Veronica Valencia was awarded the July Volume Producing Item Award from Wal-Mart. Valencia is an “English as a Second Language” student at Beaufort County Community College and a department manager at the Wal-Mart in Grantsboro. The VPI Award is given to employees who push higher sales of selected items. She began the class in May and attends for free once a week, which is possible for students who meet certain criteria. She said her instructor, Tania Lilley, is very approachable and has encouraged her to practice every day. Valencia attributes her success at work to her ESL class at BCCC.