Nash Community College students and faculty toured Washington, D.C. Friday, October 6, 2017. The group, consisting of 52 participants, began the day at the National Museum of the American Indian where they saw a special Inca Road exhibit. Later, they visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and explored the National Mall and museums including visits to the White House, Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum, and more. The day trip concluded with stops at the Lincoln Memorial and the National World War II Memorial. Many of the students were visiting the nation’s capital for the first time.

Faculty and students from Nash Community College’s Biology Department attended the 43rd Annual Southeastern Population Ecology & Evolutionary Genetics Meeting, held in Laurel Hill, NC October 20-22, 2017, hosted by the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Natalie Bernat

Trina Phan

l to r: Trina Phan, Henri Vega-Bernal and Natalie Bernat

The Nash Community College Culinary Club placed first in the “Anything Goes” category at Meals on Wheels’ Beans and Brews chili cook off held Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at Rocky Mount Mills. The award-winning red chili with beans featured special ingredients for flavor including craft beer, whiskey, coffee, NCC campus-grown peppers and a secret ingredient too good to reveal. Culinary students pictured from left: Caitlin Hutsel, Belon Cooper and Amber Leggett.

Nash Community College President Dr. Bill Carver welcomed approximately 200 attendees to campus for the North Carolina Community College Cosmetology Instructors’ Association Meeting. The day-long event held Monday, October 30, 2017 highlighted educational and NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners updates, networking, e-learning instructional strategies and a review of cosmetology standards.

Two Nash Community College Nursing students have been selected to serve on the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students (NCANS) Board. Brittney Pendergrass, left, of Castalia is the District IV Director at Large and Jennifer Schwartz, right, of Louisburg is the Association’s Treasurer.

Pendergrass and Schwartz will each serve a one year term representing North Carolina nursing students. They will be involved in developing the State Conference. “Both students are professionally driven to network with other schools and nurses who are in the profession in order to gain more knowledge and real-world experience. They will represent Nash Community College’s Nursing program well,” NCC Nursing Instructor Tina Treish said. Both are expected to graduate in May 2018.

The students were selected for their excellence in leadership, superior academic achievement, proven dedication to the field of nursing and passionate contributions to the community.

Since 1958, the NCANS has served as the statewide professionalizing vehicle of North Carolina nursing students. Conceived as a student branch of the North Carolina Nurses Association, NCANS has historically works with NCNA to aid nursing students in making the transition from students to licensed nurses.

Nash Community College has been awarded a grant from Transforming Youth Recovery, an organization committed to creating a cultural shift in how substance use, addiction, and recovery for youth are addressed, and the elimination of the stigma this brings to those with substance use disorders. The $3,000 will be used over three years​ to broaden the scope of the College’s existing Collegiate Recovery Program, and to increase awareness and engagement. NCC is the only North Carolina community college to offer a Collegiate Recovery Program with clinical campus services for students struggling with addiction issues.

The NCC Collegiate Recovery Program was created in 2014 to provide students in recovery the option to participate in a weekly closed group using an unaffiliated 12-step format, and/or receive weekly individual therapy in the Student Wellness Center. NCC’s Collegiate Recovery Program defines recovery as a lifelong healing process from substance use toward wellness, and recognizes the value of both abstinence and harm reduction models. The program is inclusive and provides peer accountability. The combination of the ​trauma-informed ​clinical and social support are an integral part of student success. The College partners with multiple organizations including the Nashville Police Department, Twin County Prevention Coalition, Coalition for Addiction & Recovery (CARE), the Nash Edgecombe Family Justice Center and others.

In addition to the Recovery Program, NCC’s Student Wellness Center provides services and resources to help students address barriers. Services offered include: crisis intervention, personal counseling, psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy, recovery support, veteran support, support groups, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and referral services. The purpose of the NCC Student Wellness Center is to empower the whole student with personal, social, and community resources for self-development and personal enrichment, thereby enhancing academic success and retention through improved student wellness.

The grant will allow NCC to expand program membership and to develop additional sober events, raising awareness and support for students in recovery.

Students from Nash County, Franklin County, Vance County and Johnston County Sheriff’s Offices recently completed Detention Officer training at Nash Community College. The certification includes 179 hours of training designed to train qualified participants to function as officers in detention facilities. The course is governed by the North Carolina Sheriffs’ and North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commissions. Students who completed the certification program are: (front row,from left) Jennifer Bales, Tanya Beacham, Candis Spruill; (second row,from left) Alex Lawhon, Thomas Smith III, Anthony Moore; (back row,from left) – Dalvin Thomas, School Director Reuben Crumpton, Cody Browning.

NCC alumna Cierra French, left, with fiancé Tyler Mizelle. The couple plans to wed Nov. 3, 2018.

Cierra French is originally from Rocky Mount and graduated from Nash Central High School. In 2009, she began as a student at Nash Community College. She recalls choosing Nash because she wanted to enjoy college life while staying close to home for the first two years.

She pursued an Associate in General Education degree at Nash, graduating in 2011, and transferring to Meredith College where she majored in Child Development. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree at there, Cierra continued in Meredith College’s Master of Arts in Teaching program. She graduated and obtained licensure in Special Education K-12. After graduation, she took a position at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School in Suffolk, Virginia.

Today, Cierra is employed as a fourth grade special education inclusion teacher. In 2016, her first year teaching, she was awarded “Rookie Teacher of the Year” for her school and went on to win the title for the Suffolk Public Schools district. This year, Cierra was named Lead Special Education teacher at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and fiancé, working out, and participating in outdoor activities at Lake Gaston. The advice that Cierra offers to college students is: “Keep your dreams in front of you and always make them a priority. Work hard, but also have some fun. Keep true to who you are and what you believe in, and you can do whatever you want. As a teacher I say, always keep learning.”

Nash Community College Fire and Health Services and Duncan-Parnell are offering a one day training event on the Zeb-Revo GeoSlam 3-D Scanner and related software.

Although this equipment was primarily designed for fields such as engineering, mining, mapping, surveying, etc. there are numerous other fields that could benefit from this technology. Crime Scene Investigation, Pre-incident Plans, Emergency Mgmt., etc.

The class will be held at Nash Community College on December 6th from 9am-5pm in the Continuing Education and Public Services Building lecture hall. For non-public safety personnel, the fee is $75.00. Tuition is waived for public safety personnel. Register and pay at the class.

Content being covered during the class includes:

Zeb-Revo GeoSlam Scanner with hardware training

• Zeb-Revo connection to Data Logger
• Scanner startup and initialization process
• Proper scanning techniques
• Scanner de-initialization and data dump process

GeoSlam Software Training

• Software Startup
• Data Processing
• Data Exporting

Autodesk ReCap Software Training

• Project Setup
• Data Import
• Data Processing
• Viewing Point Cloud (including Point Cloud Visual Settings)
• Use Measure Tools and Limit Box

Point Cloud to Revit/AutoCAD

• Learn about .rcp files (ReCap)
• How to import .rcp file into Revit/AutoCAD
• How to measure between points in Revit
• Basics of laying out walls and/or line work in Revit/AutoCAD

For more information, contact John Winstead, NCC Director of Fire and Health Services at 252-451-8312 or jwinstead@nashcc.edu.

Nash Community College’s Emergency Medical Services Department collected stuffed animal donations throughout the fall semester to be placed on Nash County first responder vehicles. Pictured above (from left): Larry Carpenter, Emergency Medical Services Clinical Coordinator; Dr. Bill Carver, NCC President; Wendy Marlowe, Vice President of Corporate and Economic Development; Denise Beamer, Coordinator of Alumni Relations; Kara Deans, Director of Student Life; Olivia Moss, Emergency Medical Services Director.

With family and friends in attendance, Nash Community College Electric Line Academy students held their annual Electric Line Rodeo showcasing skills in the Hurtman Rescue and Obstacle Pole events. Electric Line Construction curriculum prepares students for line construction in rural and utility settings through laboratory and practical applications. NCC students master competencies including elements of electricity, overhead pole and electrical line construction, safety codes and applications, electric power system, transformer installations, and more. An emphasis on safety is embedded in the program as students earn OSHA, CDL and CPR certifications during training. For more information, please call (252) 451-8379.

Pictured above: Nate Marshall, NCC Nursing Student and Tywana Lawson, Director of Nursing.

Nash Community College Nursing Student Nate Marshall received the DAISY in Training Award for commitment to extraordinary compassionate patient care and outstanding clinical skill that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many people.

Created by the DAISY Foundation in memory J. Patrick Barnes, who suffered from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, the DAISY In Training Award is designed to remind students, even on their hardest days in Nursing School, why they want to be nurses. DAISY stands for “diseases attacking the immune system.” By recognizing Nursing Students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion they show patients and their families as they are learning, we celebrate what it truly means to be a nurse.

On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, Nash Community College held a recognition ceremony honoring students completing Nurse Aide I, Nurse Aide II, Emergency Dispatch Academy and EMT training. The event was held at 6:00 PM in the Nash Community College Brown Auditorium. Watch the ceremony video here.

Nurse Aide I Class

Nurse Aide I Class

Nurse Aide I students upon graduation are equipped with basic nursing skills to provide care for patients, residents and clients in a health care setting. Communication, safety, patients’ rights, vitals, rehabilitation, mental health and more are among the techniques taught. Graduates of the Nurse Aide I program are eligible for the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP).

Nurse Aide I Graduates: Sydney Adams, Olivia Adcox, Maryam Ahmed, Taquoya Alexander, Carol Alston, Destiny Anderson, Ashley Baier, Gabriela Balmaceda, Devonte Barnes, Alexandra Bass, Katherine Bass, Ashley Batten, Taylor Batten, Thomas Becker, Lindsey Bennett, Kaylee Boone, Taylor Braswell, Shannon Brewer, Laura Briggs, Tiandra Britt, Sherrie Brizendine, Naomi Cashwell, Lorenzo Celaya-Orozco, Ariana Centeno, Maureen Ching, Abbey Clifton, Haven Collins, Somer Daughtridge, Alexandria Davis, David Dickinson, Katie Dickinson, Lindsay Dublin, Julie Edwards, Kanesha Evans, Tita Evans, Hunter Ezzell, Brandy Foster, Celia Franz, Brittany Gardner, Dora Guerrero, Karina Gonzalez, Madison Gould, Sheril Gunter, Bethany Hamilton, Anna Hellard, April Henson, Kaitlyn Hernandez, Anna Heuts, Anitre High, Keron Hinton, Jonika Horton, Melissa Hunter, Tikierra Hunter, Morgan Johnson, Susan Johnson, Cameron Joyner, Tracy Joyner, Brittany King, Mary Leonard, Sherell Lewis, Danielle Lucas, Miriah Lynch, Sheena Lynch, Tamisia Lynch, Jameka Mabry, Menyon Manning, Sarah Marlowe, Miranda Massey, Charlotte McAuley, Jessica McGuire, Carlynn Mercer, Cortney Miller, Christopher Moore, Macaela Moore, Kristen Narron, Triston Norris, Heather Ogburn, Michelle Perry, Jordan Philips, Virginia Pollock, Jessica Powell, Megan Pridgen, Carolina Rivera-Rodriguez, Annette Salazar Perez, Khurram Shehzad, Patricia Sloop, Courtney Stone, Britney Strickland, Lacey Timmerman, Alexis Washington, Mya Warren, Maggie Webb, Alaina Wheeler, Caleb Whitford, Morgan Willcox, Amber Worthington and Alyssa Wrenn.

Nurse Aide II Class

Students graduating from the College’s Nurse Aide II program are prepared to perform more complex skills for patients and residents regardless of setting.  The program includes class, laboratory and clinical learning environments and with its completion graduates are eligible to to apply for listing as a Nurse Aide II by the North Carolina Board of Nursing Nurse Aide II Registry.

Glotoria Bobbitt, Tiffany Boswell, Tiandra Britt, La’kira Bullard, Berenise Chavez, Janaye Dunston, Mirel Espirtu, Shannon Evans, Celia Franz, Jamie Hogan, Logan Huey, Amanda Hunt, Brittany Joyner, Cameron Joyner, Mary Leonard, Oreal Lyons, Miranda Massey, Christopher Mercer, Danielle Moore, Jordan Philips, Silvia Ortiz-Espirtu, Roberta Richardson, Tamara Snelling, Mya Warren, Jennifer Watford, Crystal Webb and Brandy Wood.

Nash Health Care Nurse Aide II Class

A Nash Health Care cohort of practicing Nurse Aide I employees completed Nash Community College Nurse Aide II training. Congratulations to the following employees pictured above: Charray Blount, Cynthia Brantley, Iesha Deans, Brittany Johnson, David Lemaire, Shonda Lewis, Lisa Lifred and Takeyla Ward.

Pictured from left: Emely Morales, Jamal Bulluck, and Devian Biggs.

The Nash Community College Student Wellness Center recently sponsored a design competition among Advertising & Graphic Design students to create a problem gambling logo for use campus-wide through the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program grant.

First prize and a $100 Visa gift card went to Emely Morales, second place to Jamal Bulluck, and third place went to Devian Biggs each received a $50 Visa gift card. Each of their designs will be used in a variety of ways to promote the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program through the Nash Community College Student Wellness Center.

Seventy-five percent of college students report gambling in the past month, and six percent will develop a gambling problem. NCC’s Student Wellness Center is working with the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program and the NC Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services to increase awareness about problem gambling. If you or someone you know needs help with problem gambling call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543 or visit www.morethanagamenc.org.

Nash Community College is proud to announce the following students achieved academic honors during the 2017 Fall Semester. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students earn a 4.0 grade point average (all A’s) while taking 12 or more semester hours. Students who qualify for the Honor Roll earn a grade point average of 3.3 or above and are enrolled in 12 or more semester hours.

Dean’s List

Michaela Abbott, Castalia
Hana Al-Kobri, Rocky Mount
Aiyda Alshohatee, Rocky Mount
Bryan Angel, Rocky Mount
Veronica Antunez, Spring Hope
Cheska Armstrong, Rocky Mount
Alissa Avery, Rocky Mount
Jose Baez Morales, Rocky Mount
Ashley Baker, Rocky Mount
Cameron Baker, Rocky Mount
Trent Bass, Nashville
Jarriet Battle, Rocky Mount
Angela Bennett, Whitakers
Natalie Bernat, Rocky Mount
Timothy Bizzell, Wilson
Trevor Boykin, Wilson
Sherrie Brizendine, Nashville
Brandon Brooks, Rocky Mount
Alexander Broomell, Rocky Mount
Casi Brown, Rocky Mount
Emily Bryant, Castalia
Jessica Bynum, Nashville
Adriana Cabrera-Zurita, Rocky Mount
Rebecca Ceglia, Rocky Mount
Mason Chamblee, Spring Hope
Esther Codington, Rocky Mount
Claudia Cole, Battleboro
Braxton Collie, Nashville
Sarah Collins, Roanoke Rapids
Keshawn Coppage, Nashville
Jacob Cox, Middlesex
Morgan Cullipher, Elm City
Bryson Curtis, Middlesex
Jennifer Daniel, Elm City
Hunter Davis, Battleboro
Jacob Davis, Wilson
Derek Del Valle, Raleigh
William Dickinson, Garysburg
Sandra DiRico, Rocky Mount
Donna Douglas, Nashville
Nicole Douglas, Nashville
Andrew Duda, Greensboro
Tonie Durant, Rocky Mount
Luke Eason, Nashville
Joshua Edwards, Rocky Mount
Sabrina Edwards, Chocowinity
Connor Evans, Sims
Leslie Frazier, Whitakers
Matthew Garcia, Rocky Mount
Steven Gardner, Mills River
Teresa Garrett, Rocky Mount
Morgan Gifford, Middlesex
Keith Glassey, Nashville
Emily Godwin, Nashville
Randy Griffin, Middlesex
Amy Hagan, Rocky Mount
Gregory Hardison, Oak City
Rawa Hazin, Rocky Mount
Elizabeth Height, Zebulon
Chester Helms, Rocky Mount
Bailey Johnson, Nashville
Chandler Johnson, Nashville
Elizabeth Johnson, Elm City
Katherine Johnson, Elm City
Penny Jones, Rocky Mount
Thomas Jones, Sims
Elliott Joyner, Rocky Mount
Michael-David Joyner, Rocky Mount
Taylor Joyner, Nashville
Olivia Kidd, Roanoke Rapids
Cameron King, Rocky Mount
Jessica Kreger, Louisburg
Christopher Lancaster, Rocky Mount
Kim Landi, Rocky Mount
Charles Lanfranchi, Rocky Mount
Daniel Liu, Spring Hope
Mei Liu, Spring Hope
Taylor Lloyd, Rocky Mount
Melissa Mains, Wake Forest
Sherri Majewski, Zebulon
Shannon Marlow, Elm City
Adam Marlowe, Rocky Mount
Sarah Marlowe, Nashville
Jessica Matthews, Rocky Mount
Robert Matthews, Knightdale
Christine McKinney, Knightdale
Melinda McPherson, Littleton
Angela Meares, Halifax
John Moore, Rocky Mount
Kayla Moore, Bailey
Cielo Murillo-Gomez, Middlesex
Veronica Navarro, Middlesex
Savannah Neal, Rocky Mount
Karen Orduna, Nashville
Jonathan Overton, Nashville
Jessica Pearce, Zebulon
Rica Pender, Greenville
Tin Pham, Roanoke Rapids
Trina Phan, Nashville
Jennifer Pierce, Roanoke Rapids
Elisha Pope, Spring Hope
Celeste Powell, Whitakers
Grayson Powell, Elm City
Heather Poythress, Nashville
Annin Prince, Nashville
Keona Pulley, Rocky Mount
Almon Radjail, Rocky Mount
Sarah Reams, Rocky Mount
Marcus Richardson, Bailey
Josephine Richardson-Barnes, Wilson
Peyton Roughton, Nashville
Cal Sagadraca, Nashville
Marilu Salazar, Rocky Mount
Mariyah Scott, Nashville
Ryan Seegars, Dunn
Ryan Sessoms, Nashville
Emma Sieracki, Rocky Mount
Kelsey Skaggs, Tarboro
Cameron Smith, Nashville
Christopher Smith, Rocky Mount
Jessica Smith, Rocky Mount
Phillip Smith, Rocky Mount
David Solana-Luna, Bailey
Fatin Soufan, Rocky Mount
Matthew Strickland, Rocky Mount
Meghan Strickland, Lucama
Tristan Sullivan, Nashville
Tamaya Sutton, Enfield
Ryan Terrell, Tarboro
Sara Thompson, Rocky Mount
John Todd, Rocky Mount
Anna Toler, Spring Hope
Kathleen Upchurch, Zebulon
Jose Luis Vazquez, Battleboro
Katelyn Vick, Whitakers
Jennifer Viera, Tarboro
Ashley Wachowicz, Nashville
Megan Wass, Rocky Mount
Aaron Webb, Rocky Mount
Heather Wells, Halifax
Sarah Wells, Nashville
Jasmine Wiggins, Rocky Mount
James Wilberg, Nashville
Areyon Williams, Nashville
Christopher Williams, Rocky Mount
Lauren Winstead, Nashville
Lee Winstead, Nashville
Punjaporn Wisalwith, Rocky Mount
Abigail Wooten, Rocky Mount
Justin Worrell, Rocky Mount
Matthew Wray, Gaston
Angelica Wright, Enfield
Damariscotta Wynne, Wilson

Honor Roll

Hannah Abbott, Henderson
Abdel-Jabbar Abdelaziz, Wilson
Melia Adams, Rocky Mount
Hannah Adcox, Rocky Mount
Marco Agostini, Wilson
Guadalupe Albarran, Rocky Mount
Felix Alexander, Greenville
Shavonna Alexander, Raleigh
Carrie Alston, Whitakers
Donnie Alston, Louisburg
Hunter Andrews, Rocky Mount
Tiajuanna Arrington, Rocky Mount
Kionna Atkinson, Rocky Mount
Alexandra Bachmann, Middlesex
Lealon Barkand, Whitakers
Montika Barnes, Wilson
Johnathan Bass, Nashville
Kaylee Batchelor, Nashville
William Batchelor, Nashville
Sara Batt, Castalia
Brittany Beddingfield, Nashville
Joseph Belano, Raleigh
Brittney Bell, rocky Mount
Kailey Bevins, Rocky Mount
Joshua Bodden, Rocky Mount
Ashley Boothe, Nashville
Samantha Bowyer, Battleboro
Daniel Box, Nashville
Sara Brannon, Rocky Mount
Victoria Brantley, Bailey
Joseph Bryant, Enfield
Kanovis Bullock, Rocky Mount
Boris Burt, Spring Hope
Leeanna Cahoon, Garysburg
Rebecca Caimi, Rocky Mount
Eira Cantu Yanez, Rocky Mount
Emanuel Castaneda, Rocky Mount
Andrew Chapman, middlesex
Slyvia Chapman, Rocky Mount
Ariana Chavez Centeno, Rocky Mount
Brett Chesis, Rocky Mount
Maureen Ching, Rocky Mount
Chante Clifton, Rocky Mount
Christina Coggin, Rocky Mount
Taryn Collie, Nashville
Richard Collier, Tarboro
Julia Copeland, Jackson
James Creed, Hollister
Tiara Crews, Rocky Mount
Kayla Dalton, Nashville
Christiana Daniels, Enfield
Jasmine Davis, Battleboro
Joseph Davis, Nashville
Octavius Deloatch, Rocky Mount
Tyrell Destouche, Whitakers
Jessica Dickens, Roanoke Rapids
Tyshika Dickens, Rocky Mount
Hannah Dixon, Rocky Mount
Leanne Dornseif, Nashville
Connor Doss, Nashville
William Dutton, Rocky Mount
Jeffrey Eatmon, Wilson
Joseph Edgerton, Spring Hope
Andrew Edwards, Rocky Mount
Brittany Edwards, Knightdale
Corey Edwards, Nashville
Shaun Edwards, Spring Hope
Victoria Edwards, Nashville
Shawn-Alexander Evans, Hollister
Stephenin Ezzelle, Rocky Mount
MD Fahad, Rocky Mount
Azariah Farmer, Rocky Mount
Genici Favinger, Wilson
Allison Fitzsimmons, Raleigh
John Flowers, Zebulon
Katie Fobbs, Rocky Mount
Mary Francis, Warrenton
Lyndsey Galloway, Tarboro
Amber Gardner, Elm City
Hayden Gardner, Louisburg
Clyteshia Garner, Whitakers
Lesli Garnica Luis, Elm City
Caylan Gay, Wilson
Aaron Giggers, Rocky Mount
Breanna Glore, Nashville
Ashley Glover, Bailey
Nina Wincel Gonzales, Bellflower
Karina Gonzalez, Middlesex
Ian Graham, Rocky Mount
Mariah Grant, Louisburg
Candice Gregory, Rocky Mount
Kevin Grimes, Rocky Mount
Wendy Grissom, Garysburg
Heather Hackley, Louisburg
Callie Hall, Spring Hope
Kielana Ham, Rocky Mount
Kimberly Hancock, Clayton
Jennifer Hardison, Sharpsburg
Kimberly Hardison, Rocky Mount
Janice Hardy, Wilson
Caleb Harp, Roanoke Rapids
Anthony Harrell, Bailey
Mitchell Harrell, Rocky Mount
Roney Harris, Rocky Mount
Hannah Haynes, Rocky Mount
Kaitlyn Hernandez, Bunn
Xena Hinton, Rocky Mount
Haley Honeycutt, Nashville
Logan Hough, Bailey
Frances Hunter, Enfield
Ashley Hux, Rocky Mount
Christopher Iffland, Zebulon
Joshua Jacquez, Rocky Mount
Jesus Jimenez, Bailey
June Johnson, Littleton
Dyamon Jones, Rocky Mount
Kelly Jordan, Wilson
Patterson Joyce, Rocky Mount
Donald Joyner, Nashville
Steven Joyner, Nashville
Amir Juwaied, Rocky Mount
E’moni Kee, Battleboro
Samiette Khan, Rocky Mount
Jessica Kim, Wilson
Stephany King, Louisburg
Gary Kitchen, Wilson
Aimee Laird, Nashville
Cindy Lam, Rocky Mount
Bradley Lamm, Rocky Mount
Nicole Lawrence, Rocky Mount
Jailene Leon, Elm City
Katie Leonard, Rocky Mount
Angelique Lewis, Nashville
Elton Lewis, Halifax
Lesley Lewis, Zebulon
Meggan Lewis, Rocky Mount
Qua’shay Lloyd, Rocky Mount
Clayton Lynch, Enfield
Kara Lynch, Nashville
Kayla Macklin, Rocky Mount
Christina Marks, Battleboro
Arielle Marlin, Nashville
Amy Marlow, Pinetops
Heather Martinez, Rocky Mount
Lizeth Martinez, Wilson
Logan Mazingo, Wendell
Braedon McConnell, Rocky Mount
Austin Meadows, Whitakers
Megan Mills, Rocky Mount
Elexis Mitchell, Castalia
Teasha Moody, Rocky Mount
Samantha Moore, Nashville
Stephen Moore, Pittsboro
Taylor Morales, Wilson
Tyler Morales, Wilson
Brayan Moreno-Garcia, Rocky Mount
Casey Mosher, Rocky Mount
Haley Oliver, Middlesex
Andrea Oneil, Nashville
Michael Overton, Nashville
Suzanne Peaden, Wilson
Kelsey Peele, Spring Hope
Haley Perry, Bailey
Kiley Phelps, Spring Hope
Owen Phillips, Rocky Mount
Justin Pittman, Rocky Mount
Charles Poli, Youngsville
Tyler Posey, Rocky Mount
Joey Privette, Middlesex
Dee’ Aldo Pulley, Whitakers
Tiffany Purtle, Whitakers
Landon Quigley, Rocky Mount
Britney Rackley, Rocky Mount
Myrakle Ramirez, Rocky Mount
Josue Ramirez-Pioquinto, Spring Hope
Martin Rebollar, Wilson
Zaira Resendiz, Bailey
Chiquita Richardson, Rocky Mount
Herbert Richardson, Hollister
Jazmin Richardson, Enfield
Brandon Roberts, Rocky Mount
Sergio Rocamora, Raleigh
Phyllis Rodgers, Rocky Mount
Ricardo Rodriguez, Nashville
Taylor Russell, Rocky Mount
Yazmin Salazar, Bailey
Garrett Sanders, Nashville
Evan Schwartz, Cary
Keith Scott, Rocky Mount
Noah Shealy, Nashville
Danielle Shearin, Spring Hope
Nadia Shehadeh, Rocky Mount
Gregory Sledge, Rocky Mount
Curtis Smith, Nashville
David Smith, Rocky Mount
Jamie Smith, Middlesex
Owen Sondergard, Rocky Mount
Grant Stallings, Whitakers
Meghan Stancell, Rocky Mount
Keturah Staton, Battleboro
Anthony Steffenilla, Fuquay-Varina
Matthew Swanson, Nashville
Nicholas Szwalek, Nashville
Andres Taylor, Pinetops
Angel Taylor, Tarboro
Destinee Taylor, Nashville
Shanterah Taylor, Rocky Mount
Tiffany Taylor, Rocky Mount
Sierra Thomas, Tarboro
Victoria Thompson, Rocky Mount
Jessica Trueblood, Jamesville
John Turner, rocky mount
Kathryn Ullom, Nashville
Dae’jah Vincent, Gaston
Tiffany Vitale, Rocky Mount
Jessica Wall, Whitakers
Jessica Wall, Enfield
Casey Webb, Rocky Mount
Jason Webb, Elm City
Joshua West, Littleton
Tafari Wheeler, Rocky Mount
Samantha Whicker, Rocky Mount
Milika Whitehead, Rocky Mount
Caleb Whitford, Nashville
Aaron Williams, Rocky Mount
Jamison Williams, Rocky Mount
Hannah Wood, Rocky Mount
Taylor Woodard, Elm City
Najadah Woodley, Rocky Mount
Sittie Hairen Wright, Roanoke Rapids
Poncie Yim, Wilson

“I am excited to finally share what it means to me to dream big, work hard, stay focused, and surround myself with good people,” Lynda Hight said.

Hight graduated from the Advertising and Graphic Design program at Nash Community College in the spring of 2016. She began her studies with visual communication by placing emphasis on aiding in trauma recovery. “It wasn’t until after my knowledge and interest in the field of graphic design grew that my goals in all areas of my education and career evolved,” she said. “As I found my specific interests and honed my skills, my instructors at NCC took an interest in my ability to learn, create, and become successful.” The NCC alumna is now an instructor in the program.

Hight recently completed the illustration for a children’s book, “The Penguin Gift” by Bill Sydney. The story of friendship and making a difference in the lives of others debuted at the Nash Community College Betsy B. Currin Child Development Center with a reading by Lisa Cooper, Department Chair, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Lynda Hight began sketching in July 2017 and said it was an honor to bring the story to life as the book’s illustrator. “As a Graphic Designer, the author gave me an opportunity to make my dream come true.”

“My first sketches consisted of stick figures on scraps of paper. I chuckle when I look back at those sketches,” Hight said. “I tend to find inspiration in nature so I spent a week in the mountains where I gathered most of my inspiration while sitting creek-side. I used the rock formations along the creek bed to create the basic shapes of the book’s characters – a lot like how we look at clouds and use our imagination,” she said. This creative process is similar to the creative concepting methods Hight teaches students to find their inspiration. “It was especially challenging to visually communicate an overly confident, friendly, 13 year old penguin named Palmer.”

Hight credits NCC faculty and staff for their support of her both as a student and a colleague. “My Graphic Design instructor, Natasha Neal, was my mentor throughout the process. She not only taught me the basic skills of design, but she has the ability of being able to hone in on a creative opportunity and she encourages me to stretch my boundaries a little further with every project.”

The art was illustrated utilizing Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign design software. “It has been cool to see how the creative process continues to evolve after graduation,” Hight said.