way for men and women to enhance their skills or to try something new.
“Our health care courses are always among our most popular offerings,” said Lori Giles, the college’s chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs. “We start these courses throughout the year, which means new and returning students can enroll at a time period that’s convenient for them.”
She continued, “Some of these courses are offered during the day, others are in the evening, and still others are available in a hybrid format of online work and on-site instruction. Some are entirely online. We are also pleased to offer financial aid for many of these courses.”
Upcoming courses include:
* Dialysis Technician, which will be offered in a hybrid format. Classes begin Monday, Feb. 24, and run through June 16. Cost is $180.55.
* Cardiac Monitor Technician, a certification course that will meet Tuesday and Thursdays beginning Feb. 25 and ending June 17. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $180.55.
* Medical Billing and Coding, which is a three-part program offered entirely online. Component courses include Medical Terminology, Medical Billing and Medical Coding.
The program will begin March 3 and end Dec. 12. Cost for each component course is $180.55.
* Nurse Aide II Refresher, which is a one-day class designed to help current certified nursing assistants demonstrate their competencies.
The class will meet Thursday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $70.55.
* Medication Aide, which is a four-day course to train certified nursing assistants how to competently administer medications in long-term care. Course participants must be currently listed on the Nurse Aide I registry.
Classes will take place March 13, 14, 20 and 21. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $70.55.
Additional courses are planned for later this year.
For more information about any of these courses or financial aid, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or email lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
Strawberry-Chocolate Facials Available!
January 30, 2025
It’s time to spoil someone you love – including yourself!
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, students in the college’s Esthetics department will be offering 30-minute strawberry and chocolate facials on Feb. 11, 12, and 13 at PCC’s Cosmetology Building off N.C. 55 in Bayboro.
The cost is $10. Appointments are required. Hours will be 9 a.m. to noon on all three days.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3132.
Official! Schnell is PCC’s New President
January 17, 2025
Pamlico Community College’s Acting President Zac Schnell, who has served as the institution’s chief administrator since November, has been appointed to the college’s top job permanently.
Acting on the recommendation of the college’s Board of Trustees, the State Board of Community Colleges made Schnell’s appointment official Friday at its meeting in Raleigh.
Schnell, a Wilmington native who has led the college’s Environmental Science Technology program since 2016, had been named acting president following the unexpected death of Interim President Michelle Willis Krauss Nov. 7.
Krauss, the college’s vice president of instruction and chief academic officer, had been appointed interim president last year following the retirement of President Dr. Jim Ross, which was effective in February 2024.
Schnell, who lives in Arapahoe, said he looks forward to his new role with the college.
“I am excited to work with our team here to build on our accomplishments and to help lead the college forward,” he said. “Pamlico County is a wonderful place, and all of us at the college are dedicated to providing new opportunities for our community to grow together and thrive. I am eager to strengthen partnerships and to create new ones. I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
Schnell, who turned 36 earlier this month, becomes one of the youngest people ever appointed to lead a community college in the United States.
Bob Lyon, chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees, said he viewed the new president’s age as a positive, adding Schnell had worked at Pamlico for nearly a decade and knew a great deal about the area and its residents.
“He is young, energetic and extremely smart,” the chairman said. “He is going to lead the college in new directions and add to its program offerings. It’s an exciting time at Pamlico Community College.”
Schnell grew up in coastal North Carolina, developing an interest in the environment through boating, kayaking, hiking and scuba diving.
After graduating from Wilmington’s Eugene Ashley High School, he enrolled at N.C. State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Technology and Management. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Natural Resources from NCSU.
Schnell spent two years in the Peace Corps, working on coastal resource management projects in the Philippines. Not content with exposure to only coastal environments, he also worked for a while at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Institute at Tremont.
He joined the PCC faculty in 2016. During his tenure, he has been recognized for his work in the classroom and has been active on campus.
Schnell was voted Pamlico’s instructor of the year in 2020, and he has helped to lead multiple summer day camps for middle schoolers.
In 2018, Schnell organized a monthlong trip to the Philippines, where he and four Environmental Science students worked with local authorities on environmental projects. Last July, he and program graduate Russell Williams traveled to Iowa to participate in a workshop organized by the Environment and Natural Resources Technology (EARTh) Institute at Central Carolina Community College.
In recent years, Schnell has expanded his teaching at PCC by leading OSHA and other safety courses at the college. He earned a master’s degree in Occupational Safety from East Carolina University in 2023, and he has helped organize and lead the statewide Association of Community College Safety and Security Officials (ACCSSO) group.
Most recently, Schnell has become a vocal proponent for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. He has led presentations and trainings about AI at community colleges across the state and nation, and he was interviewed by local radio station Public Radio East (WTEB-FM) about the uses of AI in the classroom in April 2024.
Schnell said he wants to be accessible to the community, even if they only know him as “Magic Zac,” a nickname from being an amateur magician.
“Students know me from doing magic tricks and other engaging activities in the classroom,” he said. “I want to bring that spirit and a touch of magic to this new role.”
Schnell Outlines AI’s Capabilities, Future
January 9, 2025
About 25 Pamlico Community College faculty members and staffers became students for a morning last week as Acting President Zac Schnell presented a short workshop on the uses for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom and on the job.
During his presentation, Schnell showed off the remarkable capabilities of various AI platforms and offered real world examples of how the technology can be used to help students succeed and to make employees’ workdays go more smoothly.
“Utilizing these AI tools is a way to free up your time,” the acting president said. “It is becoming very easy to interact with these things.”
During the session, participants got to try several of the ever-improving, web-based AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini’s NotebookLM and Perplexity. Several colleagues shared how they’re already using these tools in their lessons and preparation, with many offering suggestions on how AI can make teaching today’s students more interactive and engaging.
Schnell, who also leads the college’s Environmental Science Technology program, is a staunch advocate for AI and other developing technologies. He has made similar presentations about AI at community colleges across the state, and he has been interviewed by local radio station Public Radio East (WTEB-FM) about the uses of AI in the classroom.
The acting president told his PCC colleagues that AI has been shown to boost productivity by quickly synthesizing information, summarizing reports and drafting documents. He pointed out that nearly two-thirds of all Fortune 500 companies mentioned the use of AI in their most recent annual reports to shareholders, with one in five of them referencing the use of generative AI in the workplace.
Schnell discussed the incredibly quick pace of development and improvement in AI technologies, pointing out that recent versions of popular AI tools were functioning at a Ph.D. level. He also offered a forecast on where the technology could be headed in the months and years to come.
Most importantly, Schnell urged colleagues to use AI as a means to help PCC students understand concepts, discuss material and succeed in their academic pursuits.
“Set up these things in a way to engage them,” he said. “Use it and also verify the material.”
Virtual Transfer Fair set for Jan. 28-30
January 3, 2025
The University of North Carolina System is planning a free Virtual Transfer Fair for students and advisors Jan. 28, 29 and 30.
The Zoom-based online sessions are designed to provide information about the transfer process at 15 of the system’s four-year universities.
The sessions will run from 3 to 4:30 p.m. each day. Participants will be able to interact with five universities each day of the event.
* Tuesday, Jan. 28: Western Carolina University, UNC Wilmington, East Carolina University, UNC Pembroke, NC A&T State University
* Wednesday, Jan. 29: UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte, UNC Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University
* Thursday, Jan. 30: Elizabeth City State University, UNC Greensboro, Appalachian State University, NC State University, NC Central University
Participants are asked to register by Jan. 24.
More information about the schedule and registration can be found at: http://bit.ly/3uZuR4O