Among the most recent VGCC retirees honored Dec. 18, 2014 were, seated from left, Phyllis Thomas of Raleigh, Denise Gill of Henderson and Catherine Andrews of Warrenton; and standing, from left, Tony Pendergrass of Franklinton and Mitch Evans of Littleton. Not pictured: retirees Carolyn Foster, Ronda Paynter and James Powell.
(VGCC photo)
Vance-Granville Community College celebrated employees who had retired from the college — and particularly those who retired in 2014 — during the holiday social for faculty and staff, held on Dec. 18 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus.
Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, thanked all employees, past and present, for their dedicated service to students and the community. “During this holiday season, we give thanks for the gift of education,” Williams said. “I’m also thankful for Vance-Granville’s outstanding faculty and staff, who educate, inspire and support our students to help them achieve their dreams.” The president then called upon various college leaders to make presentations to their divisions’ newest retirees.
Dr. Ken Lewis, VGCC’s vice president of institutional research and technology, paid tribute to Catherine Andrews, who retired after 23 years of service as a clerk in the Library on the college’s Main Campus. Lewis noted that Andrews first came to VGCC as a student, when she worked part-time in the Library through the work-study program.
Lewis and Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCC’s vice president of academic & student affairs, both saluted Mitch Evans, who retired as dean of the college’s Warren County Campus and previously was a leader in the Information Technology department and taught some classes. Evans has worked in the N.C. Community College System for a total of 22 years, five of them at VGCC.
Ballentine also recognized Carolyn Foster, who retired after 21 years as a VGCC instructor for Human Resources Development, many of those years stationed at Kittrell Job Corps Center; Ronda Paynter, RN, an instructor for Occupational Healthcare Programs, who worked at VGCC for almost five years; and Tony Pendergrass, who was lauded for his 13 years as coordinator of law enforcement training. Pendergrass provided leadership for the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program as well as in-service training for law enforcement, corrections and detention officers.
Biology instructor Button Brady recognized Denise Gill, who retired after almost 31 years as manager of the Child Care Center on VGCC’s Main Campus; and James Powell, who served as a VGCC English instructor for more than 33 years.
VGCC South Campus Dean Cecilia Wheeler expressed her appreciation to Phyllis Thomas, who served as counselor and coordinator of student support for that campus for 13 years — part of a 34-year career in higher education.