Tansey Topics: A weekly look at what's happening at BCCC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    The Gullfest Planning Committee is working hard to make our first spring festival a success on Saturday, April 5. Gullfest Chairman Theresa Edwards reports that over 60 arts and crafts vendors are expected to participate. In addition, everyone at the college is excited about the scheduled appearance of Ben Jones, the actor who played Cooter on Dukes of Hazzard during the automobile club's car show. GED Recruitment and Retention Specialist Penelope Radcliffe seeking volunteers who are willing to "go to jail" to support scholarships for GED students. Event organizers will block off parking spaces in the circle in front of Building 1 for vendors and bring in equipment and items for the event that could affect parking in other areas starting after the close of business on Thursday. Please be mindful of this activity when you arrive for work on Friday. We hope to see you Saturday!

    Here's what else has happened at BCCC this week:

    BCCC's Best

   •  Eighteen students at Beaufort County Community College were recognized as "BCCC's Best" in a ceremony on the college campus recently. All students were cited for displaying the character trait "trustworthy." Those honored were Wendy Brown, Trina Cobb, Lucy Garcia, Marilyn Glaspie, Tammie Lawrence, Christopher Moore, Wayne O'Conney, Aaron Small, Amber Smith and Stephanie Williams of Washington; Alexandra Garrett, Ivey Robyn Ricks and Montana Selby of Bath; Jack Morris of Blounts Creek, Rebecca Gail Pinkham and Fatima Shamseldin of Pinetown, Amanda Phelps of Roper, and Erick Bateman of Swan Quarter.

    Candidate Tours

   •  Candidates facing primary challenges in N.C. Senate, N.C. House of Representatives, county commissioner and Beaufort County sheriff's races have been invited to BCCC to tour the campus and talk with me and college administration, faculty and staff. Last week, Senate candidate Stan White, county commissioner candidates Keith Kidwell and Frankie Waters and sheriff's candidate Todd Alligood visited the campus. On Friday, N.C. House candidate Mattie Lawson, county commissioner candidate Ron Buzzeo and sheriff's candidates Gary Blount and Harry Meredith visited. Other candidates for office will be visiting in the coming weeks and months to learn more about the goals of and challenges facing BCCC in the coming year.

    Digital Sign Campaign Update

   •  Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that a total of $29,819 in donations and pledges have been received for the Digital Sign Campaign at BCCC. To make a donation, contact Judy at 252-940-6326.

    Free Day at BCCC

   •  Registration is continuing for Free Day at BCCC. On Free Day, BCCC is opening its doors to give prospective students 16 years old or older the chance to attend actual classes and meet potential instructors in their classrooms for free. Attendees of Free Day at BCCC will also have the chance to talk to BCCC staff about admissions, career planning, financial aid, college transfers and academic counseling. Twelve classes in a variety of disciplines – allied health, arts and sciences, business and industry - are available for prospective students to attend. If you know of someone who would benefit from Free Day, encourage them to register at www.beaufortccc.edu.

    Happy Video

   •  Computer Information Technology and Computer Programming Instructor Ken Robol is recruiting students, faculty and staff to participate in a video production to celebrate the 2014 graduating class.

   •  BCCC trustees are invited to participate as well. The video will be shot on campus and will include a music sound track. It is planned to be shown at Graduate Student Recognition and at graduation. To participate, contact Ken by email at kenr@beaufortccc.edu or at 940-6330.

    Marketing and Recruiting

   •  BCCC has a new display to take to events as part of our marketing and recruiting efforts. The display features photographs of students, faculty and staff from several of our programs. It's a substantial improvement over our previous display. Thanks very much to Marketing Coordinator Wes Sumner, Director of Admissions and Recruitment Daniel Wilson and their team for this new display. We hope to have it on view at the Advanced Manufacturing Awareness Kick-off Dinner on April 7.

    Travel/Study Group

   •  Don't forget to scour your closets and cupboards this weekend for any unwanted items for the BCCC Travel/Study Group yard sale to be held during Gullfest on Saturday, April 5. The group is accepting most household items except electronics. Donations may be brought to campus before April 3 and can be dropped off at Suzanne Stotesbury's office, Room 107 in Building 3. The group may be able to arrange pick-up for larger items. For more information or to schedule a time to drop off items, contact BCCC Study Abroad Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury at suzannes@beaufortccc.edu or 940-6339.

    Personal and Personnel Notes:

   •  Welcome back to Mike Griffin, Melvin Lodge and Diane Evans. Get-well wishes go to Helen Cutler, Building 8 custodian, who is in the hospital and condolences to Sandra Barfield, N.C. Back-to-Work success coach, on the death of her father-in-law. Also, condolences to Sue Nicholson, member of the BCCC Foundation Board of Directors, on the death of her husband, Tom. Finally, the BCCC family offers prayers to the family of New Bern Police Officer Alex Thalmann who was shot while in the line of duty on Friday night. Alex is a 2013 graduate of BCCC's BLET Program.

    And in the coming week, watch for the following:

   •  April 1 — Faculty Council meeting, noon, Conference Room, Building 12.

   •  April 1 — Time to Graduate into the Workforce, noon, Auditorium, Building 8.

   •  April 1 — Gamma Beta Phi, noon, Building 9, Room 928.

   •  April 1 — Time to Graduate into the Workforce, 3 p.m., Auditorium, Building 8.

   •  April 1 — BCCC Board of Trustees, meeting, 7 p.m., Board Room, Building 10; dinner, 6:30 p.m.;Committees meet consecutively beginning at 5 p.m.

   •  April 1 — Nurse Aide II recognition ceremony and reception, 6 p.m., Building 12, Room 1212.

   •  April 2 — Senior Nursing Student Class of 2014 Social, noon, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.

   •  April 3 — Early Childhood Advisory Committee meeting, 3 p.m., Room 24, Building 11.

   •  April 3 — Human Services Technology Advisory Committee meeting, 4 p.m., Room 27, Building 11.

   •  April 5 — Gullfest, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., BCCC campus.

   •  April 7 - 11 — Advanced Manufacturing Awareness Week.