Mayland Early College High School Students Begin College Classes

According to Dr.William A. Nolen, “College is a place where a student ought to learn not so much how to make a living, but how to live.” Students enrolled in the Mayland Early College High School has taken a giant first step in their college career and learning to live. Beginning January 7, thirty-one students began their first two college classes, ACA 111 College Student Success and CIS 110, Introduction to Computers.

“Even high school freshmen know a great opportunity when they see it,” said Liz Silvers, Mayland Early College Liaison and ACA 111 Instructor. “Generally, only in hindsight do college graduates realize, in completeness the value and opportunity of a college education. However, these MECHS students are already ahead of the game.”

One of the first assignments in ACA 111 was to go through a self-assessment to identify and examine the personal choices of the successful student. As with most students, the assignment begins with groaning and complaining. However, the students quickly got down to work when they realize they must use this assessment to complete their first three-page journal assignment.

“Surprisingly the students took this first assignment very seriously and explored their personal choices and feelings,” said Silvers. “This self awareness enables them make wise choices about what to keep doing and what to change to be a successful college student.”

Fourteen year-old MCEHS student Victoria Riddle wrote, “I learned that doing good in school is the best thing to do to get your life started. But, I also learned that sometimes I learn things the hard way, which helps me in life sometimes.”

According to MECHS student Greg Shepherd, he has to be self-motivated so he can make good grades and be successful in life.

“I think back to when I was fourteen, college was the furthest thing from my mind,” said Keegan Anderson, MCC computer instructor. “To see these kids moving forward, growing and learning every day is a remarkable thing. They are beginning to learn about personal responsibility and the role that it plays in their college career and life.”

According to MECHS student Jessica Phillips, she came to Mayland Early College because she wanted to make a better future for herself, get a good job, and live well.

“At first I didn’t want to come because I wanted to stay with my friends at MHHS, but the more I thought about it I realized I wanted to do more with my life,” said Phillips. “Now that I’m in Early College, I am proud of myself and what I am doing to better my life.”

Mayland Early College High School is already gearing up for next year. Visits have been planned to each middle school in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties, with our current students available for question and answer sessions. For more information or questions about the Early College and its mission, please call (828) 765-7351, ext. 301.
 

                          Certified Entrepreneurial Community

Mayland Community College employees, along with representatives from education, private businesses, service industries, Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce members, elected officials, capitol providers and employees in the trade industry in Mitchell County are members of the AdvantageWest Certified Entrepreneurial Community.

According to the AdvantageWest website, this two year process was developed by AdvantageWest “to create communities of entrepreneurial interest by promoting public and governmental awareness of the need for entrepreneurship through certifying governmental bodies and local units of governments regarding their approach, strategy and state of readiness with respect to entrepreneurship.”

Mitchell County put together a team to participate, and developed a plan that included the cooperation of Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. 

The Mitchell County team worked on leadership and educational endeavors to complete the certification program, and became a certified Entrepreneurial Community last fall.

“The team’s primary focus was looking at entrepreneurship as a viable means to stimulate the economy,” said participant and Mayland’s Executive Assistant to the President/Secretary, Board of Trustees Melissa Phillips. “We created educational opportunities for people to learn how to start a business and have a chance to network with others in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties.”

The team’s mission was and is to support and encourage the continued development of local and regional entrepreneurial and small business enterprises using community, local heritage, and current technology resources.

The group’s goals also include increasing the awareness of business opportunities in the Tri-County area, developing a website to educate people on entrepreneurial prospects, and are working to acquire more broad band Internet access for the three counties, thus creating The Toe River Economic Alliance.

The Toe River Economic Alliance, with members from the three counties, held networking events during 2009 for local businesses in the building and home trades. They are working with businesses and individuals on developing a seminar on April 15 that will encompass a series of speakers to discuss setting up for trade shows.

“We submitted our project ideas for review by the AdvantageWest board and then gave a presentation describing our plan of action for working on business opportunities and education in the Tri-Counties to complete the certification process,” said Phillips.

The Mitchell County CEC Leadership Team presented their goal of bringing Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties together to develop entrepreneurial experiences to a partial AdvantageWest board, which asked them to return and give the presentation again to the full board.

“The Toe River Economic Alliance’s plan has been carried as a model for what they have accomplished,” said Mayland’s President Dr. Suzanne Owens.

To remain a Certified Entrepreneurial Community, the Certified Entrepreneurial Community group are required to participate in a recertification process in two years.

                      State Employees Association Food Drive

State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) District 3 donated food items to the Shepherd’s Staff in Spruce Pine during their recent monthly meeting.

The State Employees Association is a united body of 55,000 state government employees and retirees working to achieve common goals through group action. SEANC, SEIU Local 2008, is an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. The SEANC District 3 includes members from Avery, Watauga and Mitchell Counties.

SEANC’s mission is to protect and enhance the rights and benefits of current, retired, and future state employees.

The Shepherd's Staff now focuses on providing food assistance for those in need. The organization has steadily increased the amount of food they have given out since last year.
 

                                     Scholarship Program
The Mayland Community College Foundation Scholarship Program recently awarded Spring semester scholarships to 37 deserving students. Pictured from left to right in back are Jacquelyn Zeno, Holly Coffey, Bobby Day, Seth Johnson, and Stanley Hoover.From left to right on the front row are Christina Dicks, Elizabeth Fox, Nalda Rodriguez, Evelyn Vondenhuevel, Brittney Hagie, and Sandra Whitson. Pictured in the second is Spring 2010 scholarship recipient Christopher McKinney. Not pictured are scholarship recipients Emily Boone, Patricia Buesser, Pamela Crowder, Jared Doan, Tonya Greene, Linda Harmon, Megan Hobson, William Hollifield, Jennifer Jackson, Brittany Lindecamp, Diana Lyons, Melanie McMahan, Jessica Morgan, Morgan Peterson, Sheila Proctor, Shanna Ray, Tina Ray, Stacie Robinson, Carissa Teal, Leetah Townsend, Amy Turner, Courtney Vance, Kayla Vinson, Robert Wyatt. The Mayland Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Mayland Community College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to support, strengthen and advance the work of Mayland Community College.

                           New Equipment for Fire Training

Mayland Community College’s Continuing Education Department purchased a new piece of equipment for fire training. The training product, The Inforcer, is a forcible entry-training simulator for firefighters that allows hands-on scenerio to practice forcible entry skills.

The Inforcer allows fire fighters to actually "force" a door open multiple times.

The Inforcer door has the ability to replicate six forcible entry techniques: an outward swinging door, bolt cutting, hinge cutting, swinging door, dead bolt cutting, and padlock cut or breaking.

The door can be quickly reset for the next firefighter.

Fire Departments in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties will be able to utilize this piece of equipment in their training.
 

                    MCC Announces Fall 2009 President’s List

Administrators at Mayland Community College recently announced the names of students receiving academic distinction for Fall Semester 2009.

President’s List students are those who earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average (GPA) and completed at least 12 credit hours:

Nathaniel L. Avery, Savannah E. Baker, Justin A. Barnhill, Wanda A. Battisti, Richard L. Beall, George A. Beauvais, Jr., Don W. Benfield, Robert G. Branch, Sr, Chad C. Buchanan, Todd A. Buchanan, Dawn L. Carmack, Lori D. Centeno, Heather N. Christian, Alecia D. Coffey, Tammy R. Connor, Harvey L. Crawford, Dareicho L. Cunningham, Brittany E. Daeges, Crystal G. Dellinger, Taylor S. Dellinger, Eric D. Early, Travis W. Fisher, Brian E. Franklin, Jimmy D. Gibby, Connie T. Gilpin, Raymond L. Goggins, Jr., Britney L. Hagie, Sarah J. Hall, Julia B. Higgins, Jordan V. Horbart, Thomas R. Holland, John W. Hopler, Carrie H. Hughes, Hannah E. Johnson, Tricia M. Johnson, Brian S. Kelley, Jason V. Kinnison, Russell J. Lang, Jennifer T. Laws, James T. Lawson, Jesse Z. Le Blanc, Edward G. Long, Marjorie L. Mason, Brittany K. McCormick, Robert C. McDonald, David S. McLintock, Ronald W. McMahan, Billy D. Michael, Juan A. Miles, Sandra G. Parker, Timothy S. Parker, Kayla A. Pate, Joshua J. Robinson, Steve R. Robinson, Wesley S. Robinson, Steven K Scharf, Gregory L. Sellers, Robert W. Smithey, Robert G. Smothers, Mark L. Spaugh, Robert J. Spicer, Ricky T. Stafford, Taylor W. Suggs, Frank J. Szymelewicz, Frank L. Tollie, Beverly A. Ward, Phillip D. Wells, Sandra J. Whitson, Melissa M. Winspear, Ashley N. Wiseman, Gaelle M. Wolff, Cynthia L. Woody, Matthew D. Wooten, Ronald E. Youngblood, Jr., Joann M. Zeigler, and Jaquelyn N. Zeno.

                                  Dean’s List for Fall 2009
                              
Administrators at Mayland Community College recently announced the names of students receiving academic distinction for Fall semester 2009.

Dean’s List students are those who earned at least a 3.5 grade-point-average (GPA) and completed at least 12 credit hours:

Isaiah B. Aldridge, Stacie H. Allen, Tammy L. Anglin, Jessica N. Atkins, Aaron J. Autrey, Anthony Balbuena, Clayton A. Banner, Erin L. Benfield, Lindsey E. Berry, Stacy L. Berry, Rebecca J. Burleson, Clint A. Carlson, Jessie L. Carver, Jessica K. Clark, Derek S. Cox, Ryan A. Cox, Vince A. Custode, Bobby J. Davis, Carlos D. Davis, Phillip B. Davis, Ricky G. Dillon, Jr., Daniel J. Edney, Paul M. Edwards, Christopher L. Erwin, Larry E. Fuller, Shealeigh Garland, Megan B. Gilley, Kristie D. Gross, Devin A. Holtsclaw, Randy G. Huffman, Jeanie O. Ingram, Sandra J. Jablonski, David M. Jackson, Timothy L. Jones, Joy K. Laws, Miguel A. Maldonado, Caleb E. McIntosh, Thomas A. Nelms, Angelica M. Nichols, Charles A. Oaks, Jr., Jeremy S. Ollis, Beth L. Enland, Jason Pestrikoff, Lesia M. Phillips, Michael E. Proffitt, Larry D. Pryor, Nancy M. Ray, Fredric D. Renolds, Ashley L. Robinson, Ramona G. Robinson, Justin D. Rose, Denise D. Self, John H. Slaughter, IV, Mark A. Stewart, Darrell S. Sullins, Zona C. Swann, Devin M. Teague, Leetah C. Townsend, Paul C. Tumey, and Sam J. Vandenberg

Honor Roll for Fall 2009

Administrators at Mayland Community College recently announced the names of students receiving academic distinction for the Fall 2009 semester.

Honor’s List students are those who earned at least a 3.5 grade-point-average (GPA) and completed at least 6-11 credit hours:

Kodie Aldridge, Jeremy C. Altimus, Nathan R. Ball, Candida R. Balliet, Jessica L. Banner, Lea D. Barker, David R. Bass, Deborah P. Beam, Makeda I. Benain, James W. Bentley, III, Sharon K. Blankenship, Patricia L. Boone, Darin L. Bowers, Jerry R. Bowman, Ashley M. Bradford, Michael E. Bradley, Jay F. Brake, Amber R. Briggs, Angela D. Briggs, Amy E. Buchanan, Arthur A. Buchanan, Cheryl L. Buchanan, Patricia J. Buesser, Crystal N. Buff, Stephanie M. Byrd, David L. Calhoun, Chad E. Campbell, Desmond R. Canterbury, Michael Capellupo, Johnathan S. Carpenter, Sheena R. Carpenter, Calvin D. Carter, Darrell E. Clark, Christina A. Clawson, Talbert D. Coatney, Sadie Cook-Fender, Kelly R. Cope, Crystal B. Crane, Caroline L. Cribb, Stacy N. Curry, Levi D. Dale, Peggy S. Dale, Joshua L. Daniels, Sarah Dewitt-Feldman, Misty P. Dotts, Austin W. Duncan, Casey L. Duncan, Glenn C. Duncan, Alden Edwards, Bobbie F. Ernst, Celeste Fender, Darrell D. Forbes, Jacob L. Fox, Silver Frank, Corey J. Garland, Kelly D. Gibson, Michael E. Gill, Eric G. Glasgow, Ashley M. Grogan, Rebekah L. Hagerman, James N. Halley, III, Linda R. Harmon, Olivia C. Harris, Sabrina D. Hart, Justin C. Haynes, Frances N. Henline, Scott J. Hill, Austin D. Hoilman, Marcia A. Hoilman, Brandy N. Honeycutt, Cody S. Honeycutt, Teresa Y. Honeycutt, Brittney N. Hopson, Sherry L. Hopson, Amber J. Horney, Linda H. Hudgins, Janna R. Hughes, Paige L. Hughes, Jordan N. Hutchins, Andy Huynh, Johnny R. Isaacs, Destiny H. Jenkins, Samantha R. Johnson, Christopher L. Jolly, Amanda D. Jones, Dillion T. Jones, Jacob G. Jones, Rebecca M. Jones, Anthony E. Kaylor, Montana J. Keller, David M. Kerlin, Lauren F. Kern, Sarah E. Kneen, David T. Knowles, Taylor C. Lacey, Shawn M. Lambert, Michael Lange, Carroll G. Lawrence, Catalina Lehmann, Jay P. Lewis, Aubrey V. Libow, Lori M. Lorenzo, Gerald W. Lyons, Jamielee P. Marks, Ferrell J. Massey, Joshua A. Mathis, Mollie K. Mathis, James S. McClullen, Bertram N. McElhiney, Jr., Derrick D. McFee, Edmund L. McGill, Jodie L. McGuire, Karen A. McTaggart, Kemberly E. McWilliams, Autumn L. Miner, Mark A. Mitchem, Alex E. Moore, Billy R. Mullies, Cynthia M. Mullinax, Brittany D. Murdock, Alexis M. Nason, Melanie T. Nichols, Darrah H. Noble, Heather M. O'Shields, Tony G. Osborne, Hershel A. Parker, Thomas M. Pauley, Misty L. Peterson, Jerry W. Phillips, Amber N. Potter, Kendrick S. Presnell, Shonda Presnell, Daniel D. Price, Kendra M. Puckett, Allyson S. Rathburn, Tina L. Ray, Anne E. Riddle, Crystal R. Riddle, Robert C. Ritchie, Ryan A. Robertson, Sather D. Robinson-Waters, Kayla B. Robinson, Marla J. Robinson, Stacie M. Robinson, Nina M. Rose, Linda L. Semon, Samuel Serrano, Ashley Shaw, Brian P. Sheedy, Jennifer M. Sheppard, Ashley N. Silvers, Jeffrey T. Smith, Candace M. Sparks, Patrick R. Stafford, Rachel R. Stafford, Michael J. Stanton, Stephanie G. Staton, Melissa M. Staubitz, Leila L. Stockwell, Michael R. Stout, Morgan M. Stout, Carissa E. Teal, Nicholas F. Thomas, Jasmine Thornton, Skylar M. Tipton, Steve M. Tolbert, Michael R. Tye, Jr., Kameron T. Underwood, Courtney L. Vance, Linda B. Vencill, Kayla M. Vinson, Courtney D. Wahlers, Erica J. Wahlers, Stacy L. Walker, Rebecca C. Wallace, Richard V. Ward, Devin Washington, Janessa E. Waterman, Kiley E. Webb, Raven Whitley, Alison Whitson, Diane Williams, Jermaine F. Wilson, Michael E. Wilson, Susan C. Wilson, Christy N. Woodby, Melonie M. Worley, Jeffrey D. Wright, Brock B. Yackey, Austin W. Yelton, and  Sara E. Young 

Avery Rotary Presents Scholarship Check

The Avery County Rotary Club presented its fifth scholarship to the Mayland Community College Foundation for use by Mayland students.

Martha Huskins, Foundation Assistant, accepted the scholarship check in the amount of $500 at the Avery Rotary’s December meeting at Bella’s Restaurant in Banner Elk.

Avery Rotary has been making this scholarship available for Mayland since October, 2006. The scholarship will be presented to a deserving student at Mayland’s GED graduation ceremonies in June.

“Funds that come to our students from our local civic groups like Rotary represent a real investment in the communities we serve,” said Laura Laughridge, executive director of the Foundation. “Contributions like these truly create success for our students.”

Students are eligible to apply for the Rotary Scholarship upon completion of Mayland’s GED/Basic Skills Program. After a semester of academic success in a curriculum program at Mayland, students with no grades lower than a B may apply.

The Rotary Scholarship recipient is selected based on outstanding scholarship, loyalty to present and future community service, dedication to strengthening family, church and school, evidence of high moral character and a commitment to the betterment of mankind at large.

For more information about scholarships at Mayland Community College or how you can help, contact the Foundation office at 800-4-MAYLAND; ext. 311 or 209 or visit www.mayland.edu/foundation.

The Mayland Community College Foundation is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) corporation whose mission is to support, strengthen and advance the work of Mayland Community College.
 

MCC EDITORIAL

By Dr. Suzanne Owens

Monday night, the Board of Trustees of Mayland Community College approved a plan to reduce the enrollment of the Phillips-Gwaltney Child Development Center.
Following much discussion the decision was made to decrease the program’s capacity at Phillips-Gwaltney Child Development Center, phasing out the infant – toddler program over the next six months. This would allow the child care center to function as a self-supporting, stand alone program with one preschool classroom serving 18 to 20 children.

This action was based on financial issues that began to arise in 2008. For the first time, the Child Development Center held a growing deficit. Within the new economy, Phillips-Gwaltney, and most other Child Development Centers, began to see dropping enrollments and parents unable to pay.

A Plan for Improvement of the financial situation was taken to the Board of Trustees in May of 2009, with a review of the Plan within six months. Even though closing December 2009 was on option, the Board asked MCC’s administration to implement a series of cost saving actions in an effort to make a financial turn-around. Such cost saving efforts included gaining efficiencies in food services, increased efforts to collect payments that were owed to the Center, reduction of staff, PGCDC administrators spending more time in the classrooms, combining age groups where appropriate, and changes in personnel costs due to realignment within the College.

The Board of Trustees requested a review of the Plan for Improvement which found that despite the cost saving efforts, the PGCDC enrollment continues to decline to approximately 60% of capacity and that the financial deficit remains.

When the Phillips-Gwaltney Child Development Center was built in 1994, there was a drastic need for private child care in the three counties. Since then, the capacity in our region has grown. The Consultant for the NC Division of Child Development has described similar financial situations in centers with whom she works. Therefore, the reduction at Phillips-Gwaltney will surely benefit other child development centers in our service area.

The employees of Phillips-Gwaltney have been informed and a plan is in place to continue service for all children through June 2010. Parents have been informed and the Avery County Partnership for Children has offered their assistance to parents in their planning for child care.

While this decision is extremely painful, the spirit in which the child development center was created will still remain. The Early Childhood Associate program at MCC will not be affected as many of the students work with area child care facilities to expand their knowledge and experiences. The preschool classroom will continue to be a model program for the state, offering excellent, quality childcare to children ages two through four/five.

Please understand that this is not an easy choice for the administration and Board of Trustees at Mayland Community College. We look forward to a future of serving the community with higher education opportunities.

Branch Earns Level III Certification Robert Branch, Small Business Center (SBC) Director at Mayland Community College, was awarded the Level III Certification as a Small Business Center Director. Certification criteria for SBC Directors was introduced four years ago as a way to insure quality Small Business programs by Community Colleges across the state. Three levels of credential, Level One, Level Two, and Level Three, are available. Level One is the minimum level of certification and is required to be achieved by all SBC Directors within one year after being hired for the job. Level Three is the highest certification possible and insures that a director holding this credential has completed and documented both on-the-job training and other additional professional development programs to insure that the director is both knowledgeable and skilled and providing small business and entrepreneurial services to his or her community. Of the 64 SBC Directors in North Carolina, only 20 have achieved Level III certification. The SBC at Mayland helps to

increase the number of businesses and their success rate in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties by providing business owners and prospective owners with information, training, counseling, and/or referral service, as well as assistance in finding financing for new businesses. Branch has been the SBC Director at Mayland since 1997. Classes concerning business related topics are also offered by Mayland’s SBC. For more information on the center or classes visit www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 828-765-7351 ext. 249 to preregister for classes or extension 227 for information about SBC services.

Mayland Community College’s SOAR Program, which began in 1998, received high marks on its annual report from the Federal Government for 2009.

The SOAR Program was developed from a TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. The Program is funded for five years and when that time is expired the staff serving the Program writes a grant to continue the program. Currently, SOAR is funded through August 2011 and receives $316,213 per year.

The intent of the program was to serve students who are first-generation college students (neither parent graduated with a bachelor's degree), students with low income, and students with disabilities.

The goal of the program was to improve these students' persistence in school, academic standing, and the completion of a degree.  The SOAR Program originally served 135 students and is now funded to serve 160 students. The services have expanded to include a transfer component to assist students who want to pursue a bachelor's degree.

The SOAR Program has helped me beyond words while attending Mayland Community College,” said Mayland student Lori Centeno. “Starting school again after 20 years and being disabled brought about much doubt and fear in myself as a person as well as a student. If it had not been for the Soar staff I currently would not be in school.”

81% of the Mayland SOAR students served in 2008-2009 continued enrollment from the previous semester into the Fall 2009 semester, or had graduated or transferred to a four-year school.

91% of all students served in 2008-2009 were in good academic standing at the end of Summer 2009.

45.8% of students who were in the 2006-2007 cohort graduated or transferred to a four-year school within 3 years.

Services include as part of the SOAR Program include academic, personal and financial counseling, study skills assistance, tutoring, transfer information and guidance, and cultural enrichment. Students are assigned a counselor to work with in addition to their academic advisor for more intensive assistance, as needed.

“I love the SOAR Program. Without SOAR I would not be where I'm at now,” said Mayland student Ann Whitson. “They have helped me so much to believe in myself to become a better person.” 

SOAR students have been identified as having the potential to succeed if given the appropriate assistance,” said SOAR Program Director Nancy Godwin. “Many of these students have either been out of an academic setting for 5 or more years, dropped out of high school and earned their GED, or are missing some writing, math or reading skills which could prevent them from successfully getting a degree. Some may even have the additional challenges of being single parents, having to work while taking classes, or having family and personal issues that need to be addressed. Our research over the past 21 years has shown that, with support, these students can be very successful.”

                                      Get R.E.A.L. Program

This summer Get R.E.A.L. received stimulus money from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act to sponsor the NC Summer Jobs for Youth in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties. This summer program employed 68 youth at 44 different worksites.
Several of the youth who participated in the Get R.E.A.L. program took the Career Readiness Certification test. Out of 28 of the youth that received the Career Readiness Certification, 15 of those also participated in the NC Summer Jobs for Youth.
Career Readiness Certification (CRC) is a national initiative to insure that there are well prepared employees available for the workforce. It is a series of three tests in Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information.
The tests are part of the ACT WorkKeys series. ACT has determined that 85% of all jobs available in the United States require competency in these three areas.
CRC is designed to be a portable credential meaning it is applicable to most of the jobs in the workplace. It can also be used as a career development tool by identifying student strengths and weaknesses related to success in the workplace. Finally, it can also be used to provide an advantage to students who are looking for a job.
“Employers are quickly learning that if they have to choose between two applicants for a job who are identical on paper in all aspects and one of them as a CRC in addition, the person holding the CRC will have the skills to do the job,” said Mayland’s dean of the Small Business Center and Human Resource Development Programs Robert Branch.
There are three score levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. A person holding a Bronze certificate has the skills for about 40% of the jobs available, a Silver has 65%, and a Gold has 85%.
Out of 28 youth who took the CRC exam, nine received a Gold certificate, 13 received a Silver certificate, and six received a Bronze certificate.
Get R.E.A.L. is a federally funded program through the Workforce Investment Act housed at Mayland Community College with the Workforce Development programs in Avery, Yancey, and Mitchell Counties. This program provides youth age 16-21 with assistance in obtaining and maintaining their career goals through college tuition assistance, job training, work experience, and other trainings that will help these youth become more prepared for the workplace and their career.
For more information about Get R.E.A.L. you can contact April Jones at the Yancey Joblink at 682-6618 ext 10 or Allen Cook at the Mitchell Joblink at 765-7758 or at the Avery Joblink at 733-3901.

Mayland Community College’s Basic Skills Program held its December GED graduation ceremony on December 4 at the college’s Sam Center Auditorium on its Main Campus.

Since the June graduation ceremony, 149 individuals earned their GED at Mayland.

The guest speaker during the ceremony was GED graduate Misty Biddix. Born and raised in Avery County, Biddix a mother of a four and a seven year-old, completed her GED at Mayland Community College in 2002 with outstanding scores. In 2008 she graduated from Mayland with an Associate Degree in Human Services.

At present, she is enrolled at Gardener Webb University and is working on a Bachelors Degree in Human Services. Her career plans are to continue school and obtain a Masters Degree in Social Work with a specialization in substance abuse.

Two scholarships were presented to GED graduates during the ceremony including Kayla Vinson who received the Linda “Butch” Woody Memorial Scholarship, and Melissa Her received the Judith LaVeigne McAuliffe College Scholarship.

Mayland’s Basic Skills Chief GED Examiner, Brenda Peterson, was presented with the Lighthouse Award for her work with the program and GED testing.

The President’s Choice in Mayland’s “Perfect Christmas Tree” contest, presented by Mayland’s President Dr. Suzanne Owens, went to Mayland’s Global Education Committee for their globally themed tree. Pictured at left is Mayland instructor and Global Education Committee representative Rhea Ormond and at right Mayland’s President Dr. Suzanne Owens. 

Mayland’s “Perfect Christmas Tree” contest

Mayland’s “Perfect Christmas Tree” contest, sponsored by the Mayland Foundation in celebration of Spruce Pine’s Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree, hosted eighteen trees, each festively decorated in hopes of being the blue ribbon winner.  

The first place prize went to the tree decorated by Mayland’s Basic Skills Department. The President’s Choice, presented by Mayland’s President Dr. Suzanne Owens, went to Mayland’s Global Education Committee for their globally themed tree. Second place was presented to Mayland’s Early Childhood Student Association’s decorated tree, and third place was given to Mayland’s Bookstore for their tree.  

Honorable mentions were presented to Mayland’s Cosmetology Club, Mayland’s Student Development Department, and Mayland’s Business Office for the trees they decorated.

Local tree growers in the tri-county area donated the trees to the Foundation.  From Mitchell County, Roger Burleson donated tree, from Avery County, James Pitts and David Pittman donated trees, and from Yancey County Bill Young, Roger Young, and Terry and Pam Wilson donated trees. 

 Winners were selected by a majority vote, and donation of $.50. This fundraising event brought in over $1400, and the proceeds will benefit the Scholarship Program of Mayland Community College.   

Gibson Releases CD

Kelly Gibson, professional musician and Mayland Community College student, has released a new CD of piano music titled Ancient Airs.

On his new CD Gibson has taken melodies composed between the ninth and the nineteenth centuries and performed them in a contemporary style on piano and flute.
The CD is unusual, in that Gibson has mixed the sounds of nature recorded in Mitchell County between some of the tracks.

This CD is available as well as Kelly's Christmas CD First Snow via E-Mail-KellyG7775@aol.com

The Phillips-Gwaltney Child Development Center hosted its annual "Pies for Parents" on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  

This event has be come a tradition over the years for the children to make pies for their parents.  Each year the classrooms select what kind of pies they wish to make, and together with their teachers they prepare the desserts.  This experience provides a setting to teach math, social skills, and science to the children. During the afternoon parents arrive just in time to share the finished product with their child.  

Phillips-Gwaltney is located on Mayland Community College’s Main and provides care for children six weeks to 12 years old.  For more information please phone 828-765-1401.

Mayland Early College High School (MECHS) held its first afterhour’s activity:  a masquerade ball signifying the end of their English I study of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Early College teachers Mr. Lahm and Mr. Lavoie dress for the masquerade.

Completion of Romeo and Juliet ends with Masquerade Ball

Mayland Early College High School (MECHS) held its first afterhour’s activity:  a masquerade ball signifying the end of their English I study of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

According to MECHS Principal Angie Burleson, the young adults and teachers were very excited about the completing their study of Romeo and Juliet with a masquerade ball. 

“For many of these kids, this was their first ever school related social event,” said Burleson. “This event is just an example of one of the core values adopted by our Early College High School…our school’s primary role will be to personalize learning and instruction.”

Mayland Early College High School is part of a high school reform initiative called Learn and Earn launched by Gov. Mike Easley last September. It was developed through a partnership between Mayland and the Mitchell, Avery and Yancey public school systems. It is part of the New Schools Project established in part with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The curriculum design allows current ninth-graders to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree in five years.

“The students have been contained in two classrooms on the ground floor of the Phillips building,” said Burleson. “During their first semester, they have taken English I, Algebra I and Biology, plus a student success block to prepare them for college.” 

However, this will not be the case next semester.  All thirty-three students will be enrolled in two college classes, CIS 110 Introduction to Computers and ACA 111, College Student Success, along with their high school blocks. 

Liz Silvers, the new Mayland Early College Liaison, will be teaching two sessions of College Student Success. “I am so thrilled to be part of this wonderful program designed for students to succeed, not only in high school but at the college level,” said Silvers. “The opportunity to watch the students grow, change and mature into a successful college graduate is one I embrace!”

 After five years, the students will have the opportunity to graduate with both their high school diploma as well as an Associate in Arts. Mayland Early College High school currently has 33 students enrolled this year, keeping the student to teacher ratio low. "Low enrollment helps the kids to be successful," said Early College Principal Burleson.

 MECHS has three full-time instructors, a guidance counselor and a school secretary / data manager. "So far things are going great and we are learning and adapting as we go,” said Burleson. “Teachers have targeted the students are academic levels and are forging new territories. While the transition from middle school to high school is a big one, the small setting eases some of that typical high school anxiety.”

 For more information concerning Mayland Early College High School, call (828) 765-7351, ext. 301.                           

                        Local Citizens Honored at Open House

   Mayland Community College’s Board of Trustees honored individuals from Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties in the area of Alumni, Service, and Citizenship on November 2, during an Open House event at the college’s Main Campus in Spruce Pine.
   Brandi Deyton of Mitchell County was presented with the Board of Trustees Distinguished Alumni award. Deyton graduated Mayland with a Business Administration degree and has put her education to work as a legal assistant for the Mitchell County District Attorney’s Office.
Deyton is the wife of Brett and the mother of Logan. She is a lifelong member of Union Hill Freewill Baptist Church and enjoys spending time with her family.
   Jerry Duncan of Mitchell County was given the Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award.Duncan is the co-founder and former President of Mayland Home Center. He also served as an Executive Vice President of Northwestern Bank and owner of Duncan and Sons Grocery. Duncan also invests his time in his community. He is a member of Bear Creek Baptist Church and the Spruce Pine Vesper Lodge as well as serves as a board member of the MAY Coalition, an organization stimulating the economy by providing loans to start up ventures and existing businesses. He is a former board member of the Bakersville Medical Clinic, Mitchell County School Board, Chamber of Commerce, Mitchell County Economic Development, the North Carolina Manufactured Housing Board, and founding board member of First Western Bank. Duncan and his wife Annette, are the parents of Van and Jon Duncan.
   Hal G. Harrison of Mitchell County was honored with the Mayland Board of Trustees Distinguished Citizenship Award. Harrison is a partner at the law firm of Harrison and Poore, P.A. and has served Mitchell County and the surrounding area for over 31 years in the areas such as civil and criminal litigation, real estate law, juvenile law, domestic relations, and government law. He has also served as a resident Superior Court Judge for the 24th Judicial District of North Carolina. Harrison’s service, however, does not stop there. He has also served as the Twenty Fourth Judicial District Bar President, has been named an Outstanding Young Man in America, been a member and past Master of the Vesper Lodge #554, and served as a trustee for both Mayland Community College and Spruce Pine Community Hospital.
Harrison and his wife Connie are the parents of Ben and Amber Harrison.
   The following were recognized for their outstanding and dedicated service to their community Lynne Hensley of Yancey County and Fred Stout of Avery County.Earl Young of Yancey County and Rachel Deal of Avery County were also recognized with the citizenship award.
Mayland alumni recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and success also included Shannon Nicole Deyton of Yancey County and Mark McWilliams of Avery County.
   Mayland’s President Dr. Suzanne Owens also recognized individuals for their leadership and commitment to education through work with the college’s Foundation. These recipients included Martha Guy, Paul and Beatrix Hicks, Carolyn Munro Wilson, Read Marie Underwood, Cathy Dobson, Will Shurley, Jim Morton, and John Keen.