Veteran educator, farmer chosen to head BCCC’s new Agribusiness Technology Program

Veteran educator William R. Askew, who grew up on a Beaufort County farm, has been chosen to head the new Agribusiness Technology Program at Beaufort County Community College.

Askew, a 1989 graduate of BCCC, said he is prepared for the challenge of beginning the program, which will offer its first classes when the fall semester begins this month. Since joining the BCCC faculty, Askew has recruited students for the program, ordered textbooks, organized a laboratory and established coursework for his classes.

“I have envisioned an agricultural program here for more than 15 years,” Askew said. “And as a product of the college, I know what a value it is. It is a tremendous resource for the community.”

A native of Beaufort County, Askew graduated from Bath High School and enrolled in general education courses at BCCC. He transferred to East Carolina University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Science Education. He subsequently entered N.C. State University where he studied to become certified to teach agriculture programs. In 2003, Askew earned a master’s degree in agriculture education from N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University and completed additional certification in school administration from ECU in 2009.

Askew comes to BCCC after a 12-year career as a teacher at Northside High School and, most recently, after serving as an assistant principal at John Small School.

Courses in the new Agribusiness Technology Program will be offered through BCCC’s Arts and Sciences Division.

Students in the program will need two years to complete the course work, after which they receive an associate in applied science degree in agribusiness technology. An associate’s degree in the program will require coursework in agricultural chemicals, soil science, animal science, plant science, animal health management, business and economics, among others. The first classes offered will be Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemicals.

The program will prepare graduates for a variety of jobs in agriculture such as equipment, chemical, feed and agricultural supply sales, store management, farm operations and office management of agricultural products marketing firms, according to Askew.

“Or they can go home and be better prepared to manage the family farm,” he said.

Askew and his wife, Penny, met while both of them were students at BCCC. They have two children. He is chairman of the Beaver Dam Drainage District and a member of the Belhaven 509 A.F. and A.M. Lodge. Askew also serves as minister for the Terra Ceia Church of Christ. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and fishing.

For more information about the Agribusiness Technology Program at BCCC, contact Askew at 252-940-6304 or by email atwilliama@beaufortccc.edu. For information about enrolling in classes at BCCC, contact Daniel Wilson, director of Admissions, at 252-940-6233 or visit the BCCC website at www.beaufortccc.edu.

 

Conversational Spanish class offered

The Division of Continuing Education at Beaufort County Community College will offer a course in conversational Spanish 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Aug. 19 and ending Oct. 21  in Room 826 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. The registration fee is $70 and pre-registration for the course is required.

In this 24-hour course, Instructor Amy Reig will prepare students to talk with Hispanic co-workers, customers, friends or family. Course content will include basic greetings, vocabulary and individual phrases students would like to have translated. The class offers 2.4 Continuing Education Units.

Students will learn to write their own sentences based on the grammar they learn as well as rules of pronunciation, verb tenses and the most important Spanish verbs. Students should bring a small, three-ring binder to class.

Students may register by calling 252-940-6375 or in person in room 802 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. BCCC accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Eva Peartree, 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC 27889. For more information about the course, contact Lou Stout, director of Workforce Initiatives, at 252-940-6307.

For more information about other Continuing Education classes, visit BCCC’s Website at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/.

 

BCCC offers notary public class

The Division of Continuing Education at Beaufort County Community will offer a Notary Public class 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesday, Aug. 19 and 20, in Room 830 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus.

Various topics related to the duties of a notary public will be covered in the class. It is required for those wishing to become notary publics in North Carolina. Individuals should review the notary qualifications list on the N.C. Secretary of State’s website at www.secretary.state.nc.us/notary before registering for the class.

The registration fee for the class is $65. The required textbook, available in the BCCC bookstore prior to the class, is $27. The instructor is Jennifer Whitehurst.

Students may register by calling 940-6375 or in person in room 802 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. BCCC accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Eva Peartree, 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC 27889.

For more information about this class, contact Lou Stout, director Workforce Initiatives, at 252-940-6307. For more information about other continuing education classes, visit BCCC’s Website at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned.

 

 Fifty Home-Based Businesses for Start-Up Entrepreneurs

In 2013, over 25 percent of all star-up small businesses were home-based businesses. The Small Business Center at Beaufort County Community College will sponsor a workshop designed to help budding entrepreneurs explore the possibility of a home-based small business.

The workshop will be 2 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 21, in Room 828 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. It is free of charge but to ensure the adequate preparation of materials, participants are asked to pre-register.

Offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the workshop will include topics such as start-up requirements, developing business, marketing and financial plans, and obtaining alternate lending for a home-based business.

The instructor is Don Spry, the Senior Area manager for the Small Business Administration in Wilmington. Spry has worked in business development, consulting and analysis with the SBA since 2008. Prior to that, he served as Executive Officer with the U.S. Department of Dependents Schools in Feltwell, U.K. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations.

The seminar is co-sponsored by BCCC’s Business and Industry Services and the Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.

To register for the workshop, contact BCCC’s Business and Industry Services at 940-6375 or email Eva Peartree atevap@beaufortccc.edu or Lentz Stowe, director of BCCC’s Business and Industry Services at 252-940-6306 or by email atlentzs@beaufortccc.edu.

For more information about other services offered by BCCC’s Business and Industry Services’ Small Business Center, including targeted seminars for business owners, visit BCCC’s Website at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/Small Business/workshops.htm or contact Stowe or Lauren Spruill, customized training coordinator, at 252-940-6311 or by email at laurens@beaufortccc.edu.