VGCC Graduate’s Determination Highlighted on TV Program
The success story of Vance-Granville Community College Nursing graduate and Stem resident April Culbreth is featured on the January 2007 edition of Vance-Granville Today, a half-hour television program produced by the college. Vance-Granville Today airs each Thursday on WAX-TV (available on Time Warner cable channel 7 in some areas) at 8 p.m., with a repeat broadcast at 8:30 p.m. Today, Culbreth is enjoying her job as assistant director of nursing at Britthaven of Henderson. But the road to her current success has not always been easy. While she was working toward her goal of a healthcare career, Culbreth has faced and overcome a variety of personal obstacles.“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, but I didn’t even know where to begin,” Culbreth said in an interview for the television program. After earning her GED at Alamance Community College, Culbreth eventually enrolled at Vance-Granville’s South Campus and took college-transfer courses. There, she learned about VGCC’s two-year nursing program. Because of difficulties at home and raising her children, Culbreth said, “at times, I didn’t think I was going to finish.” She not only finished; she excelled.Culbreth made the Dean’s list, was selected for membership in Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges, and received an academic achievement scholarship. She was also selected to be a student ambassador, meaning that she represented the college and assisted with various special events. Of that experience, Culbreth recalled, “That was really fun, an amazing opportunity for me. [The ambassadors] did a lot for the community and for the school, and I think being an ambassador helped me to open up more.”When Culbreth graduated in May 2006 from Vance-Granville’s Associate Degree Nursing program, she was one of eight graduates honored with an Academic award for completing the program with an “A” average. She finished with a 3.18 grade point average in the rigorous program, and went on to pass the necessary exams to become a registered nurse.Along the way, Culbreth had the support of the college’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program. “WIA was one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Culbreth said. WIA assists students with tuition and other expenses, but Culbreth thought that the department’s personal support was as important as any financial support. The WIA staff “have hearts of gold,” she said.In October 2006, Culbreth was honored by Gov. Mike Easley with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development, as one of two Outstanding Adult Participants. At what she recalls as a “huge” ceremony in Greensboro, Culbreth received her award plaque from NC Commission on Workforce Development chair Chris Rolfe and a cash gift from Duke Power Company. Culbreth got the opportunity to speak to a crowd of 600 people. “That was a first,” she reflected. In the television interview, Culbreth said she thought she had been chosen for the award because of her determination that “no matter what life has thrown at me, I was going to do something. I wanted to be a nurse, and I was going to make it happen, for me and for my children’s future.”Above: April Culbreth poses with her award plaque, presented by NC Commission on Workforce Development chair Chris Rolfe in a ceremony on Oct. 26. North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain served as master of ceremonies for the event. (photo by Bob Witchger, NC Community College System)
