Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look at What’s Happening at BCCC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    If you have a hobby or a profession that you would love to share, then our Division of Continuing Education needs you! The division is looking for a variety of paid, part-time instructors to teach personal interest courses aimed at providing opportunities for participants to learn new skills, discover new hobbies and meet new people. Instructors are wanted to teach Adobe Photoshop, crochet, digital photography, dog obedience training, drawing, floor covering and tile installation, flower arranging, French conversation, guitar, introduction to investing, I-Pad and I-Phone operations, minor home repair, painting, pet grooming, piano, pottery, quilting, self defense, stained glass design, stock market basics, table setting and etiquette, using Google apps, watercolors and more. The qualifications are enthusiasm and knowledge in the subject, the ability to help in developing course content, excellent interpersonal skills and availability on evenings and/or Saturdays. If you or someone you know may be interested in teaching a course or have an idea for a course, contact Clay Carter, director of Community Services, at 252-940-6357 or email clayc@beaufortccc.edu.

    Here's a look at other BCCC events happening on campus and in the community:

• Vice President of Academics Crystal Ange has announced a schedule of eight-week classes, most of which will begin Wednesday, October 15. These classes will give those interested in enrolling in college or those who would like to add an additional class a chance to do so Among these eight-week classes is the first course to be offered in BCCC's new Nursing Assistant Diploma Program, Nursing Assistant I scheduled to start Wednesday, October 1 This course will introduce basic nursing skills needed to provide personal care for patients, residents or clients in a health care setting. The course prepares students to qualify as Nursing Assistant I with the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry. A complete list of eight-week classes is available on the BCCC website.

• For the 10th year in a row, BCCC is sponsoring a team in the local Alzheimer's Walk scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, September 27, at the First Baptist Church in Washington. Lead Developmental English Instructor Dana Sauls is serving as team leader. If you are interested in donating to this event, Dana advises that contributions can be made to the BCCC team via the Internet at the following link: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=2497310&langPref=en-CA. If you are interested in joining the team or if you would like to buy a bracelet for $2 to support their efforts, contact Dana at 252-940-6391 or by email at danas@beaufortccc.edu.

• In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that $50,748.32 in donations and pledges has been received, over 60 percent of the way towards the final goal! To make a donation, contact Judy at (252)-940-6326.
• The BCCC Foundation is sponsoring a day trip on Saturday, September 20, to the Durham Performing Arts Center to see the musical Dirty Dancing. The cost of the trip is $200 per person including transportation, brunch at Heron's restaurant in Cary and orchestra seating for the performance. For more information, contact Judy or Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood at (252)-940-6218.
• Registration continues for the 21st annual Beaufort County Community College Foundation Golf Tournament to be held Friday, Sept. 26, at the Washington Yacht and Country Club. The largest single annual fund-raising event for the college, the tournament typically raises about $10,000 for scholarships to help eligible students with the cost of tuition and books and other programs supported by the BCCC Foundation. PotashCorp Aurora is the primary sponsor of the tournament. The entry fee is $80 per player and includes lunch, cart rental and greens fee. I hope all of Tansey Topics readers who are golfers will plan to participate in this worthwhile event.
• Don't forget that the BCCC Foundation and the Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a 10-day trip to Ireland April 21 to 30, 2015. The Chamber reports that about 40 people attended an informational meeting about the trip earlier this week. For more information or a brochure about the trip, contact Judy or Donna Burgin, trip coordinator at (252)-945-7403.
• Plan also to attend a free Rock for Human Rights concert at noon outside Building 5 on the BCCC campus Thursday, September 18. The concert is sponsored by the United Nations to promote understanding of human rights worldwide. Watch for more information about this exciting event!

• There's still time to submit your questions for the Education Forum sponsored by Beaufort County Community College and the Beaufort County Schools. We are joining forces to sponsor the forum for local and state candidates for public office at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, in the auditorium at Washington High School. The forum moderator will be Dave Jordan of WITN-TV. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates. Send your questions to Director of Learning Resources and Distance Education Penny Sermons at pennys@beaufortccc.edu. Thanks very much to Penny and other members of the committee — Gail Ambrose, Dave Jordan, Jeanne Martin, Michele Mayo and Beth Wilder for their work on this project. Please plan to attend.

• The annual high school equivalency Assessment Day at Beaufort County Community College drew a record number of attendees on Wednesday, August 20, with over 78 people from BCCC's service area attending the event. Fifty-five people attended last year. I thank Basic Skills Director Tony Taylor and Assessment and Retention Specialist Penelope Radcliffe for their work on this.
• Five students - Sophia Gibbs, Sharon Holmes, Tammie Lawrence, Steffie Peterson and Crystal Smith - completed the division's Nurse Aide II course and received their certificates in a ceremony held Wednesday night. The ceremony was followed by a reception for the graduates of the course and their families. Congratulations to these new Nurse Aide IIs and to Instructor Anne Davenport and program Coordinator Sue Gurley for their work in training these successful students.

• Our college has been part of eastern North Carolina for almost 50 years but many people in our service area are not aware of what it is exactly that we do. As many of you may already know, BCCC will hold its first campus-wide Open House from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 2, to give members of our community the chance to visit the campus and learn about all the wonderful opportunities that are available here. Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness and Grant Writer Sara Singleton are heading a team of faculty and staff that has been working on this event since the start of the semester. They emphasize that participation in the event is voluntary and the Open House team understands that some of you may not be available that night due to previous commitments; however, they hope that many of you will choose to participate to ensure as much of the campus will be on display as possible. More information about the event will be as it is developed. If you have any ideas for the event, Jay, Sara and the team welcome your suggestions!

• BCCC's new Student Government Association officers have begun their work for the year. SGA President Jackson Lancaster will be joined by Jordan B. Pooser, vice president; Lakita Artis, secretary; Lalether Bryant Shepard, treasurer; Isaac Thomas Coltrain, parliamentarian; Elizabeth Cobb, historian, and Theresa Scudder, special populations chairman. Congratulations to all of these individuals and I look forward to working with our new student leaders!

• BCCC's Travel/Study Group under the leadership of English Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury has begun planning a trip to Belize during May 2015. Tentative dates for the trip are May 26 to June 1. Student participants must be 18 years old or older, have a 2.5 grade point average or better and be enrolled in International Cultural Exploration for the Summer 2015 Term. For more information, contact Suzanne at 252-940-6339 or at suzannes@beaufortccc.edu. I look forward to hearing more about this exciting opportunity for our students.

• I am sorry to report a resignation from our faculty and staff. Computer Information Technology and Computer Programming Instructor Thomyka Holloman resigned to accept a post in Burlington.
• Congratulations to Director of EMS Programs Steve Taylor who has accepted offers to serve on the N.C. Community College System EMS Advisory Committee and the Beaufort County EMS Oversight Committee.
• Finally, welcome to Jo Woolard who has accepted the position of Assistant Director of Financial Aid. She will join our staff in October.

    September 1 - Labor Day Holiday.
    September 11 - SGA 9/11 Remembrance.
    September 17 - Board of Trustees Fall Retreat, 8:30 a.m. breakfast; 9 a.m. meeting, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
    September 17 - Student Support Services/TRiO Annual Community Resources Day, 9 a.m. , Student Lounge, Building 9.
    September 18 - Rock for Human Rights, noon, outside Building 5.
    September 20 - BCCC Foundation trip to see Dirty Dancing at the Durham Performing Arts Center.
    September 30 - Education Forum for Candidates, 7 p.m., Washington High School.
    October 2 - BCCC Open House, 6 to 9 p.m., campus-wide.