Ferguson and Edwards named to posts at VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College recently announced the appointment of two department leaders, both with longstanding ties to the college and the community. 

 

EDDIE FERGUSON

 

Eddie Ferguson of Oxford has been named the new director of the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund. In that capacity, he will provide leadership to the Endowment Fund Corporation, a non-profit organization that seeks and receives contributions to support VGCC students and the mission of the college. Through the Endowment Fund, more than 7,000 scholarships have been awarded to students since 1982.

 

Ferguson served for many years on the Endowment Fund board of directors. His family foundation began sponsoring VGCC scholarships in 2000. Ferguson most recently served as Director of Industry Services and Emerging Technologies at VGCC. “As Director of Industry Services for the college, Eddie has done a tremendous job in proactively partnering with businesses and industries in our four counties and tailoring innovative training programs to meet their needs,” said VGCC Vice President of Finance and Operations Steven Graham. “In his new role, we are excited to have Eddie leading the resource development efforts of the college and further strengthening our community and business relationships in support of our mission and vision.”

 

Ferguson joined the college staff after many years as a business executive. He has been involved in a number of economic and community development projects in Vance, Granville and Wake counties. Meanwhile, he has also been active as a volunteer leader in the community, serving on the boards of the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, Kerr-Vance Academy, Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS), The Ministry Incubator and the Henderson-Vance Economic Partnership, among others. Ferguson served as the founding Chief Volunteer Officer for the local Boys & Girls Clubs organization and helped secure funding for Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity’s Women’s Economic Equity Project. A native of the Vance-Granville area, Ferguson graduated from J.F. Webb High School before earning two bachelor’s degrees from Atlantic Christian College (today known as Barton College).

 

For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409 .

 

JAMES EDWARDS

 

James Edwards of Henderson has been named the Director of Communications for VGCC. In this new position, Edwards will oversee the college’s public relations, advertising, public information and recruiting efforts as well as the Print Shop, which produces various publications and provides support services to other college departments. He is returning to VGCC, having previously served as Director of Marketing for the college from 1989 through 2004. Edwards spent the last ten years as publisher of The Daily Dispatch in Henderson. A Vance County native and graduate of East Carolina University, he started his career in local radio, and was a reporter and editor for The Daily Dispatch before his first stint at VGCC. Edwards is a board member for the United Way of Vance County, the Vance County Community Foundation and the Vance County Public School Foundation. He is also treasurer of the Henderson Community Concert Association and a member of the Henderson Lions Club. Edwards previously served as chairman of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, among his many other community activities.

 

“James understands how important VGCC is to the success of our communities, and as Director of Communications, he will collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure that our college is nationally recognized and branded as the best place to learn and work,” said VGCC Vice President of Employee and Public Relations Stacey Carter-Coley.

 

Pictured above, left: Eddie Ferguson met with VGCC’s ambassadors on his first official day as the new Endowment Fund director. Ambassadors are full-time students selected to represent the college at special campus and community functions, including Endowment Fund events. Pictured (from left) are VGCC Vice President of Finance and Operations Steven Graham, ambassadors Theresa Chiplis of Norlina, Jonathan Herndon of Henderson, Megan Sullivan of Oxford, VGCC endowment specialist Kay Currin, ambassadors David Henry of Macon, Joy Herndon of Henderson, Gary Williams, Jr. of Oxford, Charles Douglas of Henderson and Eddie Ferguson. (VGCC photo)

 

Pictured above, right: James Edwards (VGCC photo)