VGCC Program Affords Opportunities To Work With Youth, Adults, Seniors

After Anthony Yarborough graduated from Northern Vance High School in 1997, he enrolled in the college transfer program at Vance-Granville Community College. He thought he would get the basics taken care of while staying near home in Henderson. Then he would transfer to a university and get his last two years and go out and conquer the business world.

Something happened along the way to change Anthony’s mind.

“I was working at the Henderson Family YMCA part-time while attending Vance-Granville, and I realized I wanted to work with kids as a career,” he said. “I also like athletics and would like to stay involved in them.”

Anthony Yarborough looked further at Vance-Granville Community College and discovered the Recreation and Leisure Studies program, which will give him the background to fulfill both those goals, plus working with adults and senior citizens if he chooses.

So Anthony changed his major and is on schedule to graduate from Vance-Granville on Aug. 5 with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies.

This program prepares women and men to plan, direct and implement recreation activities in various environments for all age groups. Students learn recreation programs and activities in cultural arts, team sports, outdoor education, wellness, individual activities and adapted activities. Graduates of the program find employment at recreation centers, schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, parks and commercial recreation establishments.

“This program prepares you to work in many ways with children, such as in camp operation,” Yarborough said. “It teaches you everything from the kind of grass to plant and grounds maintenance to management procedures of a camp.”

Anthony Yarborough has already put his newly-learned skills to work in part-time employment with the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department at the Aycock Recreation Complex. And he said his studies have opened new opportunities for him. He is considering going to Nag’s Head, to work in a recreation program there with both youth and seniors.

Anthony is the son of Donald and Brenda Yarborough of Henderson and is married to the former Cameron Clark. Recreation and Leisure Studies is a two-year program, requiring one summer school. New classes will begin with Fall Semester on Aug. 19, and registration for this semester begins July 29. For information on Recreation and Leisure Studies, or any of the 35 curriculum programs at Vance-Granville Community College, call the college at 492-2061.