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Go Eagles!
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THE ROCK |
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Rockingham Community College
Wentworth, NC 27375 www.rockinghamcc.edu Volume 35, Number 7 February 18, 2008 |
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THE ROCK is published four to five times per semester during the fall and spring semesters by the students, faculty and staff of Rockingham Community College. THE ROCK cherishes contributions from its readers but reserves the right to edit all submissions in accordance with accepted style and space limitations. Articles and editorials which appear in THE ROCK do not necessarily represent the views of the students, administration, faculty or staff of this institution. Rockingham Community College does not discriminate in administering or access to, or treatment or employment or admission in its program and activities. No person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, or handicap. Inquiries may be directed to the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer at the college. 11th AnnualRCC Foundation Student Essay Contest What does being a student at Rockingham Community College mean to you? Have your experiences, studies or activities at RCC had a major impact on your life? If so, tell us about it and you might win $300. The RCC Foundation is sponsoring an essay contest for currently enrolled RCC students. Following are the required guidelines for submitting an essay: Essays are to be 500 words or less (that really means no more than 500) and entitled "What Being a Student at RCC Means to Me." Essays must be typed in 12-point type in black ink, double-spaced on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper, and should not be bound. Do not use personal names in the body of the essay. People mentioned in the essay should be referred to by their job title, position or relationship. Essays must include
a separate title/cover page attached to the essay which has the
following information on it in this exact order: Essays are due in the Development Office located in Office 106 of the Administration Building by NOON on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. Essays not following these guidelines will be automatically disqualified. Essays will be judged by an impartial committee of volunteers on sincerity, creativity and quality of personal expression. (In other words, grammar and spelling count!) Call 342-4261, ext. 2201 for additional information or contact Gaye Clifton (cliftong@rockinghamcc.edu). Winners will be announced in early April. PROSPECTIVE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP LOAN (PTSL) ELIGIBILITY: The Prospective Teacher Scholarship Loan is a competitive, merit-based scholarship loan program available to full-time students who have chosen to enter the education profession. A school official such as a high school guidance counselor or principal may recommend high school students for this award. Recipients must have maintained a minimum unweighted cumulative grade point average of a 2.5 or better, received a score of 900 or better on the SAT or equivalent ACT score of 19, enroll in a teacher preparation program at any of the eligible institutions, and plan to pursue a degree in teacher education to become a certified teacher and demonstrate a commitment to teach in the State’s public schools. The Prospective Teacher Scholarship Loan program will no longer provide funding assistance for the following areas of study: School Psychology, School Counseling, Speech/Language Pathology, Audiology, and Library/Media Services. VALUE: The annual award is:
One-half of the award is made available to recipients in the fall semester and the remainder in the spring semester. Recipients may renew the scholarship-loan up to three years, contingent each year upon appropriations made available to the State Education Assistance Authority by the General Assembly. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: The PTSC application is online and may be accessed by completing the Scholarship Wizard on the www.cfnc.org website. The 2008-2009 application deadline is April 6, 2008.
THE SALLIE MAE FUND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS The Sallie Mae Fund has announced that its scholarship application season is now open and invites students attending college in the fall 2008 to apply for scholarships that are to be awarded for the 2008-2009 school year. First in My Family Scholarship Developed in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, offers scholarship to Hispanic-American students who are the first in their family to attend college, and have financial need. The program is open to Hispanic Americans who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at approved, accredited institutions. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarships range from $500 to $5000. Application: www.hispanicfund.org. Deadline: April 15, 2008 American Dream Scholarship In partnership with the United Negro College Fund, the American Dream Scholarship Program is open to African Americans with financial need. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a minimum 2.5 grade point average, who meet Pell Grant eligibility criteria, and are enrolled full-time at approved, accredited, undergraduate institutions. Scholarships range from $500 to $5000. Application: www.uncf.org. Deadline: April 15, 2008 Community College Transfer Scholarship The Community College Transfer Scholarship Program, in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, is open to Hispanic students transferring from a community college to an approved, accredited four-year institution. Eligible students are Hispanic Americans who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, full-time undergraduate students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Award amounts range from $1000 to $2500. Application: www.hsf.net/Scholarships.aspx?id=428 Deadline: March 15, 2008 For more information and details, you may visit www.salliemaefund.org.
Health Tips for
February It is recommended that you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. They fill you up without filling you out. They are full of fiber, water, vitamins and minerals. They also add bulk to your meals with fewer calories. Have a water based soup (such as tomato soup or broth based soups) before your meal and that will help fill you up and probably save you some calories. What counts as a serving? A medium fruit counts as a serving. ½ cup of vegetables count as a serving (green beans, corn) 1 cup of leafy greens count as a serving. What Do You Think of THE ROCK's New Look? THE ROCK has gone to another web format in order to include active links in its articles. We'd like to know what our readers think about the new format. Please send your suggestions and comments to Lee Dodson (dodsonl@rockinghamcc.edu). We look forward to hearing from you!
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Toe tappin’
music is humane habit:
Get ready for an evening of great entertainment when four fabulous musical groups donate their talents for an evening of sizzling picking and close harmonizing. Pictured clockwise from the top are Hubert Lawson & the Bluegrass Country Boys, Wood & Steel, Campus Tradition, and Keith Sigmon (harmonica) with Lee Dishmon. They’re back! Homemade Music musicians, featuring a number of familiar friends and crowd favorites, are coming 7 p.m., Feb. 29 to the Rockingham Community College auditorium. Admission is free, but a donation to Habitat for Humanity is suggested. Sponsored by the Musician’s Guild at RCC and used to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, the concert marks its tenth anniversary this year. “Homemade Music is one way we can have a good time while doing something good for the community,” said Guild advisor Lee Dodson. “A lot of talented people have pitched in over the years to make the concert special.” Leading this year’s lineup are Lee Dishmon and Keith Sigmon, a duo specializing in finger-style guitar and harmonica covers of familiar tunes by James Taylor and John Gorka. Dishmon is an RCC alumnus; Sigmon is an instructor. Next up is the quartet Wood & Steel, a Homemade Music crowd favorite. With ties to Rockingham and nearby counties, Wood & Steel features close vocal harmonies and the sizzling instrumental performances of classic and contemporary bluegrass standards, personifying the musical tradition of the upper Piedmont. Hubert Lawson and the Bluegrass County Boys return for their second Homemade Music outing. Member Lee Lawson, on banjo, is an RCC machinist student. He’s joined by his mother, father, and brother. Maybe you have heard them on local radio stations or at bluegrass festivals. Bringing the concert to a close are veteran performers Campus Tradition. These four members of the RCC faculty and staff (one is now retired), have played for every Homemade Music concert. Their music is an eclectic mix of gospel, bluegrass, country, western swing, and humorous songs. Formed to play at the first Homemade Music concert, the members have only become better with age. Today they perform at festivals, on live radio shows, in schools and in nursing homes. Every year the concert relies on the contributions of technicians and community volunteers. This year, thanks go Doc Moser and Affordable Sound (sound), Leon Griffith (guest MC), and Spenser Keesee, Kathy Martin, Beth Pulliam, Jason Durham, Cheryl Evans and other members of the RCC staff.Nothing makes you feel as good as Homemade Music. Campus Tradition sings it best: “Homemade, I sure do love it. Homemade, I want more of it. Homemade, so much better than what you get at the store!” Mark your calendar now. Feb. 29, 7 p.m., RCC auditorium. See you there. For more information, contact Lee Dodson at 342-4261, Ext. 2155.
Art Students Collaborate on Mural Project Do you like graffiti art? If so, consider adding your touch to the massive collaborative drawing underway in the RCC Art Program's temporary annex, Room 109 Humanities. Initiated by the new art professor Todd Drake, but fueled by the excitement and imagination of the art majors and their friends, this mural is busting off the paper. Drake surprised the first days participants, who had covered most all the wall, when he announced that another couple weeks of hard work would be needed to "finish" the piece. His intended lesson with this comment was that artists never stop with the easiest, first solution, but rather search for more invention, break through, and unity. Drake hopes this project exposes students to the amazing collaborative art being made today all over the world. You tube "Barnstormers" to see one group that has become world renowned for this approach. Also be sure to visit RCC's new art program blog at http://rockingthearts.blogspot.com to see some of the other BIG things Drake and his students are doing this semester. ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CLASS GOES TO PRISON! by Melissa Seiler On Friday, January 25, 2008, Mr. Prillaman’s Abnormal Psychology class at Rockingham Community College had the opportunity to take a trip to North Carolina’s Central Prison in Raleigh. Many of the inmates in custody today have been diagnosed with mental illness or personality disorders. Central Prison is where our state houses the worst offenders. Our trip began with check-in at the front guardhouse and then a short walk up to the prison, where we were fortunate enough to be assigned a guide named Lt. R.J. Bowden. Officer Mitchell who offered the class additional protection as we entered and toured the facility accompanied Lt. Bowden. We were each required to empty our pockets and go through a metal detector, much like the airport. Once inside, we took the elevator and began our tour. The most dramatic part of our tour was early on when we were taken to death row. Death row inmates on that day totaled 146, much of who were very young. Walking in the cellblock with those who have taken the lives of others and who have nothing to look forward to but lethal injection was disturbing. We were then taken to the viewing room used for executions and then into the death chamber itself. Because North Carolina used to utilize gas as a means of execution, there was still the pungent smell of chemicals in the tiny execution room. We were told how inmates are treated in the last 48 hours of their sentence, given almost anything they want as a “last meal” and then allowed to make their final phone calls to family. There are four cells in the area of the death chamber and Lt. Bowden said that all death row inmates stay in cell “C." Once the hour of reckoning arrives, they are led into the execution room and strapped to a gurney. Three chemicals are injected into their veins – one is a sedative, the second paralyzes the nervous system and the third stops their heart. It costs $80 per day to house an inmate and only $6 to execute someone. Only three percent of death row inmates are actually executed. Each section of the prison wears a different color jumpsuit. Death row inmates wear red; kitchen and laundry help wear white, and so on. As we moved from floor to floor, we experienced what is called the “sally port effect.” This means that one door can’t open unless the previous door has been closed. I thought we had locked Mr. Prillaman in one of those cellblocks! We moved on to another area where inmates get their exercise. It was a small gymnasium that led to an outside basketball court where inmates may get a little fresh air. The gym was packed and one fellow yelled, “Congratulations!” as we were leaving because he was not. The worst disciplinary problem inmates are on lock-down. They are only allowed out of their cells for an hour each week and two or three correctional officers escort them each time they leave their cell. They are handcuffed and shackled every time they go to the tiny cages outside used for exercise. Inmates who have reached kitchen status actually cook all the meals for the rest of the population but have a large plexiglass cover between them and other inmates so that no one can see who is serving the food. This prevents favoritism with food portions. Lt. Bowden took us to the prison chapel, which had a little different feel than the rest of the facility. It seemed much calmer and somewhat peaceful. Each religion has their own worship service here and it is decorated as such. When we were there, it was decorated for the Muslim faith and all the crosses in the chapel had to be covered. Shirley Caesar, a famous gospel singer actually sang for inmates in this chapel. The prison has its own hospital, including an emergency room. We met some of the staff and were told that one inmate who had been on death row for 27 years had a heart attack and died in the prison hospital. They also have a fully equipped dental office and oral surgeon. There are psychiatrists and psychologists on staff as well to assist the inmates with any mental health issue they might be experiencing. We were not allowed to visit the psychiatric floor of the prison but were told that there were 300 inmates in the psychiatric unit. One third of the inmate population there has anti-social personality disorder. Violent inmates as well as sex offenders are also segregated. Our trip was very informative and we are fortunate to have had this experience. One of our classmates commented that walking through each cellblock and peering through the glass at the inmates reminded her of being at the zoo. Another classmate said she felt sad that a person can make one mistake and ruin the rest of their lives. For all the harsh accommodations perceived by some, one thing is for sure…prison is definitely not a stay at the Hilton but instead is a warehouse for North Carolina’s deviant behavior. We would like to thank Dr. Prigge, Dr. Ruhland and Dr. Keys for providing this opportunity for our class. It was a great learning experience for us all.
One County, One Book Spring 2008 All county residents are encouraged to read The Kite Runner
“For
you, a thousand times over,” promises Hassan, a character in this debut
novel from Khaled Hosseini. Book Discussions Mayodan Library Mar. 3 …..6:30 pm Eden Library Mar. 6 .… 6:30 pm Reidsville Library Mar. 10 …6:30 pm
RCC Announces Personnel Updates Art Pentz accepted the temporary position of Instructor in Fine Arts effective February 4, 2008 through May 9, 2008. Art received his A.A.S. degree from RCC and his B.A. degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. We welcome Art to the full-time faculty staff at RCC. Dana Huskey accepted the Director of Human Resources position effective February 18, 2008. Dana is coming to RCC from Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems where she served as Human Resources Supervisor. She received her A.A.S. degree from RCC and her B.S. degree from UNC-Greensboro. We will be extending our greetings to Dana in the next couple of weeks. Portia Exhem submitted her resignation from the Child Development Center effective January 31, 2008. We wish Portia much success in her leadership position at Noah’s Ark Child Center. Rachael Switalski submitted her resignation from the position of Director, Student Success Center effective February 5, 2008. She and her husband are relocating to their home state of PA. We wish Rachael much success in all of her future endeavors. Stacey Davis submitted her resignation from the position of Instructor, Spanish/Developmental English/Reading effective May 9, 2008. Stacey and her husband will be relocating to the Charlotte area. We wish Stacey much success in all of her future endeavors. Judy Tillman submitted her retirement from RCC effective April 1, 2008. During her employment at RCC since Fall 1990, Judy became the Assistant Director of the Child Development Center. In the Fall of 1996, she was promoted to full-time Director of the Center. Judy’s dedication, commitment and contributions to the CDC have served both the children and the college tremendously. We wish Judy many wonderful years of retirement. Jean Young submitted her retirement from RCC effective July 1, 2008. Jean has served as the college’s Bookstore Manager since October 1997. We commend Jean for her excellent assistance to faculty, staff and students over the past 10 years. We wish Jean many wonderful years of retirement. Lisa Hendren submitted her retirement from RCC effective July 1, 2008. Lisa was employed at RCC in the Fall 1987 as a professional staff member of Continuing Education [renamed Division for Community and Workforce Education]. In the Fall 1992 Lisa was appointed as the Division Director. During the past 20 years, she has served the college and the citizens of the community with exceptional dedication. We wish Lisa many wonderful years of retirement.
Valentine Court Winners Jason Shelton (center right) was elected King at the Valentine's Sweetheart Court. Mara Snyder (center left) was chosen as queen. Wesley Poindexter (left) and Lindsey Ussery (right) were the runners-up.
Sweetheart Court Pictured below are all the members of the 2008 "Sweetheart Court."
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Register Now for Minimester Using
WebAdvisor! Students... are you interested in adding a
class to your schedule for the second minimester? Installment Payment Plan (IPP) NoticeIf you are participating in the colleges IPP for the Spring Semester, your first installment is due Monday, March 3, 2008 by 5:00 pm. Your payment can be made in the business office in the Administration Building using cash, check, VISA, or MasterCard. A $20.00 late fee will be added to all accounts not paid by March 3. Your second and final payment will be due no later than April 1, 2008, by 5:00 pm. Students who do NOT pay in full by April 1, 2008, will be ineligible to register for classes or receive transcripts until the debt is paid in full. If you have officially completed a drop/add form with the records office and owe additional tuition or are due a refund, your payments will automatically be adjusted. You may check your total balance due on WebAdvisor under Account Summary by Term. Your payment due should be one-half of the amount listed. It is your responsibility to make payments by the due date. Please note that the payment plan will not be available for the Summer Semester. The
Business Office is open Monday – Friday 8: a.m. until 5 p.m. If you have
any questions, please email us at ANNOUNCING THE 2008-2009 GOLDEN LEAF SCHOLARSHIP FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES The Golden LEAF Scholarship program will provide grants of $3,000 for the 2008-2009 academic year for us to 100 current community college students who transfer to one of the sixteen public universities in North Carolina in the fall of 2008. These scholarships will be awarded through a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. · To be eligible, a community college transfer student must: · Be currently enrolled at a North Carolina community college. · Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes. · Transfer to one of the state’s public universities in the fall of 2008 as a full-time degree-seeking student. · Reside in one of 73 qualifying counties (Rockingham, Caswell, Stokes, Surry residents are eligible, For complete list, go to CFNC.org/goldenleaf website.) · Demonstrate financial need. Students MUST submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for this scholarship. · Submit an application. Priority consideration will be given to students who were adversely affected by the decline of the tobacco industry. Students in default on a student loan and students who have already been awarded bachelor degrees at four-year colleges and universities are not eligible for this scholarship. The Priority Application Deadline for Transfer Students is March 17, 2008 Applications and full details for the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for four-year public universities will be posted on the CFNC website at www.CFNC.org/goldenleaf by late January, 2008. For more information, visit the website or call College Foundation of North Carolina at 866-866-CFNC. HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND Community College Transfer Scholarship Program Available to students transferring from a two-year college to a four-year institution in fall of 2008 or spring of 2009. Basic Eligibility: Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage; be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; be currently enrolled part-time or full-time at a community college; have plans to transfer and enroll full-time at a four-year, U.S. accredited institution; have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00; and apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA (2008-2009). Deadline for application: Must be postmarked by March 15, 2008. For more information, including application and complete eligibility requirements, see www.hsf.net. NURSE SCHOLARS PROGRAM UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM 2008-2009 ELIGIBILITY: The Nurse Scholars Program (NSP) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship/loan program available to students who have chosen to enter the nursing profession. Financial need is not a criterion. An 11-member Nurse Scholars Commission selects recipients for this award on the basis of superior academics (3.0 minimum grade point average on a 4.0 scale), leadership potential, and desire to practice on a full-time basis in North Carolina. Recipients must be NC residents. Students must plan to enter a nursing program at a participating college or university in the state of North Carolina or hospitals that offer nurse education programs which prepare students for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). APPLICATION PROCEDURE: The NSP application is online and may be accessed by completing the Scholarship Wizard on the www.cfnc.org website. The 2008-2009 deadline for schools participating in the Associate Degree program is May 3, 2008. SEANC SCHOLARSHIP
FOUNDATION If you, your spouse, or your parent is a member of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), then you should consider applying for one of the SEANC College Scholarships! Awards criteria include the following: · Category I: Financial Need · Category II: Merit (Financial Need Excluded) · Category III: SEANC Members Only Category I and II applicants must be enrolled full-time in a technical school, community college, trade school, junior college or four-year college or university. Category III applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited post secondary institution. There are five $500 Merit Scholarships and three $500 Need-based Scholarships available for two-year college applicants. The applicant and/or parent or guardian must be a member of SEANC. To determine active membership in SEANC, contact Renee Vaughan at (800) 222-2758. The SEANC District Committee must receive applications for the 2008-2009 academic year by April 15, 2008 (postmarked). Contact Renee Vaughan for your district information and address to submit application. SEANC applications are available online @ www.SEANC.org or in the Financial Aid Office in Whitcomb Student Center. |
