Scenes from Beaufort County Community College's graduation 2013

Russell Smith, chairman of the Beaufort County Community College Board of Trustees
welcomes graduates and their families to BCCC's 46th Commencement Exercises
at Washington High School on Thursday, May 16.

Dean of Business and Industry Ben Morris, left, receives help from Bebe Major
preparing for the ceremony.
Faculty Senate President Jay Anders, right,  waits his turn.

Charlie Moore, who earned an associate's degree in welding technology on Thursday,
shares a light moment with BCCC's Registrar Camille Richardson, and Joy Landeck.
"I didn't think I could make it, but I did," Moore said. 

Rudy Vasquez of Washington and Kasey Tooley of Pinetown,
both of whom earned Associate in Arts degrees,
wait for graduation exercises to begin.

Friends Lindsay Lewis and Brittany Chrismon of Washington
share a light moment before graduation.
Both earned associate's degrees in business administration.

Stephen Hahn of Chocowinity, Doneshia Spencer of Washington, Nancy Hill of Washington
and Kristina Moree of Bath celebrate together before graduation.

Business and Industry Division graduates sign in with Dean Ben Morris
before graduation.

Graduates enter the Washington High School auditorium.

Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System, delivers the graduation address
to about 1,200 graduates, their families and BCCC faculty, staff and administration.

William Wallace, left, of Pinetown and Michael Johnson of Chocowinity
enjoy a laugh together.
Wallace earned an associate's degree in electronic engineering technology.
Johnson earned associate's degrees in electrical and electronics engineering technology.

Associate Degree Nursing graduate Rachael Miller, center, facing camera,
enters the Washington High School auditorium

Leah Nicole Yates of Roper, the final graduate to walk across the stage on Thursday
sports a decorated cap denoting her degree.
Yates was one of 41 BCCC graduates who earned an Associate Degree Nursing in 2013.

BCCC helps Hortelano find new career path

Minnie Hortelano, standing, is applauded for her success during the Graduate Recognition Ceremony held recently at Beaufort County Community College.

Not long after Minnie Hortelano graduated from Plymouth High School in 1975, she began work at the local paper mill and thought she would spend her entire working life as an employee at the plant.

But Hortelano’s life changed in 2009 when she found out that her job had been eliminated.

“That last day you work, you don’t know what your life is going to be,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s hard.”

Today, thanks to her own hard work and encouragement from her family and from the faculty and staff at Beaufort County Community College, Hortelano, 56, has earned an associate’s degree in Human Services Technology on May 16.

She was one of 272 graduates awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates from the community college – the largest graduating class in BCCC’s history.

Hortelano hopes that degree, coupled with Spanish language skills honed in her home, will lead to a career with a social services agency in the area and a new life for her and her husband, Jose.

Not long after Hortelano received notice of a pending lay-off from Domtar, she, along with others from the plant, met with BCCC’s Clay Carter, director of Evening and Off-Campus Programs, and other members of the local Rapid Response Team, a group of workforce development leaders who respond to notices of pending lay-offs. The team helped Hortelano start mapping out a new career plan.

Minnie Hortelano, standing, is applauded for her success during theGraduate Recognition Ceremony held recently at Beaufort County Community College.

She enrolled in Basic Computer Skills and Career Readiness Certification classes offered in Washington County by BCCC’s Division of Continuing Education’s Human Resources Development.

Carter saw that Hortelano had good academic skills and could move forward with her studies and began urging her to enroll in curriculum classes at the college. 

Hortelano said she made an appointment with him to discuss her options “just so he’d quit bothering me when I came to class.”

On her visit to the campus, she saw lots of people her age on campus and felt more comfortable about enrolling.

As Hortelano and Carter looked through BCCC’s course catalogue, she spotted the Human Services Technology Program and decided it would be a good fit. The curriculum prepares students to provide help to clients in social services agencies and provides them with interviewing and counseling skills. 

Hortelano has faced challenges along the way including family illness and death. And while she was preparing for a new career, her husband lost his construction job. None of these events stopped Hortelano from reaching her goal.

Hortelano has advice for those in a similar situation: “Don’t be afraid to come to school and start a new career,” she said.

Beaufort County Community College graduates look to the future

William Wallace, pictured above, from Pinetown, was one of 272 graduates of Beaufort County Community College who received degrees, diplomas and certificates on Thursday, May 16.

Thursday night, William Wallace of Pinetown was grinning ear-to-ear. So was Kristy Brimmage-Mann of Englehard.

That’s because Wallace and Brimmage-Mann were among the 272 graduates who diplomas, certificates and high school equivalency degrees at the 46^th graduation exercises for BCCC held Thursday, May 16, in Washington.

It was the college’s largest graduating class to date.

Wallace was awarded an associate’s degree in electronics engineering technology from BCCC. He now hopes to return to the college in the fall to work towards an electrical engineering technology degree.

Brimmage-Mann was awarded an associate’s degree in general education and certificates in early childhood, special education, infant and toddler and school age education.

Like Wallace, Brimmage Mann hopes to continue her studies and pursue additional education degrees.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m very happy.”

Kristy Annitra Brimmage-Mann of Engelhard, gets help adjusting her graduation gown from Bebe Major, administrative assistant to the Dean of Instruction at Beaufort County Community College.

Just days after he graduated from Beaufort County Community College, Wallace will begin a new job as an electrical and instrumentation technician with DuPont’s manufacturing plant in Kinston.

“I will always be grateful to Beaufort County Community College for helping me prepare for a new career,” he said. “I owe my future to Beaufort County Community College.”

Two years ago, Wallace’s future wasn’t as bright as it is today. After an 11 1/2-year career with the pulp and paper manufacturing industry, he lost his job in December 2010.

Although he began looking for another job immediately after receiving the news of a pending lay-off, he quickly learned that many area employers were looking for workers with electronics training.

So, he returned to school and chose BCCC because of its “good reputation. It’s renowned in the area for the quality of students it turns out,” he said. “And it’s 10 minutes from home.”

A 1995 graduate of Northside High School, Wallace said the thought of returning to the classroom after a 15-year absence “was scary. I did all right in high school but I didn’t do my best.”

But as a ham radio operator, he always had an interest in electronics, so he decided to try for a college degree.

“Developing good study habits was hard,” he said. “I found that I had to look at it like a job. Some days, I worked eight hours, some days I worked 16 hours. It’s the same with going to school.”

As his school work progressed, Wallace discovered that he enjoyed being a student at BCCC. He joined Gamma Beta Phi and served as a college Ambassador, representing BCCC at events throughout the year.

“It’s been exciting. I have enjoyed everything - being able to connect with the staff, talking to professors and getting to know everyone,” he said.  “BCCC has almost become like a family to me.”

BCCC's graduates rehearse for upcoming graduation

Members of the Class of 2013 at Beaufort County Community College gathered in the auditorium of Washington High School Wednesday night to rehearse the 46th annual commencement exercises that would take place the following night.
A record 272 graduates will receive degrees, diplomas and certificates at the event.

BCCC Vice President of Academics Crystal Ange gives instructions to members of the Class of 2013 seated in the center section of the auditorium of Washington High School during graduation rehearsal on Wednesday, May 15.

Dena Douglas, who served as President of BCCC's chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, smiles as she waits for instructions during graduation rehearsal. Douglas will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Medical Office Administration and certificates in Basic Medical Office, Basic Office Skills and Word Processing Specialist on Thursday night.

William Wallace, who has served as a BCCC Ambassador for the past year, walks down the aisle during graduation rehearsal. Wallace will receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology on Thursday night.

Graduation Marshalls Montana Selby, left, and Jackson Lancaster, right, get ready to practice their parts at BCCC's graduation rehearsal Wednesday night.

BCCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology graduates honored in ceremony

Pictured above, BCCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology graduates and their instructors are front row, left to right, Brady Barber, Allied Heath Dean and MLT Program Director Erica Schatz, Pandora Brown, Katie Davis, Lindsey Duke, Heather Cates, MLT Instructor Fashikie Smith, Alvis Edwards and Tabatha Battle.

Graduates from the Medical Laboratory Technology Program at Beaufort County Community College were honored in a ceremony and reception held Tuesday, May 14, on the BCCC campus.

During a pinning ceremony held in the auditorium of the Katie G. Paul Allied Health and Nursing Building, the graduates received pins denoting their new profession and their college from Fashike Smith, Medical Laboratory Technology instructor.

Those students receiving pins were Brady Hoyt Barber of Williamston, Tabatha Battle of Washington, Pandora Evangeline Brown of Greenville, Heather Soper Cates of Chocowinity, Katie Michelle Davis of Pantego, Lindsey Michelle Duke of Belhaven and Alvis Edwards of Chocowinity.



Pictured above, MLT graduate Pandora Brown receives a pin
denoting her new profession from MLT Instructor Fashikie Smith.



It was the first pinning ceremony held exclusively for MLT graduates at BCCC in recent years and was intended to “celebrate the transition from hard-working students to medical laboratory technicians,” according to Erica Schatz, dean of the Allied Health Division and director of the MLT Program.

Schatz delivered the keynote address in the ceremony.

"Have confidence in your ability,” she said. “You are all going to make great technicians."

The MLT curriculum prepares students to collect samples and interpret findings involving tissue samples, blood and bodily fluids of patients in hospitals, medical offices and industrial and research centers, among other job functions.

Medical laboratory technologists are also needed to maintain the equipment needed for diagnosis and treatment.

MLT course work at BCCC includes mathematical and scientific concepts related to this work.

Schatz told the family and friends of the graduates, "You have been the biggest supporters. They wouldn't have made it without you.”

Pictured above, MLT graduate Katie Davis and her mother, Donna Kirk, a 1981 nursing graduate of BCCC, chat with BCCC President Barbara Tansey during a reception following the MLT Pinning Ceremony.

The graduates recited a Professional pledge by the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science.

A reception and tours of the MLT laboratory followed the ceremony.

BCCC’s Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society donates to Ruth’s House

The Beaufort County Community College Chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society recently made a donation to Ruth’s House in Washington to help the domestic violence shelter with its programs. The money was raised from a campus-wide raffle sponsored by Gamma Beta Phi. Pictured left to right, are Gamma Beta Phi Vice President Mike Johnson, Ruth’s House Shelter Manager Ann-Marie Montague, and Gamma Beta Phi President Dena Douglas. With national headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Gamma Beta Phi is an honor and service organization. The chapter at BCCC was chartered in 1975 under the leadership of Betty Cochran, former BCCC Arts and Sciences Division Chair. Membership is by invitation only. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled, must have completed at least 12 semester hours of college work and must have a 3.3 grade point average, among other membership criteria.

Gamma Beta Phi canned food drive benefits Eagles Wings

The Beaufort County Community College Chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society recently sponsored a canned food drive to help stock the shelves of Eagles Wings, a food pantry serving those in need in Beaufort County.  The canned goods were collected during a month-long campaign on the BCCC campus. Pictured left to right, with the donated food are Gamma Beta Phi Vice President Mike Johnson, Eagles Wings Warehouse Manager Bryan Oesterreich, and Gamma Beta Phi President Dena Douglas. With national headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Gamma Beta Phi is an honor and service organization. The chapter at BCCC was chartered in 1975 under the leadership of Betty Cochran, former BCCC Arts and Sciences Division Chair. Membership is by invitation only. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled, must have completed at least 12 semester hours of college work and must have a 3.3 grade point average, among other membership criteria.