VGCC students discuss Service to Humanity at annual Martin Luther King celebration
Speeches by students on the importance of serving others and joyful music were among the highlights of Vance-Granville Community College’s annual celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, held on Jan. 16 in the college’s Civic Center.
Attendees were welcomed by VGCC Early Childhood Education program head Tracey Bennett, chair of the college’s Global Awareness Committee, which sponsored the event. VGCC Publications Coordinator Elizabeth Gray, who chairs the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Subcommittee, helped Bennett preside over the program. An invocation by VGCC Male Mentoring program coordinator Dr. Tolokun Omokunde was followed by remarks from the college president, Dr. Stelfanie Williams. She thanked community members for joining students, faculty and staff for the celebration. The president introduced the theme of the event, drawn from a statement made by Dr. King to students in 1959: “Make a career of humanity, and you will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in.” She added that there were “three key aspects to Dr. King’s life and experiences that we can incorporate into our own lives: hope, education and service.”
As part of an essay contest, three VGCC students were selected to deliver speeches on how they would make a “career of humanity.” Jamill Belton of Oxford said he was raised to believe in lending a helping hand, which played a part in his decision to serve in the United States Navy. Now, as a student in the Criminal Justice Technology program, he was seeking “to further my education so I can obtain the knowledge I need to touch at least one person who may need uplift.” Terrica Cooper of Oxford, a Granville Early College High School student, explained in her speech that being a humanitarian could involve small, simple acts of kindness and concern for others. She was inspired to emulate the dedicated service of her teachers. Finally, Justin Davis of Henderson, another Criminal Justice Technology student, said he chose to “practice humanity as a lifestyle,” volunteering in schools, prisons and rest homes. He cited his rewarding experience as a basketball coach for children as a small way to leave “a footprint on the world” through mentoring.
A panel — the deans of the three VGCC satellite campuses, Cecilia Wheeler of South Campus, George Henderson of Warren County Campus and Bobbie Jo May of Franklin County Campus — judged the speeches and awarded cash prizes: first-place ($75) to Cooper; second-place ($50) to Davis; and third-place ($25) to Belton. A fourth student contestant, Vance County Early College High School student Amber Maddox of Henderson, received an honorable mention.
Inspirational music was provided by a choir consisting of VGCC students, faculty and staff, under the direction of Criminal Justice instructor Steven Hargrove. The program ended as all attendees joined the choir in singing the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome.” As the King holiday is a national “Day of Service,” the VGCC event included a community service element. Attendees were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) organization in Henderson.
Above: From left, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, congratulates the first, second and third-place winners of the essay contest: students Terrica Cooper, Justin Davis and Jamill Belton, respectively. Not pictured: student Amber Maddox (honorable mention). (VGCC photo)
