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College Tech Prep Highlights Counselor Luncheon At VGCC

 

College technical preparation in this four-county area is doing very well, a consultant told school counselors gathered for an annual meeting Nov. 7, hosted by Vance-Granville Community College.

Every year, the college’s counseling services staff invites counselors from high schools and middle schools in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties to a luncheon at which they discuss programs of mutual interest and problems that may need ironing out.

On Nov. 7, Chris L’Orange made a presentation to the group about the college technical preparation (Tech Prep) program. L’Orange works for Praxis, Inc., a consulting firm hired by Vance-Granville to evaluate the success of the program. 

Under Tech Prep, students entering high school follow a curriculum path that will prepare them for a technical education in a community college instead of preparing for a four-year college or college transfer studies at a community college. Courses in Tech Prep may include computers, accounting, vocational and other areas.

L’Orange said than a survey by his company showed that 46 percent of participants from the four counties were on a college prep track, but 26 percent were on Tech Prep preparing for Vance-Granville Community College, and another 11 percent were planning to attend another community college or trade school.

“This shows that people are getting away from thinking you have to have a four-year degree to get a good job,” the consultant said. The gap is shrinking in recent years between college prep and college tech prep, he added.

“College Tech Prep is really doing a good job preparing students, and all four counties are doing a great job implementing College Tech Prep,” L’Orange said.

Also at the luncheon, Dean of Student Services Dean Purvis gave the counselors a briefing on the VGCC Scholarship Program, saying this year 270 full-time students and 200 part-time students received grants from the school’s Endowment Fund. About 20 others received non-endowed scholarships. In addition, the school administered $100,000 in in-house grants and loans.

“Vance-Granville students received more than $7.7 million in financial assistance during the 2002-2003 school year,” Purvis said. “This includes federal, state and local assistance.”

Purvis reminded the counselors that all students graduating from the eight high schools in the four counties in the top 20 percent of their class are guaranteed $1,000 scholarships to Vance-Granville. He outlined the application process to the counselors. Other $500 grants are also awarded to area students at high school class nights.

Dean of Curriculum Marsha Nelson said Vance-Granville plans to begin two new programs – Pharmacy Technology and Medical Sonography next year as a response to needs and desires expressed by area students and businesses.


In the first photo, Vance County guests at a counselors luncheon Nov. 7 at Vance-Granville Community College included, front, from left: Kali Henderson, Northern Vance High School, Herbert Washington, VGCC, Marsha Harris, NVHS, Tannis Jenkins, Southern Vance H.S., Harry Hedgepeth, Henderson Middle School, and Eric Pierce, principal, Western Vance High School; back row, from left, Beth Brockhaus, VGCC, Mary Jo Wilson, director of Career and Technical Education, Vance County Schools, Jane Hicks and Linnea Westbrook, NVHS, Ruth Wilson, Andrea Faulkner and Victoria Bender, SVHS.

The second photo shows Warren County guests at a counselors luncheon Nov. 7 at Vance-Granville Community College including, front, from left: Yvonne Alston, Mary Ann Johnson and Cora Boyd, Warren County High School; back, from left: Joseph Ayscue, WCHS, Rosemary Lewis, Warren County Schools, Dr. Linda Mason, director of Career and Technical Education, Warren County Schools, Veronica Young, VGCC Warren County Campus, and Della Humphries, WCHS.

In the third photo Granville County guests at a counselors luncheon Nov. 7 at Vance-Granville Community College include, front, from left: Mary Mangum and Jacqueline Truitt, South Granville High School, and Rhonda Kennedy, Hawley Middle School; back, from left: Darwin Howard, coordinator, Workforce Development, Granville County Schools, Catherine Banks, SGHS, and Phyllis Thomas, VGCC South Campus counselor.

In the final photo, Vanessa Jones, Vance-Granville Community College Dean of Student Development, right, presents a plaque of appreciation from the college instructors and counseling staff to Mary Jo Wilson, director of Career and Technical Education, Vance County Schools. The plaque thanked Wilson, who will retire Jan. 13, 2004, for many years of assistance to the college counselors.