Students learn about careers at VGCC Business Technologies Fair


Vance-Granville Community College’s first-ever Business Technologies Fair brought young people to campus to learn more about careers and how to prepare for them. The event, held Nov. 12 in the VGCC Civic Center, engaged hundreds of middle and high school students from Vance, Granville and Warren counties, as well as educators from those counties and Franklin County.

Students filled the VGCC Civic Center and circulated through booths set up by college programs as well as local employers during the Business Technologies Fair. (VGCC photo)

Students filled the VGCC Civic Center and circulated through booths set up by college programs as well as local employers during the Business Technologies Fair. (VGCC photo)

Attendees received information and saw demonstrations from VGCC curriculum programs that provide training for careers in fields related to business and information technology. The programs included Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Technology Integration, Entrepreneurship, Global Logistics, Medical Office Administration, Office Administration, Paralegal Technology and Simulation & Game Development.

Among the highlights of the event were a speed-typing contest organized by Office Administration faculty members; a demonstration of a computer game created by students from Simulation & Game Development; and questions testing attendees’ legal knowledge posed by students from Paralegal Technology, a new program based at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus.

VGCC Computer Education instructor Steven Sievert (right) talks with students about computer hardware during the Business Technologies Fair. (VGCC photo)

VGCC Computer Education instructor Steven Sievert (right) talks with students about computer hardware during the Business Technologies Fair. (VGCC photo)

Visitors to the fair had the opportunity to talk about career pathways with employers from throughout the region who frequently hire graduates from such programs. Participating businesses included Variety Wholesalers, Inc.; Fastenal; Holden Moss Certified Public Accountants; Union Bank; Fly Boy Aerial Photography; Novozymes North America, Inc.; Walmart Distribution Center of Henderson; Food Lion Distribution Center of Butner; the Information Technology department from Maria Parham Medical Center; Granville Medical Center; Express Employment Professionals; and Staffmark of Henderson.

In addition to middle and high school students, adults from the community and other VGCC students were able to attend during the latter half of the fair.

“We appreciate the support of our industry partners, school systems, and other departments from VGCC, who helped make this fair so successful,” said Spring Tucker, chair of the Business Technologies department. “Both the employers and the students who attended really enjoyed and benefited from the event. Hopefully, we educated and inspired our local students by showing them future career possibilities and how to train for those careers.” 

For more information, contact Spring Tucker at tuckers@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3292.