VGCC Honors WIA Students who Accomplished Goals
Vance-Granville Community College held a ceremony and dinner May 21 to recognize students in the college’s Workforce Investment Act program who had reached their educational and career goals since July 1, 2007. The WIA program is named for the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, federal legislation that provides training and employment opportunities for eligible adults to either enter, re-enter or remain in the labor force.
The honorees included 29 participants in the Achievement through Curriculum Training (ACT) program, 10 of whom graduated from VGCC on May 15. All have completed one of the college’s degree, diploma or certificate programs. They included Rhonda Williamson (a student in the Licensed Practical Nursing program) of Bullock; Nina Montague (Business Administration) of Butner; Jeffrey Camillo (Radiography) and Keisha Clary (LPN), both of Creedmoor; Cassandra Alexander (CNA), Loretta Alston (LPN), Johnnie Chavis (Criminal Justice), Brandi Dickerson (LPN), Sonya Durham (CNA), Serena Green (Office Systems Technology), David Harris (Carpentry), Kathy Henderson (CNA), Jeanette Evans Hobgood (LPN), Gail Person (CNA), Calandra Ricks (CNA), Tarlesha Seward (CNA), Eddie Short (Human Services), Charles Smith (Human Services), Shaneva Spivey (Medical Office Administration), Robin Terry (Medical Assisting), Tina Thompson (CNA) and Tiffany Wade (CNA), all of Henderson; Linda Matthews (Medical Office Admin./OST) of Kittrell; Brenda Poythress (Accounting/Business Administration) and Joseph Poythress (Welding), both of Manson; Timothy Harris (Welding) and Jennifer Thorpe (Early Childhood/Teacher Associate), both of Oxford; Civonna Cole (Associate Degree Nursing) of Stovall; and Connie Bass (LPN) of Youngsville.
There were also five On-the-Job Training participants — Jessica Claiborne of Oxford (who trained at Woodmont Petroleum), Stacy Hilliard of Henderson (Above & Beyond Day Care), Beverly Lane of Oxford (Dr. Lax Chudasama), Christie Tart of Kittrell (Data Services of America) and Sandy Williams of Louisburg (Handcrafted Homes) — honored at the dinner.
High school students who learned valuable work skills in the six-week WIA in-school program included Damien Jacobs of Louisburg High School, Lillieann Lemay of Southern Vance High School and Jermaine Nicholson of Bunn High School.
Jane Ball-Groom served as the guest speaker. Ball-Groom is founder and executive director of Pier View Community Innovations in Manson. Before retiring in 2004, Ball-Groom was the Workforce Development Director for the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (which administers federal WIA funds) for 21 years. She congratulated students on achieving through hope and audacity, and she encouraged them never “to stop climbing or learning new skills.”
In closing remarks, VGCC President Randy Parker, Vice President of Community and Economic Development Vanessa Jones and Kerr-Tar Regional COG Workforce Development director Vincent Gilreath lauded the students and the WIA department staff, headed by director Sylvia Jones.
Above: Jane Ball-Groom speaks at the WIA recognition program at VGCC. (VGCC Photo)
