VGCC students showcased in Martin Luther King celebration
Several Vance-Granville Community College students demonstrated their oratorical and musical talents during the college’s annual celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, held in the VGCC Civic Center on Jan. 20. Sylvia Jones, director of VGCC’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) department and chairperson of the celebration, welcomed students, faculty, staff and members of the community to the event, which was emceed by Director of Student Activities and Athletics Jasmine Hightower. Hightower reminded attendees that since the King holiday is a national “Day of Service,” it was appropriate that the VGCC event included a community service element. Attendees were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to area senior citizens.
Inspirational music was provided by a choir consisting of VGCC students, faculty and staff, under the direction of VGCC music instructor Michael Stephenson. The choir was accompanied by several students, including this year’s recipients of the college’s music performance scholarships: Joseph Colquitt of Creedmoor; Joseph Hedgepeth and Derek Jones, both of Henderson; and John Laible of Raleigh. The musicians were joined at one point by professional alto saxophonist Chris Hemingway of New York City, who plays with Stephenson in the world-renowned New Century Saxophone Quartet.
Four VGCC students were selected to deliver speeches on how Dr. King’s “dream” changed the world and their own lives. Katina Harris, a student from Warrenton in the College Transfer program , focused on King’s emphasis on love. “Dr. King used love as a catalyst for change,” Harris said. “His demonstration of love inspired a nation that was torn to acknowledge its wounds and mend itself.” Medical Assisting student Karlee McCann of Franklinton lamented that schoolchildren may not understand why they stay home on Martin Luther King Day each year, and said that the slain civil rights leader “deserves more than a day for changing the outlook of the nation for the better.” Hannah Stutts, a Franklin County Early College High School student from Youngsville, said that Dr. King’s life was an inspiration to her. “The obstacles I have in my life today seem insignificant when compared to the mountains that Martin Luther King climbed,” she said. Rachel Williams of Oxford, a College Transfer student, was struck by Dr. King’s fearlessness and selflessness. She added that she was inspired “to dream not only for myself but for the world and others.”
A panel — Kelly Hundley of the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, retired VGCC Dean of Adult Basic Education Leo Kelly, and Annie Perry, the Adolescent Parenting Program coordinator for Franklin-Vance-Granville Smart Start — judged the speeches and awarded cash prizes: first-place ($150) to Harris; second-place ($100), Stutts; third-place ($75), Williams; and fourth-place ($50), McCann.
After concluding remarks by VGCC Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Bobby Van Brunt, the program ended as all attendees joined in singing the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome.”
Pictured above, top: VGCC music instructor Michael Stephenson (left) leads a choir of VGCC faculty, staff and students on Jan. 20, as Vance County Early College High School student Eriekca Crosby (front, center) performs a solo. (VGCC photo)
Pictured above, bottom: From left, the four VGCC students who delivered speeches Jan. 20 included Hannah Stutts of Youngsville (who won second place), Katina Harris of Warrenton (first place), Karlee McCann of Franklinton (fourth place) and Rachel Williams of Oxford (third place). (VGCC photo)
