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Editorial Column for Daily Herald
For Publication: 5/14/08

HCC: What We've Been Up To Recently

Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr.
President, Halifax Community College

In a recent Board of Trustees meeting, I gave an update on all of the happenings at Halifax Community College for the 2007-08 academic year. As we wrap up another successful year, I thought it might be a good idea to share the same news with you.

One of our biggest events is HCC graduation. I consider this the best day of the year at the college. We held our ceremony May 10 and featured Senior Vice President Kennon Briggs, who works with our North Carolina Community College System. This year, we had 469 graduates. There were 53 GED, 250 certificate (including our prison programs), 41 diploma and 129 associate degree graduates. During the ceremony, we had more than 170 students who participated. About 110 family members and friends participated in the traditional hooding part of the event.

Other activities of note include:

  •  The program auditor for the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) in a recent exit interview informed us that there would be no exceptions for the 2006-07 year. This was a very positive milestone for Halifax Community College. I commend all of the Faculty, Staff and administration at HCC who worked diligently on this project.

  •  We received a grant from the Motorsports Program Expansion Funds to provide training in the area of racing alignment and suspension and braking systems. The $12,500 grant will allow us to provide this training starting fall 2008.

  •  The Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax (NEWH) community college consortium met at HCC with area legislators, board chairs and the college presidents, Apr. 30. We discussed current and future funding needs that we hope will be addressed during the short session of the General Assembly.

  •  HCC also hosted the first-ever Men to Men Summit on May 1st. We registered more than 350 men (young and old) for the event that was intended to encourage the enrollment and graduation of young men from college. The program is sponsored by a grant from the Minority Male Mentoring Project that was funded by the NCCCS for HCC. We currently have about 20 mentors and 20 mentees participating in that program. The program was featured in an article published in the 88th Annual Convention issue of the Community College Times in March 2008.

  •  I currently serve on the Halifax-Warren Smart Start Partnership for Children board. The group has named HCC Child Care Center Teacher Rhonda Johnston as the 2008 Early Childhood Educator of the Year. Weldon Mayor Johnny Draper also presented a proclamation to the center in recognition of the Week of the Young Child.

  •  Professor Shaun Stokes was named Teacher of the Year by NCBAA at their November 2007 meeting in Fayetteville, N.C.

  •  Distinguished service awards were given Apr. 17, 2008, as we honored students during the first-ever Academic Awards Ceremony. We also honored students who were accepted into Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.

  •  Chairman Stanley Edwards and several members of the administrative staff attended the Academic Excellence Ceremony in Raleigh as well. Student award recipients were Sherry Agee and Johnnie Stevenson. HCC Student - Shenik Lindsay was also named Outstanding Human Resource Development Student from the Eastern Region of North Carolina.

  •  Also, I am working with the Enfield U-Turn Employment and training services in conjunction with CADA to help provide low income welfare recipients with transportation to get to work, school, and medical appointments.

  •  Our Long Range Plan 2007-2013 was completed and approved by the North Carolina Community College System. The plan was developed to anticipate what future college programs and facilities are needed to serve the Roanoke Valley.

From the President's Perspective, I think that it is important for the entire campus community to be involved in the community, both on campus and at large. I want to thank the Community-at-large, Faculty, Students, Staff, Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board of Trustees for the continued support of my administration as we endeavor to carry out the mission and purpose of HCC. If you want a complete update on our activities, go to our website and click on the President Page for more information on what we are doing at HCC to serve our region.

Feel free to send me an email message at president@halifaxcc.edu with your thoughts or ideas. Also, to learn about our current or new programs—stop by campus, call us at (252) 536-HCC1 (4221), or visit us online at www.halifaxcc.edu.