Pamlico’s Dental Tech Program Stands Alone
December 2, 2024
At Pamlico Community College, the Dental Laboratory Technology program, known as Dental Restorative Technology, offers a unique opportunity to enter a growing field that combines technical expertise with the personal satisfaction of improving lives.
This program is designed to meet the demands of modern dental restorative technology, equipping students with the skills needed to create high-quality restorations that enhance patients’ quality of life, health, and confidence.
The program combines the flexibility of online learning with essential hands-on lab experiences. This hybrid format allows students to complete lecture-based courses online, offering a flexible learning experience that accommodates diverse schedules. At the same time, students participate in in-person lab sessions, where they apply their knowledge through hands-on practice in a real-world setting.
Students get a well-rounded foundation in dental restorative techniques, covering every aspect of dental prosthetic fabrication – from creating dentures and crowns to advanced techniques in ceramic and metal restorations.
Topics include dental anatomy, materials science, digital dentistry and implant-supported prosthetics.
By graduation, students are fully prepared to work in a commercial dental lab or pursue further specialization within the field.
Pamlico’s hybrid courses use state-of-the-art equipment and software, ensuring students are not only knowledgeable but also proficient with the industry’s latest tools and techniques.
The college is proud of its experienced and dedicated faculty. They serve as both instructors and mentors, providing the personalized guidance students need to thrive.
With small class sizes and a hybrid format, students benefit from a supportive environment where they can ask questions, receive individualized feedback, and build a collaborative network with their peers.
With an aging population and advancements in dental technology, the demand for skilled dental laboratory technicians continues to rise, making this a lucrative and fulfilling career path. As the only program of its kind in Eastern North Carolina, Pamlico’s program is dedicated to preparing the workforce the community needs.
Graduates earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Dental Laboratory Technology, opening doors to entry-level positions and providing a solid foundation for specialization.
For more information about the program, please contact Dr. Sal Jany by cell phone at 919-410-4737 or by email at sjany@pamlicocc.edu.
Familiar Faces Take New Leadership Roles
November 22, 2024
Two long-time employees have new roles at the college.
Instructor Zac Schnell, who has led the college’s Environmental Science program since 2016, has been named the college’s acting president.
Board of Trustees Chair Bob Lyon made the announcement last week, and the State Board of Community Colleges has confirmed the appointment. The Board of Trustees appointed Schnell following the unexpected passing of Interim President Michelle Willis Krauss earlier this month.
Schnell called an all-employee meeting for Nov. 21 to discuss goals and priorities for the college.
Meanwhile, Early Childhood Education Instructor Neil Callahan has agreed to serve as the college’s acting vice president of instruction.
A formal announcement was made on Nov. 19. He replaces Krauss in that role.
Callahan already serves in a variety of leadership posts, including coordinator of academic advising and chair of General Studies. He also oversees a number of important academic initiatives, including both the Pirate Promise co-admission agreement with East Carolina University and the ECU Partnership Teach effort for prospective educators.
Krauss Remembered as Dedicated Educator
November 15, 2024
More than 300 family members, friends, and colleagues came together at Pamlico Community College’s Delamar Center Thursday to remember Interim President Michelle Willis Krauss’s loving spirit, dedication to her family, and commitment to bringing out the best in students.
The initial mood of the event was sad and somber, but it quickly grew joyous and uplifting as speakers shared happy stories and funny memories of a woman whom everyone agreed had lived her life well.
“I am confident that Michelle would truly want this service to be a gathering of love,” the Rev. Scott Fitzgerald, pastor of Bayboro Baptist Church, told the crowd from a podium on the Delamar Center stage. “She was a bundle of love.”
About 60 current and former college leaders and employees were seated in front of the stage on one side of the aisle, while Krauss’s family members were seated on the opposite side. Members of both groups wore red, which was one of Krauss’s favorite colors.
The large crowd of attendees sat in the bleachers behind her “kin” family and her “work” family. An urn containing her ashes was placed on a platform in front of the podium, and about 20 large plants and colorful flower arrangements adorned both the stage and the floor below.
Krauss, who had served in several roles at the college since 2005, died Nov. 7 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville following a medical emergency that occurred Nov. 5 at her home. She was 66.
Krauss’s unexpected passing jolted Pamlico County, where many remembered her as a dedicated educator who spent her career working with young people.
From 1990 to 2005, she was a beloved teacher and director of PEACE Preschool in Oriental, interacting with hundreds of children and their families.
After that, Krauss became a Criminal Justice Technology instructor at PCC. She would go on to become an important leader at Pamlico, serving as its director of off-campus programs, then its vice president of instruction, and finally as its interim president.
In the days since her passing, dozens of former students and colleagues flooded the college’s social media accounts with memories of Krauss.
Former student Sarah Henries wrote, “Mrs. Michelle impacted so many lives. She truly took the time to get to know each student and helped them in any way she possibly could. She pushed you to be your best and accomplish your goals. Her kindness was unmatched above all else. She will be deeply missed, and I am so grateful to have known her.”
Former colleague Greg Skelly posted: “What a loss! Michelle had so much talent, intelligence, insight and commitment to the college, its students and the community as a whole.”
Appropriately, Thursday’s memorial service for Krauss took place at the college. Colleagues spent the day before the event deep-cleaning the facility so it would shine.
Following Fitzgerald’s remarks, former brother-in-law James Banks shared memories of Krauss. He told stories about playing cards and board games with Krauss and her first husband. The families took vacations to the mountains and the beach together and looked after each other’s children as if they were their own.
Banks said he and Krauss decided to rededicate themselves to their Christian faith on the same day, agreeing to be saved at the same service.
Even after her first marriage ended, Krauss did not become embittered, Banks said. She stayed in contact with the extended Willis family and worked to improve life for herself and her son, Trey.
“She persevered in her professional life and her personal life,” he said. “I would say that her faith, hard work, and dedication kept Michelle moving forward.”
Michelle and her new husband, Jim, even joined her former in-laws at gatherings, Banks said.
After Banks spoke, Fitzgerald returned to the podium, telling the crowd he met Krauss while she worked at PEACE Preschool. Krauss was integral in growing the program from a two-day to a five-day-per-week operation, the pastor said, adding she and her “dream team” of colleagues created an environment of love and support that children looked forward to joining, he said.
“It was a magical place,” Fitzgerald said.
Following her PEACE Preschool days, it was off to the local community college.
“The community college became her new family,” Fitzgerald said, adding how proud Krauss was of her colleagues’ accomplishments.
While at PCC, Krauss became well known for her work with the college’s dual enrollment program, which enabled high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits by taking and passing courses offered through Pamlico. The program even allowed Krauss to reconnect with many of the same young people who had attended PEACE Preschool.
“She got them again!” Fitzgerald said. “She always connected. She always knew them.”
He said the program also allowed Krauss to do what she did best: motivate and inspire young people, whether through a quiet voice of encouragement or a metaphorical kick in the rear end.
Fitzgerald said Krauss also valued all of her colleagues at the college, saying, “She treated everybody as if they were the most important people.”
The pastor then turned the crowd’s attention to the backstory of The Beatles’ song “Let It Be,” which he said Paul McCartney had written after struggling with personal and professional issues. The story goes that the songwriter was visited by his late mother, who advised her son to stop worrying and let it be.
Fitzgerald suggested the audience do the same with their grief and instead carry with them memories of Krauss’s positive attitude, bright smile, and love for her students, family, and community.
“Michelle was an example of a person who loved what she did, but more importantly, she loved who she did it for,” he said. “Let’s all love like Michelle loved.”
Link to Michelle Willis Krauss’s obituary: https://www.danielssadlerfunerals.com/obituary/michelle-krauss
Memorial Service for Interim President Set
November 11, 2024
Interim President Michelle Willis Krauss, who had served in several roles at the college since 2005, died on Thursday, Nov. 7, at ECU Health in Greenville following a medical emergency Nov. 5 at her home. She was 66.
Her memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. at Pamlico Community College’s Delamar Center.
Link to her obituary: https://www.danielssadlerfunerals.com/obituary/michelle-krauss
Lively Crowd Enjoys Foundation Tourney
October 21, 2024
Nearly 50 golfers hit the links last Saturday to raise scholarship funds at the Pamlico Community College Foundation’s 23rd Annual CarolinaEast Cup Fundraising Golf Tournament at Minnesott Yacht, Golf & Country Club.
Twelve teams participated in the popular fundraiser, which featured ideal October weather, excellent playing conditions, 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 college priorities, although a final event tally is not yet available.
“We are so thankful for our community’s support of this year’s golf tournament,” said Foundation Executive Director Heather Arevalo, who was organizing her first golf tourney. “We had a fabulous group of golfers as well as tremendous support from sponsors and volunteers. I appreciate all of the help I received, especially from the folks at Minnesott. We’re already making plans for next year’s tournament.”
This year’s edition of the golf tournament was the first one since October 2022. The PCC Foundation did not host a tournament in 2023 following the passing of former Executive Director Michelle Noevere, who was a longtime organizer of the event.
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.
Each winning team member 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: John Gilbert, Evan LeMay, McKenzie May, and Kody Sugg
First-place First Flight team: Rex Horne, Marvin Sartin, Mike Sartin and Eddie Taylor
Second-place First Flight team: Randy Cales Brian Dorn, Alex McCraight, and Mike Scoggins
First-place Second Flight Team: Colton Voliva, Dan Voliva, Koi Voliva and Dusty Parker
Second-place Second Flight team: Mark Bessette, Dana Hall, and Curtis Ormond
First-place Mixed Flight team: Keith Cannon, Scott Harris, Patti Hudson, and Jack Kilpatrick
Second-place Mixed Flight team: Howard Bourbeau, Micki Campbell, Tommy Campbell and Joanne Harrell
Putting Contest winner: Brian Dorn
Closest to the Curve winner (Hole No. 16): Curtis Ormond
Closest to the Pin winner (Hole No. 5): Kody Sugg
50-50 Raffle Winner: Micki Campbell
CarolinaEast Health System was the title sponsor and a Platinum sponsor of this year’s tournament. The Pamlico Small Business Center also was a Platinum sponsor.
Gold sponsors included: Gail Johnson; Jim and Michelle Krauss, Rose and Glenn Lore, Martha Whitford; The Pamlico News; The County Compass; Robinson and Stith Insurance; and Piedmont Natural Gas.
Silver sponsors included: Dr. Garnett Whitehurst; Hardison Tire Co.; Little Italy’s Pizza; TWFG Brinson Insurance; Edward Jones/Dan Roberts IV, financial advisor; Mariner Realty; Axelson Chiropractic; and Carolina Bay Outfitters.
Putting Green sponsors included: Debbie Harrison/Aflac; The Tillman Family; The Insurance Center; Inland Waterway Provision Company and McCotters Marina & Boatyard; and Forrest Farm Supply.
Prize Sponsors included: Goose Creek Island Volunteer Fire Department; 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; River Dunes; Harbor View Day Spa; Duke Energy; Champion Sports & Fitness; Harbourside Garden Co.; The New Village Brewery; Piggly Wiggly of Oriental; The Bike Box Project/Rock Steady Boxing; Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar of Jacksonville; Mitchell Hardware; PCC Student Services staff; PCC Instructional Services staff; PCC Business Office staff; and The Arevalo Family.
Volunteers were: Heather Arevalo, Earl Canfield, Terri Fesmire-Kennedy, Meredith Glover, Gregory Green, Iris Hudson, Mark Johnson, Carmen Kludy, Brandy Leder, Rose Lore, Susan McRoy, Michelle Montgomery, Rachel Schlachta, Sandy Wall, Laura West, Michelle Willis-Krauss and Ann Whitman.
Former Student Marks Decade of Teaching
October 10, 2024
A Cosmetology instructor who began her career as a Pamlico Community College student recently celebrated 10 years of teaching.
Elethia Williams Woodham’s anniversary as an instructor was officially Oct. 3. She celebrated with her students and colleagues at the college’s Cosmetology Building in Bayboro.
“What an amazing 10 years it has been,” Woodham said. “It has truly been self-rewarding to be employed at Pamlico Community College to celebrate this 10-year milestone at the institution where it all began.”
Woodham, who grew up in Pamlico County and graduated from Pamlico County High School, was among the first students in 2004 to take courses inside the college’s then-new Cosmetology Building. She finished her training at nearby Beaufort County Community College.
Woodham began teaching in Pamlico’s program in 2014. She worked here for three years, and then took a job at BCCC, where she taught for several years.
Woodham returned to Pamlico for the Fall 2023 semester and has been here ever since. She teaches the beginner Cosmetology courses while Instructor Debi Fulcher handles the advanced courses. Woodham replaced Instructor Christy Laney, who left the area.
While at Pamlico, Woodham has organized fun events for her students, including holiday-themed hairstyling and makeup contests.
“I would confirm that teaching is my passion,” she said. “The best part of my job is working with the students and igniting their love of learning!”
For more information about the college’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs, including how to enroll, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3130.
College Offers Free Online Tutoring 24/7
October 3, 2024
Sometimes students need a little extra help to understand their courses’ material. To address that need, Pamlico Community College offers a free online tutoring system that features in-demand, around-the-clock assistance!
The service is called Tutor.com, and it’s easily accessible on the web. It’s available for students who take on-campus courses or for those who are enrolled in convenient online classes.
In fact, Tutor.com is accessible directly from every course on the college’s Moodle site.
While the service is not new to the college, PCC leaders have launched an effort to ensure students know about this helpful resource.
“PCC students are able to log on at any hour and receive the additional assistance from a real person that they need to tackle difficult concepts in a myriad of college classes,” said Counselor/Career Center Director Cristy Lewis Warner. “I am thankful that there is a resource available at the click of a button to support our students where they need it and when they need it. The system even records sessions so students can go back and review them, as necessary.”
The online tutoring service is just another way Pamlico is working to ensure students have every opportunity to succeed. In recent years, the college has been recognized nationally for students’ educational outcomes, which makes it a national leader in student success.
Help with coursework isn’t the only service offered through Tutor.com.
“Those students seeking employment have been able to submit draft résumés and cover letters and get support from the platform’s writing center to tailor their efforts toward their intended careers,” Warner said. “I love that the writing center provides suggestions and guidance, but doesn’t write it for them. Instead, it teaches them how to strengthen their own performance. They can then take those skills forward into their life far beyond the college community.”
For more information about Tutor.com, go to https://www.tutor.com/faq. For information about other academic services available at PCC, contact Warner at cwarner@pamlicocc.edu.
PCC Opens Free Food Pantry for Students
September 26, 2024
Pamlico Community College is working to remove barriers to students’ success, including hungry bellies.
The college recently opened the “Pamlico Pantry” in the Johnson Building on campus and stocked it with lots of non-perishable food, snack items, and drinks that PCC students can access for free while on campus.
A second pantry is also being outfitted at the Bayboro Center.
The goal is to fight food insecurity among PCC students and their families, thereby helping students succeed in their academics.
“We don’t want anyone to go hungry,” said PCC Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs, who is leading the initiative. “We were blessed with some funding. We have gotten the project off the ground, and we will be looking at additional avenues and partnerships to help sustain these efforts.”
Neighboring community colleges have opened food pantries for their students who might need a little extra help, including Craven, Carteret, and Beaufort County. Officials hope Pamlico’s effort will lead to increased student success.
“It’s a growing trend around colleges because of the food-insecurity issues throughout society,” Gibbs said. “We’re going to make sure we have the Pamlico Pantry accessible.”
Both the Pamlico Pantry on campus and the satellite location in Bayboro will be available to curriculum and Continuing Education students when the college is open. In addition to the food and drinks, the facilities are equipped with refrigerators and easy-to-use microwave ovens.
“They can take something, heat it up, and eat it if they need to,” said Counselor/Career Center Director Cristy Lewis Warner.
PCC officials say they will keep track of how many people use the service, but will not be recording individuals’ names. They are encouraging students to use the Pamlico Pantry and not to be embarrassed about it.
“It’s for one snack bar, a lunch, or even to feed a family at home,” Warner said. “We want to remove every barrier to learning that we can.”
Fourteen Men at PCI Earn AAS Degrees
August 29, 2024
Pamlico Community College instructors and administrators recently honored the perseverance and drive of 14 men who earned their associate degrees in Human Services Technology (HST) while housed at Pamlico Correctional Institution.
Family members and friends of the men – some of whom traveled from out of state – joined with PCI officials and others for the college’s special ceremony on Aug. 29 at the Bayboro facility.
It was PCC’s second prison-based graduation ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar event took place with six HST graduates in May.
“Thank you for your persistence and to sticking with the program through all your trials and tribulations,” said Mary Grammer, the college’s coordinator of correctional education. “You should be very proud of yourselves.”
Thirteen of the graduates attended the ceremony, which took place in PCI’s visitation room. The missing graduate has been released from custody. Eleven of the 14 graduated with honors.
The 14 Summer 2024 honorees make up the most recent class of graduates in the college’s innovative Human Services Technology program, which was launched in August 2017. It’s designed to reduce recidivism among participants by teaching life skills such as anger management, avoiding substance abuse, maintaining family relationships, and other material.
Students who successfully complete the coursework earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Human Services Technology (HST) from the college. Earning a college degree 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 leaders say.
Pamlico’s HST program is the first of its kind in North Carolina.
Graduate Mitchell Johnson said the program, combined with a renewed faith in God, had made him a better person.
“I’m a changed man,” he told the audience. “HST has helped me learn more about myself.”
Johnson held back tears as he acknowledged his parents, who had traveled from Bladen County for the event. He acknowledged they had done their best to raise him and his brother, but that he had mistakenly taken a dark path.
However, taking and passing all 23 courses in the college’s HST program had helped him to turn his life around, Johnson said.
“I wish this program was taught in all detention centers,” he said, thanking college and prison officials for their support and encouragement. “We are on our way to becoming positive members of society.”
Fellow graduate Paris Coleman also thanked college and prison officials for their support of the HST program. He singled out N.C. Sen. Norman Sanderson and former PCI Superintendent Faye Daniels for spearheading the HST initiative.
Coleman said he learned a lot about himself in the program, including why he struggled with anger and trust issues.
“There was a time when I didn’t think I’d see my 18th birthday, much less earn a college degree,” the former Jersey City, N.J., man said.
By participating in the HST program, Coleman said he learned how to deal with his past, take control of his life and decisions, and to focus on positive action and service to others.
“Action behind words is how you stand on business,” he said, adding there were no shortcuts to success. “I want my legacy to inspire those in need of uplifting.”
In his keynote address, PCC Instructor Ronald Scott, who serves as chair of the HST program, told the graduates that he was proud of them and impressed by their resilience.
Noting the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and other obstacles, Scott saluted the graduates for their perseverance and confidence in themselves.
“Who you were when you started this program is not who you are now,” he said.
Scott told the men to understand that, once they are released, they would need to work harder and better than others because of their pasts.
“As you strive for excellence, rise above those who want to see you fail,” he said. “The world is yours to change. Go, and be a difference-maker.”
The 14 graduates are Chandler Bible, Michael Caswell, Michael Chambers, Paris Coleman, Julius Davis, Willis Hodges, Elbert Horton, Ra’heem House, Hugh Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Mitchell Johnson, Joshua Seagro, Keith Shropshire, and Nicholas Tuccicaselli.
Pamlico Welcomes New Financial Aid Director
August 21, 2024
Pamlico Community College’s new Director of Financial Aid is ready to help new and returning students find the money they need to reach their educational goals and succeed.
Ashley J. Howell started her new job at the college on Aug. 12. The 25-year-old Beaufort County woman arrived just in time for Fall Registration, which is one of the busiest, most challenging times of the year at the college.
Fortunately for Pamlico students and her colleagues in Student Services, she is no stranger to the ins and outs of financial aid. Howell previously served as a financial aid counselor at Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) near Washington, and she is currently enrolled at East Carolina University, where she is working to complete her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
“I am excited to help students achieve their educational goals,” she said with a friendly smile.
Howell replaced former Director of Financial Aid Gretchen Steiger, who recently relocated to Florida with her children.
Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs said Howell has been a great addition to the college staff.
“Ashley has hit the ground running,” he said. “She continues to provide the high level of customer service that has become expected here at Pamlico Community College.”
Howell grew up in Washington and graduated from Beaufort County Early College High School with both an Associate in Arts degree and an Associate in Science degree from BCCC.
Since graduation, she has stayed busy, first working in animal control and later in the BCCC financial aid office. Along the way, Howell attained a paralegal certification and is working on her real estate license.
Oh, and she also got married! She and her husband, Adam, have one son, Braxton.
For more information about the financial aid opportunities for students at Pamlico, please contact Howell at 252-249-1851, ext. 3026, or ahowell@pamlicocc.edu.
CCP Registration is Aug. 26-27 in Bayboro
August 19, 2024
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 and Tuesday, Aug. 26-27, 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, 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 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 Cosmetology, Electrical Systems Technology and Welding while in high school, which can give them a head start on a great profession.
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.
Two Pamlico Men Study Environment in Iowa
July 22, 2024
The leader of Pamlico Community College’s Environmental Science Technology program and one of the program’s recent graduates traveled to Iowa recently to learn more about environmental issues and solutions and explore some of the career opportunities available in the field.
Instructor Zac Schnell and alumnus Russell Williams spent five days touring sites in and around Davenport, Iowa, a city of about 100,000 people along the Mississippi River.
The trip included visits to a limestone and shale mine, tours of habitat-restoration projects along the Mississippi River, and other stops.
It was organized by the Environment and Natural Resources Technology (EARTh) Institute at Central Carolina Community College and included environmental instructors and trainers from around the country.
“The trip itself was an absolute blast,” Williams said. “It was my first time doing anything like it and, admittedly, it was refreshing to accompany like-minded individuals on our visits.”
Pamlico’s Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology programs are the only community college programs of their kind in Eastern North Carolina. They are designed to prepare men and women for careers to help protect soil, water, and air quality.
Schnell and Williams said they and other Iowa trip participants learned a lot.
“There was a ton of topics that were covered, from why Iowa is so flat, the environmental impact that runoff from farms has, PFAS chemical exposure, as well as the effects various dams have had on the Mississippi River,” Williams said. “It was a great opportunity for networking and the sharing of information.”
He continued, “Zac, of course, made the entire experience even more entertaining. I’ve always known him to be an excellent leader within the classroom, but getting to see how he approached some of the topics discussed gave me a really good model for the type of teacher I’d like to be. I absolutely cannot express how thankful I am to have Zac as a mentor.”
Williams is working on his bachelor’s degree in middle-grade education through the distance education program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). His teaching concentrations are in Science and Social Studies.
“Every science class that I took at PCC transferred over to UNCW, which has really reduced the amount of time I’ve had to spend there,” he said. “Throughout the program, I’ve gotten to do several field experiences at local middle schools as well as some one-on-one tutoring.”
Williams is on track to complete his bachelor’s degree later this year. His next goal is to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Assessment, and he hopes to eventually teach at the community college level.
Schnell invites anyone interested in Environmental Science Technology and Environmental Management Technology to contact him at 252-249-1851, ext. 3115, or zschnell@pamlicocc.edu. Registration for the upcoming Fall 2024 semester is set for Aug. 6.
Zoom-based Course on Grant Writing Offered
July 15, 2024
Pamlico Community College can train men and women to secure the vital funding their organizations need to make a difference in the community and beyond.
The college will offer a virtual Grant Writing course beginning in August. It will be available in a Zoom-based format and will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Aug. 20 to Nov. 5.
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 critical for 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. “This course is designed to equip men and women with the skills they need to create successful grant applications. It will be a helpful course for anyone interested in accessing funding for great community causes.”
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.
In years past, the Grant Writing course had been offered on Saturdays. Beginning last year, college officials started scheduling classes in the evenings to see if those hours better met the needs of participants.
“This semester’s Grant Writing course will be available during the workweek, which seems to be a better option for working adults,” Giles said, adding the course’s Zoom-based online format will save participants on transportation costs.
For more information or to register, call 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or email lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
Student of the Year Pursues Lifelong Goal
June 13, 2024
While the COVID-19 pandemic might have cost Angela Bateman a high-level job, it also provided her an opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.
The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native was living in Cary, had recently turned 50, and had secured a new post as a vice president at a Raleigh-area firm when the virus hit, forcing schools and many businesses to close or move online.
Bateman, who has four children, decided at that point it would be best to homeschool her two youngest kids. That decision reignited a dormant passion for education and led her to enroll online at Pamlico Community College to chase a long-deferred dream.
“I got so much joy from it,” she said. “I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was little. It sounds like such a cliché, but it isn’t.”
Although she initially was hesitant to enroll in college because of her age, Bateman signed up for web-based classes and thrived.
She had become aware of Pamlico after helping her oldest son investigate and enroll in the college’s online Criminal Justice Technology program. He excelled at PCC, and his younger sister followed, enrolling in and passing several college-level courses online as a high schooler.
Bateman quickly overcame her own anxieties about becoming a non-traditional online student. She enrolled in the Partnership Teach program, a two-plus-two partnership between Pamlico and East Carolina University’s College of Education that’s designed for aspiring educators.
“The transition back to school, especially as a fully online student, was daunting but exhilarating,” she said. “Embracing this newfound enthusiasm, I overcame initial apprehensions about my age.”
Bateman successfully navigated challenging PCC courses in biology, precalculus, and others, all the while staying focused on her goal of becoming a classroom teacher. The hard work paid off, and she graduated from Pamlico in May with her Associate in Arts degree.
At the May 10 Commencement ceremony, she was presented with the college’s Academic Excellence Award and was recognized as the college’s 2024 Student of the Year. As the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, she became Pamlico’s 2024 honoree in the N.C. Community College System’s “Great within the 58” list of high-achieving students.
Bateman credited the college’s small class sizes, supportive faculty members and staffers, and community-oriented atmosphere with helping her and her two oldest children succeed.
“It’s a wonderful college,” she said. “It’s small, but it was exactly what I needed.”
Bateman singled out Instructor Neil Callahan, who served as her academic advisor, for his help, support, and pep talks.
For his part, Callahan, who nominated Bateman for the Academic Excellence Award, said he was confident she would excel in her new career.
“Mrs. Bateman was a pleasure to teach,” Callahan said. “She was a great student with a great work ethic. This will serve her well.”
Bateman and her family now live in Wilmington. Now 53, she is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), where her two older children also are enrolled as students.
“We went from Pamlico and kind of migrated over to UNCW,” she said with a chuckle. Because she and her family now live in Wilmington, she chose to complete the final two years of her bachelor’s degree at UNCW rather than ECU.
Bateman hopes to become a kindergarten teacher after she completes her bachelor’s degree. She said she enjoys seeing children learn and grow.
“I hope to make a difference,” she said. “I hope to be that person for the child who doesn’t have a good homelife.”
Bateman also thanked Pamlico for helping her trade the corporate world for the classroom and thereby fulfill a childhood dream.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful place,” she said. “I would do it all over again.”
Day Camp Planned for Area Middle Schoolers
June 3, 2024
Pamlico Community College is inviting rising sixth–, seventh– and eighth-graders to take part in an informative, educational, and fun day camp in June focusing on the region’s beautiful natural surroundings.
The college’s Environmental Camp 2024 is set for June 24-27. It will be based at PCC’s Delamar Center but will include plenty of outdoor activities and field trips for participants.
Twenty (20) spots are available in the free day camp, which is designed to get middle school students excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Participants will receive lunch and snacks each day, as well as transportation to off-campus sites such as East Carolina University’s Queen Anne’s Revenge lab, Carrot Island near Beaufort, and the Lathan-Whitehurst Nature Park in Craven County.
A generous $5,000 grant from the STEM East Network is making it possible for the college to offer the day camp, which will take place daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We’re going to be busy. We have a lot of exciting activities and trips planned for our four-day Environmental Camp,” said Derek Godwin, the college’s director of Career & College Promise and a key organizer of the event. “We hope to show the middle-schoolers how STEM concepts explain the wonders of our natural environment. We also want to let them know about the STEM-related career opportunities that could be available for them close to home.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the college had offered similar day camps for middle schoolers, including in 2018 and 2019. Pamlico has been able to restart the effort in large part because it has joined other area community colleges in the STEM East Network, which is a Greenville-based consortium of schools, colleges, employers, state and local governments, and others designed to enhance STEM learning opportunities that align with jobs available in Eastern North Carolina.
By participating in the STEM East Network, which is an initiative of the NC East Alliance, a regional economic development organization, Pamlico is part of a regionwide effort to expand learning opportunities for students and to grow the area’s skilled workforce.
“We are happy to be part of the STEM East Network, and all of us are grateful for the organization’s support of our day camp,” said PCC Acting President Michelle Willis-Krauss. “I encourage parents of rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to check out this opportunity.”
Information about the day camp is available online by joining the camp’s Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pccsummercamp2024
Additional information is available by contacting Derek Godwin at 252-249-1851, ext. 3106, or dgodwin@pamlicocc.edu.
PCC Recognizes Top Employees for 2023-24
May 20, 2024
Pamlico Community College colleagues gathered for an End-of-Year Celebration in the Delamar Center on Monday, May 13, to honor the college’s top employees for 2023-24 and to enjoy a delicious potluck lunch.
Like last year, 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 college’s operations, and enjoy each other’s company.
In previous years, most college awards for employees were presented at Commencement. In 2020 and 2021 during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the presentations were online.
The day’s first award – Instructor of the Year – went to Electrical Systems Technology Instructor Larry Monk. Interim President Michelle Willis-Krauss said Monk was a dependable and patient instructor who created a welcoming learning environment for students.
Members of Monk’s family were on hand to surprise him and to congratulate him on the award, which is voted on by students. He had received the college’s Alumnus of the Year Award last year.
The Pamlico Correctional Institution Instructor of the Year Award went to George Royal II, who works in the college’s Human Services Technology program. Willis-Krauss recalled how Royal, who was chosen for this year’s honor by his peers, wanted to notify his mother after he was interviewed and offered a job at the college.
Royal’s parents attended the May 13 event.
This year’s Adjunct Instructor of the Year Award went to part-time English Instructor Jimmy Lee, who was unable to attend the event. He also was honored as Adjunct Instructor of the Year in 2019.
This year’s Staff Member of the Year Award went to Christy Wicks, a computer technician. She was unable to attend the ceremony to accept the award, which was voted on by her colleagues at the college.
After enjoying the potluck meal, employees heard updates from Willis-Krauss and division leaders Jamie D. Gibbs, Lee Tillman, Nick Edwards, and Lori Giles. New employees also were introduced.
“Thank you, everyone, for the job you do here,” Willis-Krauss said as the event ended. “I really appreciate it.”
Six Men at PCI Earn PCC Associate Degrees
May 15, 2024
Pamlico Community College faculty and staffers recently celebrated the academic achievements and perseverance of six men who earned their associate degrees in Human Services Technology (HST) under very challenging circumstances.
The six – Nicholas Bannerman, Douglas Burris, Joshua Evens, Jeremy Hannah, Dwayne Robinson, and Matthew Schmieder – are housed at Pamlico Correctional Institution (PCI) in Bayboro. Despite their surroundings and the multiple complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues, the six men stuck with the college’s HST program completed the coursework and graduated with honors.
They were recognized at a special ceremony at the prison on May 10. It was the college’s first prison-based graduation since the pandemic.
“We celebrate the hard work of you six men,” said Mary Grammer, the college’s coordinator of correctional education at PCI, during the ceremony. “The sky is the limit from here. I see bright futures for all six of you.”
The six men make up the most recent class of graduates in the college’s innovative HST program, which was launched in August 2017. It’s designed to reduce recidivism among participants by teaching life skills such as anger management, avoiding substance abuse, maintaining family relationships, and other material.
Students who successfully complete the coursework earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Human Services Technology (HST) from the college. Earning a college degree 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 leaders say.
The HST program, which is the first of its kind in North Carolina, has made a difference for Hannah.
“It has truly been a life support,” he said in remarks during the ceremony.
Evens, another graduate, said completing Pamlico’s program culminated a long road that took him from college dropout to drug addict to convicted felon to now a PCC graduate.
“Prison saved my life,” he said during the ceremony.
As a younger man, Evens had enrolled in college, where he was a procrastinator and a partier. He left school in 2009 with a load of debt, got into drugs and crime and eventually found himself incarcerated.
To pass the time, Evens focused on reading, finishing some of the same books he should have read as a student.
“I knew I had to make my time count rather than count my time,” he said, adding that he discovered a love for learning.
Evens heard about PCC’s HST program, got transferred to PCI so he could enroll in it and thrived. Even when COVID and other issues at the prison disrupted instruction, he and his classmates stuck with it.
Now he has earned a degree.
“Prison has accomplished its goal,” Evens said. “It has corrected me.”
Several graduates had family members at the ceremony. Milissa Ganey-Bannerman drove from Wilmington to show support for her son, Nicholas.
“He loves school,” she said. “He was my only child who cried if he couldn’t go to school.”
Also present were PCC instructors, PCI officials, and others.
Later in the ceremony, PCC Instructor Ronald Scott, who serves as chair of the HST program, told the six graduates that he was proud of them and moved by their experiences. He told them they had shown great resilience and said they should not doubt their abilities to accomplish great things moving forward.
“We all have a history. We all have a past,” Scott said. “On the other side of struggle is greatness. Don’t ever doubt yourself. Dream big. Don’t waste this journey. Don’t waste a thing.”
Pamlico Class of 2024 Enjoys Commencement
May 13, 2024
Accomplishments were celebrated and new adventures were started as Pamlico Community College celebrated its 57th Commencement Exercises Friday, May 10, at the Delamar Center on the Grantsboro campus.
Despite the stormy weather outside, the mood inside the auditorium was joyous. Hundreds of family members, friends, community leaders and others were on hand to salute this year’s graduates and to congratulate them for their hard work and perseverance.
In her opening remarks, Interim President Michelle Willis-Krauss told the members of the Class of 2024 to stand up, turn around and thank their family members and friends in the audience for their support. She also had the prospective graduates thank the college’s faculty members for their efforts to help them succeed.
Nearly 50 of the 117 men and women who qualified for recognition over the last year in the college’s curriculum and Continuing Education programs took part in the ceremony. Overall, the Class of 2024 earned a combined 178 academic and Continuing Education credentials, including 31 associate degrees, 10 diplomas, 64 certificates and 73 Continuing Education recognitions.
The Class of 2024’s youngest graduate is 16, and its oldest graduate is 67.
Pamlico County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Johnson gave the Commencement address. A former agriculture and horticulture teacher, the superintendent compared the steps in a student’s academic career to the process of growing a tomato plant.
“We can learn a lot from a tomato plant,” he said.
Johnson told the graduates tomato plants begin as delicate seeds that must be started indoors under appropriate conditions. As the seeds grow into small plants, they must be transplanted into an outdoor environment where they can thrive.
Energy-draining suckers that develop on the plants must be removed so the specimens can focus on growing taller and developing fruit, Johnson said.
“You have shown discipline,” he said. “You have to put those first things first. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t able to do that.”
As they become larger, the plants need staking for support, Johnson said.
If everything goes well and the steps are followed, a tomato plant will grow tall and strong and will bear fruit, which will contribute to the dinner table.
Successful students have been through a similar process, Johnson said, adding that a countless number of people, including family members, educators and others, have played important roles in each student’s life.
“As you graduate tonight, I hope you think about those people,” he said.
Later in the ceremony, the college honored Angela Bateman as its Academic Excellence Award recipient and Student of the Year. She earned an Associate in Arts degree from Pamlico this year and is planning to enroll at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) to study education.
PCC Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs presented Bateman with her awards, which included a plaque, a medallion, and a congratulatory letter from the state Community College System president.
Rebecca Baker, who was unable to attend the ceremony, was honored as the college’s Alumnus of the Year. A 2002 graduate of the college’s Electroneurodiagnostic Technology program, Baker now works as the leader in the Neurophysiology Lab at ECU Health Medical Center.
“It’s clear to those who work alongside her that her commitment to patient care and the well-being of her staff are her top priorities,” said PCC Vice President of Financial Services Lee Tillman, who announced Baker’s selection as Alumnus of the Year. “She is highly respected, loved, and valued by her staff and co-workers. She works hard to ensure that all the needs of the department are met each day.”
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 Willis-Krauss.
PCC Chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs Lori Giles announced the names. When the graduates had received their respective credentials, Willis-Krauss pronounced them graduated and instructed them to turn the tassels on their caps as the audience cheered.
PCC Trustee Vickie Moseley-Jones gave the welcome message at the ceremony, and pianist Paula Murray provided the music.
A reception with refreshments followed the ceremony.
Commencement Set for Friday at Delamar Center
May 6, 2024
Tassels will be turned, hugs will be given and futures will be launched when Pamlico Community College hosts its 2024 Commencement Exercises this Friday, May 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Ned Everett Delamar Center on the college’s Grantsboro campus.
One hundred seventeen 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 178 academic and Continuing Education credentials, including 31 associate degrees, 10 diplomas, 64 certificates, and 73 Continuing Education recognitions.
The Class of 2024’s youngest graduate is 16, and its oldest graduate is 67.
“Commencement is the most joyous day of the year for all of us at the college,” said PCC Interim President Michelle Willis-Krauss, who will preside over this year’s ceremony. “We look forward to celebrating our students and their accomplishments, and all of us will be saluting their families for the sacrifices they have made to help these students reach their educational goals.”
Pamlico County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Johnson will give the Commencement address. He has worked in public education for more than two decades, including serving as a teacher, school administrator, and system leader.
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.
Instructor Discusses Uses of AI in Education
April 22, 2024
Public Radio East (PRE) reporter Ryan Shaffer recently interviewed Pamlico Community College Environmental Science Technology Instructor Zac Schnell on campus for an upcoming story on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom.
Schnell has been an advocate for the use of AI in education and other fields. In fact, he is scheduled to make several presentations about AI at conferences across the state in the next few weeks, including at events in Alamance, Buncombe, and Randolph counties.
The PRE segment is scheduled to air soon. For more information, visit the New Bern radio station’s website at https://www.publicradioeast.org/pre-news.
For more information about the college’s Environmental Science Technology program, please contact Schnell at 252-249-1851, ext. 3115, or zschnell@pamlicocc.edu.
Online Courses Set for Billing, Coding
April 15, 2024
Pamlico Community College again will be offering an innovative lineup of online courses in medical and dental billing, coding, auditing, and more that are designed for men and women who are interested in both working from home and being a part of the area’s growing health care sector.
Experienced Instructor Allyson S. Woolard, a Carteret County native who owns and operates a medical and dental billing, coding, auditing, and consulting company, will teach the courses, which have been designed for convenience.
Some of these classes are standalone, while others are parts of an online program and must be taken in a specific order. Students who take and pass multiple courses will be more versatile and will increase their employability.
Men and women who successfully complete their respective courses and/or programs will become qualified to work in the fast-growing field of medical and/or dental billing, coding, electronic medical records, and auditing. Additionally, successful students will be eligible to test through the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification, which is a valuable credential to have when seeking employment.
“We are thrilled Allyson Woolard is back to teach these online courses, which are perfect for people who are interested in potential stay-at-home jobs,” said Lori Giles, the college’s chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs. “The jobs available could be ideal for stay-at-home parents and others. The healthcare sector needs trained coders, auditors, and administrative personnel, and we are pleased to help meet that need.”
The healthcare business increasingly relies on trained billers, coders, and auditors to make the payment process work between medical and dental providers, public and private insurance companies, and patients. Much of this work is outsourced to third parties, which has created a robust job market, particularly for men and women who want to work from home.
“A lot of billing and coding jobs are remote,” Woolard said. “The COVID-19 pandemic sent people home across many industries, but especially in billing and coding. Many of these jobs remain out of the office. There is a great need for trained employees in this industry, especially in dental billing and coding, where training is hard to find.”
Students who complete Pamlico’s medical billing and coding programs will be eligible to work with outpatient providers, including physicians’ offices, urgent care centers, and emergency rooms, and those who choose the dental billing and coding track would be well suited for any dental office, including dental specialty groups. The college is working to develop a Medical Coding course for inpatient facilities, as well.
Registration for these courses is open now. Each course costs $180.55, plus textbooks, and financial aid is available for qualified students.
Pamlico’s upcoming online lineup includes:
* Medical Terminology, which is set for April 29 to Aug. 16. Students who complete this course then can take Medical Billing, which will take place Aug. 19 to Dec. 13, and then Medical Coding, which is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2025, to April 25, 2025.
* Dental Terminology, which is set for May 15 to Aug. 19. Students who complete this course then can take Dental Billing and Coding, which is scheduled for Aug. 26 to Dec. 13.
* Electronic Health Records, a standalone course set for May 20 to Aug. 9.
* Medical Administrative Assistant, a standalone course set for June 3 to Sept. 20.
* Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Coding, a standalone course that is scheduled for Sept. 9 to Nov. 15.
* Medical Auditing, a standalone course scheduled to run from Sept. 16 through Jan. 17, 2025.
* Medical Legal Issues, a standalone course scheduled to run from Sept. 23 to Dec. 13.
* Medical Office Procedures, a standalone course that will be offered from Jan. 6, 2025, through April 25, 2025.
For more information about enrolling in these courses, please contact the college at 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
Two Bayboro Programs Enjoy Easter, Spring
April 3, 2024
Students and instructors in the college’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs recently celebrated Easter and Spring Break!
Students in both programs enjoyed an Easter egg hunt inside the Cosmetology Building in Bayboro to kick start the excitement for spring break, which was set for April 1-5.
Additionally, Beginning Cosmetology students took part in an Easter-inspired hairstyling contest. Participants fixed their mannequins’ hair in interesting styles and added makeup and decorations.
Their entries then were judged by the advanced Cosmetology students and Esthetics students. Prizes were awarded to the first-, second, and third-place finishers.
Cammie Farrar won first place in the contest, Autumn Schroeder finished second and Samyiah Maiden finished third.
Similar hairstyling contests took place in the Beginners’ class on Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.
The instructors enjoyed watching the students participate and had a few treats themselves! There were Easter bags for everyone!
For more information about the college’s Cosmetology or Esthetics programs, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3130.
Nominate a Grade for PCC Alumnus Award!
April 3, 2024
What do actor Tom Hanks, the late baseball star Jackie Robinson, the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and author Amy Tan all have in common? They each attended community colleges and became leaders in their fields!
The Pamlico Community College Foundation is now inviting nominations from faculty, staff, current and former students, and members of the community for the 2024-25 PCC Alumnus of the Year. You may nominate more than one person, but only one is chosen for the award.
Please submit your nomination(s) in this format:
- Name of person being nominated, place of employment, and title (if employed)
- Contact information of the person being nominated
- Your name and contact information
- Two or more paragraphs telling us why the nominee should receive the award.
- How do they make their community a better place to live?
- What personal or professional accomplishments of theirs do you admire?/li>
- List any leadership roles and community service activities, and any other qualities that make them stand out.
- How did PCC positively impact this candidate?
- How will this individual’s story reflect positively on PCC?
- Include the nominee’s work history and education history if you know it.
Be descriptive and make your candidate(s) come to life, which will assist our selection committee in selecting a recipient.
Larry Monk, a 2012 PCC graduate who currently leads the college’s Electrical Systems Technology program, was honored as the Alumnus of the Year for 2023-24. He was recognized at last year’s Commencement ceremony.
Submit your nominations by close of business Wednesday, April 17, to Heather Arevalo at harevalo@pamlicocc.edu. You may choose to remain anonymous.
For more information, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3084.
Get Caught Up or Get Ahead This Summer!
March 18, 2024
Summer is a great time for students to enroll in the tough-to-get courses they need for their programs, to get caught up in their studies, to get ahead in their coursework, or even to try something new!
Pamlico Community College will be offering a robust slate of curriculum courses this summer to meet the needs of current students as well as men and women who might be enrolled in other colleges or universities.
The college has scheduled in-demand, transferable courses in biology, chemistry, communications, English, geology, history, math, music appreciation, psychology, sociology, and more. Courses in career programs such as Criminal Justice Technology and Electrical Systems Technology also will be available.
Additionally, PCC will be offering seated courses in hands-on curriculum programs such as Cosmetology and Welding Technology.
Registration for the Summer Term officially opens on Monday, March 25. Summer Term courses will begin May 20 and will conclude July 29.
“Pamlico’s Summer Term is a great opportunity to take a class or two to get ahead or get caught up after a rough semester,” said Counselor/Career Center Director Cristy Lewis Warner, who works with students from other institutions. “Current PCC students and those visiting from other community colleges or universities will find a small college with a big heart ready and willing to welcome them into our learning community.”
All of Pamlico’s transferable-credit courses will be offered in a convenient online format, and students who successfully complete them will be able to use the hours earned here at PCC, at another N.C. community college, or at a University of North Carolina system member institution.
Many private colleges and universities also accept these credits.
“Taking classes over the Summer Term can move you closer to finishing your degree, whether here or away,” Warner said. “As the weather gets hot, heat up the pace of your education by planning a few Summer Term courses to get ahead. Because they’re offered online, you’ll still have plenty of time to work a job or enjoy some days at the beach.”
Neil Callahan, the college’s director of academic advising, said enrolling in Summer Term courses was a fantastic option for high-schoolers who are enrolled in Career & College Promise (CCP) courses to earn additional college credits.
“Current CCP students who are rising seniors and those graduating after May 20 have a unique opportunity to take advantage of transferable course offerings at PCC this summer,” he said. “For rising seniors, you can get a head start on finishing up your CCP Transfer Pathway. For graduating seniors, you can gain a few extra courses to take with you when you apply to four-year institutions. The best part of all of this is that these courses are tuition-free! You can save hundreds and thousands of dollars before you go off to college.”
Pamlico’s Summer 2024 curriculum course schedule is posted on the college’s website at https://pamlicocc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024SU_Schedule_3.13.24.pdf
Current PCC students who are interested in Summer Term courses should speak with their advisors. New and visiting students should contact Student Services at studentservices@pamlicocc.edu or by phone at 252-249-1851, ext. 3001.
Dialysis Tech Course to Start March 18
March 11, 2024
There’s still time to register for the next session of Pamlico Community College’s Dialysis Technician course, and there is financial aid available for qualified students.
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) is scheduled to start on Monday, March 18.
It will be offered in a hybrid format, meaning some classes will meet in person in the evening from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and other coursework will be available online.
Cost of the course is $180.55, and financial aid is available for those who qualify.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people who want to get into health care or who want to enhance their health care credentials,” said Lori Giles, the college’s chair of Continuing Education and Technical Programs. “There is strong demand for dialysis technicians, and our program prepares men and women to meet that need.”
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 healthcare field.
Kacynthia Ingram, a New Bern nurse who is 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 include hands-on lab activities with the college’s state-of-the-art dialysis machinery.
A critical part of the program is learning to deal with dialysis patients in a kind, compassionate, and empathetic manner. 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.
For more information or to register for the Dialysis Technician course, please contact Lori Giles at 252-249-1851, ext. 3015, or lgiles@pamlicocc.edu.
Oyster Revival Brings Hungry Crowd to PCC
February 26, 2024
A hungry crowd of roughly 200 people enjoyed 22 bushels of oysters, devoured eight crockpots of delicious homemade chili, and most importantly, raised funds for student scholarships at the 12th Annual Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff last Saturday at Pamlico Community College.
Final totals are not yet available, but the popular PCC Foundation event, which took place in and around the college’s Delamar Center, raised thousands of dollars to help students accomplish their academic goals.
Saturday’s event marked the first time the PCC Foundation had hosted the Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff since November 2021, and it was the first one since the passing of longtime chief organizer and PCC Foundation Executive Director Michelle Noevere, who died in August 2023 after a battle with cancer.
“I hope Michelle Noevere is looking down at us and smiling,” said current PCC Foundation Executive Director Heather Arevalo, who spearheaded Saturday’s event. “We are so thankful for all of the support we have received from our generous community, and I want to personally thank all of the volunteers who helped make this event a success. Thank you so much!”
The late Dr. Cleve Cox, who served as the college’s president in the early 2000s, conceived of the event as a way for the community to come together, socialize, and raise money for a good cause.
Saturday’s event was just that.
The crowd began arriving even before the event’s official 3 p.m. start time. Familiar faces from past Oyster Revivals stood side-by-side with newcomers as a team of cooks prepared and delivered piles of the briny delights to outdoor shucking tables.
Meanwhile, attendees lined up inside the Delamar Center to serve themselves chili and to visit with their neighbors. At a table near the serving line, judges Missy Baskervill (Pamlico County commissioner), PCC Vice President of Student Services Jamie D. Gibbs, and Pamlico County Emergency Management Director/Fire Marshal Chris Murray sampled and scored each entry in the chili contest.
Talented local musicians Hoff’n’Finch provided the entertainment outdoors. Picnic tables were available for sitting and eating, while some visitors brought their chairs so they could sit outside, enjoy the music, and visit with their neighbors.
The weather was nearly ideal.
PCC employee Albert Krelie Jr. won first place for his “Big Al’s Crazy Chili,” narrowly beating Donna Simons and her “Creamy Chili”. Krelie and Simons each will receive a trophy, some prizes, and of course, bragging rights for a year.
Bobby Cahoon won the 50-50 raffle, announcing he planned to donate his $272 share to the Pamlico County Republican Party. Arevalo’s daughter, Ashlynn, pulled the winning ticket.
Several door prizes donated by area businesses were also given away.
The Foundation wishes to thank area businesses and individuals for agreeing to be sponsors, including Pearl Sponsors Jim and Michelle Krauss and Dr. Sherri Hicks of Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital.
Briny-level sponsors included Dr. Garnett Whitehurst, Access East – Farmworker Health Department, and Dan Roberts of Edward Jones Investments. Chili Cookoff Sponsors were Brantley’s Village Restaurant of Oriental and The Insurance Center of New Bern.
Prize donors included Bayboro Pharmacy, Ben Wynne – Champion Sports & Fitness, Minnesott Yacht Golf & Country Club, Nautical Wheelers, New Village Brewery, Pamlico Gifts, PCC Cosmetology and Esthetics, and Zac Schnell.
Supply donors were Allyson Woolard, Cristy Lewis Warner, Jennifer Paul, Joe Flynn, Kathy Mayo, Kim Hough, Kim Taylor, LaTanya Bryant, Laura West, Lee Tillman, Martha Whitford, Rhonda Tillman, Sandy Wall, Starr Murphy, Susan McRoy and Tina Ormond.
For more information about the PCC Foundation, call 252-249-1851, ext. 3084.
Two Bayboro Programs Wrap Up a Busy Month
February 15, 2024
Students and instructors in the college’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs have had a busy February!
Advanced Cosmetology students and Esthetics students have been assisting clients with a Valentine’s Day-themed pampering package that included a 30-minute strawberry and chocolate facial, plus a shampoo, blow-dry, and style.
Meanwhile, the Beginning Cosmetology students took part in a Valentine’s-inspired hairstyling contest on Feb. 14. Participants fixed their mannequins’ hair in attractive “upstyles” and added makeup and decorations.
Their entries were then judged by the advanced Cosmetology students and Esthetics students. Prizes were awarded to the first-, second, and third-place finishers. The winners, pictured, from left, were: Haleigh Murray, who won first place, Samyiah Maiden, who won second place, and Autumn Schroeder, who took third place.
Similar hairstyling contests took place in the Beginners class at Halloween and Christmas.
To top it off, Esthetics Instructor Shanna Lewis celebrated her birthday this month!
For more information about the college’s Cosmetology or Esthetics programs, which are headquartered in Bayboro, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3130.
Mills Cousins Choose Post-Military Careers
February 12, 2024
Two area men who served the country in uniform are successfully transitioning to rewarding careers in electrical work with a little help from Pamlico Community College.
First cousins Mike Mills, 43, and Justin Mills, 34, say they are attracted to work installing and servicing electrical wiring and equipment because of the earning potential and the opportunity to work with their hands.
Both men sought to improve their prospects by enrolling in the college’s Electrical Systems Technology program.
Mike Mills, who served 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, graduated from the program in 2022 and is now working to secure his state electrical license. Justin Mills, who spent 15 years in the U.S. Army, is enrolled in the program now.
Both men also work with electricity on side jobs, most recently helping install wiring and other electrical equipment at a residential construction site in Pamlico County.
“I knew I wanted to get in the construction trades when I got out of the Coast Guard,” said Mike Mills. “The electrical program gave me a good baseline. Work allows me to apply what I’ve learned.”
The college’s Electrical Systems Technology program trains students to install and maintain electrical and electronic 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 a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree, and there are certificate options available.
Like his cousin, Justin Mills knew he wanted a hands-on career after his military service. His father is a licensed electrician, which helped him narrow his focus.
Justin Mills said aspects of working with electricity reminded him of his Army job as a jumpmaster and his work as an EMT: You must follow rules and adhere to important guidelines or people get hurt – or worse.
Both men said PCC’s Electrical Systems Technology program taught them how to troubleshoot malfunctioning systems and to solve problems. Those skills are handy, particularly as plans change and evolve during residential construction, Mike Mills said.
Justin Mills adds the skills learned in the program also help when you discover wiring and switches that have been installed incorrectly.
The Mills cousins encourage men and women who think they might be interested in the field to enroll in the program and see what it takes to work with electricity.
Larry Monk, a 2012 graduate of the program, is the lead instructor. For more information, contact him at lmonk@pamlicocc.edu or 252-249-1851, ext. 3029.
Great Oyster Revival Coming to PCC Feb. 24
February 5, 2024
After a 2½-year hiatus, the Pamlico Community College Foundation is resuming one of its most popular fundraisers. It has scheduled the 12th edition of the Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff for Saturday, Feb. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Grantsboro campus.
This year’s event has been returned to the traditional fourth Saturday in February date, but, like the last Oyster Revival in 2021, it will take place outside the college’s Delamar Center rather than in the courtyard outside the Student Lounge.
Organizers say participants can look forward to indulging themselves with all-you-can-eat salty oysters as well as samples from multiple crockpots of enjoyable homemade chili prepared by some of the area’s best cooks – all for a good cause.
Local musicians Hoff’n’Finch will provide the entertainment. The event will take place rain or shine.
“We are very excited about bringing back the Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff,” said Heather Arevalo, executive director of the PCC Foundation. “We are hoping to host a large crowd, and we expect the food to be delicious, as always. Most importantly, we hope to raise money to fund student scholarships here at Pamlico Community College.”
For years, the Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff took place in late February. However, the COVID pandemic forced organizers to move the 2021 event to November.
Even more difficult decisions had to be made in subsequent years after the late Michelle Noevere, the PCC Foundation’s former executive director and the event’s chief organizer, began a courageous battle with cancer.
Both the 2022 and 2023 events were canceled. Noevere, a longtime champion of the college, died Aug. 7, 2023.
“It feels a little strange to host the Great Oyster Revival & Chili Cookoff without Michelle, but she would certainly want us to resume this tradition because it helps so many students achieve their educational goals,” Arevalo said. “We’re going to do our best to host a great event. We’re inviting the community to bring their friends and join us for an afternoon of food, fun and great music.”
Tickets for the event are $30 each, with “chili-only” tickets available for $15 each. Tickets are on sale at the PCC Bookstore, Nautical Wheelers (both the Oriental and New Bern locations) and Bayboro Pharmacy. Tickets also are available online at www.pamlicocc.edu.
As in previous years, oyster eaters will stand shoulder-to-shoulder outdoors at large tables to shuck and eat their fill. Inside the Delamar Center, event participants will be able to sample the various chilis entered in the cookoff.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own gloves, knives and condiments. Iced tea and bottled water will be provided, and participants can bring their own beverages.
In addition, area cooks are invited to enter a crockpot of their best chili for the cookoff. The first- and second-place winners each will receive a trophy, a prize and bragging rights. Chili entries will be due by 2 p.m. on the day of the contest.
The Foundation wishes to thank area businesses and individuals for agreeing to be sponsors, including Jim and Michelle Krauss, Dan Roberts of Edward Jones, Dr. Sherri Hicks of Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital, Nautical Wheelers, and Bayboro Pharmacy.
“We’re inviting everyone to come out and support the college and its mission of helping community members improve their lives through higher education,” said PCC Acting President Michelle Willis Krauss. “It’s going to be a great day.”
For more information, please contact the PCC Foundation at 252-249-1851, ext. 3084, or harevalo@pamlicocc.edu.
Spoil Your Sweetie – or Yourself – at PCC
January 26, 2024
It’s time to spoil your sweetie – or yourself!
Pamlico Community College’s Esthetics and Cosmetology departments will be offering their popular Valentine’s gift package on Feb. 13, 14, and 15!
The pampering package will include a 30-minute strawberry and chocolate facial performed by Esthetics students, plus a shampoo, blow-dry, and style done by Cosmetology students.
Appointments are required. Times are 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The cost is $16. The location is PCC Cosmetology Building off N.C. 55 (Main Street) in Bayboro.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3130.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
UNC System Virtual Transfer Fair
January 17, 2024
We hope 2024 is off to a great start. We are excited to announce the upcoming Spring 2024 UNC System Virtual Transfer Fair, January 30th – February 1st. Event registration is now open.
This UNC System Virtual Transfer Fair is designed to provide prospective transfer students and community college advisors the opportunity to gain transfer-specific information from each UNC System university as well as connect attendees directly with representatives from each institution. The event schedule is available now- we are excited to have 15 universities participating (5 on each day of the event)! We appreciate your help in advertising this event and look forward to a great fair designed to support transfer students across the state.
Special Note: This event is targeted at transfer students who have completed college coursework after high school graduation; admissions and advising information shared may not apply to Early College, Middle College, and other dual-enrolled high school students.
Welding Grad Returns to PCC as Instructor
January 12, 2024
A former student is now one of the instructors in Pamlico Community College’s Welding program.
Brittany Wolf, who earned her associate degree in Welding Technology from the college in 2018, has returned to campus as one of the program’s two full-time instructors.
She started working at the college in October and began her first full semester earlier this month.
Before returning to PCC, Wolf worked as a welder at two private sector companies. She said the thought of teaching at her alma mater appealed to her from the moment she was made aware of the possibility.
“(Instructor) Joe (Flynn) called and said they had an opening,” Wolf said. “I thought I’d apply and give it a try.”
Welding is one of the college’s most versatile learning options. Students can earn curriculum certificates, diplomas, or an associate degree in the program, or, if they’re not interested in a credential, they can choose to take the short-term Welding Skills course through the college’s Continuing Education division and learn the basics.
Wolf, whose father is a professional welder, said she was attracted to the field because of its job prospects and pay.
“It’s fun, and I wanted something different than minimum wage fast food,” she said, adding that the ability to join pieces of metal together opens up the possibilities of building interesting things and being creative.
Even though the welding workforce has become more diverse in recent years, Wolf said she still has encountered a few men who say they don’t think women should work in the field.
“It’s water off a duck’s back to me,” she said. “I just let my work talk for itself.”
Wolf also notes nearly half of her students last semester were female, which suggests the future for women in the field is bright.
Wolf will be teaching both curriculum and Continuing Education courses in the year ahead. For more information about the college’s Welding program, please call 252-249-1851, ext. 3058.
New Math Instructor Carries on Tradition
January 8, 2024
You might say Pamlico Community College’s new full-time mathematics instructor is carrying on the family business.
Meredith Glover, who started her new job at the college Jan. 2, grew up in a family of educators. Her mother is a retired high school math instructor and her father teaches economics at both Pitt Community College and Barton College.
Now the 26-year-old Morehead City woman is blazing her own trail as an educator. She joins the PCC faculty after three years as a math teacher at West Carteret High School and a previous two-year stint at Swansboro High School.
“I enjoy teaching the high-level math,” Glover said recently. “I’m looking forward to working with more mature students. I love teaching and seeing the light bulb go off for students.”
Glover replaces the late Paul Miller, a full-time PCC instructor who died during the Fall 2023 semester.
“I am aware of the situation,” she said. “I didn’t know him, but I want to do him justice. I want to do something he would look down and be proud of.”
Glover grew up in Wilson. She remembers being a good student in math.
“It was always my strong subject,” Glover said. “I like that it’s not subjective. With some thinking, things come together nicely and make sense.”
She graduated from Ralph L. Fike High School and enrolled at N.C. State University as an undecided major. Glover said she never intended to become an educator like her parents, but an experience in a math course at NCSU showed her she was a natural.
“It was a happy accident,” she said, explaining how she tutored a friend who was having trouble in the course.
“I found I really enjoyed it,” Glover said with a smile.
She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in math education at State in 2019 and earned a master’s degree in math and statistics in 2023.
Glover taught her first two years in Onslow County. In a happy twist of fate, Glover ended up succeeding her mother at West Carteret High School.
“I literally took her room over,” she said. “She handed me the keys. It was the coolest thing.”
After five years of teaching high school, Glover decided to give college-level teaching a try.
“I feel Ms. Glover will be a welcomed addition to our strong group of PCC faculty,” said Instructor Neil Callahan, who also serves as the college’s chair of general studies, among other duties. “During her initial interview, her ability to teach mathematical concepts in a way anyone can understand really shined through. Her background as a high school teacher will highly benefit our Career & College Promise students who take her courses as well. We are lucky to have her aboard.”
In addition to her duties as a math instructor, Glover also will serve as the academic advisor for the college’s Associate of Science and Associate of General Education programs.