Warren County students graduate from VGCC summer transportation institute

Seventeen Warren County High School students were recently honored for graduating from the National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI), hosted by Vance-Granville Community College’s Warren County Campus. This was the first time the four-week institute was offered, although the campus hosted a similar Summer Transportation & Trades Academy in 2015.

The summer program was conducted by the college in partnership with , the and the . The NSTI concluded on July 15, when graduation exercises were held at Warren County High School.

Graduates included WCHS students Asia Baskerville, DeAnna Brame, Xavier Durham, Laquashia Harris, Marquis Henderson, Tyriq Jiggetts, Talik Jones, Kayla Larson, Mallory Richardson, Morissa Richardson, Donte Robinson, Laquan Satterwhite, Tyrone Simes, Gary Wilkins, Byron Williams, Tyrek Williams and Keonay Witherspoon.

Three graduates were recognized with outstanding achievement awards for going “above and beyond”: Durham, Jiggetts and Larson.

The ceremony, entitled “Transformation through Transportation II,” began with welcoming remarks by VGCC Director of Occupational Extension Jean Blaine, who managed the NSTI project for the college. “The college is honored to offer this program,” Blaine said. VGCC is the first community college in North Carolina to host a camp through an NSTI grant.

The staff for the camp included coordinator Odessa Perry and Shawn Peebles, both Warren County educators; assistant coordinator Luke Stavish, a VGCC graduate who is now a student at East Carolina University; and intern Peter Marcellas Robinson of Creedmoor, a VGCC Mechatronics Engineering Technology student.

During the graduation ceremony, groups of students made presentations that summarized their experiences during the program, which taught them everything from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to “soft skills,” and from “team building” to building small solar-powered cars and boats.

The camp featured a variety of guest speakers and instruction on careers related to all modes of transportation, including highways, rail, air and water. As they learned about workplace safety, students became certified in CPR and first aid by Stephen Barney from the VGCC Emergency Medical Services department. Among the other VGCC faculty and staff teaching sessions were Global Logistics and Distribution Management Program Head Steve Woodworth, Librarian Jennie Davis, Director of Student Success Amy O’Geary, Academic Skills Center Coordinator Jason Snelling, Director of Financial Aid Kali Brown, Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow, Information Technology Program Head Faith Harris, Science Department Chair Steve McGrady, South Campus Dean Cecilia Wheeler, Fire/Rescue Programs Coordinator Randy Owen, Human Resources Development Coordinator Kyle Burwell, and Job-Driven Initiative Grant Coach Connie Ragland.

Students went on several field trips during the program, visiting the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Walmart Distribution Center in Henderson, the Battleship USS North Carolina in Wilmington, an Amtrak station, the North Carolina Museum of History, and the Mechatronics lab at VGCC’s South Campus.

Melvin Williams, Jr., the on-the-job training (OJT) manager for the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Equal Opportunity and Workforce Services, was the guest speaker for the graduation ceremony. His message to graduates was, “Changes are good.” He recalled being intimidated by change as a young man going from a small, rural community into a new environment as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “You learned this summer how to live with change,” Williams said to the students. “You all didn’t show fear; you faced change head-on and said, yes, I want to do this program.”

Williams recommended a book about change to the students, “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. He encouraged graduates to share their NSTI experiences with their classmates. Williams also thanked VGCC staff, Warren County Schools leaders, federal officials and parents for supporting the idea of implementing the NSTI in a new way in Warren County. “You students are a part of change in how we include young people in the transportation industry in North Carolina,” Williams said.

Also making remarks to congratulate the graduates and applaud the partnership that made the NSTI possible were: VGCC Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs Dr. Angela Ballentine, Federal Highway Administration Program Manager Lynise DeVance, N.C. Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights Director Marci Wright and Warren County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ray Spain, who said that the local NSTI partnership provided a model for other North Carolina high schools and community colleges.

In closing remarks, VGCC Warren Campus Dean Lyndon Hall urged graduates not just “to get educated, but to stay educated,” and said that the community college would welcome them and help them prepare for any type of career.

Each participant attended the camp at no cost and received a stipend based upon their attendance and active participation in camp activities.

VGCC is partnering with the DOT on a number of training initiatives, including a Heavy Equipment Operator course, which is also conducted at the Warren Campus. For more information on transportation-related training, contact Jean Blaine at blainej@vgcc.edu .

 

Above:  First (front) row, from left: VGCC student and NSTI intern Peter M. Robinson, graduates Asia Baskerville, DeAnna Brame, Gary Wilkins, Xavier Durham, Laquashia Harris, Marquis Henderson and Tyriq Jiggetts; second row, from left: Talik Jones, Tyrone Simes, Kayla Larson, Mallory Richardson, Byron Williams, Morissa Richardson, Donte Robinson, Laquan Satterwhite and Tyrek Williams; third row, from left: NSTI assistant coordinator Luke Stavish, coordinator Odessa Perry, VGCC Director of Occupational Extension Jean A. Blaine, Federal Highway Administration program manager Lynise DeVance, VGCC Warren Campus Dean Lyndon Hall, N.C. Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights director Marci Wright, N.C. Department of Transportation education initiatives program coordinator JoAnna McCoy, Warren County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ray Spain, VGCC Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs Dr. Angela Ballentine and N.C. Department of Transportation OJT Manager Melvin L. Williams, Jr. Not pictured: graduate Keonay Witherspoon. (VGCC photo)

 

Above: N.C. Department of Transportation OJT Manager Melvin L. Williams, Jr., addresses graduates of the National Summer Transportation Institute. (VGCC photo)

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