Eaton-Johnson Middle School Students Explore College, Career Options at VGCC
Eighth-graders from Eaton-Johnson Middle School in Henderson visited the main campus of Vance-Granville Community College on Nov. 6 and Nov. 8. Dr. Priscilla Chavis-Lockley, lead counselor and College/Career Counseling Coordinator at EJMS, led the student groups, accompanied for some of the visits by EJMS literacy coach Brenda Poole. According to Angela Gardner, VGCC’s Director of Applied Technologies and Public Service programs, the tours helped students learn about the college’s Cosmetology, Office Systems Technology, Criminal Justice, Carpentry, Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology, Welding, Automotive Systems Technology, Industrial Systems Technology and Electrical/Electronics Technology programs.
The students’ first stop on Nov. 8 was the instructional area for the college’s Carpentry program, headed by Keith Tunstall. Tunstall told the middle-schoolers that his students were learning about how to design projects that they would soon build in class. The overall focus of the program, he said, is learning how to build houses.
Tunstall asked the students what they would like to do for a living. Responses included “nurse,” “engineer,” “lawyer” and “President of the United States.” The carpentry instructor thought all of those were admirable goals, but he encouraged them to also remember that “everyone needs a carpenter.” Tunstall said that he hoped to see the students in a few years as high school or college students. Many VGCC courses are open to high school students, so students should make plans as early as middle school about possibilities at VGCC.
The partnership between VGCC and the middle school was initiated while Brian Creasman was principal at EJMS, but Chavis-Lockley said that the school’s new principal, Dr. Larry Webb, is just as excited about working with VGCC as was his predecessor. “We are bringing Vance-Granville to the students, so that they will know what they might be interested in before they sign up for high-school classes as eighth-graders,” Chavis-Lockley said. “The purpose is to get more students interested in going to college.”
Chavis-Lockley said she knows the value of a VGCC education from personal experience. Chavis-Lockley earned two degrees at Vance-Granville before moving on to North Carolina Central University for a bachelor’s degree and three master’s degrees, and to North Carolina State University for a doctorate in education and counseling.
Above: VGCC Carpentry program head Keith Tunstall (left) speaks to visiting students from Eaton-Johnson Middle School as VGCC Director of Applied Technologies and Public Service Angela Gardner (center) listens. (VGCC Photo)
