We’d like to take a moment to congratulate the spring class of 2005 at Vance-Granville Community College, which granted more than 400 degrees, diplomas and certificates Saturday morning.
But those graduates — whether they earned associate’s degrees on the way to a four-year university, high school diplomas or professional certifications — deserve more than a pat on the back. They deserve the thanks of all of us at home in Henderson.
They all followed through on a commitment to better themselves through education, and in so doing, they gave us all a chance at a better life because they strengthened our work force — the most valuable commodity we can sell to employers considering Vance County.
The only way Vance County can escape the economic doldrums is to have a work force that’s educated and trained for the 21st-century economy. That’s the crucial job Vance-Granville does, but its programs are effective and meaningful only if people take advantage of them.
Every Vance-Granville graduate is an asset to the community. The more assets, the stronger the local economy, and ultimately the lower the pressure on taxpayers to finance new programs.
So congratulations, grads, and thank you.