Non-Profit Breakfast Will Return in 2023!
December 5, 2022
After concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause, Pamlico Community College President Dr. Jim Ross has announced the wildly popular annual PCC Non-Profit Breakfast will resume in May 2023.
“I believe the non-profit sector is the foundation of any great community, including Pamlico County,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross, who created the PCC Non-Profit Breakfast event in 2017. “Pamlico County is extremely fortunate to have outstanding non-profits that are led by fantastic people. It will be our honor to welcome these organizations back to campus and to salute them for their service to others.”
PCC has established a record of exceptional support for the community in numerous other ways, as well. One of the actions most appreciated in the community came just prior to initiating the PCC Non-Profit Breakfast celebration in 2017.
In late 2016, after several months of getting input and looking into how to allow the Delamar Center to be better utilized by the community, Ross took the bold and unprecedented action of providing free usage of the Delamar Center for all Pamlico County non-profit organizations.
This was a permanent directive. The response since has been dramatic with more than a 300 percent increase in use of the Delamar Center annually by the community. Organizations serving our community in every way have benefitted.
“We treasure community suggestions on how we can partner to make lives better,” Ross said. “For example, the Delamar Center action came after I met with Senator and Linda Sanderson shortly after I became President. Linda told me the college was charging several hundred dollars for local groups which they couldn’t afford to use the Delamar Center and asked if I could look into if there was a way the community could have it more affordable to use. We looked into it and found the best community-minded approach was to eliminate the costs for all Pamlico County non-profit organizations to use our Delamar Center, so we did so. It was the most fair thing to do so we did it. The response has been amazing, and our community has been made even better because of it.”
He continued, “It is an honor to serve such a wonderful community, and we wish to do everything we possibly can to help it become even better.”
Local non-profit organizations should expect to receive invitations to the 2023 PCC Non-Profit Breakfast celebration in March, PCC officials said. The event will be held Tuesday, May 23, and will include a free breakfast for non-profit leaders paid for by local sponsors of the event.
Nearly 150 people representing about 50 local charitable groups and service organizations participated in the last event, which took place in May 2019. Much of that year’s event focused on the non-profit sector’s response to Hurricane Florence.
As in past years, the 2023 Non-Profit Breakfast will feature the aforementioned catered morning meal for participants. Representatives of each non-profit group then will be invited to come forward to introduce themselves and to share a brief two-minute summary of their work.
“We are very excited about bringing back this event so we can thank these wonderful organizations for their efforts to improve people’s lives in our community,” Ross said. “Our team here at the college will be reaching out to local organizations in the coming months, but we want to make sure the community is aware that the Non-profit Breakfast is back on for 2023! It is one more way we can say thank you for what our non-profit organizations do for our community. Their work is often life-changing and sometimes even life-saving.”
Registration Period Gets Underway at PCC
November 21, 2022
New and returning students can get a head start on the upcoming Spring 2023 semester at Pamlico Community College by enrolling now and registering for courses!
The registration period officially opened Nov. 14. PCC officials are encouraging returning students to go ahead and register for the new semester before the college’s winter break begins Dec. 19.
They also are encouraging new students to start the enrollment process early so they can explore the financial aid options that might be available, including scholarships and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program funds.
PCC still will conduct its usual Spring Registration period on Jan. 4 and 5, 2023, but new and returning curriculum students can avoid the new year’s rush and get their face-to-face and online courses locked in now.
“We want to make registering for classes as convenient as possible for current students as well as for those who enroll with us in the new year,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “Now is a great time to get these processes started. By getting a jump on the new semester, both new and returning PCC students can ensure they get the classes they need so they can achieve their educational goals.”
PCC Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs added, “We’re here to help. Please reach out and see how we can make enrolling at the college, securing financial aid and registering for courses here as easy as possible.”
Pamlico Community College is a place where students of all ages and backgrounds can succeed. WalletHub has ranked Pamlico as the No. 1 community college in the United States for students’ Educational Outcomes, and the college is pleased to offer its students a high-quality, nationally recognized education at an affordable cost.
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.
Importantly, financial aid is available for new and returning students who qualify. However, it’s important to begin the financial aid process early so students can have access to a range of options.
“Our early registration period helps men and women get a jump on starting the Spring 2023 semester,” Ross said. “Regardless of whether new and returning students contact our college now or wait until our formal registration period in January, all of us at PCC are here to help.”
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.
Looking ahead, the registration period for high school juniors and seniors who want to take Career & College Promise courses through PCC is set for Jan. 24, 25 and 26, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Seated classes will begin Jan. 11, 2023. Online courses start Jan. 26, 2023.
PCC Achieves Success During SACSCOC Visit
October 31, 2022
A visiting team of distinguished academic professionals recently gave Pamlico Community College extraordinarily high marks for its overall operations, commitment to student success, compliance to regulations, and dedication to continuous improvement in serving students and its community.
The successful on-site review, conducted Oct. 17-20 by a nine-member team on behalf of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), culminated months of intense preparation and self-examination of the college’s adherence to SACSCOC standards by PCC faculty members, staffers and administrators.
The exhaustive process ended with commendable success in every way. The on-site visit team made only one recommendation for improvement for PCC, which is a much better result than the norm among all colleges under SACSCOC jurisdiction for accreditation.
PCC officials accepted this recommendation in a positive, professional and prompt way as it satisfactorily completed addressing this one and only recommendation within 24 hours of the exit interview.
This near-perfect exceptional success effectively clears the way for an expected formal reaffirmation of accreditation for PCC for a 10-year period beginning in 2023.
Not surprisingly, PCC officials are ecstatic about the results.
“Our college has achieved outstanding success with our all-important SACSCOC reaffirmation on-site visit,” PCC President Dr. Jim Ross wrote in a note to all college employees announcing the results. “Thank you to all who worked so very hard the past several years to achieve this vitally important success!”
In recent years, PCC has won multiple national awards as one of America’s best community colleges. In each case, Ross has publicly praised PCC faculty and staff as the reason for these prestigious recognitions. Ross did the same for this SACSCOC success.
“The reason our college has received such a phenomenal SACSCOC visit success is because of our amazing faculty and staff who deeply care about making our students’ lives better. They are incredible,” the president said.
SACSCOC accreditation is extremely important for colleges and universities. It means degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded by the institutions are recognized for their value.
Additionally, students who attend non-accredited colleges and universities are not eligible for any federal financial aid, and the credits they earn at those colleges often do not transfer to accredited institutions.
Colleges and universities that do not perform well during the SACSCOC reaffirmation process can be subject to monitoring, probation or even the loss of accreditation.
“For these reasons and to make our college even better in service to our students, we have made SACSCOC reaffirmation a top priority throughout my presidency,” Ross wrote in his announcement.
“Thank you to each of you for your positive response to this priority.”
The president credited PCC employees’ extraordinary high morale, teamwork, and commitment to serving students with excellence as driving forces behind the highly successful SACSCOC review.
“At every step of this SACSCOC process during the past several years, our outstanding teamwork has brought outstanding success,” he said. “This objective and comprehensive examination by SACSCOC of our total college is further important evidence that we have an outstanding college that provides outstanding education to our students and service to our community.”
Ross continued, “The committee was highly complimentary of the extraordinary culture of caring and excellence we have established. They pointed out that our employees truly care and this is the basis for all we do and furthermore that our students know we truly care and this prompts them to seek success.”
The president singled out PCC Director of Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Rebecca Pesko for her work overseeing the SACSCOC reaffirmation process over the past five years.
“She has been consistent in seeking excellence from everyone at our college in every part of this process,” Ross said. “I am proud of her for the incredible work she has done.”
For her part, Pesko thanked college employees for their commitment to the process.
“We did it! Thank you to all those who were so willing to step in to assist with a successful on-site visit,” she wrote in a note to colleagues. “It was wonderful to be part of such a team effort. Without the involvement of so many, the visit would have not been the success it was.”
Ross also credited the college’s Executive Committee for its commitment to the reaffirmation process, and he saluted all PCC employees for their willingness to work hard to achieve this truly great result.
“The winners in this success are our students,” Ross concluded, “and that is the best reason for striving for this exceptional SACSCOC result for our college.”
Golfers Hit the Links at Foundation Tourney
October 17, 2022
Sixty golfers enjoyed a picture-perfect October Saturday last weekend as they hit the links to raise scholarship funds at the Pamlico Community College Foundation’s 22nd and ½ Annual CarolinaEast Cup Fundraising Golf Tournament at Minnesott Yacht, Golf & Country Club.
Saturday’s edition of the popular fundraiser took place about five months after the Foundation’s 22nd annual event. It marked the tourney’s move from a springtime event to an October one.
The tournament featured a field of 15 teams, with golfers from around Eastern North Carolina. Organizers divided the field into a First Flight, Second Flight and Mixed Flight, based on teams’ 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 college priorities, although a final event tally is not yet available.
“The Foundation’s annual golf tournament is one of the highlights of the year for the college,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “When the Foundation decided to move the annual event from Spring to Fall, it also decided to have a second tourney this year so players would not have to wait from May 2022 to October 2023 for another tournament. We weren’t sure what the response would be, but as usual, our friends and neighbors in Pamlico County and beyond came through and made the 22nd and a half edition of the golf tournament a tremendous success.”
As usual, the tournament featured a superball format with a shotgun start. Competitors enjoyed a continental breakfast, a goody bag full of great giveaway items, a congregate lunch and a day of fun and laughs on the picturesque course.
There were $125 prizes for the players who hit closest to the hole on No. 5, 9, 12 and 14, as well as a prize for the player who hit closest to the curve on hole No. 8. A putting contest back at the clubhouse and a 50-50 raffle for half of the $440 pot helped round out the day.
“Is it not a perfect day? It’s a great day to be alive,” PCC Foundation Executive Director Michelle Noevere told the crowd shortly before the start of the lunchtime awards ceremony.
She later added, “Our tournament is becoming well-known in the area for its lineup of prizes, the fun on-course contests and the great giveaways, as well as the wonderful food and beautiful golf course provided by the Minnesott team.”
Noevere continued, “We wanted to move the tournament to an Autumn date, but we just couldn’t wait until 2023 to do it. All of us with the Foundation thank our golfers, sponsors and volunteers for their continued support of the tournament, which helps Pamlico Community College provide accessible and affordable postsecondary education, workforce training and other services to students.”
Each winning team member received beautiful, customized trophies and gift certificates to Minnesott Yacht, Golf and Country Club. This year’s winners included:
Tournament Champion team: Ricky Cotton, Eric Cunningham, Billy Flack and Allen Propst
First-place First Flight team: Jim Curry, Terry Knickerbocker, George Leslie and Gordy Phenes
Second-place First Flight team: Paul Anderson, Andy Franklin, David Gennantonio and David Toler
First-place Second Flight Team: John Angwin, Harvey Godwin, Rodney Myers and Greg Smith
Second-place Second Flight team: Allen Strobel, Blake Strobel, Ricky Strobel and Matthew Thurston
First-place Mixed Flight team: Sue Brown, Denver Locke, Cyril Smith and Danny Winfield
Second-place Mixed Flight team: Barbara Craven, Bill Craven, Gary Konyeshi and Matthew Revels
Putting Contest winner: David Toler
Closest to the Curve winner: James Townson
Closest to the Pin on No. 5: Harvey Godwin
Closest to the Pin on No. 9: Greg Smith
Closest to the Pin on No. 12: George Leslie
Closest to the Pin on No. 14: Greg Smith
50-50 Raffle Winner: Rodney Myers, who won $220
CarolinaEast Health System was the title sponsor and a Platinum sponsor of this year’s tournament. The PCC Small Business Center also was a Platinum sponsor.
Gold sponsors included: Gail Johnson; Jim and Michelle Krauss, Edward Jones/Dan Roberts IV, AAMS; The Pamlico News; Pamlico Quick Lube and Car Wash; and Superior Cranes.
Silver sponsors included: Garland F. Fulcher Seafood Company; Hardison Tire & Towing; Lori’s Golf Shoppe; NAPA Auto Parts – Pamlico Parts Company; and Robinson and Stith Insurance.
Putting green and prize sponsors included: Goose Creek Island Volunteer Fire Department; Jim and Leslie Kellenberger; and Truett Ray – Shade Tree Garage of Raleigh.
Veterans Group Endows New Scholarship Fund
September 26, 2022
A local veterans organization is using funds left over from an earlier service project to endow a new scholarship fund at Pamlico Community College so men and women can pursue their educational goals and improve their lives.
The Coastal North Carolina Veterans Foundation recently presented the Pamlico Community College Foundation with a $40,000 gift to create the William Henry Vogelsang Memorial Veteran’s Scholarship.
The Vogelsang endowment, which honors an Eastern North Carolina man who was wounded in action, will create an annual scholarship for a curriculum student and will be used to support Continuing Education students taking short-term career courses.
Priority for the Vogelsang scholarships will be given to Purple Heart recipients and their children or grandchildren. Second in line will be American service veterans, followed by any eligible student. The organization is setting no restrictions on a student’s program of study.
PCC President Dr. Jim Ross enthusiastically welcomed the endowment gift, calling it “a wonderful way for these honored veterans to support the academic dreams of students and their families.”
He continued, “I enjoyed visiting with Mr. David Seaton and learning about the background of their wonderful foundation and its noble purpose. We share the belief that the sacrifices of our veterans must never be forgotten and must always be honored as essential to the freedoms that we enjoy as a nation. Our college is deeply appreciative of this amazing gift of an endowed scholarship to our PCC Foundation and we are humbled to think of the many lives that will be made better throughout perpetuity because of it.”
For her part, PCC Foundation Executive Director Michelle Noevere said the generous gift would help the college and the Foundation build on their ongoing efforts to serve veterans.
“We are deeply appreciative of the Coastal North Carolina Veterans Foundation for this endowment to honor those who have served this country,” she said. “It enhances the list of education financial assistance we can make available to our veterans or their dependents. PCC is a Silver Level Military Friendly School, demonstrating our commitment and pride in giving veterans and their dependents a helping hand in achieving their educational goals and dreams. We also have a VA school certifying official on staff ready to assist.”
Pamlico is one of three community colleges to receive an endowment from the group. Both Carteret Community College and Craven Community College received similar gifts. The three colleges serve the same geographic area of the veterans’ organization.
David Seaton, finance officer for the Coastal North Carolina Veterans Foundation, said funds for the college endowments came from monies initially donated to the Military Order of the Purple Heart and other groups to send Wounded Warriors home for Christmas or New Year’s Day.
That program, named the “Military Order of the Purple Heart Home Leave Program”, was launched in response to the desire of injured Marines at Camp Lejeune’s Wounded Warriors barracks to be able to travel home for the holidays.
Over the years, the Home Leave Program funded holiday trips for 400 to 450 Wounded Warriors each year, Seaton said. Fundraisers, donations and gifts from service organizations, particularly the Knights of Columbus, helped build the program’s monies, he said.
But as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq wound down, the number of Wounded Warriors decreased, Seaton said. In recent years, no service members have qualified for the program.
With circumstances changed, the organization decided to use the leftover funds for another great cause – scholarships at local community colleges.
“We had some money left, so we wanted to find an avenue where we could put it to good use,” Seaton said.
Noevere said the Foundation hopes to grow the Vogelsang endowment and its other funds so more students can be helped.
“With the end of the calendar year approaching – a time of year when many of us think of giving to causes that are meaningful to us and helping those in need – please consider donating to the William Henry Vogelsang Memorial Veteran’s Scholarship fund or the Dr. Robert Ross Memorial Veteran’s Scholarship fund,” she said. “Go to www.pamlicocc.edu/about-foundation.php to donate online, or make your check out to ‘Pamlico Community College Foundation’ and include a note with your preferred scholarship designation.”
Checks can be mailed to the PCC Foundation, P.O. Box 185, Grantsboro, N.C. 28529.
The first William Henry Vogelsang Memorial Veteran’s Scholarship awards likely will be given out during the 2023-24 academic year.
For more information about this scholarship and all of PCC’s financial assistance programs for curriculum students, please contact PCC Financial Aid Director/VA School Certifying Official Meredith Beeman at 252-249-1851, ext. 3026, or mbeeman@pamlicocc.edu.
Environmental Courses Set PCC Apart in ENC
September 6, 2022
If you’re interested in protecting our region’s unique environment, consider Pamlico Community College’s Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology programs.
The two Environmental programs are the only community college programs of their kind in Eastern North Carolina. They offer two-year associate degrees that appeal to men and women who enjoy the outdoors and who want to work in careers that help keep our natural surroundings clean, safe and enjoyable.
The programs are designed to give students the knowledge they need to help protect soil, water and air quality. Not only can they lead to good jobs, they can be stepping stones to a four-year degree in environmental studies. They also offer a number of valuable, career-enhancing certifications.
“We are extraordinarily proud of our Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology programs, and we are very fortunate to have a fabulous instructor like Zac Schnell in place to lead them,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “He is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructor who works hard to share his expertise and love for nature with his students. As I’ve said in the past, Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology are two of the programs that set Pamlico Community College apart from its peers. We are happy to offer these important programs and to have an innovative, well-liked instructor to lead them.”
For his part, Schnell said, “It’s great to hear from alumni and see how their careers in the field have been progressing over the years, and I look forward to continue to assist students!”
Schnell grew up in coastal North Carolina and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from N.C. State University. He spent two years in the Peace Corps, working on coastal management projects in the Philippines.
The contacts he developed in the Philippines were critical to his effort to organize the successful 2018 Study Abroad trip there for PCC students.
Schnell also worked for a while at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Institute at Tremont before joining the PCC faculty in 2016.
At PCC, Schnell and his students can often be found outdoors, collecting water and soil samples and examining the effects of pollution.
The programs feature a mix of hands-on learning and classroom instruction. They also can be completed online. In fact, motivated students can complete the Environmental Science Technology associate degree in one year by using a combination of intense half-semester courses.
Kobe Wright, a Pamlico County High School graduate, is wrapping up his studies at PCC this semester. A lifelong fan of science, particularly volcanoes, Wright has discovered a passion for protecting and enhancing water quality. He recently began work at a water department in a neighboring county.
While at PCC, Wright has been able to secure his OSHA 30 safety certification by taking one of the safety courses taught by Schnell. He praised Schnell’s passion for the college and his dedication to staying engaged with his students.
“For anyone who is looking to get better engagement as far as their education goes, I highly recommend enrolling at Pamlico Community College,” Wright said, adding he is considering pursuing a four-year environmental degree at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW).
“Pamlico County and coastal North Carolina are beautiful places,” Ross said. “All of us at Pamlico Community College are proud to offer programs to train men and women to understand, protect and enhance this wonderful environment.”
For more information about PCC’s Environmental programs, contact Zac Schnell at zschnell@pamlicocc.edu or call 252-249-1851, ext. 3115.
Continuing Education Plans Busy September
August 29, 2022
While the registration period for seated and online full-term curriculum courses at Pamlico Community College has passed, there are plenty of other opportunities available this semester to enhance your job skills and explore new careers.
The college plans to launch about a dozen short-term Continuing Education courses in health care, agriculture, information technology and other workplace skills.
These courses are open to adult learners. Financial aid is available for qualified students.
“Our college over the past several years has made it a priority to create dozens of new vocational programs for our community to train residents for careers that are in-demand by regional employers and pay well,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “I thank our employees who have risen to this ambitious challenge to establish these new programs to serve our community even better. We will continue this as a priority with determination in the years to come. One of our top priorities is to establish dozens more programs in the foreseeable future for our community. Our Continuing Education division is off to a strong start this semester, and there’s more to come in September and in the years to come. We have a wonderful lineup of programs scheduled for men and women who are interested in high-demand career fields or who want to become more valuable in their current jobs. The programs vary from hands-on courses to others than can be completed online.”
For her part, PCC’s Chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs Lori Giles said, “Our lineup of health care courses is strong and growing, and we’ve added new classes in Dental Coding and Billing and Sustainable Agriculture. We’re ready to help area residents develop the skills they need for the workplace.”
September’s schedule will include:
* Sustainable Agriculture, an evening seated course that will begin Sept. 6. It will meet from 5 to 8
p.m. through Dec. 1. Cost is $180.
* Effective Teacher Training, an online course that’s scheduled to start Sept. 12 and end in October.
Cost is $125.
* Medication Aide, a daytime seated course starting Sept. 13. It will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sept. 22. Cost is $70.
* Natural Hair Care, a seated course that will begin Sept. 14 at the college’s Cosmetology Building in
Bayboro. It will meet Mondays thru Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $180.
* Dental Billing and Coding, which is a two-part, web-based program starting Sept. 16. Each part
costs $180.
* Nurse Aide II, a daytime seated course starting Sept. 20. It will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 13. Cost is $180.
* Pharmacy Technician, an evening seated course scheduled to start Sept. 20. It will meet from 5 to
8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 9. Cost is $180.
* Phlebotomy Technician, a daytime seated class starting Sept. 20. It will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Feb. 17, 2023. Cost is $180.
* Notary, a one-day class scheduled for Sept. 24 in Bayboro. It will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost
is $70, plus a book.
* ServSafe, a one-day seated training that’s set for Sept. 26. It will meet from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost is
$70.
* Cold Weather Vegetable Gardening, a series of seated workshops beginning Sept. 27. The
workshops will meet from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 1. Cost is $70.
* Electrical Wiring, an evening course scheduled to start Sept. 27. It will meet from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost is $180.
More great courses are set for October.
For more information about these programs or to register, contact the college at 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
CCP Registration Set for Aug. 29, 30, 31
Pictured are Christy Novajosky, left, and Sarah Henries
August 22, 2022
Area high school juniors and seniors can get a tuition-free head start on a college degree or a great hands-on career by taking N.C. Career & College Promise (CCP) program courses through Pamlico Community College!
Registration for these courses is set for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 29, 30 and 31, at the college’s Mattocks Center in Bayboro, which is located next door to Pamlico County High School. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The courses are open to high school juniors and seniors who attend PCHS, Arapahoe Charter School, Pamlico Christian Academy or a home school.
“I don’t think there is a better deal in American higher education today than the Career & College Promise program available in North Carolina,” said Pamlico Community College President Dr. Jim Ross. “The program offers local high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to accumulate college-level credits tuition-free, which can save students and their families thousands of dollars. The program is ideal for students who want to get a head start on a college degree or a great hands-on career.”
The credits that high schoolers earn by passing the tuition-free courses at PCC can be applied to an Associate in Arts degree or an Associate in Science degree. The approved credits transfer to all public colleges and universities in North Carolina, and to many of the state’s private colleges and universities as well.
Additionally, CCP students can choose to explore hands-on career courses such as Welding and Cosmetology while in high school, which can give them a head start on a great profession.
The CCP program has been great for motivated students.
For example, high-achieving PCHS student Sarah Henries graduated with both an Associate of Arts degree from PCC and her high school diploma from PCHS earlier this year. She is now enrolled at East Carolina University.
The CCP program also helped Christy Novajosky compile dozens of transferable credits while in high school at Arapahoe Charter School.
After graduating from Arapahoe in 2021, she enrolled at PCC to continue her education, compiling a remarkable 68 transferable college credits and earning her Associate in Arts degree, which she received earlier this Spring. Now a full-time student at Appalachian State University, Novajosky is on track to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from ASU in May 2023 – a full two years early.
The CCP program also can lead to the early launch of a great hands-on career. PCHS graduate Cecilia Holton, Class of 2020, began her Cosmetology studies as a high school junior and graduated with her Cosmetology diploma from PCC in July 2020.
Because Holton took PCC courses through the CCP program while in high school, she did not have to pay college tuition and was able to begin her full-time, professional career as a teenager.
“CCP courses represent a fantastic opportunity for area juniors and seniors,” Ross said. “Participating students will receive a high quality, versatile education without having to pay tuition. I urge students and their parents to consider this option.”
For more information about Career & College Promise courses, talk to your high school guidance counselor or contact Derek Godwin, PCC’s director of the CCP program, at dgodwin@pamlicocc.edu or 252-249-1851, ext. 3106.
SGA President Finds Encouragement at PCC
August 8, 2022
Pamlico Community College’s commitment to serving students and treating them well is part of what impresses Stephanie Brown about the college.
She says her experiences at PCC have easily bested her time at other community colleges.
“I’ve never experienced a school like this,” the 28-year-old Vanceboro woman said. “I love the smallness of it. You get to know a lot of people.”
She initially was attracted to enroll at the college by its No. 1 ranking by WalletHub as America’s top community college for students’ educational outcomes. At Pamlico, Brown found a family atmosphere with friendly, supportive instructors and staffers.
“I saw about the No. 1 ranking and thought, ‘Something must be really good about this school,’” she said. “The instructors are so nice. I feel like they actually want you to succeed.”
Brown said she also has been impressed with the efficient manner staffers take care of her financial aid and course concerns, and she praised college employees for their professionalism.
Brown singled out PCC President Dr. Jim Ross for creating a culture of student support and kindness.
“Dr. Ross has really helped me,” she said. “He’s like a mentor to me. It’s great to have a president who really cares.”
Brown has thrived at Pamlico. She is Student Government Association president and is on track to earn an associate degree in Early Childhood Education later this year. She hopes to pursue a four-year degree and a master’s degree, with the goal of finding a career in social work.
In addition to her studies, Brown stays busy raising the three children she shares with her husband, Brandon. She formerly worked as a teacher’s aide and a bus monitor in Craven County.
“Stephanie Brown symbolizes the best of our outstanding student body as she truly cares about making the world better,” Ross said. “She is an outstanding student and also very importantly is a very loving and dedicated parent.”
The president continued, “Pamlico Community College offers a nationally recognized education, but we also offer a welcoming environment for students such as Stephanie Brown. We invite men and women to check out what we have to offer for the Fall 2022 semester and join us.”
PCC Electrical Program Powers New Careers
July 28, 2022
Pamlico Community College’s Electrical Systems Technology program can empower you for a great career!
The program trains students to install and maintain electrical and electronics systems found in homes, businesses and industrial sites.
Coursework, most of which is hands-on, includes topics such as AC/DC theory, basic wiring practices, programmable logic controllers, industrial motor controls, applications of the National Electric Code and other subjects.
Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree, and there are certificate options available.
“Electricity truly powers our world, and our Electrical Systems Technology program is a great pathway into this important career field,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “Our program includes informative classroom instruction as well as hands-on training.”
Larry Monk, a 2012 graduate of the program, is the lead instructor. He began work at the college in 2018 after working at Hatteras/Cabo Yachts in New Bern, where he installed electrical equipment on high-end boats.
He has said he enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills with students and showing them the opportunities available in the field.
There is a quite a bit of math in the program, but the hands-on learning makes it an attractive option to potential students, Monk has said.
The lab where he teaches is inside the recently renovated and expanded Johnson Building, and it includes several new pieces of sophisticated equipment.
For more information about PCC’s Electrical Systems Technology program, contact Monk at lmonk@pamlicocc.edu or 252-249-1851, ext. 3029.
Registration for the upcoming Fall 2022 semester is scheduled for Aug. 9 and 10 at the college. For more information about signing up for courses, contact Student Services at 252-249-1851, ext. 3001, or studentservices@pamlicocc.edu.
PCC’s Early Childhood Program Prepares Pros
July 11, 2022
Parents and family members are a child’s first teachers, but not far behind are professional child care workers, who are among the most important role models and guides in many preschool children’s lives.
Pamlico Community College’s Early Childhood Education program can prepare people to work as highly trained child care workers and teachers in a number of educational settings, including day care centers, preschools, public and private schools and other learning environments.
“As the pandemic wanes and more people return to the workplace, the need for child care professionals is growing,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “The college’s Early Childhood Education program offers convenient curriculum options for students who are interested in entering and advancing in this critical field.”
The college’s program prepares individuals to work with children from birth through age 8 in diverse learning environments. Students combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers.
Early Childhood Education program graduates learn to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs, and they get to explore their creative side with arts and crafts projects and other activities.
PCC’s program offers two Associate of Applied Science degree tracks, including the Early Childhood Associate Career Track and the Birth-Kindergarten Transfer Track.
The Career Track is for individuals who wish to earn an Early Childhood Education degree and enter the childcare workforce. The Birth-Kindergarten Transfer Track is designed for individuals who wish to transfer to a UNC system institution and elsewhere to earn a four-year degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education.
Two shorter term Diploma options and multiple Certificates in Early Childhood Education also are available.
Instructor Neil Callahan leads the college’s Early Childhood Education program. He plans to use a hybrid method of delivering instruction in two of his courses for the upcoming Fall 2022 semester, which begins in August.
“Two courses will be offered as an online hybrid utilizing Zoom software,” he said. “Students will be able to attend these courses ‘live via streaming’ from the comfort of their own homes. With gas prices as they are, I can see this option being a popular choice for students who wish to still have that ‘in-the-classroom’ feel.”
Entirely online course options also will be available.
Registration for the Fall 2022 semester is scheduled for Aug. 9 and 10, but new and returning students are encouraged to contact the college now so they can be prepared to register.
For more information about the college’s Early Childhood Education program, call Instructor Neil Callahan 252-249-1851, ext. 3042, or 252-229-9710. He also be contacted via email at ncallahan@pamlicocc.edu.
Legislator Honored as Extraordinary Partner
June 23, 2022
Pamlico Community College recognized the tireless work and continued support of one of its strongest legislative advocates recently by presenting him with the college’s 2022 Extraordinary Partnership Award.
Rep. Bobby Hanig, who currently represents the college and all of Pamlico County in the N.C. House of Representatives, was presented this prestigious award in his Raleigh office by PCC President Dr. Jim Ross.
Hanig, who also serves as Deputy Majority Whip in the chamber, has been particularly instrumental in the college’s efforts to grow and strengthen its widely-praised education programs for offenders at Pamlico Correctional Institution in Bayboro.
“Rep. Hanig is an outstanding public servant who has been an extraordinary champion for our college,” Ross said. “We have asked him to help lead vital initiatives to advance our college, and in every single case he has pursued these with tireless energy, determination, and integrity until victory is achieved. He is responsible for monumental achievements for our college and those we serve.”
Hanig is only the fourth person or organization to be recognized by Pamlico Community College with its Extraordinary Partnership Award. He joins mental health organization Promise Place, former PCI Superintendent Faye Daniels and N.C. Sen. Norman Sanderson as recipients of the award. Sanderson has received the honor twice – in 2017 and 2019.
Ross said it was important to recognize Hanig’s outstanding work on behalf of the college’s prison education programs, which have received statewide praise as an exceptional model in reducing crime and recidivism by preparing offenders to be law-abiding, productive, good citizens after their release.
The award states, “Representative Hanig has provided exceptional overall support for Pamlico Community College, which has enabled our college to gain national recognition as one of America’s best community colleges. He has also provided extraordinary support of our prison education program’s goal to become America’s best prison education program, which will bring reduced crime, reduced recidivism, and enormous benefits to all North Carolina citizens.”
Award Recipient Stays Ahead in Her Studies
June 6, 2022
When it comes to her education, Christy Novajosky is all business.
The 19-year-old Bridgeton woman earned four dozen hours of transferable college credit by taking tuition-free college-level courses from Pamlico Community College while she was still a high school student at Arapahoe Charter School.
After graduating in 2021, she enrolled at PCC to continue her education, compiling a remarkable 68 transferable college credits and earning her Associate in Arts degree, which she received earlier this Spring.
Now a full-time student at Appalachian State University, Novajosky plans to take courses in both Summer terms at the Boone university, even as she works as an intern at First Citizens Bank in New Bern.
Through all of these efforts, Novajosky is scheduled to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BSBA) from ASU in May 2023 – a full two years early. She also was named PCC’s Academic Excellence Award recipient and the college’s Student of the Year for 2022 earlier this year.
“Without this (N.C. Career & College Promise) program, I would be on my first year at Appalachian State University as a freshman, instead of transferring in this Spring 2022 semester as a Junior with 68 credits,” Novajosky wrote recently. “This opportunity has saved me several thousand dollars and has set me ahead of others my age. The money and time saved will help me complete my Bachelor’s degree sooner and begin my journey into the workforce.”
PCC President Dr. Jim Ross said Novajosky’s experience shows what the N.C. Career & College Promise program and a strong work ethic can do for students.
“Christy Novajosky shows the type of opportunities available for motivated students at Pamlico Community College,” he said. “She has worked extremely hard, maximizing her time in high school and at PCC. It was an honor for us to recognize all of her successes – her awards and her degree – at graduation.”
During the May 13 Commencement ceremony, Vice President of Student Services Jamie Gibbs presented Novajosky with a plaque and a medallion for her award. As the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, she becomes Pamlico’s 2022 honoree in the N.C. Community College System’s “Great within the 58” list of high-achieving students.
In nominating Novajosky for the Academic Excellence Award, Instructor Dr. Rebecca Pesko wrote, “This year’s recipient was a leader in engaging in class discussions and was always proactive and very thorough in all assignments they submitted.”
Novajosky said she has been interested in the business world for a long time. She hopes to focus on finance, with the goal of becoming a financial analyst or advisor. Her lifelong strength in math has also been a help, she said.
Novajosky praised the N.C. Career & College Promise program and the opportunity to enroll in PCC courses while still in high school.
“Taking those courses at Pamlico cut out two years that I would have had to do at Appalachian,” she said in a telephone interview. “I would definitely advise other students to do it. Go ahead and knock it out.”
For more information about how high school juniors and seniors can take college-level courses tuition-free through PCC, please contact Derek Godwin at 252-249-1851, ext. 3106, or dgodwin@pamlicocc.edu.
College Hosts Joyous 2022 Commencement
May 16, 2022
Dozens of smiling graduates walked across the stage inside Pamlico Community College’s Delamar Center auditorium Friday evening to receive the associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and Continuing Education credentials they had earned this academic year.
The joyous, hour-long ceremony marked the first indoor Commencement at the college since 2019. Because of concerns and restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, both the 2020 and 2021 graduations had been drive-thru events.
“Tonight is a night for celebration,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross, presiding over his sixth Commencement as the college’s president. “We’ve waited a long time for this – to get back to some sense of normalcy. It is great to be having a graduation inside again, so we’re going to have a great time celebrating tonight.”
He and other speakers saluted the graduates for their perseverance and drive to overcome challenges during the pandemic. Ross also recognized the family members and friends who supported the graduates and cheered them on throughout their college careers, and he acknowledged the college’s faculty and staff for their work to keep serving students during the pandemic.
Thirty-seven men and women participated in Friday’s ceremony, and about 350 family members, friends and others sat in the audience to cheer them on.
In all, 54 curriculum students completed their studies this academic year, earning a combined 28 associate degrees, nine diplomas, and 62 academic certificates. Additionally, 63 students completed short-term Continuing Education programs this year and were eligible to take part in the ceremony.
This year’s youngest graduate was 17. The oldest curriculum graduate was 59, while the oldest Continuing Education completer was 66.
Family members of the late Larry Prescott, a longtime PCC employee and trustee, were recognized during the event. Prescott, who had been associated with the college since its founding, died in April. College and civic leaders who attended the ceremony also were recognized.
Inspired by a quote by baseball great Yogi Berra, Commencement speaker Doug Brinson, a longtime community leader who now serves as chairman of the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners, told the graduates they would come to “forks in the road” throughout their lives and that they should be prepared to make decisions about them.
He went on to say graduates should not avoid responsibility and be accountable for their decisions when they encounter these situations. They had already come to one such fork in the road by deciding to enroll at the college and complete their educational goals, Brinson said.
“Every one of you that are graduating here tonight have had to face this fork in the road about decisions about what you’re going to be doing,” he said. “Once you’ve made your decision to graduate and come through this, you’re accountable for it and you’re doing it. To that, I applaud you. I wish each of you well. I feel confident that every one of you who is on this path will succeed.”
PCC also presented its most prestigious annual awards during the ceremony.
The first honoree was Christy N. Novajosky, who received the 2022 Academic Excellence Award and also was named the college’s Student of the Year. Novajosky, who graduated at the event with her Associate in Arts degree, began her college career while in high school through the Career & College Promise program. She was able to compile a staggering 68 transferable college credits.
Vice President of Student Services Jamie Gibbs presented Novajosky with a plaque and a medallion. As the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, she becomes Pamlico’s 2022 honoree in the N.C. Community College System’s “Great within the 58” list of high-achieving students.
PCC Criminal Justice Instructor Derek Godwin received the college’s Instructor of the Year Award. He also serves as director of the Career & College Promise program for high schoolers and as director of the Bayboro Center.
The Adjunct Instructor of the Year award went to David Swickline, who teaches psychology. He attended the ceremony with his wife and infant twin sons.
Vice President of Instructional Services Michelle Willis Krauss presented both instructor awards.
Chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs Lori Giles accepted the Staff Member of the Year Award, which is voted on by college employees. She was recognized for her efforts to grow the college’s Continuing Education program, including the launch of several new short-term health care offerings.
Vice President of Financial Services Sherry Raby presented Giles with the award.
The college’s Alumnus of the Year Award went to Francisco Arreol-Muro, a 2019 PCC graduate who earned associate degrees in Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology. He now conducts inspections and reviews at Eastern North Carolina community colleges for the Environmental Health and Safety Institute, which is based at Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County.
PCC Foundation President John Barlow II presented the award.
Ross presented the President’s Award to PCC Director of Financial Aid Meredith Beeman. He said Beeman exemplifies the attributes of positivity, professionalism and productivity in her daily efforts to help students navigate the complex guidelines of financial aid.
A reception with refreshments took place in the Delamar Center’s atrium. In the nearby Conference Room, graduates and their families had an opportunity to have a free family portrait taken.
PCC faculty and staff members took photos of each graduate receiving their diplomas and soon will e-mail these free of charge to all graduates. The faculty and staff members also videotaped the ceremony and will e-mail the link to this commencement video free of charge to the graduates.
Record Participation Highlights Tournament
May 9, 2022
Around 80 golfers took advantage of an unexpectedly beautiful day Saturday to hit the links and raise scholarship funds at the Pamlico Community College Foundation’s 22nd Annual CarolinaEast Cup Fundraising Golf Tournament at Minnesott Yacht, Golf & Country Club.
This year’s tournament featured a return to a traditional format, with a shotgun start, no masks and a congregate lunch.
Generous sponsors provided plenty of prizes for the competitors, who also enjoyed a continental breakfast, a goody bag full of great giveaway items and a day of fun and laughs on the picturesque course.
The tourney featured a maxed-out field of 21 teams, with golfers from around Eastern North Carolina. The large field of participants led tourney organizers to divide the four-member teams into a First Flight, Second Flight and Third Flight, based on team members’ 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 more than $11,000 for student scholarships and other college priorities.
“Saturday was simply a fantastic day for our college and our community,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross, who delivered brief opening remarks as the tourney got underway. “The tremendous turnout of golfers and volunteers again showed the extremely generous spirit of Pamlico County and the area. Our students are the direct beneficiaries of that spirit of giving, and we thank everyone for their support.”
Ross continued, “We couldn’t have asked for a better day or a better event. I commend Foundation Executive Director Michelle Noevere and her team for organizing this year’s tourney. It was a tremendous success.”
This year’s tournament featured $125 cash prizes for golfers who hit closest to the pin on holes 5, 9, 12 and 14, prizes for the man and woman who hit closest to the curve on hole No. 8, and a putting contest back at the clubhouse.
A new feature this year allowed players to choose to pay a $5 fee to have the golf pro Karl Thurber hit their first shot on hole No. 9.
A 50-50 raffle for half of a $665 pot and a silent auction of donated “themed” baskets, golf packages and other items rounded out the day. The themed baskets were donated by the personnel of various Pamlico Community College departments, and area golf courses donated the Rounds for Four packages.
“This year was a record-setter for team participation for this event,” Noevere said. “Our tournament is becoming well-known for the generous prize packages, the fun course contests and the giveaways, as well as the delicious food and beautiful golf course provided by Minnesott Yacht, Golf and Country Club. The owners and staff of the country club, our volunteers, sponsors and donors deserve a standing ovation. It is their hard work and expertise that make this event a successful fundraiser to support the mission of Pamlico Community College to provide accessible and affordable postsecondary education, workforce training and other services to the communities served by the college.”
This year’s winners included:
Tournament Champion team: John Hopkins, Taylor Lyon, Mark Sullivan and Leo Van Buuren
First-place First Flight team: Billy Holton, Mitch Kominiarek, Ron Pontiff and James Walker
Second-place First Flight team: Scott King, Randy McGruther, Dan Sanchez and Ted Tyndall
First-place Second Flight Team: Jack Bishop, Micki Campbell, Tommy Campbell and James Snyder
Second-place Second Flight team: Jeff Cannon, Georgia Dawson, Jack Kilpatrick and Patrick Woods
First-place Third Flight team: Will Harper, Jim Krauss, Phillip Nanney and Matt Scott
Second-place Third Flight team: Michele Bessette, Bryce Detwiler, Steve Russ and Jim Strihan
Putting Contest winner: Leo Van Buuren
Closest to the Curve winners: Michele Bessette and John Roy
Closest to the Pin on No. 5: Micki Campbell
Closest to the Pin on No. 9: Micki Campbell
Closest to the Pin on No. 12: Sue Thatch
Closest to the Pin on No. 14: Jeff Cannon
50-50 Raffle Winner: Kyle Sherman
CarolinaEast Health System was the title sponsor of this year’s tournament. Platinum sponsors were the PCC Small Business Center and Andy Vestal of Truist Investment Services Inc. Vestal also sponsored the “Closest of the Pin” prizes.
Gold sponsors included: Michelle and Jim Krauss, Bojangles/Tands; Goose Creek Island Volunteer Fire Department, Edward Jones/Dan Roberts IV, AAMS; The Pamlico News; Pamlico Quick Lube and Car Wash; Superior Cranes; Systel Business Equipment; and Ward & Smith, P.A.
Silver sponsors included: Henry and Mary Ann Hale; Hardison Tire & Towing; Lori’s Golf Shoppe; Sam Myers and Mary Helen Boone; and Garland F. Fulcher Seafood Company.
Robinson and Stith Insurance and Pamlico Packing Co., Inc. sponsored the putting green, while prize sponsors included Myra Blue and Herbie Blue Family in memory of Herbie Blue; Forrest Farm Supply; Vickie Moseley Jones; Iris Hudson; Bob Lyon; Village Hardware; Scott Frazer and Debbie Harrison.
Commencement Set for Friday at Delamar Ctr.
May 9, 2022
Returning to a traditional, pre-COVID format, Pamlico Community College will host its 2022 Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Ned Everett Delamar Center on the college’s Grantsboro campus.
The college will formally recognize men and women who have completed the coursework required to earn associate’s degrees, diplomas and certificates, as well as those who have completed short-term Continuing Education career programs.
The event, which comes in the wake of drive-thru Commencement ceremonies in both 2020 and 2021, will include a traditional walk across the stage by each graduate as well as a post-ceremony reception. Additionally, a photographer will be on hand to take free family photos of each graduate and his or her family after the ceremony.
PCC President Dr. Jim Ross will preside over his sixth Commencement as the college’s president. Douglas “Doug” Brinson, chairman of the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners, will deliver the Commencement address.
“Commencement is always the most joyous day of the year, and this year’s event promises to be no different,” Ross said. “The return to a traditional indoor ceremony for the first time since 2019 is very special, and all of us are excited to commend these graduates for their hard work during some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. These students and their families have persevered to accomplish their goals. It’s a great time to celebrate.”
Brinson is a familiar face in Pamlico County. He is a native of the county and a graduate of Pamlico County High School.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from Atlantic Christian College in 1970, he worked as a high school teacher in Raleigh. Brinson later became an agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, where he served in postings in Raleigh, Greenville and Elizabeth City.
After retiring from law enforcement, he returned to Pamlico County to take over the family farm operation in Arapahoe. Brinson also became an active community leader.
He has served multiple terms on the Board of Commissioners. Brinson also is a former member of the Pamlico County Board of Education and the Pamlico County Board of Elections.
“Doug Brinson has dedicated many years of exemplary service to Pamlico County, which is his home,” Ross said. “He is an outstanding friend of Pamlico Community College. We are honored that he has accepted our invitation to speak at Commencement and look forward to hearing the wisdom he imparts to our graduates and guests.”
During Friday’s ceremony, the college’s Academic Excellence Award/Student of the Year winner will be announced. The college also will honor its Instructor of the Year, Adjunct Instructor of the Year, Staff Person of the Year and Alumnus of the Year.
In addition, Ross will present the President’s Award to a college employee.
Pianist Paula Murray will provide the processional and recessional music.
Masks will not be required at the ceremony but will be available for anyone who wishes to wear one.
Tickets are not required.
Dialysis Tech Program Making Lives Better
March 15, 2022
Less than a year after its launch, Pamlico Community College’s new Dialysis Technician program is considered an early success as it is already making lives better and building momentum for a strong future.
The short-term training program, which teaches men and women to operate the hemodialysis machine (a piece of lifesaving equipment used to filter dialysis patients’ blood) has had great success inside and outside the classroom.
Two students who completed the program now are already working in area dialysis clinics, and two more are currently going through the application process for jobs in the field.
The program recently enrolled its third class of students, and will offer additional classes later this year.
“When we began this program, we knew it had the potential to make an immediate impact on our students and on our community for our region’s citizens who rely on dialysis,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “We had to financially invest very heavily in it to have elite state-of-the art equipment needed for our students to get the best possible training at PCC, but it was well worth it. This is important for the students when they enter their careers and it is important to area residents undergoing dialysis to receive the best possible medical service. We are confident that students who complete this program will be well-qualified to secure good jobs that help improve their lives and help them improve the lives of dialysis patients and their families.”
Ross has led an ambitious initiative the past five years that has resulted in numerous new programs for students who wish to work with their hands in good-paying and in-demand vocational/technical/medical careers. His equally ambitious goal going forward is to secure funding to begin 28 additional new vocational/technical/medical training programs identified by a task force he founded as beneficial for our county and region.
The Dialysis Technician program, which began in August 2021, is part of the college’s ongoing commitment to offer more short-term training programs that respond to industry needs and that can lead to good jobs in all sectors, including in the area’s growing health care sector.
Kacynthia Ingram, a New Bern nurse originally from Ohio, leads the Dialysis Technician program. Her students learn the theoretical, technical and clinical skills needed to maintain dialysis equipment and to provide care to patients being treated for chronic renal diseases.
Classes generally include lecture and hands-on lab activities with the college’s new, state-of-the-art dialysis machinery.
“It gives them the chance to get their hands on the equipment,” Ingram said.
An important part of the program is learning to deal with patients in a kind, compassionate and empathetic manner, she said. Patients undergoing dialysis can visit clinics up to three times per week for three- to four-hour-long appointments, so it’s important for technicians to learn the skills necessary to make clients feel at ease.
“They’ll often call a tech before they call a nurse,” Ingram said, expanding on the important role technicians play in health care settings.
The demand for dialysis technicians is expected to remain strong. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an 11 percent increase in medical and clinical laboratory technician occupations such as dialysis technicians between 2020 and 2030.
So far, only women have completed the college’s program, but it can be a great option for men as well.
Cost to enroll in the PCC’s Dialysis Technician program of study is $180. Scholarships are available for students who qualify.
“Pamlico Community College is committed to equipping students with the skills they need to secure good jobs in health care and a variety of other fields,” Ross said. “We strongly believe our vastly expanding short-term programs for those who like to work with their hands will make a positive difference for them and our overall community.”
For more information or to register for the Dialysis Technician course of study, please contact Lori Giles, PCC’s chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs, at 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
PCC’s Dental Lab Tech Program Unique in ENC
March 7, 2022
Pamlico Community College’s Dental Laboratory Technology program can make you smile!
Launched in 2017, the program trains students to design and build the dentures, bridges, crowns and orthodontic appliances dental patients need for their teeth to work and look their best.
Students in the program participate in online instruction as well as in hands-on lab work.
Men and women who complete the program can earn a two-year associate’s degree. Diploma and certificate options also are available.
“When we began this program, we knew it would lead to wonderful opportunities for students to have great careers in this important field,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “Students in this program not only learn the skills they need to improve their lives, they become positioned to improve the lives of people who need dental care throughout the region. That’s very gratifying.”
PCC’s Dental Laboratory Technology program is unique in the area. In fact, Pamlico is the only N.C. community college east of Durham currently offering it.
The program is led by Dr. Saleh “Sal” Jany, an Iraqi-born professional who has worked at the college since December 2018. Now living in New Bern and working on a postgraduate degree in Public Health at George Washington University, Jany brings nearly 30 years of dental experience to his post as instructor.
He said PCC’s program prepares students to be important members of the dental care team.
“The dental laboratory technician is a skilled professional working with dentists to improve teeth’s health, appearance and function,” he said. “Technicians manufacture appliances that are common in dental treatments. They are part of the team that brings back beautiful smiles to people.”
The Dental Laboratory Technology program soon will be headquartered in the renovated Johnson Building at the Grantsboro campus. In the interim, the program’s instruction is primarily web-based, with weekly hands-on lab sessions in the Bayboro Center.
PCC also offers its Dental Laboratory Technology students to offenders housed at Pamlico Correctional Center in Bayboro. Jany also is the instructor there.
“Our Dental Laboratory Technology program is part of our college’s commitment to ensuring men and women have the education and training they need to earn a good living,” Ross said. “Vice President of Instruction Michelle Willis played a critical role in making this program possible for our community. In one of the first meetings I had with her after I became PCC President in 2016, she proposed plans to add this program on campus and showed how this could provide good jobs for Pamlico County citizens who like to work with their hands. I soon agreed, and we began a one-year planning and implementation process that led to it becoming a reality on campus for our community.”
For more information about PCC’s Dental Laboratory Technology program, contact Dr. Saleh “Sal” Jany at 252-249-1851, ext. 3065, or sjany@pamlicocc.edu.
Online B-Term Courses Begin March 10 at PCC
February 16, 2022
Pamlico Community College again will offer a slate of half-semester curriculum courses that are designed to help students get caught up on the current semester or get ahead in their studies.
These classes, known as “B-Term courses,” will be offered online. They will feature the same amount of academic material as a full-term class, but in a half-semester timeframe.
PCC’s Spring 2022 B-Term courses are a great way for motivated students to catch up if they missed this semester’s start date or to move ahead in their programs.
These classes also are available for students who are enrolled in other colleges or universities and have been unable to get into a required course at their home institutions.
“B-Term courses are a great way for students to achieve their academic goals,” said PCC President Dr. Jim Ross. “These classes can be challenging, but they are real time-savers for motivated students. I encourage men and women to check out these courses to see if they fit their needs.”
Registration for these classes is underway. The courses will begin March 10 and will end May 9.
The course offerings will include:
* ACA 111 – College Student Success
* ACA 122 – College Student Success
* CIS 110 – Introduction to Computers and its corresponding lab
* COM 231 – Public Speaking
* EDU 119 – Intro. To Early Childhood Education
* ENG 111 – Writing and Inquiry
* ENV 232 – Site Assessment and Remediation
* ENV 250 – Rural Watershed Protection
* HIS 132 – American History II
Students who enroll at PCC can expect to receive a nationally recognized education, regardless of the path they choose.
WalletHub has ranked Pamlico as the No. 1 community college in the United States for students’ Education Outcomes, and SmartAsset has ranked PCC the No. 2 community college in America. In addition, the college recently was ranked North Carolina’s No. 1 community college by BestValueSchools.org.
For more information about B-Term courses, current students are encouraged to contact their advisors. New students are encouraged to contact Student Services at 252-249-1851, ext. 3001, or studentservices@pamlicocc.edu.
High Morale Leads to Great Success in 2021!
February 10, 2022
Pamlico Community College in 2021 had a year to remember as it brought acclaim to our state by being ranked among the best community colleges in the United States again and again.
As 2021 ends, Pamlico continues to be ranked number 1 among all community colleges in America for student success. This number 1 ranking for student success came from the national analysis by WalletHub of several hundred colleges in all states, using data from the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to that ranking, Pamlico in 2021 also earned prestigious national ranking as the number 2 overall community college in America. This ranking came from the national analysis of hundreds of community colleges from all states by SmartAsset, using data from the U.S. Department of Education and other federal sources.
Also in 2021, Pamlico Community College was rated the No. 1 community college for excellence in North Carolina. This ranking came from Best Value Schools on its list of Best Community Colleges in North Carolina.
Pamlico Community College President Dr. Jim Ross gives enthusiastic credit to “the outstanding faculty and staff for their extraordinary dedication to serving students with excellence.” That has led, he said, to dramatic increases in PCC graduation/transfer rates and other areas. PCC’s graduation/transfer rates have dramatically increased by 20 points during the past three years. At 76%, it is now two times higher than the national average.
Ross believes a shared vision of the employees to make lives better through their work and the skyrocketing morale of employees in recent years have been keys to the dramatic improvement in performance and rankings. While nationwide surveys of employees show overall morale at all organizations in the United States falling and now at a dismal 30%, PCC is a shining exception. The annual Institutional Effectiveness Office employee survey in 2021 found that a remarkable 95 percent of PCC faculty members and staffers report high morale.
“Having 95% of our faculty and staff report they have high morale – especially during the pandemic – is astonishing,” said Ross. He said there has been a steady incline in high morale in recent years, increasing dramatically from 55% of employees several years ago to 95% in the most recent survey in 2021. “I strongly believe these incredible morale increases provide the foundation for the college gaining these incredible improvements and awards during the past few years.”
When Ross became President nearly six years ago, he asked faculty and staff to strive to make lives better with their work every day and he asked each employee to have the goal to make the college “the best organization of any kind in our nation – whether it be education, business, government, or non-profit organizations – in how we treat other people. This included how we treated students; fellow employees; people we see in the community; and those in our own families.” Ross said if the college employees did this, it would bring such satisfaction to our faculty and staff and such goodwill to the college that everything we do will get better as a result. He asked supervisors to lead the way by treating all employees with dignity, respect, and appreciation while developing a joyful culture that is positive, professional, and productive.
It is working beyond all expectations. When SmartAsset ranked Pamlico the No. 2 community college in the United States for 2021, it was based on U.S. Department of Education data from 820 community colleges across America on student graduation/transfer rates, student-instructor ratio, and affordability. PCC received outstanding scores for its graduation/transfer rate of its students of 76 percent, its student-instructor ratio of 9-to-1; and its exceptionally low cost and affordability for in-state students, according to SmartAsset. Notably, PCC’s 76 percent graduation/transfer rate is double the national average. The highest score earned on SmartAsset’s 2021 rankings was 100, with PCC close behind and earning a score of 99.97.
When PCC earned additional prestigious national recognition by WalletHub as America’s No. 1 community college in student success, the top ranking was based on an evaluation of federal data on student educational outcomes including first-year retention rate; graduation rate; transfer-out rate; degree and certificates awarded per 100 full-time-equivalent students; student-faculty ratio; share of full-time faculty; and presence of special learning opportunities such as dual enrollment or distance education programs.
Also in 2021, Pamlico was rated No. 1 by Best Value Schools on its list of Best Community Colleges in North Carolina. A year earlier, PCC had been named North Carolina’s best online community college for 2020 by Affordable Colleges Online (AC Online).
There are numerous additional highlights of 2021. Among these are developing numerous vocational/technical continuing education programs to prepare local citizens for good-paying and in-demand careers working with their hands. There have been nearly 30 such programs added at PCC in recent years. This past fall, the college successfully launched several new short-term training programs. For example, the college began offering a short-term Dialysis Technician program, enrolling an initial class and with two other sections of Dialysis Training added for the current semester. This will help the region to meet a glaring shortage of trained professionals.
In addition, the college plans to significantly expand its training programs for the public safety community to meet their growing training needs. As part of this, PCC has met this past year with community leaders in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services to ask how training can be improved through new technological advancements. As a result, the college in 2021 committed to and has taken necessary steps to purchase state-of-the-art simulator systems that local leaders recommended and believe will dramatically improve the capability for training public safety professionals to make our community even safer.
Also in 2021, a new building was opened at the college’s Bayboro site. The Ernestine R. Mattocks Center of Excellence expands the capacity of the college to serve more high school students, expand the number of classes, and provide enhanced quality. The new Mattocks Center serves high school juniors and seniors who are taking tuition-free PCC courses through North Carolina’s Career & College Promise program. The building dedication in December was a stirring event with more than 100 community attendees who honored Reverend Mattocks, a highly-revered community icon and former PCC Board Member who passed away two years ago.
The new year brought with it more opportunities to host face-to-face courses for students. Not only did PCC employees adapt to the ever-changing nature of working during a pandemic, they thrived. They also reported feeling valued and appreciated at work. According to the college’s 2020-21 PCC Faculty & Staff Satisfaction Survey, 95 percent of responding employees expressed high morale and said they were treated as “valued members” of the college team – the highest figure ever.
Ross said he believes treating people well is the right thing to do for all employers.
“When employees have high morale, this brings increased quality of work,” he said. “Our dedicated and caring employees are to be commended for embracing such a positive and uplifting team spirit despite the coronavirus pandemic. The fruits of this high-morale team spirit are many and have proven incredibly important in enabling our college to serve our students and community with excellence and change lives for the better.”