BCCC Foundation supports students, college

Each year, dozens of students at Beaufort County Community College benefit from scholarships offered by the BCCC Foundation, but it does much more.

Founded in 1984, the Foundation has raised money and provided support for the college in achieving its educational and workforce development goals for more than 30 years. It is a non-profit charitable organization that is separate from the college and has its own Board of Directors composed of civic and business leaders from throughout BCCC’s service area.

“A lot of people think we’re only here to provide scholarships, and that’s not the case,” says Bill Wall, a member of the BCCC Foundation Board.

The Foundation also supports the college by helping fund institutional programs, faculty and staff development, and facility improvements. Thanks to a recent fundraising campaign, BCCC’s campus will soon feature an electronic sign along Highway 264 that will advertise campus news and events, as well as weather-related closings and hurricane evacuation routes.

The Foundation raises funds through donations from individuals and businesses in the community, as well as fundraising events and trips throughout the year, including the annual Croquet Tournament and, new this year, a Garden Tour that gave participants an opportunity to tour 14 beautiful gardens throughout Washington and Chocowinity.

Scholarships are still an important piece of the equation. Currently, the Foundation maintains 53 individual endowments that fund scholarships for BCCC students. These are referred to as restricted funds and are usually established in memory or in honor of a certain person or organization. The funds from these endowments are invested, and the earnings are used to provide scholarships or services for BCCC, as designated by the donor.

Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $68,000 in scholarships to about 70 students.

“These students are our future accountants, auto mechanics, business owners, electrical engineers, nurses and teachers,” says Foundation Director Serena Sullivan. “Without the generosity of our donors, many of them would not have the opportunity to attend college.”

The importance of higher education cannot be overstated. Students with an Associate’s Degree from BCCC, most of whom stay in the region and contribute to its economy, can expect to earn significantly more than workers with only a high-school education. While BCCC represents a significant cost savings compared to a four-year public or private university, many students in Eastern North Carolina still find it difficult to pay for college. The BCCC Foundation serves to help students pay for that education and to ensure that BCCC can provide the best possible college experience.

 

Get a leg up at BCCC

Registration for the Fall 2015 Semester at BCCC is open, and financial aid is still available.

BCCC has a wide range of programs available, from healthcare programs to mechanical engineering, and from college transfer to childhood education. Attending BCCC can cost 61-95 percent less per semester than other 2-year and 4-year institutions in North Carolina. A complete list of curriculum programs is available athttp://www.beaufortccc.edu/progrm/curric.htm, and information about continuing education programs can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/conedbccc/.

Registration is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays until Aug. 3 and Mondays through Fridays after Aug. 3. The first day of class for Fall 2015 will be Tuesday, Aug. 18.

New students may apply to enroll in BCCC at the Admissions Office in Building 9 on the BCCC campus or on the BCCC website at www.BeaufortCCC.edu. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 252-940-6222 for information about funding assistance.

New student orientation sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, in the Building 10 Multi-Purpose Room; and on Friday, Aug. 7 in the auditorium of Building 8. Topics covered include admissions, financial aid, counseling services, registration and drop/add, student IDs and parking passes, online services and email, and study skills. Parents will learn about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college resources, paying for school, and how to help their students succeed. The orientation session will also include a campus tour, lunch and an opportunity to register for classes.

For more information about enrolling for classes at BCCC or to schedule a placement test, contact the Admissions Office at 252-940-6237. Applications are available on the BCCC website at www.BeaufortCCC.edu.

 

BCCC awards first-ever NCCER credentials

Seven students at Beaufort County Community College have earned the Core Curriculum Credential from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) as part of a new program made possible by a grant from the Duke Energy Community Foundation.

The Industrial Maintenance Mechanic program began in January, and to date the students have earned the Forklift Training Certificate of Completion, the OSHA 10 card, Career Readiness Certification and the Core Credential. The final credential, to be completed in the coming weeks, is the NCCER Industrial Mechanic Credential – Level 1.

The Core Curriculum Credential certifies that an individual has completed the prerequisite training for any Level 1 credential offered through NCCER (such as the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic program).  In this class, training is completed in modules, and the students are required to complete all eight, passing both a written and skills exam. Training modules included basic safety, introduction to construction math, introduction to power tools, introduction to hand tools, introduction to construction drawings, basic communication skills, basic employability skills, and introduction to material handling.

Seven students earned the credential: Dallas Daniels, Jenean “DJ” Robinson, Jennis Crisp, Joey Jackson, Tyrice Johnson, Colton Dixon, and Randall Ballance.

Individuals interested in enrolling in the program for Fall 2015 are encouraged to contact Lou Stout, Director of Workforce Initiatives, at 252-940-6307 or Lou.Stout@BeaufortCCC.edu.