Nash Community College has announced Sharon Barnhill as the 2020 J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore Staff Award recipient.

Selected by her peers, Barnhill will represent NCC among staff from other colleges at the North Carolina Community College System as a nominee for the 2020 North Carolina Community College System Staff Award.

In her nomination letter, Barnhill is described as demonstrating a deep understanding of the specialized needs of community college students. She shows daily commitment to the mission of the college in her role as Single Stop Assistant.

NCC’s Single Stop office, in collaboration with internal and external partners, provides services and resources at no charge to help students address barriers. Barnhill networks with community partners to provide access to supportive resources and promotes the College within the community.

Sharon Barnhill is known for sharing her knowledge by training other employees to serve as Single Stop screeners. “This extends the reach of Single Stop services to our students throughout campus, allowing them to be screened for their eligibility of local, state and national resources. This often results in academic success for our students,” NCC Dean of Student Wellness, Marbeth Holmes said.

The Student Wellness Center has expanded its footprint by offering Single Stop screening access to Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School, CITI High, Career & College Promise students, and all Continuing Education students. “Ms. Barnhill serves a key role in outreach and screening services to these populations. She also has served the community through scheduling tax preparation when NCC was a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site through the Single Stop program. In providing case management for students, she builds relationships and coordinates student access to eligible resources,” Holmes said. “Her expertise has significantly improved the quality of the NCC Single Stop program. Her input was recently solicited by the national Single Stop technology team who visited campus to observe the delivery of the college’s wrap-around services. Her interactions with students were observed and praised by the national office.”

NCC’s Single Stop program has identified approximately $4.5 million of helping financial resources for its students since the program launched.

The Staff Award is an annual award recognizing the outstanding work ethic of a non-instructional employee at NCC. J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore of Rocky Mount established a stipend for the NCC Staff Award in 2004 acknowledging the achievement of the recipient.

Sharon Barnhill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She has been employed at NCC since 2016.

The Gene Haas Foundation recently awarded $16,000 to the NCC Foundation to support scholarships for students enrolled in Computer-Integrated Machining, Industrial Systems Technology or Engineering programs. Growing up with a strong social conscience instilled by his family, Gene Haas formed the Gene Haas Foundation in 1999 to fund the needs of the local community and other deserving charities.

Gene Haas is the owner Haas Automation, Inc., America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools, which he started in 1983. Haas Automation is a now a billion dollar company and this extraordinary growth has been in an era of perceived decline in manufacturing. A 2015 report titled The Skills Gap in U.S. Manufacturing 2015 and Beyond projected that, “over the next decade, nearly three and a half million manufacturing jobs will likely need to be filled, and the skills gap is expected to result in two million of those jobs going unfilled.” Haas’ commitment to the importance of U.S. manufacturing has incited him to grow his personal foundation and direct his foundation board to focus on manufacturing education in the form of scholarships for CNC machinist training. Grants are also funded to support technical programs.

Pictured above, from left: NCC President Dr. Bill Carver, and Computer-Integrated Machining student scholarship recipients Cody Jones, Eric Weisenborn, and William Minchew with Haas Sales Engineer Bill Cranford and NCC Vice President of Advancement Pam Ballew.

Each year, Nash Community College President Bill Carver recognizes employees with service awards to acknowledge their commitment to service on campus and in the community. The following groups were honored at the Employee Recognition Ceremony held in the Brown Auditorium on September 26, 2019.

The Student Government Association (SGA) was honored with the Ambassador Award which is given annually to a full-time employee or group of employees who provide outstanding representation of NCC in the community. ​The SGA is the primary organization responsible for providing activities and opportunities that will enhance the educational experiences for NCC students. All curriculum students are members Association by virtue of their enrollment. Students participate in monthly meetings, campus social activities, civic volunteerism and philanthropy and other community activities. Pictured above, from left: Library Support Specialist and SGA C0-Advisor Michael Stallings, 2019-2020 SGA Presdient Tiffany Boswell, Associate Dean of Student Engagement Kara Deans and NCC President Dr. Bill Carver.

NCC’s Maintenance Department was honored with the Pride Award for demonstrating a high level of service and commitment and taking pride in their roles on campus. From landscaping to building maintenance, cleaning, support for construction projects and diverse array of other tasks, the team demonstrates an “all-in” effort as they approach each work day. Pictured from left, front row: Vice President of Finance Adrienne Covington, Housekeeping staff William Garrett, Director of Facilities Greg Deans, Senior Maintenance Technician Ronald Duggins, Housekeeping staff Cynthia Young, Judy Henderson and Zonda Smith and President Dr. Bill Carver. Second row, from left: Skilled Trades Technician Randy Flowers, Housekeeping staff Bobby Wiggins, Lead Maintenance Technician Eddie Daughtridge, Master Gardener/Instructor Ken White, Maintenance Technician Greg Latham, Groundskeeper Sam Vick, and Housekeeping staff Diane Pulley.

The President’s Challenge Award annually recognizes an individual or group for the role they play in supporting NCC student success. Employees of Student and Enrollment Services earned the award this year. The department serves as a main hub for student services ensuring students have access to the resources they need in the context of enrollment, counseling, advising, admissions, financial aid, veteran services, recruiting and other areas. Pictured from left, front row: Associate Dean of Student Engagement Kara Deans, Recruiter/Bilingual Advisor Aida Solorzano, Assistant Registrar Heather Perry, Recruiting Coordinator Melissa Sykes, Kathy Adcox, President Dr. Bill Carver and Director of Counseling/Career and Job Placement Coordinator Sonya Small. Back row: Vice President of Student Services Mike Latham, Dean of Student and Enrollment Services Dr. Daniel Wilson, Admissions Officer/Recruiter Adam Dickens, Disability Services/Service Learning-Counselor Jason Rierson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Priscilla Dickens, Financial Aid/Veterans Services Officer Norman Cooper and Financial Aid Officer LaShawn Cooper. Not pictured: Director of Financial Aid Tammy Lester, Director of Admissions Tammie Webb.

Charles M. Johnson of Nashville has established a new scholarship to support Nash Community College students pursuing careers caring for patients suffering from age-related dementia.

Ashleigh Glover, NCC Human Services Gerontology student, of Wilson, is the first to receive the Alzheimer’s Care Scholarship established in 2019.

Ashleigh Glover, left, with Charles M. Johnson

“Mr. Johnson’s role as a governor’s appointee to the Council on Aging motivated him to want to establish this scholarship,” NCC Vice President of Advancement Pam Ballew said. “He feels that so much is being done in the way of research, and he wants to provide assistance for caregivers who are training to work with geriatric patients, especially individuals living with dementia.”

A longtime friend of the college, Mr. Johnson established the Charles M. Johnson-Improved Order of Red Men, Apache Tribe 2 Scholarship in 1987, the Evelyn G. and Charles M. Johnson Honorary Scholarship in 2010 and the L. A. and Mamie Ford Johnson/Jessie and Sally Harper Gay Scholarship in 2011.

Mr. Johnson was also instrumental in securing the naming rights of NCC Building B as “Benvenue Hall” and the Benvenue Alumni Association Scholarship Fund in 2016. Benvenue High School was the original campus of Nash Technical Institute in 1967.

​

The Nash Community College Foundation awarded $245,662 in 2019-2020 scholarships to 239 students at the 44th Annual Scholarship Awards Program held Thursday, October 24, 2019 in Brown Auditorium. The event gave scholarship recipients a chance to meet their donors and express their gratitude.

“My very best wishes and congratulations to all of the scholarship recipients,” NCC Board Chair Paul Jaber told the students. “We hope these financial gifts will help you on your educational journey and your pursuit of a career. Hopefully, one day when you are successful in your careers, you will reflect on this time in your lives when someone helped you. I hope you will want to do the same for a deserving student.”

Since beginning in 1983, the Nash Community College Foundation has made its mark on the community sending forth skilled employees, and helping graduates launch careers. Donors from the local community and the volunteer Foundation Board of Directors have been most supportive in making student scholarships available for deserving students.

“The time I have spent at Nash Community College has been very rewarding as it has allowed me to focus on my future and define a path for me to follow,” scholarship recipient Christina Strickland said. “There is contentment in knowing you are following your heart. I look forward to the upcoming days of educating young students just as the teachers in my past did for me.” Strickland, an Associate in Arts degree student from Rocky Mount, received the Moring-Jennett Scholarship.

The Moring-Jennett Scholarship was established in 2000 by Dr. and Mrs. Bill Carver in memory of Dr. Carver’s grandmothers, Margaret Moring Wilkins and Eva Jennett Carver and as a legacy to their careers as educators.

“The donors here today represent our community,” NCC President Dr. Bill Carver said. “The students represent what is possible.”

For more information about the Nash Community College Foundation, please call (252) 451-8329 or email phballew947@nashcc.edu. The Nash Community College Foundation, Inc. is a tax-exempt, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization.

Click to view photos from the 44th Annual Scholarship Awards Program.

​Wells Fargo has awarded a $15,000 grant to support a new Launch Rocky Mount Biz program to spur local business creation.

Offered by the Small Business Center at Nash Community College, Eastern NC Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and Station Square, the program will prepare local entrepreneurs to launch new businesses.

The funding will provide scholarships for 45 participants to attend one of the three Launch Rocky Mount Biz classes beginning in 2020. The class utilizes Kauffman FastTrac curriculum to assist early-stage entrepreneurs in defining products and services, identifying core customers, creating financial tools, and developing marketing strategies. By the end of the program, participants will have a working business plan and can compete for up to three cash prizes of $500 per class for the top business plan pitches. A total of $4,500 in cash prizes will be awarded.

The program also includes ongoing business counseling and critical support services, such as legal, accounting, and marketing which early stage businesses may find difficult to obtain due to high startup costs. “Cash prizes and alternative small business ​​lending are important to new businesses that often face challenges in securing traditional business financing,” NCC Small Business Center Director Theresa Peaden said.

The Small Business Center also received a $5,000 grant from NC IDEA to fund three “Ice House: Entrepreneurial Mindset” classes. Inspired by the life of Pulitzer nominee Clifton Taulbert and the influence of an unlikely entrepreneur, the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is an experiential, problem-based course designed to empower learners by exposing them to entrepreneurial thinking and real life experiences.

Ice House: Entrepreneurial Mindset will meet January 28 – March 3rd. Launch Rocky Mount Biz will meet March 17 – May 12. Both classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-9:00 PM at Station Square located in downtown Rocky Mount. A free dinner will be provided at 5:30 PM before each class meeting.

“This invitation is especially important for minorities, or those who have faced employment challenges in the past whether it be a criminal offense or through a disability,” Peaden said.

The natural progression after completing Ice House is to move into Launch Rocky Mount Biz, which provides a deeper dive into the nuts and bolts of business. The two grants and the support of the local co-sponsors will allow us to offer a series of three of each of the courses over a year. For more information, please email trpeaden297@nashcc.edu or call 252-451-8233.

Pictured from left: Ben Braddock, Owner, Station Square; Gena Messer-Knode, Director Eastern North Carolina Center for Business & Entrepreneurship, North Carolina Wesleyan College; Joanna LeClair, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo Community Relations; Theresa Peaden, Director, Small Business Center, Nash Community College; Sarah Glover Pollack, District Manager, Wells Fargo; Suzie Koonce, Senior Community Relations Consultant, Wells Fargo; Pam Ballew, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director, Nash Community College Foundation; David Farris, President and CEO, Rocky Mount Association Chamber of Commerce.

​Nash Community College students were inducted into Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society during a ceremony held in Brown Auditorium on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Gamma Beta Phi is a non-profit, co-educational, honor and service organization for students in colleges and universities. Its objectives are to recognize and encourage excellence in education, to promote the development of leadership ability and character, and to foster, disseminate, and improve education through appropriate service projects.

Vice President of Advancement Pam Ballew was the keynote speaker. “Find your passion and it will fuel your motivation to be the very best you can be,” she said. “Do not allow obstacles to define you or hold you back. Figure out how to make them work in your favor. Decide which personal sacrifices you are willing to make. And, if somewhere along the way you decide to live out a lifelong dream, just remember that it’s never too late. If you do all of these things, I promise you, you will not finish last.”​​

To be eligible for Gamma Beta Phi, NCC students must hold a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average and must have earned 12 or more semester hours in a major at Nash Community College. NCC’s chapter was recognized among colleges throughout the United States as a 2018 – 2019 Distinguished Chapter. Only one other North Carolina community college received the honor. The distinction of Distinguished Chapter honors chapters who have excelled in the chapter programming, recruitment campaigns, service projects, monthly meetings, leadership, and local community impact.

Congratulations to the Fall 2019 Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society Inductees:

Jonna Anthony, Kimberly Artis, Zoe Atkinson, Stephanie Bartlett, Tiffany Boswell, JoHanah Bottoms, Teshiyah Demery, Shamarra Gilbert, Ellis Guy, Jessica Joyner, Tiffany Kirby, Ariel Langley, Crystal Parker, Frank Raya-Viera, Lydia Shirley, Justin Sullivan.

NCC Gamma Beta Phi Officers are Amberleigh Dornseif, president; Angela Bennett, vice president; Margarite Jackson, treasurer. Instructor Christine Ricci serves as advisor.

Nash Community College hosted the North Carolina SkillsUSA Postsecondary State Leadership Workshop on Friday, November 8, 2019 in the Continuing Education and Public Services Building. This one day conference helped SkillsUSA members find their “start button” through action-oriented, high-energy and motivational programming.

During the event, students learned how to ignite the leader within and maximize their potential, what motivates them and how to motivate others, and explored what it takes to lead effectively. Students left with a plan that will allow their chapter to gain state-wide recognition and understand how to lead at the local level. Participants learned how to get the most out of their SkillsUSA experience and how to grow their SkillsUSA chapter.

SkillsUSA focuses on helping students assume leadership roles and take action, whether at school, at home or in their communities. To learn more about the NCC SkillsUSA Chapter visit www.nashcc.edu/nccskillsusa.

Nash Community College President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt welcomed participants to the event

Nash Community College’s Small Business Center was among the recipients of the 2019 North Carolina Community College System Small Business Center Network Innovation Award for its Programs and Seminars. The Center was recognized during a ceremony held at the NC Small Business Center Network professional development conference on November 7, 2019.

The annual statewide awards honor small business centers and center directors for Innovation, Service/Collaboration and Programs/Seminars; Business Success Story (Most Impact and Overcoming Challenges) as well as State Director’s Award and Rookie of the Year.

Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson Community College Small Business Centers received the Innovation Award for their collaboration with the N.E.W. Business of Agriculture: Regional Opportunities for Growth Summit held in November 2018 at Wilson Community College.

“The event was the first of its kind for farmers and individuals working in agribusiness in our tri-county region. Attendees learned from industry experts about the future of agriculture in Eastern NC, the growing business of industrial hemp, and diversification opportunities in agritourism,” NCC Small Business Center director Theresa Peaden said.

Special thanks to Laura Lauffer, NC State University Center for Environmental Farming Systems; Ron Townley, Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments; and Hannah Quigley, Food System Program Fellow, Self-Help Credit Union for their support of the N.E.W. Business of Agriculture Summit.

“Over 200 attendees participated throughout the day at one of several seminars,” Peaden said. “Our own, Chef Frank Bookhardt served sweet potato baklava from the NCC Mobile Culinary Lab along with local small business owner Tommy Southerland providing Cackalacky Coffee. NCC Culinary and Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation programs were among the exhibitors participating. All around, it was a collaborative effort utilizing many local resources to make a difference for farming businesses in Eastern NC.”

For more information about the NCC Small Business Center, call 252-451-8233 or email trpeaden297@nashcc.edu.

Pictured above from left: Dr. Larry Keen, President, Fayetteville Technical Community College; Melissa Evans, SBC Director, Wilson Community College; Theresa Peaden, SBC Director, Nash Community College; North Central Regional Director, SBC Network; Anne Shaw, State Director, Small Business Center Network, North Carolina Community Colleges. Not pictured: Katelyn Edmondson, SBC Director, Edgecombe Community College.

NCC nursing students participated in a signing day on Monday, November 11 at Nash UNC Health Care. The Nash UNC Health Care Scholars Program is a partnership between Nash UNC Health Care and Nash Community College and Edgecombe Community College that funds the cost of education and provides a monthly stipend for students who are pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing. Recipients will work for Nash UNC Health Care for up to three years after graduation. Scholarship recipients also participate in quarterly mentoring and social activities. Nash Community College recipients are: Cameron Smith, Erica Manley, Heather Coley, Crystal Lewis, Tiffany Boswell, Lesley Lewis, Jessica Powell, Tenika Parker and Christopher Mercer.

Phyllis Stiles

Phyllis Stiles, pollinator champion and Bee City USA founder at the Xerces Society, visited the Nash Community College campus on Tuesday, November 19 to present about the plant and pollinator relationship that supports the reproduction of nearly ninety percent of the world’s flowering plant species. Responsible for one in three bites humans eat, hundreds of thousands of species of bees, butterflies, bats, beetles, wasps, moths, birds, and flies provide mutual benefit through pollination. With special emphasis on native bees, Stiles explained why pollinators are declining and how each of us can help reverse those trends.

As a certified affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program, NCC follows a Campus Pollinator Habitat Plan featuring locally native, pollinator-friendly plants and a least toxic integrated pest management plan. The campus hosts events to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and annually sponsors and tracks student service projects to enhance pollinator habitats on-and off-campus. NCC biennially offers a pollinator protection course and incorporates pollinator protection topics into curriculum.

“Nash Community College is a stellar example of the influence educational institutions can have on their students and the broader community. Their talented faculty, staff and students offer an invaluable resource for Twin Counties residents in seeking ways to manage ornamental landscapes in more wildlife-friendly ways,” Stiles said.

Nash Community College takes pride in its commitment to minimizing hazards to pollinators by using no neonicotinoid pesticides, and almost no glyphosate herbicide or other potentially dangerous synthetic pesticides. Each certified campus must reapply for certification each year.

For more information about the application process for becoming a Bee Campus USA affiliate, visit http://www.beecityusa.org/application-campus.html.

Nash Community College Veterinary Medical Technology students visited Martin Community College this week to learn more about large animal care from students and instructors in MCC’s signature Equine Technology program.

The two colleges have an agreement allowing shared use of facilities and instructional resources, and supporting the transition of MCC Equine Technology graduates into NCC’s Veterinary Medical Technology program.

Through the partnership, NCC provides instruction for all core Veterinary Medical Technology classes and Martin Community College provides equine facilities for large animal clinical instruction within the VMT program. MCC equine technology graduates meeting the program admissions eligibility requirements have the opportunity to enroll in NCC’s Veterinary Medical Technology program.

Visit www.nashcc.edu/VMT for more information, or contact nccvettech@nashcc.edu.

In 1944 he joined the Army Air Forces and served in the Pacific theater. After his military service he graduated from the Citadel Military Academy in Charleston, South Carolina and subsequently earned a Law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After Law School he joined the family law firm, The Valentine Firm, in Nashville, North Carolina.

Barbara Valentine addresses attendees

During the ceremony, Valentine’s wife, Barbara, shared that Congressman Valentine expressed his interest in preserving the history within the scrapbooks. NCC Trustee Jim Martin and President Emeritus Dr. Reid Parrott were instrumental in facilitating the donation of the collection.

Former Senator A.B. Swindell shares remarks

“The conversation with Congressman Valentine continues through his legacy of memorabilia, photographs, treasures, and scrapbooks,” Dr. Deana Guido, NCC Associate Vice President of Transfer Initiatives said.

From left, NCC Board Chair Paul Jaber, Associate VP of Transfer Initiatives Dr. Deana Guido, Barbara Valentine, President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt, A.B. Swindell, Trustee Jim Martin

The Tim Valentine Study Room and material in the Nash Community College Library Archives are valuable resources for students and scholars doing research on the connections between local, state, and national politics and public service. Artifacts, photographs, scrapbooks, documents, and other primary sources that record the life and career of Tim Valentine are available for research upon request at the library service desk.

From left, Retired Wilson Community College President Dr. Frank Eagles, Barbara Valentine, President Emeritus Dr. Reid Parrott, President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt

Charles M. Johnson of Nashville has established a new scholarship to support Nash Community College students pursuing careers caring for patients suffering from age-related dementia.

Ashleigh Glover, NCC Human Services Gerontology student, of Wilson, is the first to receive the Alzheimer’s Care Scholarship established in 2019.

Ashleigh Glover, left, with Charles M. Johnson

“Mr. Johnson’s role as a governor’s appointee to the Council on Aging motivated him to want to establish this scholarship,” NCC Vice President of Advancement Pam Ballew said. “He feels that so much is being done in the way of research, and he wants to provide assistance for caregivers who are training to work with geriatric patients, especially individuals living with dementia.”

A longtime friend of the college, Mr. Johnson established the Charles M. Johnson-Improved Order of Red Men, Apache Tribe 2 Scholarship in 1987, the Evelyn G. and Charles M. Johnson Honorary Scholarship in 2010 and the L. A. and Mamie Ford Johnson/Jessie and Sally Harper Gay Scholarship in 2011.

Mr. Johnson was also instrumental in securing the naming rights of NCC Building B as “Benvenue Hall” and the Benvenue Alumni Association Scholarship Fund in 2016. Benvenue High School was the original campus of Nash Technical Institute in 1967.

Nash Community College (NCC) Veterinary Medical Technology students and faculty recently visited Martin Community College (MCC) to learn more about large animal care from students and faculty in MCC’s signature Equine Training program. “The collaboration between these two highly-specialized programs allows students in both programs diverse experiences before entering the workforce,” NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt said.

The two colleges have an agreement allowing shared use of facilities and instructional resources, and supporting the transition of interested MCC Equine Training graduates into NCC’s Veterinary Medical Technology program.

Through the partnership, NCC provides instruction for all core Veterinary Medical Technology classes and Martin Community College makes available equine facilities and large animal clinical instruction to the NCC program — a unique equine experience for NCC students to learn and demonstrate required large animal skills.

The Martin Community College Equine Training curriculum is designed to prepare students for a wide range of positions within the horse industry. Students learn about farm management, breeding, nutrition, selection/judging, health, training, teaching, and riding.

“We are extremely excited about and pleased to be working with our sister college, Nash Community College, in this effort to provide opportunities to eastern North Carolina and beyond for the program and equine industry.  The Veterinary Medical Technology program is a great collaborative effort between the colleges and a great opportunity for the people of our area,” MCC Interim President Dr. Kenneth A. Boham said.

The Equine Training degree program focuses on the horse, horsemanship, and related subjects preparing individuals to care for horses, horse equipment, ride and drive horses, and manage the training of horses and riders.

For more information, please visit www.nashcc.edu/vmt or email nccvettech@nashcc.edu.

Mr. Eubanks and Students

Throughout his career, John Eubanks has seen a lot of changes in the field of engineering. Still today, he is passionate about sharing his experience.

Eubanks graduated from North Carolina State University with Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1956 and 1962. “I always wanted to go to NC State,” he said. “My brother went to NC State following his service in World War II, and my dad and I would go to football games there. With my interest in electrical engineering, I knew NC State was for me.”

Upon college graduation, Eubanks began his career as a circuit design engineer at Bell Telephone Labs. He was employed at the labs in Greensboro for 10 years where he worked on the Nike Zeus project, an anti-ballistic missile system designed to destroy incoming ballistic missile heads. The technology performed even better than the team had initially anticipated. “It is pretty exciting to think I had a part in developing technology that would intercept foreign attacks on the U.S.,” Eubanks said.

During this work, he developed an Analog-to-Digital converter that was faster than any that had been developed at that time. Other companies wanted to buy copies of this converter from Bell Labs but Bell Labs was not able to do this. With permission from Bell Labs, in 1966 Eubanks and Robert C. Bedingfield started a new company named Computer Labs.  This company sold copies of the converter and related items.

In 1978, the partners sold Computer Labs to Analog Devices. The new company operated as Computer Labs Division of Analog Devices before being renamed Analog Devices – Greensboro Division. The company is still in operation today and has grown to employ approximately 300.

For the past 25 years, Eubanks has taught math, electronics, and engineering at Nash Community College. In the fall 2004 semester, he was recognized with the outstanding teacher award by the NCC Student Government Association. Although he retired from teaching full-time, Eubanks currently serves as a part-time instructor in NCC’s Associate in Engineering program.

In 2015, he was inducted into the NC State University Electrical and Computer Engineering Hall of Fame for his professional achievement and entrepreneurial accomplishments.

In his Introduction to Engineering class, students learn the basics of robotics and engineering including possible careers, application and design. One of the highlights of the class, according to Eubanks, is teaching future engineers to build their own rolling robot with programmable features, customizable circuitry and sensors for autonomous navigation. “I love this college. It is a wonderful place to work. It is a paradise. Everyone gets along, and the students are prepared for lifelong success,” he said.

Eubanks, 86, has three adult children. He lives in Rocky Mount and has six grandchildren all of whom are college graduates. “I am so proud of them,” he said. In his free time, he enjoys writing computer programs and spending time with family and friends.

Since NCC’s Associate in Engineering program began in 2017, 28 students have graduated including two students enrolled as Goodnight Scholars at NC State University. The Associate in Engineering program prepares students for electrical, civil, biomedical, and mechanical engineering careers, and is also a great option for those interested in majoring in Physics or Mathematics. The degree program is one of the most rigorous degrees that NCC offers, however graduates may expect a starting salary of approximately $60,000 annually with a four-year degree.

For more information, or to enroll for the spring semester, please call 252-451-8398. Classes begin January 13.

Mr. Eubanks and Students

From left: Dakota Heatherly (Third Place), Gary Barbour (First Place), Morgan Hicks (Second Place)

Nash Community College Engineering (EGR) 150 students and NCC Instructor John Eubanks recently held a BOE-BOT contest showing off a high level of skill and creativity. With an increased interest in robotics in the engineering industry, EGR 150 introduces robotics to NCC students. Students learn robotics basics and are challenged to design robot navigation schemes, which are judged during the BOE-BOT contest.

The winners were: First Place – Gary Barbour; Second Place – Morgan Hicks; Third Place – Dakota Heatherly.

BOE–BOT is the trade name of a robot kit that is used in robotics classes.

NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt and ECU Interim Dean of the College of Education Art Rouse, sign Partnership Teach agreement. Also pictured, standing: Dr. Tammie Clark, NCC VP of Instruction (left) and Dr. Deana Guido, Associate VP of Transfer Initiatives (right)

Nash Community College leaders were among the attendees at a Dec. 4 event announcing the official unveiling of Partnership Teach – a new name for the East Carolina University College of Education’s online degree completion model. In the program, formerly known as Partnership East, students take courses at a North Carolina community college and then transfer to ECU to complete a teaching degree. Nash Community College is proud to be a partner in the program.

“The name Partnership East reflected the original footprint which was only in eastern N.C.  We continue to focus our efforts in the east, but over the years, we have expanded our online opportunities to all 100 counties,” said Kathy Bradley, Partnership Teach coordinator. Bradley’s office is located at Nash Community College. “With this being the last year we receive funding from the SECU Foundation, it was a good time to embrace the name change to Partnership Teach which better reflects our mission of growing teachers through partnership.”

Representatives from the 23 colleges that compose Partnership Teach re-signed their agreements with ECU during the event. Public school systems that are members of the Latham Clinical Schools Network also reaffirmed their commitments.

“These kinds of partnerships are integral to our work that we do together to prepare educators,” ECU COE Interim Dean Art Rouse said. “The College of Education’s motto is ‘Excellence Through Partnership’ and these partnerships exhibit that motto daily. Our College of Education believes in a clinically-based model of educator preparation and we truly cannot accomplish that without the willingness of our public school partners to open their doors and welcome our students into real-life situations. Our college is also committed to access and we could not be accessible to prospective educators without the community college connections and collaborations with our Partnership Teach.”

“There’s no better strategy for the future of our region than homegrowing talent,” ECU Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson said. “These local pipelines result in a huge level of success for our region and our students.”

Another successful partnership for ECU is the Latham Clinical Schools Network, a group of 43 public school systems in eastern North Carolina that provide classrooms for ECU student teachers.

“It shows a commitment of our college to the region and to these public schools that we really care about putting out quality teachers to help the students in this region get a quality education,” said Dr. Vivian Covington, ECU COE assistant dean of undergraduate affairs.

These partnerships have multiple benefits for both the school systems and ECU, especially when it comes to collaborating on educator preparation and grant work.

“We leverage this network in so many ways for student success and for the success of the network and its school systems,” Mitchelson said. “But we also leverage it in very creative ways in terms of professional development and also grant work. I’ve seen a lot of this work firsthand. It’s really exciting. We had a room full of students the other day and their teachers from this network who were focused on the intersection of computational science and art.”

Being able to partner with a wide variety of schools is an invaluable resource for both future teachers and the schools that want to employ them.

“This network is a very rich region of real-world experiences and challenges that our students are exposed to,” Covington said. “We would never dream of preparing teachers without making sure that they are fully steeped in real-life experiences. In order to do that, you have to have a commitment with public school partners.”

Students’ work in public schools begins their sophomore year and culminates in a two-part internship during their senior year.

“The internship is roughly 600 hours and they probably do at least another 80-100 hours between their sophomore and junior years,” Covington said. “They’re getting about 700 hours of on-the-job training before they are hired and I think that’s why our public school partners want our students.”

The partnerships that ECU has with community and two-year colleges benefit the university and colleges beyond increased enrollment. Almost 900 students have graduated from the Partnership Teach degree completion model.

“Many of our students are nontraditional and have experience as teacher assistants,” Bradley said. “They bring a more seasoned perspective to the discussions in the online classes.”

Partnership Teach is comprised of Louisburg College and the following 22 community colleges:  Beaufort, Carteret, Central Carolina, Coastal Carolina, College of the Albemarle, Craven, Edgecombe, Fayetteville Technical, Halifax, James Sprunt, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Pamlico, Pitt, Roanoke-Chowan, Sampson, Vance-Granville, Wake Technical, Wayne and Wilson.

The 43 public schools systems that make up the Latham Clinical Schools Network are Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Clinton City, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edenton-Chowan, Edgecombe, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Nash-Rocky Mount, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Roanoke Rapids, Sampson, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Weldon City and Wilson.

For more information and photos, contact Kristen Martin at martinkr19@ecu.edu or 252-737-1151.

​

On November 21, 2019, the NCC Global Scholars and NCC Student Government co-hosted the NCC International Festival, an exciting afternoon event celebrating the diverse countries and cultural identities of Nash Community College.

Global Scholars Program International Festival

Over 60 students representing Spanish, ESL, History, and British Literature classes and from clubs such as Dungeons and Dragons, Global Scholars, and the Early College International Club sponsored booths with educational information, pictures, activities, and food introducing 200 festival attendees to specific countries, cultures, or regions.

Global Scholars Program International Festival

The purpose of this inaugural event was to encourage interactions between individuals of all backgrounds while upholding the values of diversity, inclusivity, and cultural appreciation. This event sought to promote cultural competency and expose students, faculty, and staff to new perspectives and traditions from different areas around the world.

Global Scholars Program International Festival

If you would like to inquire about participating in the International festival next year, please reach out to the event coordinator, Erika J. Simon, at ejsimon759@nashcc.edu or via the GS email (nccgps@nashcc.edu).

Global Scholars Program International Festival

Requirements for earning the Global Scholars distinction at Nash CC include: completing 15 credit hours with a minimum of a C in globally-intensive courses, participating in 8 global activities and 30 hours of global experience through travel abroad and/or domestic intercultural experience/service, and sharing a capstone presentation related to the global-learning experience and participation in the GS Program.

For more information on the GS program, visit the Global Scholars Website.