2012-13 Annual Report

president’s annUAl report | 2012-2013

&

Transforming

LIVES

Communities

college of the albemarle

FROM THE BOARD

Dear Friends, On behalf of the Board of Trustees of College of The Albemarle, it is my honor and privilege to congratulate COA President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, the faculty and staff and all of our supporters on another year of continuing achievement. COA’s success is truly a team effort, and that team includes our community friends and partners.

A crowning example of that collaborative spirit occurred in August 2013 with the opening of COA’s fourth campus, the Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center (RATTC) in Currituck County. The successful launch of a new campus is a testament to Dr. Deitemeyer and her team’s partnership with Currituck County in the planning and financing of the RATTC and in securing funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation and the N.C. Rural Center.

The RATTC brings to COA’s 7-county service area programs of study that will prepare students for high-paying positions in aviation technology, architectural technology, machining, and mechanical engineering. By providing a trained workforce, the new campus becomes a marketing tool to bring new employers into the region.

May 2013 marked another milestone for COA as the college celebrated its 50th graduating class. Members of the first Class of 1963 were invited back for a recognition brunch.

Over the course of the academic year, COA faculty and staff continued their preparations

for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Specifically, COA developed its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is required for accreditation.

J. Fletcher Willey, Jr. Designed to focus Board of Trustees Chair on a single aspect of student learning, the QEP topic chosen by COA was problem solving.

Across its four campuses, COA remained dedicated to its mission and vision of inspiring excellence and transforming lives. One of those lives was that of Yulia Vozzhaeva, who earned her Associate’s in Arts at the Dare County Campus and was awarded a full scholarship to Yale University.

Yulia is only one of the many stories of student success at COA. Within the pages of this annual report, you will find more stories such as Yulia’s that show, in real-life terms, how opportunity does change everything.

We invite you to journey inside the lives of the students, faculty and staff, who represent the story of the College of The Albemarle.

COVER PHOTO: J.P. Knapp and COA graduate Valerie Bobola receiving her diploma from Dr. Deitemeyer. See page 28.

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New Center In Currituck

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Dr. Carter’s New Vision

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Male Mentoring Program

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Customized Training

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COA Grads Find Jobs

DR. KANDI w. DEITEMEYER

Dr. Deitemeyer in the hangar area of COA’s new Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center.

From Our President only capture a handful of the personal, lifechanging stories that unfold on our campuses every year. As you read each one, imagine the hundreds of other lives transformed at COA. Regardless of a student’s aspirations, we are committed to helping them improve their lives.

We also recognize that their transformation will, in turn, improve the lives of their families and change the economic fabric of our communities.

We remain steadfast in our mission to transform lives and communities, but we can only do so with the continued dedication and extraordinary commitment of the friends, donors, and community supporters of the college. I also want to personally thank those who work tirelessly to advance the mission of the college through their incomparable efforts: our Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors, and our exemplary faculty and staff.

It is their efforts that transform the lives of our students and the communities we serve.

Thank you for your continued support of COA. It is my privilege to lead such an exceptional institution. I am most proud that this has been one of the most transformative years in our history and each of you should be proud of our collective efforts.

This truly has been a transformative year at College of The Albemarle.

Our students entrust their lives and futures to our institution, which can be very intimidating.

We – the staff, faculty and community supporters of COA – must be mindful of the privilege we’ve been given to guide them on the pathway to success. Our students truly adopt us as their navigation system as they journey toward a brighter future.

At COA, we embrace the challenge to fulfill the promise to our students that opportunity can change everything.

In this 2012-2013 President’s Annual Report, you’ll find compelling, transformative student success stories that exemplify that promise. You’ll also experience the many pathways that COA offers its students to ensure their success from a minority mentoring program and customized training to new programs of study in aviation technology and winning athletic programs.

Your community college, COA, built all of these avenues because we are invested in helping individuals fulfill their dreams and aspirations.

I congratulate all of our students, faculty, staff, and so many others who have been transformed this year; I know you’ll join me in that celebration as you experience their stories. This report can t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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our newest campus

Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center Ready to Serve Currituck County Area officially opened in August 2013, almost 18 months after the ground-breaking in March 2012.

Unique in its appearance and design, the facility houses four labs focusing on sheet metal, avionics, composites and power plant, plus four classrooms. Each lab and classroom is equipped with the latest in high-tech teaching tools and aviation equipment. The college acquired two aircraft for its instructional program - a Cherokee 140 and a Cessna Commuter.

In addition to the Aviation Systems Technology program, students can also complete programs in Architectural Technology, Computer Integrated Machining, and Mechanical Engineering.

Students completing these programs of study will have the skills and knowledge to secure a high-

The first time Shaunee Hardesty stepped foot on a plane, she was actually piloting the aircraft.

It was during Hardesty’s first semester in College of The Albemarle’s new Aviation Systems Technology program. Although she never left the ground, Hardesty steered the plane and taxied the single-engine aircraft down the runway at the college’s brand-new Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center (RATTC) in Currituck County.

“It was nerve-wrecking, never having been in an airplane and then having to taxi one,” Hardesty said. “But it was very fun, very exciting.”

Hardesty is one of 23 students in the inaugural class at the RATTC, COA’s fourth campus. The state-of-the-art, 37,000-square-foot facility t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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tech, high-paying job with local and nationally known employers.

“We went into this facility and aviation knowing that the skills they are learning can prepare our citizens for many career paths,” said COA President Kandi Deitemeyer. “I think all the programs are doing incredibly well, and my anticipation is that it will continue to grow.

“It’s a showpiece,” Deitemeyer added. “I do think it’s going to help us in bringing businesses to the area.”

A collaboration between COA and Currituck County, the RATTC cost $7.1 million. COA used $1 million in grants from the Golden LEAF Foundation and the N.C. Rural Center.

Peter Bishop, director of economic development for Currituck County, said the programs offered at the Regional Aviation Center will produce students with the skills needed to land high-tech, high-paying jobs with potential employers.

Since its opening, Bishop said, there has been much excitement and pride at having a post-

secondary institution in the community.

“Building this facility is about creating opportunities for our local population,” Bishop said. “We’re trying to solve a regional problem by constructing this facility and developing the courses and coursework here. This has been a fantastic recruiting tool for industry.”

The Regional Aviation Center is adjacent to an industrial park and the Currituck County Regional Airport. Having site facilities like those nearby - that potential businesses could use if they locate here to take advantage of the community’s newly skilled workforce — are additional selling points, Bishop said.

“It’s our new shiny tool, and we want to show everyone and put it to work, ” Bishop said.

Already, several potential employers have made site visits to the new facility. Two aviation firms, an engine builder and a tool making company have toured the RATTC as they contemplate locating in Currituck County.

“They love the culture of aviation workforce development that we’re building here,” Bishop

said. “It really blows their mind seeing all this technology and skilled training happening. So it’s a very key piece of any recruitment visit. It greatly enhances our chances for being successful.”

“Opening a center is an incredible amount of work and commitment in terms of investment,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, North Carolina Community College System President. “Everyone — from the Board of Trustees, to the Commissioners, to the faculty — needs to be applauded because that was a lot of work and effort to create a place like that. It is just a jewel of a facility and means so much to the people in the area.”

Dan Scanlon, Currituck County Manager,

said the vocational opportunities the Regional Aviation Center will provide to local high school graduates is also critically important to the county. “Not every graduate will go on to a four-year program,” Scanlon said, “so hopefully it will allow them to learn a skill set so they can be marketably employed in the region.”

The rigorous curriculum requires students to come to class every weekday for five hours a night. Students leave each night at 10 p.m.

Elton Stone, COA’s Aviation Director and program instructor, said this makes for very long days, especially for students who have full-time jobs. Undaunted by the long days, students were

“We went into this facility and aviation, knowing that the skills they are learning can prepare our citizens for many career paths. I think all the programs are doing incredibly well and my anticipation is that it will continue to grow.”

COA President Kandi Deitemeyer

eager to join the two-and-ahalf year program. And it’s full, with 23 students participating in the fall semester of 2013.

Graduating from the program on time will require students to complete two summer sessions for a total of seven semesters. “It’s a taxing thing on these students,” Stone said. “They have to have high perseverance.”

Hardesty has enjoyed the challenge since starting the

“It will allow them to learn a skill set so they can be marketably employed in the region.”

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program. She and her 22 classmates have been asked to construct small model metal airplanes. “They gave us a box filled with nuts and bolts and pieces of aluminum,” Hardesty said. “You open this box and you’re overwhelmed. You ask a lot of questions — at least I did.”

Hardesty’s final design included a propeller whittled out of wood and a body made of aluminum bars with thin aluminum sheets used for the wings. “It was definitely fun and a learning experience,” Hardesty said. “You learn to use the machines and how to do it better.”

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Yulia Vozzhaeva attending a student activity at Yale with a classmate and the Yale Bulldog.

Opportunity Takes Student From Russia to Dare County... and Then to Yale University program allows full-time students from Russia to come to the U.S. for the summer to work and practice their English. Vozzhaeva heard about COA from her international friends.

“I was told that many other international students study there,’’ she said. ‘’I visited COA and spoke with Sarah Adams who, at the time, was the international student liaison. I was very much interested in pursuing my education in the U.S., and COA was that very perfect opportunity to start. In addition, the college staff was very friendly and encouraging.’’

It was a lot more than luck and encouragement that earned Vozzhaeva a spot at one of the country’s top universities. A quick look at her

College of The Albemarle graduate Yulia Vozzhaeva still can’t believe her good luck.

In early 2013, the Russian-born Vozzhaeva learned she had been accepted to Yale University as a transfer student. Since then, she has found out she was one of about 24 transfer students accepted by the Ivy League university.

“I was told transfer students are very unusual here,” Vozzhaeva said. “I don’t know how this happened. I couldn’t have dreamed it. I surely wanted to be here and it probably came through in the interview.”

Vozzhaeva came to the United States and specifically the Outer Banks through the exchange program called Work and Travel. The t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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student success COA transcript shows it was hard work that singled Vozzhaeva out from the competition.

Besides earning a perfect 4.0 GPA at COA, the 25-year-old Vozzhaeva also held numerous student leadership positions during her two years on the Dare County Campus. She served as president of the Dare Campus Student Government Association and president of the Literary Club. She also had a hand in guiding the college’s future as a student member of the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan committee, which included input from faculty and staff, and she served as a student ambassador.

Vozzhaeva also was a tireless volunteer in the community. She taught Russian language and culture at Water’s Edge Village School in Corolla and volunteered with Corolla Fire and Rescue and Ruthie’s Community Kitchen. She also organized an event to help local businesses in Manteo “When I clean up after Hurricane came to this Irene hit the Outer Banks in October 2012. country, Vozzhaeva also started COA was the a new campus club, the International Club, which perfect way organized more than 30 to start my community service and education.” cultural events under her leadership. The group also raised $13,000, which they donated to help rebuild a church in Haiti that was destroyed by an earthquake and helped fund a kidney transplant for a local resident.

Steve Woodburn, Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management at COA, said the fact that Yale accepts so few transfer students each year is further evidence of Vozzhaeva’s commitment to hard work.

“They’re not just looking at grades, they’re looking at the whole picture,’’ Woodburn

said. “And you really see this isn’t your typical individual. This young lady knows what she wants to accomplish and what it takes.

“We give those opportunities to students and you have to be able to take those — to be a leader, to be a follower — and not everyone has that.”

After graduating in May from COA with an Associate’s in Arts, she considered pursuing a career in linguistics, anthropology or global affairs at Yale, but has decided on a degree in German Studies.

“I really like languages and I studied German before, in Russia,” Vozzhaeva said. “I have many friends in Germany and have always wanted to communicate with them in their native tongue.”

So far, Vozzhaeva has had a seamless transition settling in at her new Yale campus. She credits her success to her time at COA. “When I came to this country, COA was the perfect way to start my education,” she said, adding that the large numbers of international students on the Dare Campus helped the college feel like home. “COA was the perfect transition. It was an introduction to American culture and an American system of education.”

“But for COA, this never would have happened,” Vozzhaeva added. “I think COA’s motto, ‘Opportunity Changes Everything,’ can’t describe my success story any better.”

Vozzhaeva, whose family lives in Russia, plans to bring her parents to see her graduation from Yale in December 2015. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to visit Russia since 2011,’’ she said.

“In 2012 my mother and my niece came to visit me for about a month. That was, of course, a very special time both for me and for them.

My mother and niece had never been to the U.S. before. I was very proud to show them the country that became my second home.’’

“But for COA, this never would have happened.

I think COA’s motto, ‘Opportunity Changes Everything,’ can’t describe my success story any better.”

Yulia Vozzhaeva

SPORTS STANDOUT

Jake Stone Makes It to the Big Leagues ever seen,” said Norbie Wilson, who coached Stone at COA. “It didn’t make any difference what you threw to him, he could just hit.”

Stone was one of two dozen College of The Albemarle baseball players from 2010 to 2013 who moved on to play at a 4-year college, and his success at COA propelled him to a scholarship at Tennessee Wesleyan.

“We gave him a chance to hone his skills,” said Wilson, who retired in 2011 and was replaced by assistant Milan Rasic. “He had never practiced the way that we practice in college. Did he back off from it? Not one bit. He did all the fundamental drills every day. He just kept getting better and better.”

At Tennessee Wesleyan, Stone helped the Bulldogs win an NAIA national championship in 2012. He batted .407 with 78 RBIs that season and drove in the go-ahead runs in a national title game victory over Rogers State.

“That was the biggest hit probably of my life,” Stone said. “It was a line drive hit to right field with the bases loaded and two outs.”

Jake Stone, like most boys who kick dirt off their cleats in Little League, dreamed of being a professional baseball player.

Stone’s dream became a reality in 2013 when he was a 27th-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals. The fateful day came two years after two award-winning seasons at College of The Albemarle.

“It was a lot of emotion,” Stone said. “It was probably the best day of my life. It’s what I had worked for since I was a little kid.”

Stone, who grew up in Wilmington, N.C., was part of COA’s baseball revival in 2010, after more than 30 years on hiatus. A hard-hitting first and third baseman, Stone helped the Dolphins compile winning seasons in their first two years back on the diamond.

At COA, Stone was a two-time All-Region 10 selection and a first-team junior college AllAmerican. In 2011, he ranked 25th nationally with a .434 batting average and was among the conference leaders in home runs and RBIs. “He’s probably as good a natural hitter as I’ve t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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Stone capped his college career by leading Tennessee Wesleyan to 45 wins and a No. 12 national ranking, and earning Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors in 2013.

But Stone’s biggest honor came last June when the Cardinals called to tell him he had been drafted with the 815th overall selection.

Stone spent his first season as a first baseman with the Cardinals’ rookie league team in the Gulf Coast League in Florida. He batted .298 with 20 RBIs.

“He had never practiced the way that we practice in college.

Did he back off from it?

Not one bit.

He just kept getting better and better.”

“It’s hard. It’s just your job, so you have to put your body and mind into it,” Stone said. “You’re representing the organization of someone who’s put money into you.”

Stone spent the offseason working out at his home in Charlottesville, VA, and is hopeful he’ll play for St. Louis’ single-A team in Peoria, IL, in 2014.

“It was my dream as a kid, to play major league baseball,” Stone said. “I played every weekend and every day. It just paid off.”

“It was a lot of emotion. It was probably the best day of my life. It’s what I had worked for since I was a little kid.”

Jake Stone, former Dolphin now a minor-league baseball player

success story

“I never thought I’d be going to college. No one else in my family went to college. I can go anywhere pretty much and weld now. I get to push the restart button in life.”

COA graduate Steve Torrens

Steve Torrens Earns GED, Welding Certification person, a position commanding the best wages and benefits.

And throughout the four-year program, Torrens’ wages as an apprentice will increase over the duration of his training. “So I will go from 50 percent pay scale to 100 percent pay scale,” he said.

Throughout his three semesters in the welding program at COA, he maintained top grades.

The distinction did not go unnoticed. After his first semester in the program, he was named Outstanding Welding Student.

“He was an awesome student,” Lopes said.

“He showed up early and he gave 110 percent. I couldn’t have asked for a better student.”

Lopes said COA helped place Torrens in the apprenticeship program.

Over the past year-and-a-half that Lopes taught Torrens in his welding classes, they discussed Torrens’ reasons for pursuing his education at COA. “He was just tired of living at home,” Lopes said. “He wanted to get a good job and get his own place. That was his motivation.”

And for Torrens, having a career to look forward to is a dream come true.

“I never thought I’d be going to college,” he said. “No one else in my family went to college. I can go anywhere pretty much and weld now,” he added. “I get to push the restart button in life.”

Steve Torrens dropped out of high school during his sophomore year. Years later, the 33-year-old Torrens’ resume was filled with an assortment of jobs, including digging ditches, washing cars and working in restaurants. They were all low-paying jobs, Torrens said, that led nowhere.

Then Torrrens found College of The Albemarle’s Accelerating Opportunities program that allows students to pursue vocational classes while studying to earn their GEDs. “It gives them a trade to learn while they’re completing their GED,” said COA welding instructor Michael Lopes. “So they will have experience to go out into the workforce and get a job.”

After three semesters of study, Torrens graduated from COA’s Welding Technology program and was accepted into the Iron Workers Union in Norfolk to work in the organization’s apprenticeship program.

The apprenticeship will allow Torrens to work different building and construction jobs as a welder, while also attending classes through the local union, as he continues to learn industry skills and techniques. “I go to school two nights a week and work five days a week for four years,” Torrens said.

At the conclusion of the apprenticeship program, Torrens will graduate to a journeyt r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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AWARD WINNER

“I’m really committed to serving overseas, to provide medical care to those who just don’t have it. I don’t think there’s enough people willing to go out into the world and provide medical care to people in need.”

Chelsea Smith, winner of the 2013 Academic Excellence Award

Chelsea Smith Applies Her Training Overseas have it,” she said. “I don’t think there are enough people willing to go out into the world and provide medical care to people in need.”

A month after her graduation from COA, Smith fulfilled her promise and returned to Haiti — this time as a medical volunteer. She spent four days providing medical care.

“It was like it came full circle and it was amazing,” Smith said. “I would see people and triage them and decide if it was something that could be handled with a nurse or if they needed to see a doctor. We saw around 600 people.”

Smith said she was well-prepared for that trip by her COA nursing education. The college’s strong nursing program was one of the reasons she decided to pursue her degree at COA. In July, Smith passed all of her placement exams at the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA, where she now works in the cardiac progressive care unit.

No one had aced the tests at the facility in 16 years. Typically, Smith said, the incoming nurses have to take some remediation classes as part of their orientation. The fact that she didn’t need the additional classes, Smith said, speaks volumes about COA’s nursing program.

“I think we’ve become better nurses than some of the other student nurses,” Smith said, referring to her fellow COA nursing classmates. “I picked COA because it had one of the best programs.”

Shortly after Haiti was struck by an earthquake in 2010, Chelsea Smith spent 10 days volunteering in the Caribbean country. Three years later, the recent College of The Albemarle graduate remembers the chaos she saw there as if it occurred yesterday. It was a pivotal moment in her life that led her to study nursing at COA. “It was so overwhelming,” Smith said. “It was like, where could we even start? Just seeing the overwhelming need, I realized there was only so much we could do. I realized if I had any sort of medical knowledge, I could do so much more.”

So, after landing at the Miami airport on her return flight home, Smith called her mom - also a nurse - and told her she was going to nursing school when she got home. True to her word, the Wilmington, N.C. native started her nursing studies at COA in 2011.

Last May, Smith not only graduated from COA with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing, she was also named the college’s Academic Excellence Award winner, an award given by the North Carolina Community College System.

Katie Miller, coordinator of COA’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, said although Smith may not have had the highest GPA among her fellow nursing students — she had a 3.2 GPA — her dedication to the program made her a standout student.

“I’m really committed to serving overseas, to provide medical care to those who just don’t t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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new academic leader

New VP of Learning Brings Fresh Vision “It’s so vital,” Waters added, “and she has that vision.”

Since joining COA, Carter has forged close working relationships with the college’s department chairs, meeting with them weekly to discuss their academic programs, looking at the number of students enrolled, the number of students who have graduated and whether a program is in need of more resources to improve its offerings.

“What I’ve tried to do is look at a number of processes and procedures related to all academic programs and procedures, to see areas we could look at for improvement or areas we could look at for growth,” Carter said. “We have about 45 different programs that are either associate’s degree or certificate or diploma. One of the things that I have been working on is to look at the offerings in terms of program viability.”

Since Dr. Evonne Carter was appointed Vice President of Learning for College of The Albemarle last May, she has had her sights trained on the college’s 45 programs and 89 instructors, and she hopes to get the rest of the faculty to share her focus.

Carter is eager to strengthen COA’s curriculum and its faculty and has already identified a number of initiatives to accomplish the task.

“I think she’s very interested in gaining information and looking at all aspects,” said Michelle Waters, Division Chair for Foundational Studies and Academic Support at COA. “The North Carolina Community College System has several initiatives occurring, so you also have to be working as an institution internally, making sure that your internal initiatives align with the external initiatives.” t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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Carter said. “We need to make it what employers want and need.” Carter also plans on establishing several college-level committees in the upcoming year, that would focus on things like technology or measuring student outcomes.

“It would give us a process where there’s another level of accountability and analysis,” Carter said. “I’m just trying to pull all of those data pieces together so the faculty can see there are variables they can control.”

Data analysis is nothing new to Carter. For the past 27 years, she served as Vice-President for one of Milwaukee Area Technical College’s four campuses where she focused “She listens to on continuous us and I think improvement. She spent years finding she appreciates ways to change, what we each improve or modify the programs bring to the there, and it’s table. She’s experience she steering us brings to her new role at COA. in the right And although directions.”

Carter is often asking the tough questions, she is also open to ideas from faculty.

“She listens to us and I think she appreciates what we each bring to the table,” Waters said.

“She asks a lot of thoughtful questions but also listens to our responses and she uses the information. She’s steering us in the right directions.”

Carter said she wants the faculty and instructors at COA to understand they all have a role in continuous improvement.

“It’s a collegial attitude of how we can improve things. COA is a little gem. They have been very supportive of me and willing to look at some of these things because they have the same commitment to making things better. It’s just been a real joy to work here.”

Carter has worked with department chairs to find ways to gauge the success of the college’s academic programs.

“Dr. Carter wants to find some objective criteria that can consistently be applied to all programs with regard to program viability,” said Dean Roughton, Division Chair for the Arts and Sciences at COA. The program evaluation process is ongoing.

“What we’re really trying to do is to be more data-driven in terms of our decisions, in terms of the bigger picture,” Carter said. “I’m trying to get people to see a broader picture of what we’re doing.”

In addition to strengthening the college’s programs, Carter also wants to create more workbased learning opportunities for students, where they learn on-site with local businesses.

“It gets the instructors out into the community working with the business industry and finding out what kinds of skills they want their employees to have and see where the jobs are,”

Dr. Carter encouraging graduates and families at the COA 2013 Commencement Exercises.

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faculty success

Rachel Crane Finishes Master’s in Nursing at ECU For two-and-a-half years, Crane continued to teach full time while also a part-time student at East Carolina University.

Her classes were online, which made it a little easier to fit them into her schedule, but it still wasn’t easy.

“It was definitely a challenge,” Crane said.

“I had to learn how to manage my time and sometimes family and my social life were on the back burner.”

The hard work was worth the effort when Crane received her Master’s in May 2013.

Crane said continuing her education was important. Through her coursework, she learned how to create a simulated environment for students in the lab that will better prepare them for real-life clinical situations.

She also took a technology course that opened her up to the possibilities of teaching online.

“It has caused me to be more aware of what is happening in nursing education,” she said.

“Overall, it has made me more well-rounded and it has definitely been a good thing.”

Rachel Crane, Assistant Professor in the Practical Nursing Department at College of The Albemarle, had always known she eventually wanted to earn “It has caused her Master’s in Nursing. me to be more But her timeline aware of what was condensed is happening in a few years ago nursing education. when the North Carolina Board Overall, it has of Nursing made me more mandated that well-rounded and 50 percent of the nursing faculty it has definitely at state colleges been a good thing.” needed to have their Master’s Degree in Nursing.

Crane was one of the faculty members who volunteered to pursue her degree.

“I figured why not,” Crane said. “It was something I had thought about for a while. I was just trying to find the right time.”

associate degree nursing

medical lab technicIan

pass rate

pass rate

93%

89%

practical nursing

surgical technology

pass rate

pass rate

100%

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100%

medicaL assistant

100%

pass rate

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Gloria degree

faculty success

Gloria Baker Completes Doctorate in Nursing program and her dissertation. Some days, Baker admitted, she was tempted to quit her studies.

“It was really grueling,” she said, adding that she had accepted a scholarship to help pay for the program. The financing was a big motivator for Baker because if she didn’t complete her studies, the scholarship would have been a loan she would have to repay.

“If it hadn’t been for that financial obligation hanging over my head, there were probably a couple of times I would have said, ‘The heck with it,’ ” Baker said. “That financial obligation was the real push that kept me focused.”

Besides the satisfaction that comes with fulfilling a personal goal she had set for herself more than 30 years ago, Baker said having the advanced nursing degree has helped give her a broader perspective in nursing.

Although her new degree could land her a high-paying job in nursing management or administration, Baker said she loves the educational role.

“What I love is teaching students,” she said.

When Gloria Baker began her career as a nurse more than 35 years ago, earning her doctorate was part of her life’s plan. She also knew it would have to wait. Other immediate goals ­— marriage and starting a family — would come first.

“It was going to be a long-term goal,” said Baker, an instructor with College of The Albemarle’s Associate Degree Nursing Program.

In December 2012, Baker finally realized her dream after earning her PhD in Nursing from East Carolina University.

Looking back on the experience, the Baby Boomer admits it wasn’t an easy process.

“The dropout rate is 50 percent for PhD programs in general,” Baker said. “There were six of us in my class and three of them dropped out.

It’s such a long commitment. It really challenges your work commitment.”

It took Baker six years to earn the degree as a part-time ECU student and full-time instructor at COA. Every Tuesday, she traveled 140 miles round-trip to ECU’s campus to take her classes and meet with instructors. And she worked continuously on her research project for the

“The dropout rate is 50 percent for PhD programs in general. There were six of us in my class and three of them dropped out. It’s such a long commitment. It really challenges your work commitment.”

Dr. Gloria Baker t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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staff excellence

George Strawley Connects With Students For 15 years, George Strawley made his living as a fast-paced newspaper reporter, working each day on a new deadline story.

There was no continuity from day to day, Strawley said, which is what he loves about his second career as a librarian.

For the past six years, Strawley has served as librarian of College of The Albemarle’s Dare County Campus. Now, he fills his days with helping students find information for class projects and assisting faculty with finding articles that will help them with their PhD research.

“I like it when I get to work one-on-one with a student and help them connect to what they’re listening to in the classroom,” Strawley said.

Last May, Strawley was nominated for the North Carolina Community College System Staff Person of the Year Award.

“I found that I wanted to be in something where I’m building something,” Strawley said, adding that in journalism, he felt like he was starting over each day. “I think we’re cultivating peoples’ lives, helping them get to another point in their lives. You see students come in and two years later, they can be very different people. That can be very rewarding.”

But there are parallels between those two careers, Strawley said. Both jobs involve tracking down information and presenting it to people, but there’s a significant twist in his new role.

“It still feels like I’m working on a breaking news story,” he said, “but I actually get to see people reacting to having that information. You don’t get to see that reaction when they see the newspaper. And that reaction is something that means a lot to me.”

“I think we’re cultivating peoples’ lives, helping them get to another point in their lives. You see students come in and two years later, they can be very different people. That can be very rewarding.”

George Strawley, librarian of College of The Albemarle’s Dare County Campus and COA’s nominee for the North Carolina Community College System Staff Person of the Year Award

teacher of the year

some of melody’s family LEFT TO RIGHT: Holly White Hughes – daughter, Thelma Bunch – mother, Melody, Holly Lane Ferguson – sister.

Melody White Helps Students Realize Passion Melody White has taught nursing students for the past 21 years at COA, so occasionally when she takes her new classes to Albemarle Hospital as part of their coursework, she runs into her former proteges.

White, a nominee for the NCCCS R.J. Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award last year, said running into her former students is one of the best parts of her job. “That is very rewarding,” White said. “They are very helpful, for the most part, with the current students.”

White takes her current nursing students to the local hospital to learn about things like starting IV’s and changing dressings. Sometimes her former students even offer to show her classes how to do some of these procedures. Seeing them teach vicariously, White said, is fulfilling.

White, COA’s Practical Nursing Program Coordinator, is also an associate professor in the

program. Teaching is what she enjoys the most, she said. Besides allowing her to share her own enthusiasm for the profession, she helps students realize their own passion for the job they have chosen to pursue.

She particularly enjoys watching her students in the lab. White said that’s where the academic side of their learning connects to the clinical side and students can experience the things they previously only read about in their textbooks. “It all comes together,” she said. “It’s gratifying to see the students make that connection and learn how to intervene to make a patient better.

“I have a really great job, working with practical nursing students,” she added. “I like helping them reach their goals and providing them with the opportunity to enhance their lives. Helping the students understand that this is something they really love.”

“I have a really great job, working with practical nursing students. I like helping them reach their goals and providing them with the opportunity to enhance their lives. Helping the students understand that this is something they really love.”

Melody White, COA’s Practical Nursing Coordinator and a nominee for the NCCCS R.J. Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award

staff excellence

Jenna Hatfield Finds a Career at COA Jenna Hatfield started her job at College of The Albemarle six years ago, the same day her husband left for his first deployment with the Navy.

She still clearly remembers that November day as one of nerve-wrecking firsts, unsure of what the future held.

“One could understand how nervous I was that day,” said Hatfield, who was awarded COA’s Para-Professional Staff Employee of the Year in May. “A new job and the uncertainty of what a deployment entails.”

But Hatfield flourished in her role. She was originally hired as the assistant to human resources, a job that allowed her to get to know all of the employees at the college and their roles within it.

In 2009, she was named Development/ Foundation Assistant. The position required

her to learn new software, provide reports on scholarship funds and work with members of the community.

“It was a lot to take in at first,” Hatfield said, “and it was also my first experience working with a board of members of the community and providing information for them, as well as the internal folks at the college.”

Helping COA’s Foundation raise money for the school and its students, Hatfield said, was truly rewarding.

“Foundations are imperative for many community colleges and their students and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work in such a rewarding area,” she said. “The most fulfilling thing about being the Development/ Foundation Assistant was to see the students that were helped through scholarship funds and how grateful they were for that extra support.”

“The most fulfilling thing about being the Development/Foundation Assistant was to see the students that were helped through scholarship funds and how grateful they were for that extra support.”

Jenna Hatfield, COA’s Para-Professional Staff Employee of the Year

staff excellence

Emma Boyce Helps Students Secure Financial Aid Back in 1989, Emma Boyce was a work-study student in College of The Albemarle’s financial aid office. Twenty-one years later, it’s where she remains.

“I’ve been in financial aid the whole time,” said Boyce, who was named COA’s Professional Staff Employee of the Year in May. After earning her Associate’s Degree in Banking and Finance from the college, she went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Elizabeth City State University. Throughout her studies, she kept her job in the financial aid office and in 1992 she became a full-time employee. Now, she is Assistant Director of Scholarships and Student Aid at COA. Over the years, Boyce has held different positions within the office, but one thing has

remained the same: Her love of helping connect students with needed financial assistance.

“The especially needy students that have circumstances that require more attention - it’s why I’m here - to be able to help them, ” said Boyce, who was surprised at her selection.

“Some students come in here not knowing what opportunities they have - what aid or scholarships they can get. They’re grateful they’re able to have that.”

Boyce said it’s rewarding when she sees a look of relief come across a student’s face, after finding out what financing options they have available.

“Some students receive that guidance before coming, but some students don’t know,” Boyce said. “So sharing that information with them, that’s what I like to be able to do. Help those students that need that extra help in the process.”

“The especially needy students that have circumstances that require more attention - it’s why I’m here - to be able to help them. Some students come in here not knowing what opportunities they have - what aid or scholarships they can get. They’re grateful they’re able to have that.”

Emma Boyce, COA’s Professional Staff Employee of the Year

staff excellence

Aresina Holley Focuses on Students First Aresina Holley’s job as lead evening custodian at College of The Albemarle isn’t easy, but her workdays have a rhythm and a pace she enjoys.

Her routine wasn’t created overnight, but instead was burnished over her 23 years at the college. The 18 classrooms, 54 offices, six bathrooms and six hallways she oversees are meticulously cared for, as are the teachers and other faculty who use the rooms. It’s just one of the reasons she was singled out for the college’s Institutional Support Staff Award.

As soon as Holley gets to campus each weekday - she’s there from 1:30 to 11 p.m. - she begins picking up the trash littering the floors of the three campus buildings that are her responsibility. Next, she gets out the broom and starts sweeping the classrooms and wiping the chalkboards, cleaning the desktops — making sure to sanitize them — before moving on the bathrooms and offices she also maintains.

Getting the classrooms cleaned first, she said, is her priority.

“I just want to make sure I have the classrooms ready and boards clean for the classes in the evening,” Holley said. “I don’t want my teachers to walk into a nasty classroom. So I try to have these ready for them.”

As soon as evening classes let out for the day, Holley is back cleaning them for a second time.

Sweeping, wiping and sanitizing once again.

As if her nightly routine isn’t enough to keep her busy, she also oversees a cleaning crew of seven employees. All of them, she said, are a joy to be around. “They’re beautiful people,” she said.

“They are beautiful to work with.

“It’s a lot of work,” she added, “but it’s good after you get your own routine.”

And throughout the day, Holley takes the time to check in with some of the instructors and students she sees in her hallways each day. Fitting in a minute here and there, to see how they’re doing.

“I enjoy the people I work around,” she said. “I have a good relationship with everyone.”

“I just want to make sure I have the classrooms ready and boards clean for the classes in the evening.’’

Aresina Holley, COA’s lead evening custodian and winner of the college’s Institutional Support Staff Award

staff excellence

Amanda Hodges Serves on National Committee For the next two years, Amanda Hodges, Assistant Dean of College of The Albemarle’s Edenton-Chowan Campus, will have a hand in guiding policies aimed at improving two-year colleges nationwide.

Last spring, Hodges was appointed chair of the Two-Year Colleges Commission for the National Academic Advising Association, NACADA. The appointment means she will be leading the discussion on issues such as student retention and finding ways to work more closely with high schools nationwide, getting them more involved with academic advising before students leave school.

“It’s a program related to student success,” said Hodges, referring to the non-profit educational organization. NACADA has more than 10,000 professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators and students focused on the issue of academic advising. “That’s the body that really advances the profession of academic advising,” Hodges said.

“My role as chair is to coordinate and move forward initiatives to support two-year colleges,’’ she said. “The purpose of that commission is to be a resource to professionals that work in twoyear colleges.”

Some of the committee’s objectives include establishing venues to share ideas, data and support among two-year colleges and encourage networking among the organization’s members.

Hodges hopes to accomplish three goals she has set for her term: to increase participation in the organization by two-year colleges; to more closely define the roles of academic advisors - advising versus counseling; and to define completion at the two-year level.

Having the opportunity to lead the discussion and implement policies aimed at improving twoyear colleges, Hodges said, is a role she is looking forward to.

“I’m extremely excited,” she said. “I certainly don’t take it for granted.”

“My role as chair is to coordinate and move forward initiatives to support two-year colleges. The purpose of that commission is to be a resource to professionals that work in two-year colleges.”

Amanda Hodges, Assistant Dean, COA’s Edenton-Chowan Campus and newly appointed chair of the NACADA Two-Year Colleges Commission

faculty inspiration

Art Show Features Faculty’s Professional Work books that she made with handmade paper and Each year, College of The Albemarle hosts art illustrated with her own prints. shows featuring the handiwork of its students.

Students could also peruse the colorful copper But in the Fall of 2012, for the first time, students enameled jewelry created by Kathryn Osgood, had the chance to see their instructors’ creativity COA jewelry instructor and a studio in the college’s first faculty art show.

That September, COA mounted a “This actually jeweler, metalsmith and enamelist.

Students learned about the malleability month-long exhibit of the art faculty’s is a way of of her metal jewelry, which she forms enamel jewelry, block prints and handmodeling bound books. The exhibit, held at for students, into organic shapes reflecting her coastal environment.

COA’s Professional Arts Gallery on the the kind of The exhibit also featured the work Roanoke Island Campus in Manteo, was behavior of Patricia Sterritt, Associate Professor well-attended by students, faculty and expected from of Art at COA and a painter and community.

Gale Flax, Chair of the Arts and a professional printmaker who creates her print images from carved or etched blocks.

Humanities Department at COA, said artist, and The images often deal with spirituality the inaugural event allowed students a it gives the and the folklore of the Deep South. chance to glimpse the artistry of their students a The faculty art show, Flax said, was instructors up close. chance to see an opportunity to introduce different “For students, it’s a way to see the what their art forms and processes to COA art artwork that they might be doing at a instructors are students and could be used as a way of more advanced level — at a graduate program or a four-year program — and doing as full- recruiting students to pursue a four-year to introduce media or art forms we don’t time artists.” art degree or graduate art program.

“This actually is a way of modeling for necessarily teach here,” Flax said. students the kind of behavior expected During the exhibit, students viewed from a professional artist and it gives the students Flax’s hand-bound books and learned about the process of historic printmaking. Flax, a Norfolk a chance to see what their instructors are doing as full-time artists.” book artist and printmaker, exhibited some t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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president’s cup winner

“She was not only a special COA student, but a special person.’’

Steve Woodburn, Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management

President’s Cup Winner Yulia Vozzhaeva

President’s Cup Winner Connects Locally Vozzhaeva’s achievements also earned her a full scholarship to Yale University, where she started classes in Fall 2013.

During her time at COA, Vozzhaeva served as president of the Dare Campus Student Government Association and president of the Literary Club. She was also a student ambassador.

In addition, she gave back to her adopted community, teaching Russian language and culture at Water’s Edge Village School in Corolla and volunteering with Corolla Fire and Rescue and Ruthie’s Community Kitchen.

She also organized a cleanup for Manteo businesses after Hurricane Irene hit the Outer Banks in October 2012.

Vozzhaeva also started a new campus club, the International Club, which organized more than 30 community service and cultural events under her leadership. The group also raised $13,000 which they donated to help rebuild a church in Haiti that was destroyed by an earthquake and helped fund a kidney transplant for a local resident

Yulia Vozzhaeva’s road to College of The Albemarle’s Dare County Campus began with a summer job working on the Outer Banks. While working as a cashier at Harris Teeter during the summer of 2011, she heard about COA from other international students.

Vozzhaeva enrolled that fall and two years later received her Associate’s Degree in Arts with a 4.0 grade point average. Her academic achievement, leadership and service to COA earned her the Dare County Campus Cup and the President’s Service Cup. Vozzhaeva was selected by a Dare Campus committee for the Campus Cup. For the President’s Service Cup, she competed against two other students. The lowest GPA among the three students was 3.8.

“From the moment I met Yulia, she exuded confidence and humility at the same time,’’ said Steve Woodburn, Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management. “She desired to learn at all times, even if it was on her free time. She was not only a special COA student, but a special person.’’

135

international students enrolled fall 2012

183

international students enrolled spring 2013

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service award winner

“COA gave me opportunities to advance myself. COA has been the stepping stone.

I’m very appreciative of how things have worked out.”

Gregory Cave, on the job at the Outer Banks

COA Opens Door for New Career in HVAC “He was a model student in Edenton. I felt the students looked up to him,” Woodburn said, adding that Cave was a leader on campus and often spoke at community events. “He gave a presentation to the Chowan County Commissioners talking about what COA meant to him. He was just a great gentleman.”

Now, Cave is working as an HVAC technician for a company on the Outer Banks. He has also filled in as an instructor for an HVAC class at COA. He plans on opening his own renewable energy business and is working toward earning his contractor’s license.

Cave credits his COA education with opening up doors for him in his new career.

“COA gave me opportunities to advance myself,” he said. “COA has been the stepping stone. I’m very appreciative of how things have worked out.”

Gregory Cave may not have fit the typical profile of a College of The Albemarle student when he enrolled at COA in 2011. He was in his 50s and had already spent decades in a career as a real estate investor, flipping properties.

But when the real estate bubble burst and the local market began to slow, Cave decided it was time for a career change. So he started studying for a diploma in HVAC Technology at COA. He graduated a year later with straight A’s and did so well that he decided to go back. In 2012, he came back on a scholarship and served as a student ambassador.

Last spring, Cave graduated with another diploma, this one in Electrical Technology.

He was also awarded the Campus Cup for the Edenton-Chowan Campus.

Steve Woodburn, COA’s Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management, said selecting Cave for the distinction was easy.

62 238 students were awarded certificates

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students earned an Associate’s Degree

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service award wInner

“I was so grateful to COA for what they gave me.”

Monique Manners (center) with other Honors Freshmen serving as marshals for the 2012 Commencement

Single Mom Finds Good Fit in Mathematics Success and Enrollment Management, said Manners had a lot of energy and was just a standout student.

Throughout her jam-packed two years on campus, Manners maintained top grades and received a full academic scholarship to the University of Michigan, where she is currently studying industrial and operations engineering.

“I really like to solve problems and it was a good fit because I love math,” said Manners, who was also accepted at the University of California Berkeley, University of California Davis and the College of William and Mary.

Although the campus is much bigger and the class sizes can be somewhat overwhelming, her time as a student at COA was good preparation for this next phase of her education.

“I was so grateful to COA for what they gave me,” Manners said. “They became like my family.

I needed the support and they were there for me.”

When Monique Manners became a student at College of The Albemarle in the fall of 2011, she was a new mom who had recently separated from her husband. She wasn’t quite sure what her next step should be, but she knew she had to find a way to create a life for herself and her son.

“I just didn’t know what I was capable of,’’ Manners said. “I had to figure something out because I had to take care of me and my son.”

While earning dual Associate’s Degrees in Arts and in Sciences, this single mom also found time to serve as treasurer of the Student Government Association, vice president of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and serve as a student ambassador. In addition, Manners also helped organize several community events, including a blood drive and a food and coat drive.

Last spring, Manners received COA’s Campus Cup for the Elizabeth City Campus. Steve Woodburn, COA’s Vice President of Student

73 4,237 students earned a diploma

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students took a continuing education class

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j.p. knapp early college

J.P. Knapp and COA graduate Valerie Bobola between classes at Meredith College in Raleigh.

J.P. Knapp Student Finishes Two Associate’s Degrees and Receives Her High School Diploma The early college high school initiative was developed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina New Schools, the N.C. Community College System and the University of North Carolina. Launched in 2004, the program gets public funding to support the educational partnership between participating high schools and colleges. J.P. Knapp students don’t have to pay for classes or books while attending COA. Since 2009, the partnership with COA has given Currituck High School students the opportunity to simultaneously earn their high school diplomas and their associate’s degrees in their chosen field of study. Students must apply and be accepted into the program.

“We recruit students who are underrepresented demographics on college campuses,” said Renee Dowdy, former principal of J.P. Knapp

Valerie Bobola epitomizes what students can achieve through the partnership between College of The Albemarle and the J.P. Knapp Early College High School in Currituck County.

Bobola graduated in May 2013 with her high school diploma and two Associate’s Degrees from COA, one in Arts and one in Sciences. The Knapp class valedictorian is now a student at Meredith College in Raleigh where she is pursuing not one, but two Bachelor’s Degrees — in chemistry and in math. Having earned 64 credits at COA, Bobola is on track to graduate in just three years,

by May 2016.

Bobola said she wouldn’t have been able to double major if she had not completed her general education requirements at COA and at no cost to her family. “I have not had any problem with credits transferring,” she said. “I haven’t paid COA anything.’’ t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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With such an easy transition between the two campuses, Bobola has been able to focus on her career goals since arriving at Meredith in September. Over the summer, she lost her father to kidney cancer. His twin sister also died of cancer — colon cancer — and Bobola’s paternal grandmother died of lung cancer.

The fact that each family member died of a different type of cancer indicates the cancer wasn’t hereditary but perhaps triggered by environmental contaminants.

The painful experience of losing her father in September has motivated Bobola to study to become an environmental lawyer. “I would ideally work for the government as an

and now Director of Secondary Education for Currituck School District. Typically, most of the students selected to participate in the program come from low socio-economic backgrounds, are first-generation college-goers, or are not highperforming students. “College may not be on their radar,” Dowdy said.

Five students from the first two graduating classes earned associate’s degrees but Dowdy said she expects another five to 10 students to graduate with their associate’s degrees this school year. And as interest in the program continues to grow, Dowdy expects those numbers to grow significantly.

“Last year we had the largest number of applicants,” Dowdy said. “There are 85 freshmen this year.”

Students who choose not to pursue an associate’s degree can earn the Core 44 diploma, which means they graduate with 44 credit hours of general education requirements completed on COA’s campus. Basically, Dowdy said, these students already have two years of their four-year degree studies finished.

“They’ve got a jumpstart on secondary education,” said Rita Jennings, COA’s Director of Secondary Education. “I know several students who have gone on to four-year universities and have done well.”

These credit hours can be transferred to any of the major 16 universities in North Carolina. A number of other private North Carolina colleges also readily accept COA’s credit hours.

“It puts a pathway in front of our students to attain the Core 44 diploma or an associate’s degree,” Dowdy said.

Valerie Bobola’s pathway to the private 4-year Meredith College has been smooth, she said, thanks to her experience as a student on COA’s campus. Knowing how to navigate a campus, write research papers and communicate with her instructors are all skills she honed during her time at COA. “It’s really given me something to expect,” Bobola said. “COA does a great job of portraying what college life will be like.” t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

environmental lawyer to prosecute those who waste dump and circumvent the laws that are there to protect the public,” she said.

Bobola is the first student to graduate with an associate’s degree from the J.P. Knapp-COA program in just four years. All other students have earned their associate’s degrees in five years.

Regardless of whether students in the program graduate with their associate’s degrees or Core 44 diplomas in four years or five, Dowdy said, the program is a success. It is tapping into a population that may not be considering college at all, so even if not all students in the program graduate with an associate’s degree, they are earning college credits and thinking about continuing their education beyond high school.

“I think the word is getting out about what a wonderful opportunity it is,” Jennings said. “I think the retention rate is extremely high.”

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mentorship program

Minority Male Mentoring Program Helps Students Stay Focused on Their Goals in the Albemarle, or MEDIA, for enabling him to continue his studies and stay on the path to earning a bachelor’s degree. “It helped me a lot,” Lumsden said. “It was kind of hard for me to stay focused on school. But MEDIA cares if you’re on the right track.”

COA began the program in 2012 in an effort to help male minority students stay focused on their academic goals and graduate.

Jashaun Peele, a COA instructor and co-coordinator of the program, said Lumsden was an ideal student for the program. He said the COA MEDIA program reaches out to male minority students who face challenges in life, as well as with education.

In the fall of 2012, College of The Albemarle student Dakeem Lumsden was struggling with self-esteem issues and had average grades in his classes.

At the time, Lumsden said he wasn’t as focused on his classes as he should have been.

“I wasn’t happy at all,” he said. “I was dealing with a lot of personal issues.”

By the following year, Lumsden was enrolled at Elizabeth City State University with a 3.0 GPA. He was awarded a full scholarship to the four-year university where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Lumsden credits COA’s new Men of Excellence and Distinction t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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“That’s one of our pushes, to make sure they finish COA and continue on to greater heights,” Peele said. “There were a group of students that were not succeeding in the classroom.”

Maenecia Cole, COA’s Retention Coordinator who oversees the program, said the original MEDIA program came from the North Carolina Community College System. It was started because statistics show there is low retention of minority males on college campuses. The program is an effort to encourage these students to remain on campus and earn their degrees.

COA officials realized a mentorship program like MEDIA could increase the likelihood of this group succeeding.

And they were right.

“We want to target this population,” Cole said.

“We’re trying to remove barriers, any obstacle, and these guys are really understanding that we are trying to help.”

Coaches and mentors in the program taught Lumsden — and the 10 other students in the program — about the importance of goal-setting and how to make a budget and stick to it. Guest speakers shared some of the challenges they had to overcome in life. MEDIA students received tutoring and career counseling and attended workshops to improve interviewing skills.

Weekly meetings with peer mentors helped teach the students about setting goals, and

TOP RIGHT: Actor Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (center) leads a seminar about overcoming adversity sponsored by MEDIA. BOTTOM LEFT: Dakeem Lumsden at the MEDIA Rites of Passage Ceremony BOTTOM MIDDLE: Daryl “Chill” Mitchell giving advice to members of the MEDIA program.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Members of MEDIA help to clean up King Street in Hertford N.C.

mentors made sure the students met these goals.

Of the 11 students in the first MEDIA group, six returned to the program in fall 2013. Two participants transferred to a four-year university and three students in last year’s initial group are not returning.

“I feel like eight out MENTORSHIP of 11 isn’t too bad,” Peele PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS said. The state of North

11 6 2

Carolina agrees. The state-funded program was awarded funding again for the 2013-2014 RETURNED to year, though somewhat coa and media less due to budget program cuts. Cole said COA is committed to finding alternate funding to fill the budget shortfall.

Cole said she has transferred seen first-hand how the to four-year universities program works. Already, 17 students have signed up for the MEDIA program’s second year and Cole said they can take another eight.

“I’m very proud of this program,” she said.

“I think we’ve gone over my initial year’s expectations.”

entrepreneurship

Paul and Deborah Byrum, owners of Nicholson House, a family restaurant in Belvidere, N.C.

Local Couple Uses COA Small Business Center’s Free Counseling to Launch Restaurant and geared its seminars to engage local business owners and those looking to start a business.

Recent evening classes included information on how to write a business plan, marketing and financing programs, and a class on how to create a business Facebook page. The SBC also conducted a three-part seminar on grant writing to help business owners and startups find necessary funding for their ventures.

The SBC uses grant funds to cover the cost of the training sessions, which are offered free. O’Neal said seminars and workshops are popular, with attendance averaging around 20 participants per event “The feedback has always been positive,” she said. In 2012, O’Neal said the SBC offered 81 seminars and reached 1,071 area startup and existing business owners.

A few years ago, College of The Albemarle’s Small Business Center (SBC) had to switch gears a bit when the local economy hit a slump.

The state-funded organization has always provided training for local business owners — and it still does — but over the past several years, it has also stepped up its efforts to support small local businesses in a still difficult economy.

“When the economy went south, our leaders took a look at our mission, so now our mission has changed,” said Ginger O’Neal, Director of COA’s SBC. “All of my training is selected toward the small business startup or existing business owner.”

Finding ways to support existing businesses and startups is the SBC’s priority these days, and to further that goal, the program has marketed t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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“It was not anything we had planned to do, so we did need a business plan and that was a big help. There were things I hadn’t even thought about. You just don’t even think about the little things, like the payments you will accept - cash, check or Visa. ” Deborah Byrum, owner of Nicholson House

For those considering a startup venture, the SBC also offers free business counseling and training in starting a business.

Deborah Byrum and her husband, owners of Nicholson House, a family restaurant in Belvidere, took advantage of the SBC’s confidential one-on-one counseling services when they were considering their startup business venture 10 years ago. She had lots of questions and was looking for help in creating a business plan when she found out about COA’s SBC services.

“They helped us get started with a small business loan,’’ said Byrum. “We’re in an old Victorian house. My parents were actually living in the house and put in on the market.”

The house sat on the market for a bit before Byrum decided she didn’t want it to be sold.

“The house needed to be shared with people because it’s kind of unique. If it weren’t for the house, we wouldn’t have opened the restaurant.”

The couple’s spontaneous decision to start a business made them even more in need of the SBC’s free counseling services. In addition to locating funding for their startup, there were other considerations to make.

“It was not anything we had planned to do, so we did need a business plan and that was a big help, ” Byrum said. “There were things I hadn’t even thought about. You just don’t even think about the little things, like the payments you will accept - cash, check or Visa. ” O’Neal also helped the Byrums arrange to have someone come in and train their wait staff for free. “We went over different things and did a trial run,” Byrum said of the training. “And that was very helpful.”

Even after the Nicholson House opened, O’Neal didn’t forget the couple and would stop in periodically to see how they were managing. A few years after the restaurant opened, O’Neal also told Byrum about a record-keeping class the SBC was offering, which Byrum took. It helped her get a handle on which business records she could keep and those she could throw away.

Last year, Byrum said she and her husband finally reached the financial goal they had set when they created their business plan 10 years ago.

“It’s definitely been a struggle,” she said, adding that the SBC’s help over the years has been huge.

“We wouldn’t have been able to start the business without their help. It’s too overwhelming.”

Tiffany Jefferson, owner of Famous Franks in Elizabeth City, also worked with the Small Business Center when opening her diner.

on-the-job training

DRS Technologies ~ Elizabeth City

Gunboat International ~ Wanchese

COA Supports Local Businesses With Customized Training Opportunities In 2011, the global boat building company opened its newest production plant in Wanchese, just miles from COA’s Dare Campus.

Soon after, the community college was helping to train the facility’s newly hired workforce. From 2012 to 2013, COA held several training sessions at the new plant and even arranged for an industry expert to lead the training and develop an in-house training course that is taken by all of Gunboat’s new hires.

“They came up with a one-week course and brought in the leading infusion laminating specialist worldwide,” Johnstone said. “And they led three different training weeks. It was terrific.

I told the COA Board that the training was perfect and exactly what was needed to retrain the labor force here.”

Johnstone’s Wanchese facility has about 48 employees. The infusion laminating process Gunboat uses to produce its catamarans is essential to the production of his boats, said Johnstone.

When Peter Johnstone, CEO of Gunboat International, was debating where to locate his newest production facility a few years ago, he looked at potential sites in Rhode Island and northern Florida as likely prospects for building his high-end sailing catamarans.

He hadn’t even considered North Carolina until another boat manufacturer suggested it.

He contacted the state’s Department of Economic Development and was soon looking at sites in the Tarheel State. The rest, as they say, is history, thanks in large part to an incentive offered by College of The Albemarle.

“The North Carolina Department of Commerce had presented their assistance support package,” Johnstone said, adding that it pledged the assistance of College of The Albemarle’s Workforce Development & Continuing Education program in paying for and conducting training the company might need.

“It was one of the key factors that led us to locate here,” Johnstone added. t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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through the N.C. Community College System.

Having access to the COA program that put It allows companies to have access to either together the customized training he needed, was free or low-cost training and industry experts. even more important. “It’s critical,” Johnstone Workforce development programs such as COA’s said. “Retraining is the key to putting the are part of North Carolina’s effort to recruit unemployed to work and there’s a high rate of business and industry to the state. unemployment in Northeast North Carolina.”

Marcy Bergman, president of Motion Sensors in Elizabeth City, is another area employer to benefit from the customized training provided by COA’s Workforce Development & Continuing Education program. The local company produces speed sensors for the military and aerospace industries, among others, that are sold worldwide. With about 30 employees, Bergman said the free customized training COA provides is fundamental to what they do.

“We’ve done a lot of stuff with Motion Sensors ~ Elizabeth City COA,” Bergman said, adding that “It allows us to support the businesses with the company has been in Elizabeth City since high-demand positions, and high-earning 1993. “They’ve helped us with certifications and potential, that in turn support economic training. A lot of it is essential. development for the region.” said Suzanne “They are enabling us to retain business by Rohrbaugh, Vice President of COA’s Division helping to train our workforce,” she added. of Workforce Development & Continuing Last July, COA provided necessary training that Education. allowed Motion Sensors employees to become “It’s about a partnership between the college certified inspectors of solder joints. “We were and the company. We’re here to provide able to have an inspector come here onsite and assistance for business and industry.” train 12 of our operators to become certified And for area employers like Johnstone and operators,” Bergman said.

Bergman, the arrangement was a huge incentive Bergman said COA’s customized training to locating in the state. program makes it possible for small businesses “We’re not an international organization with like hers to pay for needed training. The state a huge training budget,” Bergman said. “COA budget sets aside funding — about $12 million makes things possible for us that would not per academic year — to pay for the customized otherwise be feasible.” training programs offered to local companies

“It allows us to support the businesses with highdemand positions, and high-earning potential, that in turn support economic development for the region.”

Suzanne Rohrbaugh, Vice President of COA’s Division of Workforce Development & Continuing Education

joining the workforce

COA graduate Chris Hudson started his new job three days after graduation.

HVAC Graduate Finds a Career Path and Job Waiting for Him He made such a strong impression on his bosses there, that they hired him immediately after his graduation from COA. “He went beyond,” said Kevin Harrell, vice president of George & Company, an HVAC contractor in Elizabeth City. “He would do coop work during the week and volunteer to do weekends. He put forth extra to learn the trade.

He was wanting to learn and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Harrell has participated in COA’s HVAC co-op program for the past five years and since then, he has hired four full-time employees from the program. The school, Harrell said, turns out impressive HVAC students year after year.

“For the most part, they are pretty well versed in what they are doing,” Harrell said, adding that much of the credit lies with Gene Williams,

Before graduating from College of The Albemarle’s HVAC program last May, Chris Hudson bounced around among a series of lowpaying jobs.

Determined to find a better professional path for himself, he decided to go back to school at COA and earn his diploma in HVAC Technology.

“I heard you can make a career out of it,” said Hudson.

Three days after graduation, he landed a job.

It was the payoff Hudson was waiting for. “It felt pretty good,” he said. “I definitely worked hard for it — trying to get good grades in college.”

Aside from hitting the books, Hudson also made the most of COA’s Cooperative Education Program which allowed him to spend 160 hours working for a local HVAC company, going out on service calls and learning the trade first-hand. t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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“The day after graduation, eight students had full-time jobs waiting for them.’’

Gene Williams COA HVAC Instructor

COA has machining co-op arrangements with COA’s HVAC instructor. “If you’ve got a good several area employers, including the Coast teacher, you’re definitely going to have a good Guard base in Elizabeth City, Mytek Corporation student,” Harrell said. in Edenton and Hockmeyer Equipment Williams usually has between 16 to 18 Corporation, also in Elizabeth City. Nixon said students a semester in the HVAC program and he also works with Nucor Steel in Hertford and all of them are placed into co-ops with area Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Newport News employers. Besides providing students with solid Shipyard in Hampton Roads. work experience — repairing gas furnaces and “Our vocation programs have always been good troubleshooting heating and air-conditioning to get into,” Nixon added. systems — Williams said the co-ops allow It’s a statement Hudson can attest to. He his students to see how they like their chosen excelled so quickly in his new vocation that he is profession. already manning a George & Company service “It gives them the opportunity to say, ‘Do I truck on his own. Usually, Harrell said, it takes want to do this for a living?’” Williams said. new HVAC technicians about two years to have Sometimes finding new employers to that opportunity. participate in COA’s co-ops can be tricky, “I just wanted to learn everything I could Williams admitted, but for the ones who possibly learn,” Hudson said. “In this trade, you have already participated, they embrace the learn more from experience than anything.” opportunity. It’s a successful program, he said.

“The day after graduation, eight students had full-time jobs waiting for them,” Chris Hudson explaining Williams said, referring to last to his customer how a May’s graduates. “There’s a big heat pump works. demand for trained technicians in this field.”

Stanley Nixon, a 32-year computer integrated machining instructor at COA, said his co-op program has had similar success.

Of his eight graduates last August, only two had not found employment after graduation.

“There’s a lot of machining jobs available locally and nationwide,” Nixon said. “We also have close contact with dozens upon dozens of local employers.”

standout athlete

“Since he’s been here, he’s demonstrated a commitment to the student-athlete equation.’’

COA Dolphins coach Milan Rasic speaking about Garrett Cartwright

COA Gives Garrett Cartwright a Shot after the major-league pitcher who underwent the first such procedure — Cartwright found that the college programs that had once shown interest in giving him a scholarship stopped calling.

“I didn’t hear anything back from them,” Cartwright said. “They gave up on me, but COA didn’t.”

Cartwright chose to attend COA. It kept him close to home and allowed him to continue his athletic career.

He has rewarded College of The Albemarle coaches’ allegiance by becoming a positive influence both on and off the field. Cartwright has been active in community outreach, serving as an instructor at area youth baseball clinics and volunteering with Food Bank of The Albemarle.

“He’s also been a good ambassador for the team,” Rasic said.

As a freshman during the 2013 season, Cartwright appeared in six games, mostly as a relief pitcher as he continues to climb back from missing the entire season two years ago. He is planning on transferring to a four-year college to study psychology.

In the meantime, he continues to thrive under pressure, and especially likes being on the mound.

“I enjoy doing it,” Cartwright said. “I like the adrenaline.”

Garrett Cartwright loves the adrenaline rush he gets from being on the mound for College of The Albemarle’s baseball team.

But he’s just as enamored with the pressures of his academic endeavors.

Cartwright, pursuing his Associate’s Degree in Arts, carries a 3.5 grade-point average and has been on the Dean’s List three times since arriving at COA in fall 2012 from Northeastern High School in Elizabeth City.

“Since he’s been here, he’s demonstrated a commitment to the student-athlete equation,” Dolphins coach Milan Rasic said.

“It does have its moments,” Cartwright added, referring to the rigors of balancing strong academics with a college athletic career. “But I use stress as my motivation.

“It’s just a mental thing. When I was in elementary school, I was in the AIG program and then in high school I was in the Honors classes.”

While Cartwright has had little trouble keeping up in the classroom, he has had to battle back from a serious injury to keep his baseball career going.

A left-handed pitcher, Cartwright missed his entire junior season in high school after suffering an ulnar collateral ligament injury in his pitching elbow. The tendon, Cartwright said, popped off the bone.

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standout athlete

“It’s like any dad coaching his daughter, you don’t get that many opportunities.

I don’t know who it’s harder on. You’re watching them as a parent and a coach. But the player feels the pressure.”

Mike Pierce, COA Softball Coach, who coached Anna during her two years on COA’s softball team

Anna Pierce Succeeds on and off the Field Anna, though, didn’t show it. An infielder, Anna was among the team’s leading hitters as the first-year program won 17 of 29 games in 2011.

She batted .343 with 26 RBIs despite a two-year absence from playing softball.

“It was definitely awesome to be a part of,” Anna said. “I think we played great for our first year. I was proud to be a part of it.”

For an encore in 2012, Anna was second on the team with a .365 batting average and matched a team-high with seven doubles. She also had 22 RBIs and scored 28 runs as the Dolphins finished with a 22-16 record.

“Anna was always underestimated as a ballplayer,” Pierce said. “A lot of that was probably because she’s the coach’s daughter.”

Anna earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing at COA and in May of 2012 became a nurse at Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City. She has fond memories of COA and those final softball seasons.

In one of her final games, Anna launched a home run – her first homer that cleared the fences after more than a decade of playing softball.

As she rounded the bases, Anna glanced at her father with “kind of a big smile and a look of, ‘Yep, finally did it,’” Mike said. “That was a fun, good memory.”

After four years as a standout softball player at Northeastern High School, Anna Pierce put away her glove and figured her playing days were over.

She was ready to pursue her nursing degree at College of The Albemarle.

“I knew I was going to COA and there was no program there so I told myself I was done,” Pierce said.

A year later, things changed for Pierce. The college revived its athletic program in 2011, restarting its baseball team after a 30-year hiatus and fielding its first softball team. And Pierce was eager to play for the Dolphins’ newest coach: her father Mike.

“I immediately started figuring out how to manage it,” Anna said of balancing softball and her studies. “I was a little bit torn because I really wanted to do it but I didn’t know if I’d be able to work it out.”

In the end, Anna played, and both father and daughter were part of a program that collected 39 victories in its first two seasons.

Mike Pierce was an assistant coach at nearby Northeastern High in Elizabeth City while Anna played there.

“It’s like any dad coaching his daughter, you don’t get that many opportunities,” Pierce said.

“I don’t know who it’s harder on. You’re watching them as a parent and a coach. But the player feels the pressure.” t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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COAST Players ~ Fiddler on the Roof

COAST Players ~ The Miracle Worker

new launch

Performing Art Center’s New Name Reflects Cultural Role in the Community In addition to COA productions, the PAC also hosts programs specially created for local schools, and the season’s lineup also includes professional touring groups, such as It’s a Wonderful Life.

Shierer said the surrounding area has recently been enriched by the PAC. A year before its rebranding, the college’s COAST Players decided to open auditions to the community, in addition to COA students. The result, Shierer said, has been tremendous.

“The COAST Players have really exploded with attendance and participation in the community,” she said. “The COAST Players have invited the community into what the Performing Arts Center is about.”

Since opening auditions to the community in 2011, the PAC has staged its largest productions in its 23-year history. In February 2013, Fiddler on the Roof became the college’s biggest production to date, with more than 30 cast members.

“I have been able to do much larger-scale plays and musicals for the students here at the college,” Emmerich said, referring to the decision to open COAST Players auditions to the community.

“Clearly there is a resurgence of interest in drama here at COA and in the community,” he said. “Plans are in the works for several large scale productions in 2014.”

In addition to the increased community participation in COAST Players productions, attendance at the college’s performances has also increased. More than 1,700 people attended The Miracle Worker in the fall of 2012, and more than 2,800 attended Fiddler on the Roof in the spring of 2013.

“Within the past few years, we’ve consistently seen the numbers just go up,” Shierer said.

Twenty-three years after the opening of College of The Albemarle’s Auditorium, the curtain went up on its new name.

The facility, which has hosted countless plays, recitals and commencements since opening in 1990, was renamed the Performing Arts Center in 2012. The name change has meant new life for the facility.

“The theater here at COA was previously called the community auditorium, which doesn’t have much of a poetic ring to it,’’ said Jeffrey Emmerich, COA drama instructor and director “The COAST of the COA Student Players Theatre Players, or COAST have really Players, who stage their exploded with performances at the attendance facility. “By renaming and the space, we have more participation appropriately defined what it is, a performing arts in the center.” community.”

Mariah Shierer, the Performing Arts Center’s Manager, said the new name more accurately reflects what COA is about.

“College of The Albemarle has really made an effort to promote the arts and the building’s name didn’t really reflect what it was actually being used for,” Shierer said.

Besides the productions staged at the PAC, COA students take acting classes and stage craft classes in the facility. And in keeping with its focus on being a community gathering space, the PAC is rented to numerous organizations to hold dance recitals and competitions, talent shows, poetry slams, band concerts, and commencement ceremonies.

The PAC seats 965 and is the largest auditorium in the region. t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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events on campus

New Bookstore Serves Elizabeth City Campus College of The Albemarle’s new campus bookstore is still the place to buy textbooks for COA’s courses, but there’s plenty of Dolphin pride on display as well.

COA water bottles, tumblers, coffee mugs, polo shirts and fleece pullovers are among the merchandise carried in the new space, which was unveiled in January 2013.

“Students have a bigger selection of giftware, supplies, clothing,’’ said Rhyannon Potter, who manages the store for the owner, Follett Higher Education Group. “It’s much easier to find textbooks, it’s more organized.”

The new store occupies 2,115 square feet of retail space once used as a classroom and then as a storage area. Follett spent nearly $400,000 to renovate and stock the space.

“It is nearly double what we had before,” Potter said. “It’s a nice change.’’

STEM Bus Visits COA’s Dare County Campus College of The Albemarle hosted the N.C. Community College BioNetwork STEM Bus, a 40-foot long bus filled with high-tech equipment such as iPads, TV touch screens and solar panel readouts. This equipment is designed to engage young middle and high school students and get them thinking about careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

It was the first year the STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math - Bus made a visit to the Outer Banks and Elizabeth City.

Students made the most of the day-long visits to COA’s two campuses in March.

“The bus was something we did to support what we do here at COA and how the students can learn about science, technology, engineering, and math here at COA,” said John Wells, Director of Counseling and Career Development at COA. About 500 local middle school and high school students boarded the bus during the event and were able to get some hands-on experience. t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society In order to be inducted into the organization, a student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours, be enrolled in an associate degree program, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. The highest attainable GPA is a 4.0.

Fall 2012 Inductees

Front row: Angela Sandall, Lynasia Alexander, Samantha Ingram, Christina Johnson, Kayla Murphy.

Middle row: Jonathan Moss, Jacklyn Hamilton, Daisy Pierce, Hannah Snyder, Ruth Valderrama.

Back row: Christa Griffin, Jordy Patterson, Steven Fecker, Hartley Parrish, Ann Treadway, Maryagnes Cook.

Spring 2013 Inductees

Front row: Joy Dianne Taylor, Ashley Suzanne Pierdomenico, Tongying Shi, Tela Faye Hollowell, Ksenia Anashkina Twine, Ruthie Layden Moody, Maria Anna Sable.

Second row: Andrew Jason Anderson, Barbara Wright Smith, Ashley René Pritchett, Jennifer Lynn Styons, Lou Daya Collins, Stephanie Micheal Boehl, McKenzie Kyle Byrum, Andrew William Streets, Taylor Heath Patrick.

Third row: Samantha Leigh Jones, Krystal Michelle Moore, Mariann Kelly Johnson, Amanda Dickens Christian.

Top row: Shawn Baron Perry, Ryan Davis Ball, Mark Vincent Long, Jeremy Keith Lassiter.

COA Hosts Presidents’ Association Meeting College of The Albemarle was the proud host of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents for their 2012 Summer Conference.

The three-day event, held July 24–26, 2012 was attended by 55 of the 58 community colleges. While the presidents had a full agenda, there were opportunities for social time. including a golf outing, meals and a special dinner at Arts of the Albemarle — complete with entertainment by the college’s student theater group, the COAST Players. A few presidents took advantage of their close proximity to the Outer Banks and extended their stay for a day or two.

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the great 58

“Most colleges do not do the workforce training our system does. We’re involved in more educational areas that help individuals achieve success than any other college system in the United States.”

Dr. Scott Ralls, President, North Carolina Community College System, speaking at the Ribbon Cutting for COA’s Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center

College System Celebrates 50 Years model. More and more states within the last 20 years have become more focused on workforce development.”

Ralls said there are only about 25 states that have a statewide system for their community colleges. North Carolina oversees 58 colleges within its statewide network and, he added, the state has the fourth lowest tuition in the country.

Another advantage of the NCCCS, Ralls said, is the shared curriculum the state’s community colleges and four-year colleges have.

North Carolina’s colleges operate under the same academic policies and curricula which makes it easier for students to transfer from associate degree programs to four-year colleges, and it also makes it easier for students to move between different community colleges without having to worry about class credits transferring.

“Ours is the most comprehensive system,” Ralls said. “I think it goes back to our original mission.”

Since 1963, when the North Carolina Community College System was created, it has not deviated from its mission.

Over the ensuing 50 years, the organization’s focus has always been that the state’s community colleges would provide workforce development and training to its students, a prophetic objective that more state community college associations have also begun incorporating into their missions.

“Most colleges do not do the workforce training our system does,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, NCCCS President. “We’re involved in more educational areas that help individuals achieve success than any other college system in the United States.”

“We started,” Ralls added, “focused on a workforce development training model and have grown more comprehensive over the years to include university transfer. Most other states started from an academic junior college t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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problem solving

QEP Topic: I Love Problem Solving solving as its QEP because “critical thinking/ problem solving is foundational to our general education core competencies. A formalized program such as the problem-solving QEP adds tremendous value to the other student learning outcomes at COA.” To support the new initiative, in September, COA faculty and staff began implementing new classes aimed at making its students better critical thinkers. Problem solving was even talked about during orientation at the start of the academic year, encouraging students to use the problem-solving process to figure out which classes they should take.

“The QEP committee has been developing specific strategies to implement problem-solving skills into the curriculum,” Lovik said. “COA offers academic success courses, designated with an ACA prefix, to help students better transition to college level education. These ACA courses are being revised to specifically include problem solving activities to enhance students’ skills.

Helping students feel empowered to solve problems, Morrison said, is critical. Since beginning the QEP process in 2010, Morrison added, surveys of local employers, community members, students and faculty have all identified critical thinking as a necessary skill for the future.

As part of the formal process to renew its accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the college identified the ability to problem-solve as an essential skill for its graduates. It is now part of COA’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) which is designed to improve student learning.

Laura Morrison, Assistant Professor of Communications at COA, served as QEP Coordinator during part of the reaffirmation process and said national research indicates that the ability to analyze and solve complex problems is one of the top skills college students can learn and one that employers are asking colleges to emphasize. Morrison heard it from local employers during a COA job fair as well, who identified the skill as important in a potential employee.

“They wanted students to be able to solve a problem without being told how to solve the problem,” Morrison said.

So, as COA approached its new academic year in Fall 2013, faculty and staff began integrating problem-solving skills into its curriculum.

Banners, posters and other signage bearing the slogan “I LOVE PS: PROBLEM SOLVING’’ appeared across the four campuses.

Dr. Eric Lovik, Director of Institutional Effectiveness said COA also chose problemt r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

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coa foundation report

Dear Friends, For more than five decades, College of The Albemarle has been transforming lives and communities by providing access to affordable higher education and workforce development.

During the 2012-2013 school year, 4,610 students either: • earned an associate’s degree • received a diploma • were awarded a certificate • took a continuing education class.

I am proud and honored to have served as President of College of The Albemarle’s Foundation for 2012-2013. We organized a second successful fund-raising event, the Harvest Moon Ball, exceeding our goal; conducted a faculty and staff campaign that increased donors and donations and began to reach out to COA alumni through Alumni Reconnect. The Foundation awarded 68 individual scholarships, totaling $154,460.

COA is a community college and you are part of that community. Our friends’ and business partners’ support of College of The Albemarle

Foundation enables us to provide scholarships to students, professional development to faculty and staff, fund capital improvements and special projects and continually Phyllis Bosomworth improve the President, Foundation college’s Board of Directors operations.

Collectively, our donors create opportunities for COA to assist all who seek to learn and grow, to improve their lives and the lives of others in Northeastern North Carolina.

As COA’s slogan states, Opportunity Changes Everything.

Surgical Technology graduate Reginald Key (second from left) celebrating with his family after the 2013 Recognition & Pinning Ceremony.

foundation ambassadors

Leland McCurdy

Whitney Parks

Each year since 1999, several students are chosen to be Student Ambassadors for College of The Albemarle. Ambassadors are selected based on grade point average, character, leadership and community involvement and receive financial support from the M.G. Morrisette, Jr., Endowment Scholarship Fund.

In 2012, the COA Foundation decided to fund two additional ambassador positions. Leland McCurdy and Whitney Parks were selected from the pool of applicants for the Student Ambassador Program. Each student commits to working for the college as part of their scholarship.

McCurdy will earn an Associate’s in Arts at the Dare County Campus in Manteo and has a GPA of 3.948.

“Leland is a kind man with a huge smile and heart,’’ said Martha Johnson, Assistant Dean, Student Success and Enrollment Management for the Dare Campus. “He is always willing to do large and small tasks for COA, whether it is for SGA or as his role as ambassador. He gives encouragement and acts as a mentor to fellow students.”

McCurdy has been a shift assistant manager for four years at the Walgreen’s in Kill Devil Hills.

He said being a Student Ambassador has given him the opportunity as a Dare County student to interact with students from Elizabeth City, go to social events at other schools and meet deans from other counties. “I attended the opening of the Currituck aviation center and

it was amazing,’’ he said. “I was able to interact with people who teach there and the people who donated to the project.”

McCurdy has applied to East Carolina University with possible plans to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education to teach science.

“Whitney has become a more confident individual while engaging with community members and sharing her COA story,’’ said Lisa Johnson, Development Officer and External Relations. “She offers assistance to current students and potential students as they seek information about the college.

Parks is a double major, with a GPA of 3.362, who will complete an Associate’s Degree in Arts and an Associate’s in Sciences at the Elizabeth City Campus in May 2014.

“Whitney provided invaluable assistance at the Harvest Moon Ball, new student orientation sessions, and the Grand Opening of the Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center. I know that Whitney will move on from COA and be a great success in whatever path she chooses.’’

Being a Student Ambassador is an honor and a privilege, said Parks. “It has allowed me to see things from a different point of view. It’s definitely preparing you for an office environment, learning how to deal with people in certain situations.’’

After earning her Associate’s in Arts at COA, Parks plans to transfer to ECU to get a Bachelor’s in Science, majoring in biology or something in the medical field. Once she earns her bachelor’s, she might enlist in the Coast Guard, she said.

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student ambassadors

Joe Marro Proves Himself

Travis Hunter Finds a Path

Shortly after becoming a Student Ambassador at College of The Albemarle, Joseph Marro realized he wanted a career in the Marines like his dad.

“It helped with my communication skills,” Marro said, referring to all the public speaking he had to do as an ambassador. “There were a lot of functions we went to. I think it also helped me with confidence.”

Before he was selected, Marro thought he had done so poorly during his student ambassador interview, he was surprised to find out he had been selected. Once chosen, he worried he wouldn’t do a good job.

“I think I proved But that quickly changed. “I was more myself as a COA confident that I could ambassador. And be an officer in the I could prove Marines,” he said. myself as a Marine “I think I proved Corps officer.” myself as a COA ambassador,” said Marro, who graduated last May with an Associate’s Degree in Science. “And I could prove myself as a Marine Corps officer.”

Initially, he planned on attending N.C. State University while participating in the Marine’s PLC program, but personal difficulties at home have put college on hold for the moment.

Ever confident, Marro has found another way to pursue his dream. He has decided to join the Marines and serve for five years, becoming an officer after that.

“It’s just another way to do the exact same goal with what my circumstances are,” he said. “I roll with the punches.”

During Travis Hunter’s year-long stint as a Student Ambassador at College of The Albemarle, he spent a lot of his time speaking at public engagements and giving tours of the campus.

It was all good preparation, he said, for his future career in the ministry.

“I haven’t given my first sermon yet, but I’m better prepared because of that,” Hunter said, adding he also credits a public “Being at speaking class he took as a COA COA student. laid the Hunter graduated from foundation COA last May with an Associate’s Degree in Arts. His for me... honor-roll GPA of 3.9 earned which will lead me to him a full scholarship to MidAtlantic Christian University ministry.” in Elizabeth City where he is working toward his Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Exposition and Ministry.

In addition to serving as a Student Ambassador, Hunter was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and served as SGA president. He also volunteered as a mentor in MEDIA, a COA program aimed at helping male minority students stay focused on school.

He credits his time as a student at COA with his current success and said his time there put him on the career path he has chosen for himself.

“I wanted to do well there [at MACU],” Hunter said. “Being at COA laid the foundation for me, which opened the door for me at another university, which will lead me to ministry.”

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student ambassadors

Tiffany Ellis Changes Majors

Monique Manners Excels

It wasn’t until Tiffany Ellis’ second year at College of The Albemarle that she realized what she wanted to do with her life.

She was working as a Student Ambassador, counseling students on courses they should take and helping guide and assist the college’s new and transferring students around the Elizabeth City campus, when she began thinking about her own future.

“COA was kind of my eye-opener for everything,” said Ellis, who graduated in May 2013 with her Associate’s Degree in Arts. “I realized that was where I needed to be to figure out myself before I moved away. It opened my eyes to a lot of things.”

Ellis said when she first “COA was arrived at COA, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to kind of study. During her second my eyeyear, she also enrolled in opener for some business classes. everything...

“That’s when I realized It opened my that’s what I wanted to do,” eyes to a lot she said. “I realized that was of things.” the next step.”

Ellis is now a finance student at University of North Carolina Greensboro and is working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.

Ellis credits her newfound academic path to her time as a Student Ambassador, when she gave new students advice on classes.

“I would definitely say it helped me,” Ellis said.

“During that time, I think I decided where I wanted to be in my future.”

When Monique Manners graduated from College of The Albemarle with a double degree last May - she earned an Associate’s Degree in Arts and an Associate’s Degree in Science — her academic accomplishments were just the topper on a long list of clubs and activities that kept her busy during her two years on the Elizabeth City campus.

In addition to serving as a Student Ambassador, Manners was treasurer of the Student Government Association and vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

She also organized several community events, including a food and coat drive, and assisted with a campus blood drive.

And in between all the “I was so studying and club meetings, the grateful single mom also found time to to COA for raise her then nearly 2-year-old what they son.

Although her academic and gave me.” volunteer schedule kept her busy, the honor student credited her time at COA with her current success. Last fall, Manners received a full academic scholarship to the University of Michigan, where she is currently studying Industrial and Operations Engineering.

Manners said when she became a COA student in 2011, she was a new mom who had recently separated from her husband.

Quickly, COA became the surrogate family Manners needed.

“I was so grateful to COA for what they gave me,” Manners said. “They became like my family.

I needed the support and they were there for me.”

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foundation events

Alumni Reconnect Brunch Celebrates 50th Class

Members of the Class of 1963

Scholarship Recipients Meet Donors At Luncheon

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community service

“We count on them because they usually bring in 40 pints each drive. I think they [COA] are the only school in my seven counties to do four a year.”

Nancy Muller, account manager with the American Red Cross Tidewater District

Students and Faculty Join Forces for Community Service Projects coordinating a fundraiser for the Dare County Literary Council, the students also raised around $13,000, which was used to help rebuild a church in Haiti destroyed after an earthquake, and also helped fund a kidney transplant for a local resident.

Every year, students in Charles Purser’s COA Architectural Technology class volunteer their time and labor to help build a house for Chowan/ Perquimans Habitat for Humanity. The nonprofit group asked Charles to have his students develop new design plans for the house.

The class went to the house to take measurements and drew up the structure’s

They have designed and built homes for Habitat for Humanity, raised money to reconstruct an earthquake-ravaged church in Haiti, and they donate more than 100 pints of blood annually.

Throughout College of The Albemarle’s four campuses in Edenton, Elizabeth City, Currituck and Dare, students waste no time starting their community service projects.

COA students in the academic honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, transform the college’s Performing Arts Center lobby into a comfortable site for blood donors, arranging for the necessary chairs and tables, helping donors with registration and snacks during the day-long event.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Dr. Grace Wilson, COA instructor and PTK advisor since 2005. “It’s a lot of man hours. We try to get eight to 10 volunteers per event.”

“To organize one requires a great amount of leadership,” said Nancy Muller, account manager with the American Red Cross Tidewater district.

“We count on them because they usually bring in 40 pints each drive,” Muller said. “That’s a lot.

A community blood drive will do about 25 to 30. I think they are the only school in my seven counties to do four a year.”

Martha Johnson, Assistant Dean of COA’s Dare Campus, also realizes the importance of the International Club, a new student club on her campus that was started in September 2012.

In addition to visiting local nursing homes and t r a n s fo r m i n g l i v e s

existing layout. After numerous designs and meetings with officials from the local Habitat for Humanity organization, the former twobedroom, one bath, one-story Cape Cod home was turned into a one-and-a-half story home with two bathrooms and a third bedroom converted from the home’s former attic.

The experience, he added, taught students about meeting good design principles and the importance of including green design elements

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annual fundraiser More than 30 business and community sponsors, including DRS Technologies as the event’s Platinum President’s Circle sponsor, contributed to the success of the event. The College of The Albemarle Foundation realized more than $40,000 in proceeds from The Harvest Moon Ball.

Funds raised by the Foundation benefit the college in a number of ways, including scholarships, improvements to programs, such as aviation, computer machining, health sciences, and public services; providing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff; supporting technology and classroom enhancements and new program development; maintaining athletic excellence; and increasing scholarship opportunities to the citizens in COA’s seven-county service area in Northeastern North Carolina.

Harvest Moon Ball Sponsors $5,000

$1,000

Platinum President’s Circle

Bronze Vice Presidents’ Circle

DRS Technologies

A. R. Chesson Construction Oliver and Linda Etheridge Biggs Cadillac-Buick-GMC

$2,500

Vector CSP Telephonics Corporation The Willey Agency

Gold Board of Trustees’ Circle

Vidant Chowan Hospital

Wells Fargo / Whichard & Woolard

City Beverage (In-kind)

Elizabeth City Convention and Visitors Bureau

Hornthal, Riley, Ellis and Maland Mildred’s Florist Shop (In Kind) PNC Bank TCOM, L.P. Manufacturing

$1,500 Silver Foundation Circle Albemarle Health G. R. Little Agency Long and Foster Real Estate Sussex Development Corporation The Daily Advance CenturyLink Jones Printing Service, Inc. TowneBank of Currituck

Harvest Moon $500 Harvest Moon Patrons Circle Al and Conna Gesler Chick-fil-a (In-kind) Fairfield Inn & Suites First Citizens Bank Todd’s Pharmacy BB&T Bank Paul Mann Custom Boats (Robin Mann) Gary and Kandi Deitemeyer Hockmeyer Equipment Elizabeth City Regional Airport

to all of our s pons ors

College Financial Report Revenues

State Appropriation

$11,505,340.52

County Appropriation

$2,535,181.23

Student Financial Aid

$4,321,749.59

Student Tuition & Fees

$2,198,836.04

Gifts and Grants

$1,447485.87

Other $350,110.51 Total Revenues

$22,358,703.76

Expenses Salaries and Benefits Supplies and Materials

$13,805,452.16 $1,733,511.14

Services $2,005,398.67 Scholarships and Fellowships

$3,039,019.77

Utilities $758,791.16 Depreciation $992,985.35 Total Expenses

Fiscal data from year ending June 30, 2013

$22,335,158.25

RE

CI

PI

EN

TS

total transmitted

Scholarships & Student Aid 2012-2013 FEDERAL

Federal Pell Grant

Federal SEOG

Federal Work Study

1282 $4,151,389.20 110

$49,000.00

40

$50,072.25

Subtotal $4,250,461.45

NC Lottery Education Scholarship 167

$93,725

NCCC Child Care Grant

18

$22,559.74

Nurse Ed School Loan

2

$5,000.00

NC National Guard Tuition

1

$356.00

NC Reach

1

5,200.00

NC Targeted Assistance Program

9

$5,331.00

NC Forgivable Educational Loans

2

$5250.00

Subtotal $246,760.74

TS total transmitted

$109,339.00

PI

202

CI

NCCC Grant

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

68 Individual Scholarships

RE

EN

total transmitted

STATE

RE

CI

PI

EN

TS

-

$154,459.94

76

$73,083.43

11

$79,495.00

-

$37,312.39

PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS

11 Scholarship Categories

PRIVATE LOANS

11 Private Loans

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS

6 Individual Scholarships

TOTAL 2012-2013 $4,841,572.95

endowments

Endowments College of The Albemarle Foundation provides opportunities for professional development, program support, capital initiatives, new program development, and excellence through education. These opportunities cannot be provided without the financial support of individuals, scholarship donors, alumni, and community businesses. The endowments and annual scholarships listed provide students with the necessary aid to achieve their educational goals.

Ginny Crutcher Nash Music Scholarship Norman L. Norfleet, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Dr. Zack D. and Martha A. Owens Nursing Scholarship Regina Annette Peal Scholarship Glenn W. and Treva P. Pendleton Scholarship Pepsi-Cola Endowment

Allen Aldridge Memorial Endowed Scholarship*

Willard O. Forbes Memorial Endowed Scholarship*

Robert D. and Patricia A. Aldridge Endowed Scholarship

John Wood Foreman Trust

Athletic Endowment

William G. Gaither, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Cyrus and Elton Aydlett Scholarship Anna W. and Clifford E. Bair Music Scholarship

Robert E. Foreman Endowment

Jean George Memorial Scholarship

BB&T/J. Carroll Abbott Scholarship

Roy and Mary Frances Gregory Scholarship

BB&T/G. R. Little Scholarship

Bennie Vance Halstead Scholarship

BB&T/Swindell Lowery Scholarship

Bonnie S. Hawkins Memorial Scholarship

BB&T/Willis Owens Scholarship Alma and Chester Biggs Memorial Endowed Scholarship Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Blades and Dr. and Mrs. Julian W. Selig, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Marion Heller Memorial Scholarship Robert I. and Jean M. Hislop Memorial Scholarship Captain Alfred M. Howard USN Ret. Endowed Scholarship

Alexandra K. Boada Citizenship Award

Milburn M. James and Edna S. James Memorial Scholarship*

Vera Thompson Bosomworth Memorial Scholarship

Vernon & Selma James and Family Scholarship

Melvin W. Bright Scholarship Mildred Russell Bright Scholarship

Jaquelin Jenkins Memorial Scholarship for Visual Arts

Lynne M. Bunch Presidential Scholarship

Lower Currituck Volunteer Rescue Endowed Scholarship*

Johnenna Poulos Cannon Endowed Scholarship*

Don and Roberta McCabe Scholarship Fund*

Donna D. Cartwright Memorial Scholarship

Josephine C. McDonald Memorial Scholarship

Childers Nursing Scholarship

Charles R. McEver and William M. McEver Memorial Scholarship

Christ Episcopal Church Women Scholarship Harriette Crump Scholarship

George Dixon McKecuen Memorial Scholarship

Milton C. and Helen H. Prentiss Scholarship Presidential Scholars Program Providence Extension and Community Association Scholarship James Llewllyn Roberson Memorial Scholarship C. O. Robinson, Sr. Trust Scholarship Eloise Robinson Trust Scholarship Carrie M. Roebuck Nursing Scholarship Frank W. Selig, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Gaston E. Small, Jr. and Beverly M. Small Scholarship Addison Whidbee Stanton Scholarship Martha W. Swain Memorial Scholarship VFW – Ladies Auxiliary Post 6060 Scholarship Lucy Vaughan Memorial Endowment* Wachovia Foundation Faculty Award Endowment Charlie W. Ward, Jr. Occupational Education Scholarship Evelyn Weeks Endowed Scholarship* Weeksville Vegetable Growers Association Scholarship Marvenia G. White Memorial Scholarship Andrew “Drew” W. Winslow Memorial Scholarship George J. Winslow Scholarship

Jewel H. and Lee J. Davenport Scholarship

William E. and Sara W. Meiggs Memorial Fund

Mabel Hardison Dudley Memorial Scholarship

Miles Clark Endowed Professorship Jule C. Modlin, Jr. Scholarship

Edna Fenstamacher Nursing Scholarship

M. G. Morrisette, Jr. Scholarship

Jerry S. Wright, Sr. & Marjorie V. Wright Business Endowed Scholarship

B. Holt Muir Scholarship

Winifred J. Wood Endowment

George M. Wood Memorial Scholarship

*Funds that continue to mature or funds that have been established during the 2012-2013 academic year.

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scholarships

Annual Scholarships Rufus Abeyounis - Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Scholarship

Forty and Eight of the American Legion Scholarship

Lorimer and Margaret Midgett Trust Scholarship

Albemarle Hospital Volunteer Services Scholarship

Rev. Charles L. Foster Scholarship

Outer Banks Community Foundation Scholarship

Ruby Mitchell Foster Scholarship

Albemarle/Outer Banks Chapter NCACPA Scholarship

General Scholarship Fund

City Beverage/Elisha Coppersmith Scholarship

Hertford Savings Bank Scholarship

Gregory AVID Scholarship Fund

Lurana Cowan – Outer Banks Woman’s Club Scholarship

J. C. “Buddy” Hunt – Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Scholarship

H. G. Davenport/W. A. “Pig” Foster/ Red Men Scholarship

Jo and Buddy Hunt A/C, Heating & Refrigeration Scholarship

Elizabeth City Junior Woman’s Club Scholarship

Jo and Buddy Hunt Business Scholarship

Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Scholarship

Manteo Lions Club Scholarship

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Pepsi Cola Honors Scholarship Rebekah Lodge First District Association Scholarship River City Fraternal Order of Police Scholarship State Employees Credit Union Annual Scholarship Thomas J. Watts - Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Scholarship Grover C. White Scholarship Robert J. White Scholarship

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donors

Donors College of The Albemarle Foundation realizes the importance of making new friends, while providing additional funds, through outreach in the community. The Harvest Moon Ball allowed the Foundation to raise monies for use throughout the college, while bringing new and current friends of the college together to celebrate.

$50,000

G. Matt Wood and Holly Cook-Wood***

$25,000 - $49,999

Lorimer and Margaret Midgett Trust

$10,000 - $24,999

Albemarle Health Lower Currituck Volunteer Rescue, Inc. C. O. and Eloise Robinson Trust Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Ward

$5,000 - $9,999

DRS Technologies Shade Aldridge Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Biggs Frances A. Gaither Harriette D. Howard

$2,500 - $4,999

Albemarle Hospital Volunteer Services City Beverage Company Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau* Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Club Mann Custom Boats, Inc. Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Marcy Bergman Phyllis Bosomworth** Faith Gregory Steve Mazingo Mr. and Mrs. Don McCabe Glenda McRary and Bill Pitt Mr. and Mrs. Alex B. Rich** Mr. and Mrs. D. Keith Teague Mr. and Mrs. Sam Twiford**

$1,000 - $2,499

Aero Accessories** Albemarle Chorale A. R. Chesson Construction Company Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC Trucks, Inc. CenturyLink City Beverage** The Daily Advance

Elizabeth City Junior Women’s Club Follett Higher Education Group G.R. Little Agency Hockmeyer Equipment Corporation Hornthal, Riley, Ellis and Maland Jones Printing Service, Inc. Long and Foster Real Estate Manteo Lions Club Mildred’s Florist Shop* Outer Banks Community Foundation Pasquotank Tribe #8, Improved Order of Red Men PNC Bank The Perna Foundation for Hope Sussex Development Corporation TCOM, L.P. Manufacturing Telephonics Corporation TowneBank of Currituck Toyota of Elizabeth City VectorCSP Vidant Chowan Hospital Wells Fargo The Willey Agency Allen S. Aldridge† Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Aldridge Melanie Peel Blackford David A. Boone Deborah Bulliner** James W. Cartwright, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Deitemeyer Mr. and Mrs. Oliver S. Etheridge Nancy Ferebee Reverend Charles L. Foster† Mr. and Mrs. Albert M. Gesler Bill Hannan Mr. and Mrs. Marion Harris Jr. Nan Johnson** Mr. and Mrs. William F. Orr Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Riley Dr. and Mrs. Julian Selig, Jr.** Mr. and Mrs. George Taylor** James Turdici* Emily J. White Mr. and Mrs. J. Fletcher Willey, Jr.

$500 - $999

Albemarle Family YMCA** BB&T Bank Chick-fil-A** Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Regional Airport Fairfield Inn and Suites First Citizens Bank Golden Corral of Elizabeth City Jewelry by Gail, Inc.** MBAJ Architecture NCACPA Palladium Partners, Inc. Pepsi Bottling Ventures Perry Auto Group The Pfizer Foundation Rebekah Lodge First District Association Tandem, Inc. Todd’s Pharmacy Village Realty** Richard H. Bryant Mr. and Mrs. Jerry B. Carter Mr. and Mrs. Randy Cartwright Jeffrey L. Emmerich* Mr. and Mrs. Douglas S. Gardner Lloyd Griffin III Amanda R. Hodges* Lynn Hurdle-Winslow Nan Johnson** Doug Mercer Dr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Peel* Judy Peel** Mr. and Mrs. Ed Strickland Mr. and Mrs. H. Taylor Sugg Mr. and Mrs. George E. Thomas Jr. Karen Wuertz**

$250 - $499

Albemarle Nephrology, PLLC The Carolina Golf Club** Causeway Watersports** Crystal Enterprises, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn** Montero’s Restaurant, Bar and Catering* North Carolina Aquarium** Outer Banks Dive Center** Outer Banks Woman’s Club Photography by Jill** The Pointe Golf Club** Trio Wine** Turner’s Honda The Whalehead Club** Wild Horse Adventure Tours** Bobby Adams Mr. and Mrs. Steve Atkinson Kay Butler Barefoot Faye Cox Mr. and Mrs. Richard Davis Dr. Evan Fiedler Gale B. Flax N. Duval Flora Teresea S. Harris Jenna G. Hatfield Sonja Hibbard Gary Hobbs Ann Hoffman and Chuck Martin** George S. Jackson**

donors Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Jethro Lisa A. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Randy R. Keaton Jerry Kelly** David Kouskouris Joseph L. Lamb Jr. Jan Lauten Andy Mason Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. McFarlane Anne McKell Matthew B. Moyer Mr. and Mrs. William Owens Milan Rasic Marc Rivard Suzanne Rohrbaugh Dawn Rountree Mr. and Mrs. Jason A. Rovolis Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Small Dwayne Stallings Dr. and Mrs. William R. Sterritt David B. Taylor Dru Thompson** Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Winslow Jr. Steven Woodburn

Up To $249

Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation Alliance Nissan Applebee’s** Beach Organics Health Food** Blount’s Mutual Drugs, Inc. The Boardrider’s Grill** Brian M. Beasley Insurance Services, Inc. Café Luchene** Coastal Office Equipment Company Coinjock Marina** The Cotton Gin** Countryside Lawncare The Cupcakery Currituck Chamber of Commerce Cypress Creek Grill** Danielle’s Boutique** DLS Engineering Associates, Inc. Dockside Marina** Domtar Paper Company, LLC Elizabeth City Bed & Breakfast** Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce Elizabeth City Fire Department Farm Fresh** First Class Travel Fleet Reserve Association Branch 293 Foundation for the Carolinas The Framery* George Wood Farms, Inc. Gregg Shoes** Groupers** Hampton Inn Hutchins Allen and Company, PA Island Acupuncture & Massage Therapy** Island Cycles** Jessie Mac Designs** Jim Perry and Company Kathy’s Kreations Cafe Kelly Management Group** Kenyon Bailey Supply, Inc. Kitty Hawk Kites, Inc.** The Laser Tag Group** The Lost Colony** Martin Supply Company William P. McDowell & Associates Muddy Waters Coffeehouse**

Nags Head Hammocks, Inc.** North Carolina Bar Foundation North Landing Beach Campground and Resort** Northeastern Lawn Care, Inc. Ocean Atlantic Rentals, Inc.** Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar** Page After Page** The Pack House Inn** Paradise Dolphin Cruises** Pasquotank County Farm Bureau Pellicano Construction Pitt Road Express Lube, Inc. Ramada Plaza Hotel** Raymond James Financial Red Drum Taphouse & Grille** Roanoke Island Historical Association Sawyer’s House of Furniture* Sea, Sand, and Hand Jewelry** Selig’s** Shay Leslie Boutique** Shelby’s Travelers Sidney’s Café and Bistro** Soho Organic Market Sound Pointe St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Star Services, Inc. Steve Thompson Trucking Teach’s Lair** Two and a Half Women** Vineyards on the Scuppernong** Virginia Zoo** Whichard & Woolard Investment Group Wildflower Café** Sherry L. Adams Allen S. Aldridge† Iris S. Aldridge Karen Alexander William A. Allen Earnest Anderson Kevin Argo Milo Arnold April N. Ashmon Beverly Ashnault Jeffrey Ashnault Daryl Austin Ruth Balf M. Bailey Barrow William Bass Alan Baumann Arina Boldt Steve Bostic Wendy Brickhouse Alice P. Bridge Vivian Bridgers Marjorie Bright Maureen Brinson Donna Brown Sharon Brown Janice P. Bryant Jed Buckson Lynne M. Bunch Travis Burke Jessica Bursenos Kelly Cameron** Ralph Canady Jeffrey Carter Donald Y. Cherry Harrell Chesson Cathy Clair Maenecia L. Cole Debbie M. Coley

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George Collier Tommy Combs Ray Cox Joyce Crudup Mary Crutchfield Cameron Jay Cuthrell Scott Cutler Andrea Dance Timothy D. Dance M. Roy Daniels III Richard J. Davison Michelle Deanes Joe DeStefano Raffaele DiBari Jeremy Russell Dowdy David F. Dunstan Dr. and Mrs. Edward B. Eadie Jr. Grady Evan Edwards M. Hood Ellis James E. Ervin Rex Dea Etheridge Maude B. Eure Nancy Farmer Timothy Fetner Paula Fitzpatrick Wanda Fletcher Heather E. Forbes Mary Bundy Forbes Clay B. Foreman, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. Rodney Foreman John William Fox A. Dewane Frutiger Stella Gallop Mark K. Gass Jr. Jim Gibbons Karen Gilbert Barbara Gill Renee Gladden Sheila S. Glasscock Margaret Godfrey Angie R. Godfrey-Dawson Dr. Wesley Gragson Patricia A. Grantham Truman L. Groover James R. Gurganus Doreen Haddad Blanche S. Hailey Missy Hardy Mr. and Mrs. James P. Harrell Robin D. Harris Wayne Harris W. David Harris W. F. Harris Graham Harrison III Duffy Hart Robert J. Hawk II Dorsey O. Hawkins Jeanette Hentze Sherry Hewitt Frank P. Hiner IV Darcie Hoffer Deborah Holland Rebecca S. Holleman† Dale Horn Mr. and Mrs. L.P. Hornthal, Jr. Bob Horton Thomas R. Hoskins William Howard John K. Hoyt Beth A. Hughes Lennie L. Hughes Dr. and Mrs. Kurt L. Hunsberger

t r a n s fo r m i n g co m m u n i t i e s

donors Josephine N. Hunt C. J. Hutson A. Vann Irvin Allan K. Iversen Jr. Lucile B. Jackson Dwayne C. James Rita O. Jennings Johnnie R. Johnson Martha P. Johnson Leah A. Jones Ray S. Jones Tammy Kelley Shannon Kinser Ed Kirby Kiesha Knight Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Knighton Delorese A. Knott Thomas E. Knott Dr. and Mrs. W. Roger Lambertson Kelli E. Lassiter Dr. Ellis E. Lawrence Russell Lay Jerry Ledford Mary Cannada Ledford Tony Lee Mary B. Lilly Elizabeth Long Eric Lovik Charles Malieswski Dr. and Mrs. Steven P. Manuli** Glenn Marsh Paul R. Martin Mary Ann Mason Sherri L. May Patricia L. McCall Terry L. McIntire Mr. and Mrs. Michael McLain James W. McLawhorn Jr. Phillip S. McMullan Lisa A. Meads Raymond D. Meiggs Samuel Dale Mickey Eldon L. Miller Jr. William G. Miller T. Allen Mills Brock Mitchell Frank Mizak Ann Moore Clark Moore Lucien O. Morrisette Mary Frances Morrisette

Laura Morrison Vicki F. Moulson Michelle Munden Ken Myers Charles T. Nelson Dana Newton Mr. and Mrs. James Norrell Ginger O’Neal Phyllis A. Oberholzer Myrtle Faye Oliver Richard Olson Kathryn M. Osgood** Gwen W. Overman Rose Pait Patrick Parsons Reuben Payne Jashaun Peele Shirley H. Phelps Dr. and Mrs. Jerry C. Pickrel Glenna Pike Rhyannon Potter Agnes B. Powell Jennifer S. Priest Aleks Radevsk William E. Reese Terri Riddick Linda F. Rigsby Flora J. Robinson Paul Robinson Michael Roscoe Mr. and Mrs. Rodger S. Rossman Dean Roughton Wilson Roughton William Rowe Barbie N. Sawyer Bob Schenck Phil Scott Renee Shannon Bill J. Sherwin Terri Simerly Erika Simms Gaston Small Jr. Steve Smetana Dennis Alan Smith Kenneth R. Smith Lee Smith Charlie Smithson Robert C. Snyder Diana C. Spivey Donna Jordan Spivey John T. Stolarczyk

One of College of The Albemarle’s ongoing Community Service Education programs is our sponsorship of The Albemarle Chorale — a highly professional group of local singers who meet weekly to practice music across many genres. Based in Edenton and directed by Lynwood Winslow, the Chorale has performed four major concerts each year since 1999. For information about joining or supporting the Chorale, call the COA Edenton-Chowan campus at (252) 482-7900 x 2413.

Elton Stone Eric Storie George G. Strawley Paul D. Stroud J. T. Sutton Gary D. Swank Percy Eugene Talkington Lorene J. Taylor Andrea Temple Andrea B. Thomas Larry Thomasson Velma Thompson Mary Louise Tortoriello Marietta Hooper Trainor Joseph W. Turner Graham L. Twine Ernesto Vales Muffy Vestal Christopher A. Vogt Rebecca Walker Andrew Walser Doris Ward Sharon Warden Ruth G. Warren Michelle S. Waters Dr. and Mrs. James M. Watson Rhonda L. Watts John M. Wells Dempsey J. White Elizabeth H. White Elouise White James A. White Nicole E. White Stacey White Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. White Brandi N. Whitehurst Nicholas Wichowski Charles P. Wilbourne Elmo Williams Lucretia Williams Mary Ann Williams Thomas E. Wilson Peter Wood Elizabeth Woodhouse Robert F. Woodhouse Robin Zinsmeister † Denotes deceased * Denotes monetary and in-kind donations ** Denotes in-kind donation *** Denotes multi-year gift

Your Gifts At Work.

College of The Albemarle Foundation greatly appreciates your support. Through donations, the Foundation can continue to provide exceptional opportunities to students, faculty, and staff throughout the college.

Albemarle.edu/Give (252) 335-0821 x 2265

The President’s Annual Report is published by College of The Albemarle’s Institutional Advancement department.

Stories by Rita Frankenberry • Design and Photography by Jed Buckson.