Retired N.C. State Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Wellington R. Scott, Sr. (submitted photo)
Vance-Granville Community College will hold commencement exercises dedicated exclusively to new graduates of Adult Basic Skills programs on Thursday, May 7. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.
Those being honored at commencement will include students who have completed either the Adult High School Diploma program or the High School Equivalency program in the past year.
Wellington R. Scott, Sr., of Raleigh, a retired lieutenant colonel with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, will serve as the guest speaker. Scott is currently President of the Sheriff’s Institute for Ethical Leadership Development (SHIELD) and Chief Operating Officer of the Institute for Credible Leadership Development, a division of the International Academy of Public Safety (IAPS), based in Holly Springs. He served as a member of the Highway Patrol for 28 years and retired as the Deputy Commander in 2013. During his career, Scott served in every section of the Highway Patrol.
Scott attended VGCC in the 1980s and later graduated from North Carolina State University’s Administrative Officers Management Program. He is co-author of the leadership development book, “Moral Compass for Law Enforcement Professionals.”
Heather Clopton (VGCC photo)
Speaking on behalf of the graduating students during the ceremony will be Heather Clopton of Henderson. She completed the High School Equivalency program in September 2014, while also completing the Nurse Aide and Human Resources Development programs through the “Basic Skills Plus” initiative. Clopton went on to enroll in College Transfer curriculum courses at VGCC, with plans to apply to the Associate Degree Nursing program. Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatric nurse.