Vance-Granville Community College students, faculty and staff were able to travel the world without leaving campus on March 20, during the college’s annual Cultural Fair. The VGCC Global Awareness Committee stages the event each year in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus to highlight a diverse mix of cultures from around the country and around the world. The theme of this year’s fair was “Your Passport to the World,” and students in attendance were given printed programs made to resemble passports. The documents included questions that could be answered by visiting the various educational booths, which 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, all under one roof. Students and instructors expressed their creativity with displays about various college clubs and academic programs such as Art, Math, Office Administration (whose instructors focused on international communication), Nursing, Pharmacy Technology, Human Services Technology, Criminal Justice and Basic Skills/ESL. History instructor Victoria Klesmith and students offered a booth that depicted the function and purpose of the “front porch” in American history. Students from Granville Early College High School set up a display on Germany, while Vance County Early College High School students produced a civics display on various forms of government around the world.
As always, music and dance were important parts of the festivities. Children from the VGCC Main Campus Child Care Center opened the event with songs featuring diversity and Hawaiian island themes. A VGCC Choir, consisting of faculty, staff and students under the direction of Criminal Justice instructor Steve Hargrove, presented a program of gospel music. History instructor John Martin, accompanied by other VGCC staff members, played bluegrass selections and related some of the history of the banjo. VGCC Vanguards student-athletes and other students led a line dancing demonstration organized by college staff members Leah Englebright and Suzanne Keil.
A quiz bowl, moderated by Humanities and Fine Arts department chair Betsy Henderson, tested VGCC students’ knowledge of world culture and current events. Students competed in teams representing each of the college’s three curriculum divisions: Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences, and Business and Applied Technologies. The winning team was from Arts and Sciences: David Henry of Macon, Haley Short of Warrenton and Dajuan Harrison of Henderson.
VGCC College Transfer student Abanoub Botros (left), a native of Egypt, manned a booth set up by the Math Club at the 2013 Cultural Fair. (VGCC photo)
On stage at the 2013 Cultural Fair, VGCC instructor Steven Hargrove leads a choir of faculty, staff and students. (VGCC photo)
Children from the VGCC Main Campus Child Care Center, some in Hawaiian-themed attire, were the opening act on stage at the 2013 Cultural Fair. (VGCC photo)
VGCC History instructor Victoria Klesmith (center, in period attire) and students created a booth on the American front porch for the 2013 Cultural Fair. (VGCC photo)