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

    A record 285 students earned certificates, diplomas and degrees from Beaufort County Community College last week during graduation exercises held at Washington High School. N.C. Secretary of Commerce John Skvarla III gave the commencement address and cited the dedication, effort and perseverance of the graduates. "The price you had to pay to get here is a remarkable achievement and you are to be lauded," he said. "Your future is as big as your mind's eye can envision it. You just have to envision where you want to be and where you want to go." He cited two graduates — Joey Mayo and BCCC's own Debra Clemmons — as examples of that dedication, effort and perseverance. You can read their stories in the Graduation Edition of Campus Connections which will be emailed to you next week. Congratulations to all of our graduates. I look forward to great things to come each of them.

• Fifty-one graduates of BCCC's Associate Degree Nursing Program — the largest in the history of the college — received their nursing school pins Thursday, May 14, in a ceremony at the Turnage Theater in Washington. The record-setting class also included a record 11 male graduates. Four students received awards honoring their academic and nursing success. The Leadership Award was presented to Josh Harriett. The Outstanding Senior Student Award was presented to Cecil Scott Campbell II. The Katie Paul Award for Clinical Excellence was presented to Bridget Lynn Lewis. Kimberly M. Moore received the Academic Excellence Award Congratulations to all of these record-setting graduates!
• Nine graduates of BCCC's Medical Laboratory Technology Program received their pins Friday, May 15, in a ceremony on the college campus. Those graduates receiving pins are Martha Richardson of Grimesland: Juanita White of New Bern; Krystal Cherry, Kaley Jones and Sylvia Smith of Pinetown; Heather Birdo of Plymouth, and Alexis Fraley and Donna Jackson of Washington. Congratulations to these graduates!

• Tickets are going fast for the BCCC Foundation's inaugural lawn and garden tour 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20. The tour will begin on the BCCC campus with a rededication of the Rosa "Rosebud" Roberson rose garden in front of Building 1. Self-drive and group transportation options will be available for those who want to tour 10 beautiful gardens in the Washington and Chocowinity areas. Watch for more information about this exciting new event! Proceeds will be used for student scholarships.
• Plans are being made for a trip to Italy in April, 2016 sponsored by the BCCC Foundation and the Washington/Beaufort Chamber of Commerce. An informational meeting on the trip is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 1, in the Multi-Purpose Room of Building 10. Trip brochures will be available soon from the Foundation office. Watch for more information about this exciting opportunity for travel.
• For more information about these upcoming events, contact Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood at 252-940-6218 or Foundation Executive Director Serena Sullivan at 252-940-6326.

• Seventeen new law enforcement officers are scheduled to graduate Friday from the BCCC Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy and begin careers protecting the public. Those completing their studies are Johnny M. Blaylock, Jason A. Bliss, Eric V. Cahoon, Kasey F. Clayton, Robert L. King, Terrance L. Flaugher, Dominic R. Franks, Isaiah S. McCullor, Aaron M. Moore, Archie J. Quintana, Isreal E. Roughton, III, Kelly J. Tate, Timothy S. Tetterton, George B. Warner, William T. Warren, William R. Waters and Jedediah D. Zelenky. Congratulations to all of these graduates!

• Chief of Campus Police Chris Harrison notes that if you are having trouble with a lock or door on campus, please submit a request to the maintenance department. The Police Department is responsible for issuing keys and keeping a log of employee keys but its officers do not work on, or replace locks. Those jobs are handled through the maintenance department and/or a local locksmith.

• The College Grill will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Wednesday, May 27. The grill will be closed Friday, May 28, through Monday, August 3, and reopen Tuesday, August 4, with the same hours. Have a great summer!

• Division of Continuing Education Vice President Stacey Gerard has announced that Basic Skills programs at BCCC will undergo a name change in time for Fall Semester 2015. The program will be named College and Career Readiness. The name change will more closely reflect the mission of the program which is to prepare students to pursue post-secondary education or to enter the job market with the skills needed to obtain a good job. College and Career Readiness programs at BCCC will include Adult Basic Education, High School Equivalency and English as a Second Language.

• Several office and classroom moves are under way on our campus this summer. The Academic Support Center and Writing Center will be combined into a one-stop Learning Enhancement Center for students. Relocated to Building 3, the center will be coordinated by James Casey. The current Writing Center office will be converted into an office for adjunct faculty. The BCCC Foundation staff is moving to Room 113 in Building 1. The Human Resources staff is moving to Building 10 in the offices formerly occupied by the Foundation. This will enable more privacy for confidential conversations and interviews to be held in the Board Room in Building 10. Health and Safety Coordinator Howell Miller and Assistant Systems Administrator Brandon Bunch will move to other offices in Building 1. Developmental Reading and English Instructor Liz Shinohara will serve this summer as a faculty advisor in the Career Center in Building 9.

• Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Jay Sullivan reports that 517 students are enrolled for the Summer Term, down from 584 students in the Summer Term last year.

• BCCC's Travel/Study Group departed Wednesday, May 20, for a trip to Belize. Led by Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury, the group explored the environment and culture of the Central American country for about a week (You can see photos of the group on the BCCC Facebook page). When the group returns, its members will begin preparing and raising money to defray the cost of their trip next spring to Ireland. Tie-dyed T-Shirts are available for sale in sizes small through extra large from Suzanne by calling 252-940-6339 or by email at suzanne.stotesbury@beaufortccc.edu.

• Congratulations to Eva Peartree on her recent appointment to the full-time position of Registration and Records Clerk for the Division of Continuing Education.
• Grant Writer Sara Singleton has accepted a position as Director of Off-Campus Programs for Pitt Community College and will begin work there on July 1. We are all sorry to see Sara leave us but wish her well with her new endeavor!
• I am also sorry to report the retirement of Lead Office Administration and Medical Office Administration Instructor Debra Baker. I wish her well in her retirement.
• I am delighted to welcome new Public Relations Coordinator Jules Norwood to campus. He succeeds Betty Mitchell Gray who will be leaving us at the end of May. Jules will be working limited hours so remember to plan ahead if you want him to cover your events. Welcome Jules!
• During the summer, Tansey Topics will appear every two weeks instead of every week. Watch your email for the next edition on Thursday, June 4.

May 21	BLET graduation, 6 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
May 25	Holiday.
May 28	Early College High School graduation, 7 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
June 1-4	N.C. Community College System Office SME Team working onside to develop a plan for improving BCCC's use of technology.
June 2	BCCC Board of Trustees, consecutive committee meetings begin at 5 p.m.; dinner, 6:30 p.m.; meeting, 7 p.m., Board Room, Building 10.
June 6	BCCC Foundation trip to DPAC to see Newsies.
June 20	BCCC Foundation Garden Tour, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., various locations.
June 25	New student orientation, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., auditorium, Building 8.
June 30	Last Day to Drop without grade penalty for Summer Term.
July 1	PAL STEM Campus Tour.
July 2	Holiday.
July 7	New student orientation, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., auditorium, Building 8.
July 15	Summer Term ends.
August 1	New student orientation, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., auditorium, Building 8

    Beaufort County Community College is a public comprehensive community college committed to accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training, and lifelong learning opportunities for the people served by the College.