Newspapers / Wilkes Community College Student … / May 1, 2007, edition 1 / Page 3
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Volume 35- Issue 5 Page 3 Granny Goes To College By: Granny Lynda Taylor Yes, here I am a granny four times over and for the first time in my life I'm going to college. When I was the age of most of you young college students, I couldn't afford to continue my education. I was from a farming family in the low economic area of East Tennessee. I had to join the work force right after graduation from high school. I worked at the Blue Ridge Shoe Factory in Tennessee for two years. After marrying a North Carolina man, I worked at the Blue Ridge Shoe Factory in Wilkesboro for twelve years, and then I went to work in a fixrniture factory in Lenoir, N.C. My husband had worked in the fiirniture industry for years. He made a decent amount of money, so I joined the ranks. Work in a factory is very hard, but it's honest work and there is no shame in being a factory worker. I worked at the same place for twenty years and, not bragging, but I was pretty good at it. I enjoyed running a bandsaw and thought I would die cutting bun feet for dressers and vanities. But the furniture business is all coming to an end in this country. One day they tell you that your job is over. I'm laid off permanendy because my job has gone to another country where labor is cheap. Now, what does Granny do? Well, she finds there are a couple of options; look for work in a county where there is no work left or go to college. So here I am at college. I have been truly amazed by all the helpfijl people I have met. Most amazing of all has been the incredible things there are to learn in this education arena. I have also found out that what a lot of people say about young people is not true. Everyone that I have come in contact with has been extremely nice. Several of the young gentlemen have opened the door for Granny, and they always speak a pleasant hello. The young ladies always offer help in any way they can. I would like to thank all of you for being so nice to an old Granny. I would also like to give you a quick bit of advice. It makes no difference if you come from a poor family or a family that's well off, however you're able to be here at Wilkes Community College be extremely grateful. Use your talents to the best of your ability. School is hard work, but if you don't do it here you definitely want be able to do it out there in the world. Sometimes in the halls I will hear someone say, “I don't care what grade I get, just so I pass the thing.” That's not what you should strive for in the days we are living in now. Be proud of yourselves for being able to make it in to college and work like the dickens to be the best you can be. I know you're young and you think you have all the time in the world to make your niche in life, but this life is changing so much, and if you don’t prepare for it, you won't make it. All the instructors and staff here at the college are so helpful with anything you need. Don't hesitate to ask for help and don't be afraid to give help either. As human beings, we don't even realize how much we might help someone else out; if we don't try, we will never know whom we might help. You young people are tomorrow's, today! Your generation will be in charge before you know it. If you don't study and apply yourselves to make the best possible individual you can, how will you handle the future? Tonight, stop and take a look at your parents, or whomever it is making it possible for you to be in college. Thank them for the opportunity to be here to make a better person of you. Then tomorrow at school, watch for the old Granny walking through these halls, and speak kindly to her, but remember if you don't take advantage of the gift you have been given, someday you may be a granny or grandpa roaming the halls of some college trying to get a new start in life. So buckle up and hang in there for the wild ride! Philip Marshall Receives Daryl Mitchell Award for Outstanding Students Philip Marshall, SGA president, received the Daryl Mitchell Award for Outstanding Students, at the spring N4CSGA conference. This award is presented every year at the spring conference to one student from each division (western, central, & eastern). The award is named after a former N4CSGA president who played a significant role in the success of the organization and is presented to students who have done an outstanding job serving their community and local community college. WCC Instructor Receives Honor Wilkes Community College instructor Ronald Dollyhite has been honored with the Kim Powell Friend of the Industry Award in recognition of many years of outstanding support; educational planning and implementation; and dedication to the landscape industry and involvement with the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association. For Dollyhite, the award symbolizes that WCC's horticulture program is going in the right direction and taking the lead to show other institutions how horticulture programs should be. Dollyhite has led educational efforts in the horticulture industry in a variety of innovative ways. “We work with the landscaping industry so that our students leave our program having learned what they need to do well on the job and gaining hands-on experience," Dollyhite says. Often, textbooks become out dated quickly and industry needs may not align with what is in a book. students from across the state to test their skills and knowledge as well as network with landscape professionals from across the state. Dollyhite’s recognition is also due to the fact that his students consistendy receive scholarships for their program. In the nine years he has been with the institution, a WCC student has been awarded a scholarship every year except one, in some years multiple students received scholarships. Dollyhite is an active advocate of his students. “This is a huge statement about our horticulture program and Ronald, we are extremely proud of Ronald and his accomplishment in representing Wilkes Community College” Dollyhite serves as President of the Horticulture Association and serves on the Agriculture Extension Advisory Committee which help him improve the horticulture program at WCC and links the industry to education. To help students gain hands-on experience, Dollyhite organized the effort for WCC to host the national landscape certification test in June 2006. This was the first time a community college hosted the test and Dollyhite took on the challenge to ensure that the test would continue and to provide a unique experience for his students and other students from across the state. Additionally, Dollyhite organized a state-wide competition in the fall of 2006 that allowed Wilkes Community College fiiculty, staff, and students are all vocal in their praise of Dollyhite’s efforts and achievements. John Hauser, Dean of the Industrial, Engineering, and Customized Industry Training division at WCC found it difficult to fully express the level of pride he felt on learning of his colleague's recognition and said “this is a huge statement about our horticulture program and Ronald, we are extremely proud of Ronald and his accomplishment in representing Wilkes Community College." Academic Excellence Award Recipients Each year two students are selected by each of the 58 community colleges as recipients of the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award. These students are nominated by the faculty and selected by the academic division deans. WCC's honorees this year are Lindsay Stewart and Lesley VanHoy. Lindsay is an Architectural Technology student. She has maintained a 4.00 GPA, was recipient of the Whos Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges award, and has served as vice president and president of the Architectural Technology Club. Lesley maintains a 3.63 GPA and is pursumg an Associate in Advertising & Graphic Design degree. She has served as president of the Association of Information Technology Professionals Club, and has volunteered for M^rleFest, Fall Festival and the Angel Tree program. The North Carolina Community College System recognized these students at a luncheon in Raleigh on April 24.
Wilkes Community College Student Newspaper
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