Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look At What's Happening At BCCC From President Barbara Tansey | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Next week will be busy for students, faculty and staff at BCCC with opportunities to learn about our community and our college! On Tuesday night, BCCC is joining with the Beaufort County Schools to sponsor an education forum for Beaufort County commissioner and state legislative candidates. The forum will be in the auditorium of Washington High School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. After the forum, the candidates will be available to talk with you and answer your individual questions. Also next week, BCCC will host its first campus-wide Open House in many years. The event will be 6 to 9 p.m. and will begin in Building 10 where information about the college and other community groups will be available. After you check in, you will be able to tour the campus either on your own or part of a group. Various demonstrations and displays will be part of the tour. Also, those who attend can enter a drawing for a $1,500 scholarship that can be used for either curriculum or continuing education classes and/or supplies. I hope that everyone will take advantage of these events and I thank those who helped coordinate them. Be sure to wear a blue shirt or jacket, if you have one, to both events so our faculty and staff can stand out from the crowd!

• There's more good news to share about one of the teachers at Beaufort County Early College High School! Megan Ormond, who teaches English at BCECHS was named Beaufort County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015. Ormond teaches English III and IV for the school. She is a graduate of East Carolina University and joined the BCECHS faculty in 2012 from Greene Central High School, where she began her career in 2003. Megan will go on to regional competition. Congratulations to Megan and BCECHS for this most recent award!
• The BCECHS Interact Club raised nearly $150 to support the American Heart Association during an event last week. Club members encouraged their fellow students to wear red in support of heart health and sponsored an after school event that featured music and several activities. Thanks to the club and its advisors for bringing heart health to the attention of our students.

• In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that $51,848.32 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.
• I hope you will join the BCCC Foundation, Saturday, Oct. 18, for a trip to Durham to see the stage production of Phantom of the Opera, Broadway's longest-running musical. The trip will also include time for a visit to the renowned Paul Green Theater in Chapel Hill with a lecture by Professor Jeff Phipps. The cost of the trip, open to all BCCC students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the college, is $200 per person.
• Don't forget about several other chances to participate in Foundation-sponsored activities. They include a trip to Ireland from April 21 to 30, 2015 and several upcoming musical performances in Durham. For more information about any of these events, contact Judy or Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood at 252-940-6218.

• Tom Sarmento visited with the Automotive Systems Technology students at BCCC last week. Sarmento served as chief automotive mechanic for various television shows including Dukes of Hazzard and Fall Guy, among others. Sarmento shared some of his experiences keeping cars in working order on the action-filled programs. During Sarmento's visit, the class posed in front of a replica of the General Lee, a car popularized by the Duke boys on the television show. Thanks to our Automotive Systems Technology Instructors Bryan Van Gyzen and Richie Alligood for arranging this visit.
• Registration is under way for BCCC's Basic Law Enforcement Training Day Academy that will begin in January. The deadline to submit application packages for the academy is Monday, Dec. 8, in order for BLET instructors and staff members to have adequate time to process materials. A pre-orientation is scheduled for 6 p.m. that day in Room 32 of Building 10. The academy is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

• The Business Expo held on the BCCC campus Wednesday drew an enthusiastic crowd of current and prospective business owners. Attendees were able to meet other business people and talk with businesses and organizations that can help them in their work. They also had the chance to attend workshops sponsored by the Small Business Center. Thanks very much to Business and Industry Services Director Lentz Stowe and the Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce for their hard work on this event.
• For two weeks this fall, BCCC is waiving the $24 fee for the four subject areas of the GEDŽ Ready Test through Friday, Oct. 3. Basic Skills Assessment and Retention Specialist Penelope Radcliffe reports that the event, "See for Free," has attracted 51 students to BCCC to test their readiness to take the battery of tests to earn their GEDŽ. Of these, 12 will be scheduled to take at least one section of the GEDŽ test. If you know anyone who is interested in obtaining a GEDŽ, please refer them to our Basic Skills office during this event. Thanks very much to Penelope and all of the Basic Skills staff for their hard work!.

• For the second year in a row, BCCC will open its doors to give prospective students the chance to attend classes for one day at no cost on Thursday, October 9. This will give those who may be hesitant to continue their education the chance to see what college life is like. For more information, visit the BCCC website at www.beaufortccc.edu and click on the Free Day icon.

• Get out your running shoes! The BCCC running club, Gulls on the Run, is sponsoring its first five kilometer race in conjunction with Gullfest. The race will be held on a new 5K-certified course around the BCCC campus beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 18. Registration for the event opens soon. The registration fee will be $25. For more information, contact Medical Office/Office Administration Instructor Michele Mayo at 940-6495 or at michelem@beaufortccc.edu. Thanks to Michele and the club for sponsoring this new event!

• BCCC's Learning Resources Center will host a poetry reading at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 7, when former instructor Tim Mattimoe returns to the campus to read from his book, Calligraphy on the Moon's Face. Published earlier this year, the poems were written after his retirement and are inspired by his surroundings in Chatham County. Mattimoe has been writing haiku since he was 18 years old. He said he enjoys working in the form because of the discipline it requires. I look forward to meeting Tim and hearing him read from his works.

• Don't forget to support our Travel/Study group with its fund-raising event! The group is selling the attractions coupon book to raise money for students to travel to Belize. The books contain more than $3,000 in savings for businesses in Washington, Greenville, Kinston and New Bern. They are valid now and do not expire until December 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. You may purchase the book online at https://www.attractionsbook.com/ezpay/code/. Enter beaufortccc as the EZPAY code in order for our group to get funding from your purchase. You can also purchase the books from Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury or from any member of the travel group. For more information, contact Suzanne at 252940-6339 or at suzannes@beaufortccc.edu.

• Congratulations to Grant Writer Sara Singleton who received the North Carolina Public Educator Scholarship from Northeastern University College of Professional Studies for her doctoral studies. The scholarship is given to candidates in the Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program who are teachers or administrators in public schools, colleges or universities in North Carolina.
• I was delighted to welcome Martyn B. Johnson, Beaufort County's Director of Economic Development, to campus Wednesday for a tour. He also visited the Business Expo and enjoyed lunch in our College Grill. I look forward to working with Martyn to help promote economic development in our region.

September 30	Professional Development - Web-Based Activities in learning, noon, Room 104, Building 1.
September 30	Education Forum for Candidates, 7 p.m., Washington High School.
October 1	Enrollment begins for participants in the State Health Plan and N.C. Flex. Call the Human Resources Office at 940-6404 for more details or to schedule an appointment to help with enrollment.
October 2	BCCC Open House, 6 to 9 p.m., campus-wide.
October 3-6	Student/Faculty vacation
October 7	Poetry reading by former instructor Tim Mattimoe, BCCC Library, noon.
October 7	Professional Development - Tech Tools, noon, Room 104, Building 1.
October 7	BCCC Board of Trustees, 5:30 p.m., committee meetings; 7 p.m. board meeting, Board Room, Building 10.
October 8	Flu Shot Clinic, Multi-purpose Room, Building 10.
October 9	Free Day at BCCC.
October 9	Veteran on Campus service session, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Sandria McFadden at 9406353 for an appointment.
October 9	BCCC Foundation Board of Directors, 11 a.m., Board Room, Building 10.