Home News Archives General VGCC Students, Faculty, Staff Volunteer At UNC-TV ‘Festival’

VGCC Students, Faculty, Staff Volunteer At UNC-TV ‘Festival’

A contingent of 13 people from Vance-Granville Community College answered phones and took pledges Feb. 28 during UNC-TV’s annual “Festival” fund-raising drive.

Led by President Randy Parker, the VGCC volunteers included students, faculty and staff members. They manned the phones three hours at the UNC-TV studios in Research Triangle Park during the afternoon children’s programming.

The volunteers fielded numerous calls from children who were watching the programs and just wanted to ask questions or talk to someone. But the VGCC volunteers also raised several thousand dollars to help pay for the public television station’s programs.

Included in the money taken in Feb. 28 was a donation from Vance-Granville Community College, which President Parker presented on camera to a UNC-TV representative.

President Parker said that one of UNC-TV’s primary focuses is education, and they are a good partner for the state’s community colleges. “It seemed only fitting that Vance-Granville should support UNC-TV’s fund-raising efforts by volunteering our time and by making a monetary donation,” he said.

In addition to President Parker, VGCC staff volunteers included Gene Purvis, dean of Student Services; Jo Ellen Nowell, director of Marketing; Beth Gray, publications coordinator; Copper Rain, Marketing secretary; Gerald Fuller, Public Information Officer; and Suzanne Keil, research specialist/grant writer.

Faculty members who volunteered were Helen Holt, English instructor, and Sue Zimmerman, math instructor. Student volunteers were Doreen Leavitt-Cash of Bunn, Shirley Burwell of Henderson, Athalene Joyner of Wake Forest and Elizabeth Billups of Norlina.

The VGCC volunteers said they enjoyed the UNC-TV experience so much they are already talking about signing up to answer phones for the next Festival.


Sporting T-shirts that read “VGCC Supports UNC-TV” are Vance-Granville Community College staff, faculty and students who volunteered for the public TV station’s “Festival” on Feb. 28. Front row, from left, are Jo Ellen Nowell, Suzanne Keil, Beth Gray, and Copper Rain. Back row, from left, are President Randy Parker, Shirley Burwell, Helen Holt, Elizabeth Billups, Sue Zimmerman, Doreen Leavitt-Cash, Athalene Joyner and Gene Purvis. Not shown is volunteer Gerald Fuller.

President Randy Parker, foreground, takes a pledge for UNC-TV on Feb. 28 when Vance-Granville Community College volunteers manned the phones at the public TV station’s “Festival” fund-raiser. Sue Zimmerman, far left, awaits a call, Copper Rain, second from left, talks to a caller, and Gene Purvis checks an information card after receiving a pledge.