VGCC Cultural Fair spotlights global and local diversity


On stage at the 2012 Cultural Fair, VGCC Spanish Club students and their advisor, instructor Margaret Chaves-Smith (in front, second from left) demonstrate Latin American dances. (VGCC photo)

Vance-Granville Community College took time to celebrate diversity on April 4, when the college’s annual Cultural Fair provided opportunities to explore a world of food, fun and entertainment. The VGCC Global Awareness Committee stages the event each year in the college’s Civic Center to expose students, faculty and staff to a variety of cultures from around the country and around the world. Students Katina Harris of Warrenton and Cody Trivette of Oxford served as emcees for the event.

Booths displayed artifacts, crafts, works of art, clothing, food and other items from various cultures. Visitors could sample the sights, smells and tastes of several European, Asian, Latin American and African nations. Students and instructors expressed their creativity with displays about various college clubs and academic programs such as Nursing, Pharmacy Technology, Criminal Justice and Cosmetology. The college’s History Club offered a booth on Southern Culture, which was set up as an old-fashioned “front porch.” Students from Granville Early College High School set up a display on Japan, while Vance County Early College High School focused on Uganda. The Literary Arts Club highlighted India, where club advisor Marian Dillahunt-Andrews once traveled as part of the UNC World View program. The VGCC Learning Resources Center highlighted library materials that allowed for more in-depth exploration of various cultures. Two of VGCC’s newest student organizations, the Social Sciences Club and the Christian Fellowship Organization, participated for the first time.

As always, music and dance were important parts of the festivities. Children from the VGCC Day Care Center opened the event singing spring-themed songs. VGCC alumna Jerika Yancey presented a short program of liturgical dance. Faculty, staff and students performed several line dances. Children of students in the English as a Second Language program, students in the Spanish Club and Spanish instructor Margaret Chaves-Smith demonstrated and taught traditional Latin American dances. Other musical acts included students in instructor Michael Stephenson’s Music Ensemble classes from both the Main Campus and South Campus, as well as students who have received VGCC’s music scholarships.

A quiz bowl, moderated by Theatre Arts/Speech instructor Betsy Henderson, tested VGCC students’ knowledge of culture, history and politics. Students competed in teams representing each of the college’s three curriculum divisions: Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences and Business and Applied Technologies. The Arts and Sciences team, consisting of Sterling Tharrington of Henderson, Moise Somadjagbi of Cary, Nick Henderson of Oxford and Michael McCraw of Wake Forest, came out on top in the quiz bowl.