DCCC students support troops

Members of Davidson County Community College's Business Explorer's Club pack a box to send to a platoon of 40 U.S. Army infantry soldiers in Iraq. From left are Pam Stegman, DCCC club Adviser Donna Shawley, President Sue Griegel, Vice President Sheila Wood and DCCC business instructor and club adviser Steve Richards.

DCCC students held a semester-long holiday toy drive for children served by the Salvation Army. The Business Explorers Club contributed bicycles for the children.

Students in the DCCC Criminal Justice/Paralegal Club collected toys for children who live in Lexington Housing Authority Homes. Club Vice President Monique Spencer (third from right) planned the fundraiser.

The Davidson County Community College Business Explorer's Club, made up of about 60 business, accounting, computer and human resources majors, raised enough money to donate $1,000 to help families seeking aid from the Fairgrove Family Resource Center in Thomasville.

In addition, their jewelry sales and other fundraisers allowed them to "adopt" U.S. Army Lt. George Gouge and his platoon of 40 infantry soldiers serving in Iraq.

Gouge, who is from Thomasville and a graduate of Ledford High School and High Point University, met with club officers recently so they could learn what the platoon needed.

Members decided to send care packages each month to Gouge and his soldiers during the entire year they are deployed. Already, they have mailed four large boxes filled with toiletries, snacks, playing cards, DVDs and other items his soldiers requested. The boxes were so heavy the postage alone cost more than $100.

Club members have big hearts, because some of them live from week to week, struggling to support their families, pay their tuition and buy their books. That is why they believe so strongly in supporting agencies such as the Fairgrove Family Resource Center; they know how tough it is to make it through the holidays when money is tight because all but two club members are unemployed.

Quietly and anonymously, club members dig deep in their own pockets to help purchase food or pay an electric bill for other members who are having trouble making ends meet.

Taking a leadership role in the club are Sue Griegel, club president, and Sheila Wood, vice president. Both have served as leaders for two years and are middle-aged students with families. They approach their club duties and responsibilities as they would a full-time job. They arrive on campus two hours before their first class and use the quiet of the morning to plan, organize and coordinate fundraising activities.

"I am amazed at how committed our club members are to each other and to their community service projects," said Steve Richards, the DCCC business and accounting instructor who advises the club, (along with Donna Shawley) of the instructional support staff of the School of Business, Engineering and Technical Studies at DCCC.

"The club has strong student leaders, and they carry heavy academic loads. Yet, they devote so much time, energy and personal funds to help others," Richards said.

Griegel hopes to graduate in May 2010 with an associate degree in business administration, a diploma in accounting, and perhaps in the future, return to DCCC to pursue logistics. Eventually, she would like to earn her bachelor's degree in business.

"I joined the Business Explorers Club during my first semester at DCCC," said Griegel. "Since I was new to North Carolina and didn't know anyone, I decided to attend. At the end of that semester there were only six members. A year and one half later, we have approximately 60 members and we're still growing."

Club officers took about 50 club members out to a recent holiday lunch and treated each with presents and prizes. "That is one way of letting them know how much we appreciate them," said Wood.

Griegel and Wood said club members frequently say they feel like they belong to a college sorority or fraternity. "There is a close camaraderie amongst the members and we are all dedicated to helping those less fortunate. We not only care about helping community organizations, but we help our own members, too," said Griegel.

Wood, who volunteers for the SPCA of the Triad and the Fairgrove Family Resource Center, plans to graduate in December 2010 with an associate degree in business. She hopes to get a job in the trucking or logistics industry since she has previous experience in those fields.

She and Griegel have become skilled at motivating others since club work doesn't stop on weekends when members sell pizza, make crafts and solicit items from businesses to auction.

"This semester has seen the greatest growth in membership," said Griegel. "We have come up with innovative ideas for raising money. Not only have I become a better person by belonging to the BEC, I've made lifelong friends," she said.

One new member is Donna Turner, who said joining the club helped her acclimate to college life. The fall 2009 semester was her first at DCCC, and she knew no one on campus. "Being a stay-home mom for the past 10 years, I was more than a little apprehensive about making friends at school. However, that was never a problem after I found the Business Explorers Club during club day," Turner said.

"I was amazed at the number of service projects this club had accomplished last year. The best part was meeting and becoming friends with the members," she added. "They were very welcoming and accepting of the new members and are very quick to get you involved in the projects. My first semester has been a wonderful experience, and a lot of the credit for that goes to the Business Explorer Club members."

Other club officers are Marita Lopez, secretary; Karen Winkle, treasurer; and SGA representatives De Aries Jackson, Evelyn Baxter, Paul Cromer and Denny Fishel.

Throughout the year, the club will collect the following items to mail to their soldiers in Iraq: instant coffee, tea bags, single serve packs of Kool-Aid and Crystal Light, single serve bags of chips, beef jerky, dried fruit, dry cereal, cookies, hard candy that won't melt, Little Debbie's snack cakes, instant soup, Slim Jims, baby wipes, soap, eye drops, Chapstick, sunscreen, lotion, powder, contact lens cleaner, shampoo, conditioner, brushes, combs, hand sanitizer, cotton balls, deodorant, wash cloths, nail clippers, ball caps, Band-Aids, razors, puzzle books, paperback books, magazines, stamps, envelopes, stationery, pens, pencils, comic books, jump ropes, batteries, card games, Frisbees, mini board games, mini foam footballs and mini foam basketballs.

Those who wish to donate any of these items or help support the platoon of 40 infantry soldiers in other ways during their year-long deployment in Iraq may contact Sheila Wood at swood241958@yahoo.com or call her at 336-870-2016.