VGCC South Campus celebrates Earth Day
Earth-themed posters, “pine cone cars” and a fashion show featuring recycled costuming highlighted Earth Day at Vance-Granville Community College’s South Campus on April 22.
The day kicked off with a choir of students, faculty and staff singing an Earth Day anthem by William Wallace based on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” with Wesley Williams, the Engineering Technologies program head, accompanying on trombone.
As part of the celebration, students entered a contest to create Earth Day-themed posters. Taking first place in the contest was Benjamin Marshall of Butner, whose subject was “How and Why Being Around Natural Plant-Based Environments Can Help Your Well-Being.” Alejandra Hernandez of Butner placed second with “Ways to Save Energy at Home.” Finally, Camitta Abraham of Raleigh came in third with a poster on “Slime Mold: Transport Engineers.” Students receiving honorable mentions were Tariq Harris of Franklinton (“Reuse, Recycle, Reduce”), Elizabeth Brewer of Youngsville (“Mycorrhiza”) and Dylan Newton of Oxford (“Wind Power”).
Dr. Matthew Meiners from EpiCypher and Michael McFadden from Granville Greenways served as the judges for the poster contest.
Another event held on Earth Day was a race in which competitors built their own “pine cone cars.” The winner was student Mia Heath of Oxford.
South Campus also held a “Trash Fashion Show,” in which students recycled various items into costumes. Winners were, in first place, Jessica Lovegrove of Creedmoor (whose costume was called “Alien Invasion”); in second, Corrine McDowell of Durham (“Newspaper Bride”); and in third, Kelan Marable of Oxford (“Show Up & Show Out”). An honorable mention went to Charlotte Slaughter of Butner.
Special guests at the event included the Creedmoor Farmer's Market (Deborah Brogden), Home Tweet Home & Crafts (Gina Aiken), Greenology Products, the Town of Butner (Christine Emory), Rob Montague – N.C. Forest Service, Granville County Beekeepers Association, Granville County Recycling Coordinator Teresa Baker, U.S. Marine Corps, Granville Health System (Erin Caswell), Falls Lake park ranger Andrew Boos, Crafts by April Eudy Upchurch, Granville County Animal Control, Granville Greenways, Tar River Land Conservancy and Granville County Water and Soil Conservation (Warren Daniel).
Above: A choir of VGCC South Campus students, faculty and staff sing an Earth Day anthem. (VGCC photo)
Above: Winners of the Earth Day “Trash Fashion Show” held at South Campus included, from left, students Jessica Lovegrove of Creedmoor (first place), Corrine McDowell of Durham (second place), Kelan Marable of Oxford (third place) and Charlotte Slaughter of Butner (honorable mention).
Above: From left, VGCC South Campus staffers Geraldine Cash and Jonathan Jackson and student Mia Heath of Oxford prepare to race their homemade “pine cone cars” during an Earth Day event.
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