VGCC Paralegal program sends first graduates off to new careers
Vance-Granville Community College recently celebrated the graduation of the first class from the two-year Paralegal Technology degree program. Also worth celebrating was the fact that by the time they graduated, some of the students had already secured employment in their chosen career field.
Members of the first graduating class included Kevin W. Allen of Franklinton; Kristy L. Hope of Henderson; Safwan A. Ali and Megan N. Finch, both of Louisburg; Tanisha L. Bullock and Donna W. McAllister, both of Manson; and Michelle R. Williams of Raleigh.
Williams was hired by Yates, McLamb and Weyher, a medical malpractice and personal injury firm in Raleigh, as a legal assistant/document specialist, during her final semester in the program.
Allen, meanwhile, gained employment before graduating as a paralegal with the Law Office of T. Allen Gardner in Louisburg. He was offered a full-time position after completing an internship with Gardner.
Williams and Allen plan to take the paralegal certification exam in October. They and the other graduates have that opportunity to become certified because the VGCC Paralegal program was designated a “ Qualified Paralegal Studies Program ” by the North Carolina State Bar earlier this year.
Ali is completing an internship with the law office of Williams & Bagshawe in Warrenton. He plans to use his degree to do freelance work while continuing his education at North Carolina Central University. Ali intends to major in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security. “Afterwards, I'm also considering attending law school and hopefully obtaining my law degree from Central as well,” Ali said.
In addition, one of the graduates, Hope, was already employed with the law firm of Perry & Waters, LLP, when she started the Paralegal program, and used her education to become a more highly skilled employee. Now, Hope says, “I plan to stay as long as they'll have me. I would also love to further my education, but will definitely be taking a break before doing so.”
The VGCC Paralegal program is based at the college’s Franklin County Campus and began in the fall of 2013. For more information on the program, call Antoinette Dickens at (252) 738-3609 or (919) 496-1567, ext. 3609.
Above: From left, Paralegal Technology program head/instructor Antoinette Dickens, graduates Kristy Hope, Megan N. “Nikki” Finch, Tanisha Bullock, Safwan Ali, Kevin Allen, Donna McAllister and instructor Marque Debnam, are seen here on VGCC’s Main Campus shortly after their commencement exercises in May. Not pictured: graduate Michelle Williams. (VGCC photo)
