VGCC Franklin Campus Hosts Spring Kick-off for Mentoring program

Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus was the site of the spring 2008 kick-off event for the college’s “Men-On-A-Mission” male mentoring program on Feb. 12. The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. James Hardy, who has run a successful dental practice in Louisburg for 27 years.

Dr. Hardy reminded the mentees that they “need to set goals and then work towards accomplishing their goals.” Hardy shared the story of how he grew up on a farm and knew that he did not want to be a farmer all his life. He had obstacles along the way but he was focused on attending college.

Men-On-A-Mission is open to any male student who attends VGCC, but the emphasis is on minority males in particular. “Due to numerous obstacles, these young men start out at VGCC but do not finish their associate degrees. We hope to turn this around by pairing the mentees up with a mentor who will encourage and advise them whenever needed,” Franklin County Campus Director Anthony Pope said.

VGCC President Randy Parker said that the male mentoring program is one response to the statistical fact that males make up only about one-third of students in higher education nationwide today. “Research shows that if young men make it through the difficulties of adjusting to their first semester in college, they will continue and be successful,” Parker said.

For more information on the mentoring program, contact Daniel Alvarado at (252) 738-3282 or Peyton Boyd at (252) 738-3445.

Above: Dr. James Hardy of Louisburg (standing) speaks at the spring 2008 kick-off for Vance-Granville Community College’s male mentoring program, as Franklin County Campus director Anthony Pope (seated, left) listens. (VGCC photo)