Vance County Schools Seniors Apply to VGCC


Jason Snelling talking with seniors at Southern Vance High School during one of their sessions to complete online applications to Vance-Granville Community Colleged.

Jason Snelling talking with seniors at Southern Vance High School during one of their sessions to complete online applications to Vance-Granville Community College.

Seniors at Northern Vance, Southern Vance and Western Vance high schools worked with their school counselors and representatives of Vance-Granville Community College to complete applications online for enrollment at the community college Tuesday, May 10-Thursday, May 12.

All seniors participated in the online enrollment process during their English classes.

The application process is part of a partnership between Vance County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) to have 100 percent of graduating seniors applying for college enrollment. Future plans for the partnership call for all seniors in local high schools to complete applications each school year.

Seniors at Southern Vance High School completed their online applications during several sessions held in the school’s media center on May 10. Assisting them with the process were Shirley Lewis, senior class counselor at Southern Vance, and two representatives of VGCC, Jason Snelling, coordinator of the Academic Skills Center, and Patrick Morris, department chair of the college’s Developmental Programs.

Olu Ariyo answers a question from a senior at Northern Vance High School as she works to complete an application to the community college.

Olu Ariyo answers a question from a senior at Northern Vance High School as she works to complete an application to the community college.

During the school day on May 11, seniors at Northern Vance High School attended sessions in the school’s media center to complete online applications. They were assisted by Snelling and Olu Ariyo, the head of the VGCC College Success and Study Skills program. Jamie McClain, counselor for the senior class at Northern Vance, assisted in coordinating the application sessions.

Snelling and Tim MacNeil, assistant coordinator of the community college’s Academic Skills Center, worked with seniors in a classroom at Western Vance High School on May 12 to complete their online applications. Marsha Harris, counselor at Western Vance High, also helped students with the online application process.

In all of the sessions, the VGCC representatives answered a variety of questions from the high school seniors and helped them navigate through the community college’s website and enrollment application.

“We were excited to assist the seniors in completing the online applications,” noted Amy O’Geary, director of Student Services and QEP coordinator at Vance-Granville Community College. “Even if the seniors have plans to attend another college or university in the fall, we can be a great resource for those wanting to take summer classes. And, if they decide not to attend that four-year school, they have an application online with us and can transition easily into enrollment in classes on our campus.

“As someone who is from Vance County, I like that we can offer college courses at our local community college,” O’Geary continued. “Students and their parents can realize savings of thousands of dollars. The students have the opportunity to take the same course work here at a greatly reduced cost than at a four-year state or private college and university.”

“Vance County Schools is excited about the continued partnership we have with Vance-Granville Community College,” said Dr. Cindy Bennett, assistant superintendent of Student Services and Strategic Planning. “Every student has an opportunity to apply to college and will have an opportunity to speak with a career counselor should they so choose. It is collaborative relationships such as the one between VGCC and VCS that will positively impact the future of our students and our community.”