Middle School Students learn about Biotech at VGCC

Students from Henderson Middle School visited Vance-Granville Community College’s main campus on March 24 to learn about the college’s Bioprocess Technology program. The two-year degree program is designed to prepare individuals to work as Process Operators in biological products manufacturing facilities.

The HMS students visited as part of Citizen Schools, an after-school program. Citizen Schools is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing students with access to educational and economic opportunity. Henderson Middle School is one of only five schools in North Carolina with a Citizen Schools program, according to the national web site ( www.citizenschools.org ). Team Leader Tamara Terry accompanied the students to VGCC. Sherrie Evans is the Campus Director for Citizen Schools at HMS.

Bioprocess Technology program head/instructor Joseph Tyler gave the students a tour of the college’s state-of-the-art biotechnology lab. The students, who included sixth, seventh and eighth-graders, then received a quick lesson in bioprocess technology, by learning how milk is converted to yogurt.

For more information on Bioprocess Technology, call Joe Tyler at (252) 738-3350.

Above: Joe Tyler (standing, right), head of VGCC’s Bioprocess Technology program, talks to Henderson Middle School students in the biotechnology lab on VGCC’s main campus, as VGCC Dean of Arts and Sciences Michael Ellis (in back) listens. Tyler is demonstrating how yogurt bacteria are grown in a laboratory. (VGCC photo)