Senator Hagan visits VGCC Franklin Campus

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan held one of her “Conversations with Kay” events at Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus near Louisburg on Nov. 12. Hagan, the junior senator from North Carolina, and members of her staff were available to talk with constituents about their concerns, and in particular to help citizens navigate issues with federal agencies, such as the VA, IRS or the Social Security Administration. The event was the senator’s 97th “Conversations with Kay” meeting, as she neared completion of her goal to hold such events in ALL 100 North Carolina counties before the end of 2012.

In brief remarks at VGCC’s Franklin Campus, Sen. Hagan thanked Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of the college, and Bobbie Jo May, the dean of the campus, for their hospitality. As the event coincided with the observance of Veterans Day, the senator thanked the country’s military veterans and noted that many of her family members have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces. Hagan also said that the state’s number-one priority remains jobs, and community colleges like VGCC play a critical role in training or retraining the workforce and addressing “mismatches” between the skills that students have and those that employers need. “I’m 100 percent supportive of North Carolina community colleges,” Hagan said. “We must invest in education for our future.” Hagan serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Above: From left, Vance-Granville Community College President Stelfanie Williams, student ambassador Theresa Chiplis of Norlina, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and ambassador Tory Young of Oxford, at the conclusion of the senator’s “Conversations with Kay” event at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus. Chiplis is studying Global Logistics Technology and Accounting at VGCC, while Young is enrolled in the Accounting and College Transfer programs. (VGCC photo)