19 minute read
Jones Recognized as Master Instructor
Alumni Association Spotlight: Kenard Johnson
Kenard Johnson says his experience at Nash Community College provided the tools for him to be successful not only academically, but also in his dayto-day life.
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Johnson graduated from Rocky Mount High School. He attended NCC from 2015 until 2018 before transferring to Campbell University.
“I decided to go to NCC because I wanted to be productive and it was close to home and affordable,” Johnson said. “I didn’t have the best habits initially to be academically successful, it wasn’t difficult for me to develop them at NCC. I started to mature and practice better study habits due to various instructors, leaders in church, and family urging me to push harder and work towards excellence to be a positive example for my hometown.”
Johnson graduated from Campbell University, with honors, on Saturday, May 8, 2021. With classes and extracurricular activities filling his schedule, Johnson said time management was his biggest challenge. However, once he established a routine and stuck to it, he was able to perform at the highest level.
Johnson played football at Campbell University for one year and later became a videographer on the football film team. He also served as a resident chaplain. “I put everything to use that I had been learning. I had ample opportunities to exude the resilience I developed in Rocky Mount,” he said.
Kenard Johnson was president of Campbell’s Christian ministry, Radical Athlete and Student Oasis Ministry (RANSOM), and was a member of the Student Executive Leadership Council representing RANSOM on seven other college campuses. “Being a leader left me no choice but to chase excellence. I learned that my success isn’t really for me, but for others to see modeled along with my failures.”
“I developed relationships that will last a lifetime. I have been mentored by professors and had mentorship in the faith. From my involvement with football, I also gained skills and perspectives that allow me to see life from a different lens. And I met brothers from other mothers,” he said. “Our relationships were forged from stern accountability from our foundation of faith.”
Johnson earned an Associate in Arts degree from Nash Community College and a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a minor in Graphic Design at Campbell University. This fall he will begin working toward his master’s degree at Savannah College of Art and Design.
“To anyone who ever felt as if they can’t, I promise, you can. I used to be mixed up in gangs and street life and now I am graduating with my second degree, a minor, and Magna Cum Laude honors.”
“Where I come from, there isn’t really a culture of pursuing higher education, let alone finishing high school. At Nash, they made me feel like I was created to do great things… things larger than I can even fathom.”
“At NCC, students are assisted in every way possible,” he said. “It isn’t just students working to attain their goals, but there is a team, no…a family… there to assist if there is any trouble along the way.” Johnson transferred to Campbell University and adjusted quickly to life on his new campus. “I expected to be settled in after about a month but it only took about two weeks. They have a really good orientation team who did a great job explaining to the newcomers how to navigate the campus.”
Jones Recognized as Master Instructor
Nash Community College recognized a member of its nursing faculty, Melissa Jones, as a new inductee into the Master Instructors for Higher Education class on Thursday, September 10, 2020.
The Master Instructor designation was developed to identify Nash Community College instructors who exemplify excellence in three performance standards: educational professionalism, leadership and collaboration, and responsibility for student learning. Gerontological Medical Surgical Nursing and is a Certified Nurse Educator.
In 2019, Melissa Jones received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award and was a nominee for the J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017 and 2019.
“As a nursing instructor, it is vital to incorporate strategies to not only keep students engaged but to help them develop the clinical thinking skills they need to be successful nurses,” Jones said. “My career as a nursing educator continues to be one of the most valuable and rewarding experiences of my professional career.”
Pictured from left, Director of Nursing, Tywana Lawson; NCC President, Dr. Lew Hunnicutt; Nursing Instructor, Melissa Jones; Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at East Carolina and NCC Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Tammie Clark University. She graduated from Mansfield University with a Master of Science degree in Nursing. She holds board certification for 14
Holmes Receives Advocate of the Year Award
The National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter has awarded Marbeth Holmes, with the 2021 NASW-NC Myrna Miller Wellons Advocate of the Year Award.
Holmes serves as Nash Community College’s Dean of Student Success. She was selected for this award by the NASW-NC Legislative Committee because of her passion and advocacy for helping individuals from diverse backgrounds seek higher education and achieve their educational dreams. Her innovation and drive to see NCC students succeed has made her a leader across the state.
Holmes graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, in 2014 with her Master of Social Work. Upon graduating, she created the Student Wellness Center at NCC. She later became the center’s director and was then promoted to Dean of Student Success for the College. In her current role, she oversees the Student Wellness Center, Library Services, Student Engagement, Advising Services, and the Career and College Promise program.
“Marbeth is an invaluable member of Team Nash,” NCC president Dr. Hunnicutt said. “Her commitment to student success goes much further than the attainment of a credential. She is dedicated to the total well-being of all students, and I speak for our entire team when I say well done Marbeth, and congratulations on this prestigious award!”
Ms. Holmes has a track record of supporting students as they complete their educational goals and has led the efforts to leverage resources in excess of $5.5 million for students through the Single Stop poverty alleviation program. Under her leadership, employees of the Student Wellness Center attended an event at the White House celebrating their completion of the 2016 White House Healthy Campus Challenge in 2017. Additionally, the center was awarded the 2016 Ambassador Award for providing outstanding representation of the campus on local, state, and national levels. In 2018, Holmes received the Nash Community College President’s Cup, the highest honor the College awards.
“Ms. Holmes has shown that she will stop at nothing to bring not only necessary supports to students, but also the love, compassion, respect, and the tenacity of a true social work advocate. She does this through empowerment, teamwork, and with social work values at the forefront of her efforts and organizational policy change,” said Lisa de Saxe Zerden, MSW, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for MSW Education at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work.
Pictured above, Marbeth Holmes, 2021 Myrna Miller Wellons Advocate of the Year award recipient.
NCC Holds Pinning Ceremony for Health Sciences Graduates
In an outdoor, socially distanced pinning ceremony Nash Community College recognized graduates from its Associate Degree Nursing and Veterinary Medical Technology programs. The event was held on campus on Thursday, May 13 at 5:30 pm. Twenty-two nursing graduates and six Veterinary Medical Technology graduates were honored during the event.
The Associate Degree Nursing curriculum provides students the skills necessary to integrate safety and quality into nursing care, to practice in a dynamic environment, and to meet individual needs which impact health, quality of life, and achievement of potential. The nursing curriculum emphasizes the nurse as a member of the interdisciplinary team providing safe, individualized care while employing evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics. The graduates are now eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
Leora Gray Batchelor Gretchen Blankenship Heather Coley Richard M. Collier Shonta Cox Janice L. Davenport Brianna Denton Logan Edwards Brittaney Alíce Hagans Margarite Nicole Jackson Rebecca Lamm Crystal Lewis Doreen T. Mangia Erica Denise Manley Kia McCullough Victoria Noel Moss Aubrey Denise Reeves Quanysha Royster Angel Stallings Shelby Wall Jarren Webb Kaley Hope Wester
2021 NCC Associate Degree Nursing Graduates:
NCC’s Veterinary Medical Technology curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to assist veterinarians in preparing animals, equipment, and medications for examination and surgery. The Veterinary Medical Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) as a program for educating veterinary technicians. Graduates of accredited programs may be eligible to take state and national examinations administered by the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board.
Tina Marie Dunham Aaron Michael Hall Lucero Hernandez Carbajal Brooke Nicole Owens James Devin Powell Yakema Shantell Richardson
2021 NCC Veterinary Medical Technology Graduates:
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Classroom Features Ambulance Simulator & Training Mannequin
Nash Community College has added an in-classroom ambulance simulator and high-fidelity training mannequin to its training props for Emergency Medical Services students. The ambulance simulator is located inside the Continuing Education and Public Services building located on the south end of campus. The new equipment adds to the college’s existing ambulance, classroom space and training field. The high-fidelity simulation mannequin incorporates computer hardware that can be programmed to allow the highest level of instruction as students respond to a variety of scenarios to replicate what they would encounter in the real world. NCC’s training is tailored to meet the needs of students in EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic programs.
The simulator also allows for tailored training specific to treatment areas identified as critical by local peer review committees and will serve local agency employees’ specific needs for skill enhancement. During the pandemic, the equipment was utilized as another option to bridge gaps in clinical and field opportunities when hospital or EMS partners could not sustain student internships. The SimRig purchase was made possible by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act through the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield Funds Support Firefighter Training
Nash Community College has been awarded $50,000 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina Firefighter Stipend and Scholarship Program. The funds will provide stipends of $500 per term or scholarships of up to $1,000 per term for eligible community college students. The students must be enrolled in NC Firefighter Certification courses or courses leading to an eligible associate degree.
The goal of the funding is to support North Carolina fire and rescue departments with recruitment and retention of firefighters. A particular emphasis is on supporting the recruitment and training of individuals in achieving their Firefighter I & II certifications to impact the number of firefighters within the state. In addition to the support provided to Nash Community College, this funding was made available to students at 19 other North Carolina community colleges including Beaufort, Bladen, Blue Ridge, Caldwell, Central Carolina, Cleveland, College of The Albemarle, Halifax, Isothermal, James Sprunt, Montgomery, Richmond, Robeson, Southwestern, Stanly, Surry, Vance-Granville, Wayne and Wilson community colleges.
Pictured left, NCC Firefighter Academy cadets take part in a confined spaces training exercise in the Continuing Education Building Multipurpose Room.
Jason Rierson (left) assists a student with registration.
NCC Accreditation Reaffirmed by SACSCOC
Nash Community College’s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has been reaffirmed.
On June 17, 2021, the SACSCOC Board of Trustees voted to reaffirm Nash Community College, following an in-depth decennial review, with no conditions. The college was in compliance with all of the SACSCOC standards and requirements.
“For accreditation, an institution must demonstrate compliance with the standards, policies and procedures set forth by the Commission. Being accredited shows the quality of education students receive at Nash Community College,” NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt said. collaborative needs assessment, the college selected the establishment of a Success Network for its Quality Enhancement Plan.
The purpose of the Success Network Quality Enhancement Plan is to assist students by assigning them to success coaches for mentorship and guidance throughout their college career and connecting them to tutoring services and resources based on their individual needs. Students will incrementally be assigned to a coach throughout the five years of the plan implementation. Renee Martinez, Director of Advising Services, is responsible for planning, coordinating, and improving the experience for students via the Success Center initiatives.
“Success Coaches support students’ power to succeed by listening and seeking to understand their lives and needs,” Martinez said. “We offer academic advising, assistance with the college application process, ongoing engagement with students, proactive assistance in helping students achieve long-term and short-term goals, referrals to a variety of focused services and ongoing assessment and intervention to help meet student needs.”
“Returning to school to continue my education after many years away from the classroom, I knew I would need some guidance on my journey. I am impressed at NCC’s resources to support student success,” NCC Associate in Arts student Laura Robbing said. “Meeting with my success coach on a regular basis allows me to ask questions and helps hold me accountable as I move forward.”
In addition to the director, the Success Network employs three coaches: Jamal Pitt, Jason Rierson and Tessa Weisenborn.
“This process recurs every 10 years and requires an ongoing, high level of commitment to ensuring the college meets and exceeds the needs of students,” Hunnicutt said. “Reaffirmation is a significant achievement that took the entire team being dedicated to prioritizing internal review and accreditation compliance in college operations.”
While much of the review occurred virtually due to the pandemic, the SACSCOC On-Site Committee Chair will visit the campus in September for the required in-person verification.
The reaccreditation process concluded when the SACSCOC Board reaffirmed NCC’s accreditation in June.
NCC created a Quality Enhancement Plan as an integral component of the reaffirmation of the accreditation process with SACSCOC. The five-year plan reflects a commitment to enhancing institutional quality by focusing on an issue the institution considers important to student learning and success. After a comprehensive and
Jamal Pitt (left), Tessa Weisenborn (center), and Renee Martinez (right) assist students during open enrollment.
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Celebrating the Classes of 2020 and 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the college to take a non-traditional approach to graduation ceremonies in 2020 and 2021.
On Saturday, October 17, 2020, masked graduates lined up for a ceremonial grand processional through campus before exiting their vehicle at the main event. One by one, and with safety a priority, they were greeted outdoors by NCC officials while family and friends looked on from the car. “Due to the pandemic, we had to make the very difficult decision to postpone our graduation ceremony in May,” NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt said. “We made the promise to hold the event once we could do so safely. What the pandemic could not take away was our extreme pride in every Nighthawk graduate.”
“What a journey you, and we, have been on to get to this point,” Hunnicutt told the graduates. “Your perseverance inspires me. You completed your coursework during a worldwide pandemic that continues to this day. Please always keep that in mind when you look back over this major accomplishment.”
“You are now, and forever will be a Nash Nighthawk, and we take great pride in that. I wish each of you the very best of luck and much success as you enter the next phase of your life’s journey. I offer my thanks to you for allowing Nash Community College to be a part of your life.”
On Saturday, May 15 in an outdoor ceremony, NCC honored Class of 2021 adult high school, high school equivalency, degree, diploma and certificate graduates. “What a journey you, and we, have been on to get to this point,” President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt said. “Your perseverance to complete your program of study truly inspires me. You completed your coursework during a worldwide pandemic that continues to this day.”
“From the day you first came to campus and possibly were thinking ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ to the time after your first semester or two when you began thinking, ‘I think I can do this…” to this special day. You are now, and forever will be, a Nash Community College Nighthawk,” Hunnicutt said.
Rocky Mount native, Kevin Jones, delivered the keynote address. Recalling the advice given by the speaker at his own graduation, Jones told the graduates success would likely come when they find their advantages in the world. “There are three advantages that each of you has as you gear up to leave your mark on your piece of the world: application of things you’ve learned, adaptability and attitude.
”Student Government President, Kody Wooten, shared encouraging words with the Class of 2021. “We’ve all given up something to be here,” he said. “Some of us enrolled in college as a way to start over, escape a bad situation at home, or chase a long-forgotten dream. When all else fails, always remember: with this achievement/degree, you have given yourself the best gift possible.”
“You have given yourself the gift of a brighter future,” Wooten continued, “but also the skills to perform and the knowledge to succeed in whatever you may find yourself faced with going forward in life. Never stop challenging yourself. Never give up or forget why you have done this. Set goals that are so big that you can’t achieve them until you become the kind of person who can. Seek novelty and knowledge and continue to grow beyond your limits. Try things outside your comfort zone. Pursue habits that push you to learn new things about the world and yourself.”
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Dr. Lew Hunnicutt awards diplomas during graduation.
Shanette Graham
“Working hard and having a great attitude have paved the way for me,” Nash Community College student Shanette Graham said. “I have been blessed with opportunities that provided valuable lifelong skills. I have learned to grow through my successes, as well as my struggles.”
A native of Wilson, NC, Graham graduated from James Hunt High School. “I became a mother early – right after graduating in 2003,” she said. “At that very moment, I knew I had to make a way for us.”
After speaking with a military recruiter, Graham enlisted in the Navy. “The fear of flying and leaving home weighed heavy on my mind. I had never left my parents,” she recalls. “I entered boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and had no idea what to expect. But I told myself, no matter what I had to work hard.”
During her eight-year enlistment, Shanette Graham held the rank of third class petty officer on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. She was deployed to Africa, Dubai and England on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with 5,000 other individuals. She served as a machinist mate servicing the carrier’s engines and other mechanical systems. was not sure what I wanted to do but I had an interest in studying the human body and mind.” She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in psychology and began working at a pharmaceutical plant as a biologist.
“I have always had a strong will to learn. Learning excites me in so many ways. I love science and I am also good at math,” she said, which explains her current pursuit of an accounting diploma at Nash Community College.
“Someone told me about Nash, and I could hear the excitement in their voice when they spoke about the beautiful campus and the variety of programs offered. The excitement and love of learning is what led me to become a student here,” she said.
Now a mother of three, Shanette said, “I have made it my effort to show my children that anything is possible if you invest the time and energy into it. It is important for them to see me working hard, and to truly understand the importance of education. They need to know they can do the same.”
“I don’t know...I just want to keep learning,” she said. “Since as far back as I can remember I have always loved dealing with numbers. Although math is not one of the favorite subjects for many students, it has always been my strongest subject. The advisors, counselors, and other students at Nash Community College provide a family atmosphere. They make it easy to communicate about classes, work, grades, and planning for the future.”
Nash Community College is designated as a Military Friendly School.Returning to civilian life in 2013, she enrolled at Barton College to pursue a degree in biology as a first-generation college student. “I
Broadcast Student Wins International Exhibition ‘Best of Festival’
When Nash Community College Broadcasting and Production Technologies student Isaac Anderson entered the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts competition in the two-year colleges category he knew the competition would be fierce.
“I was actually very nervous,” said Anderson. “There are some great schools in that category. I didn’t know we would actually win.”
In June 2020, Anderson and Isaac Anderson Studio 67 worked with Raleigh musical group Thirsty Curses to film and produce a music video for their song “Bruises on Your Shoulders.” The music video was filmed in Wilson, NC at the Edna Boykin Cultural Center following CDC-recommended Covid-19 protocol during filming. Anderson served as director of photography, editor and producer on the project and entered the final music video in the narrative video category for two-year colleges. He learned he won the category competition and that his entry would be entered into the Best of Festival competition.
The BEA Festival of Media Arts is an international exhibition of awardwinning faculty and student works and is the top competition for the Broadcast Education Association. BEA is the premier international academic media organization. NCC has been a member of BEA since 2019.
Anderson attended a virtual awards ceremony usually held in person in Las Vegas, NV. Fifty minutes into the ceremony the Two-Year Colleges category was announced, and Anderson found out he had won “Best in Festival.” He even was allowed to unmute and say a few words to attendees.
Best of Festival winners receive recognition, a cash prize and exhibition of their works during BEA’s annual convention, held yearly in Las Vegas.
The music video for “Bruises on Your Shoulders” by the Thirsty Curses is on YouTube and has been viewed over 11,000 times.
