Education roundup

RCCC course will train activitydirectors

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is offering a training course for persons wanting to be state-approved activity directors at long-term care facilities.

RCCC will offer the 60-hour, state-approved course 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays, Sept. 13 to Nov. 18. The class will meet at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center in Salisbury. The course registration fee is $175, plus a textbook costing approximately $60.

Participants will learn about state and federal regulations, how to plan and direct activities and various other duties included in the profession. The course includes hands-on and classroom instruction. Students must complete 25 hours of hands-on training.

Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. For more information and to register, contact the RCCC Corporate & Continuing Education Department at 704-216-3512 or by e-mail at jan.corriher-smith@rccc.edu.

Local students make the grade at APU

AZUSA, Calif. — The following students made the academic dean’s list at Azusa Pacific University, joining nearly 1,500 other students who were honored for a spring semester 2010 academic standing of a 3.5 or better grade-point average.

• Christopher L. Speed, a Theater Arts Major

• Maurie R. Speed, a Theater Arts Major

Both are from Kannapolis.

Azusa Pacific University is a comprehensive, evangelical, Christian university located 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

Dr. Alan Belcher joins Pfeiffer staff

Dr. Alan Belcher has been named associate vice president for academic affairs at Pfeiffer University. Belcher, who held a similar role at the University of Charleston, in Charleston, W. Va., began his new duties on Aug. 2 and will report directly to Dr. Tracy Espy, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“This position is a new one, and I am excited about Dr. Belcher’s recent appointment and look forward to working alongside him to expand our efforts to promote faculty success,” said Espy. “His leadership, accomplishments, academic experiences and commitment to faculty excellence and inclusion have prepared him well for this important new role.”

In his new position, Belcher will assist the provost with operational oversight of the Graduate Studies division and will collaborate with program directors on curriculum, recruitment and enrollment of students and other academic concerns of the graduate studies area. He will work with academic affairs, and other administrative offices in developing, maintaining and conducting effective assessment activities.

Belcher will also work in partnership with the provost to assist all areas of the university in preparation for regional and national accreditation, and serve as chair for the university-wide planning committee. The associate vice president for academic affairs serves as a senior member of the Dean’s Council.

Belcher began his career as a teacher in the Kanawha County Schools in West Virginia. A short time later, he joined the faculty at the University of Charleston as an assistant and then an associate professor. During his more than two decade tenure at the University of Charleston, Belcher has served in numerous administrative capacities, including program director, faculty coordinator, registrar, director of institutional research and vice president of student services. Most recently, he served as assistant dean of the graduate school of business and as associate to the provost for curriculum and technology.

His extensive scholarly contributions to the fields of assessment and outcomes, changing campus culture and distance education have been presented in various settings and publications.

A West Virginia native, Belcher earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in secondary education and education administration, respectively, from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. He earned a second master’s degree in information systems from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, Institute, W.Va., and a Ph.D. from Capella University, Minneapolis, Minn. Belcher resides in Charlotte.

Established in 1885, Pfeiffer University is a comprehensive United Methodist-related university, with multiple campuses, including Misenheimer, Charlotte and the Triangle, committed to educational excellence, service and scholarship. Visit Pfeiffer online at www.pfeiffer. edu.

Catawba ranks high in nation

Catawba College continues to be ranked as one of the nation’s Best Regional Colleges, according to the 2011 edition of “Best Colleges,” published by U.S.News & World Report.

In the edition, 319 colleges are ranked as “Best Regional Colleges” according to geographic region (North, South, Midwest, West) with Catawba ranked 15th among 96 of these colleges in the South.

Highlights of these rankings are published in the magazine available this month on newsstands and available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.

In recent years, Catawba has inched up in the U.S. News rankings from 25th in 2006, to 23rd in 2007, and to 16th in 2008. Catawba’s category in 2006 and 2007, formerly titled “Comprehensive Colleges – Bachelor’s,” was renamed “Baccalaureate Colleges” in 2008 by U.S. News “to better clarify the broad educational mission of these schools,” according to the publication. Catawba was ranked 17th in the same category in the 2009 edition and 14th in this category in the 2010 edition (called “Baccalaureate Colleges” until this most recent 2011 edition).

According to U.S. News, regional colleges “focus almost entirely on undergraduate experience and offer a broad range of programs in the liberal arts (which account for fewer than half of all bachelor’s degrees granted) and in fields such as business, nursing, and education.”

U.S. News has made changes to the 2011 Best Colleges’ ranking methodology and presentations. This year, schools are designated National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Colleges.

Numerical rank of the top 75 percent of schools in each category is displayed. For the first time, the opinions of high school guidance counselors are factors.

Institutions of higher education included in the publication receive an overall performance score and a series of subscores. They are assessed by their peer institutions, ranked according to graduation and retention rates (six-year graduation rate and freshman retention rate), faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and high school counselor ratings of colleges.

Scholarship breakfast

The Joe W. Hall Scholarship Breakfast will be Sept. 4, 7-10 a.m. at the Cleveland Lions Club on Cemetery Street in Cleveland.

Donations will be accepted, with funds going to support two $1,000 scholarships for two West Rowan High School seniors.

Hall was a charter member of the Mount Ulla Lions Club and a life-member of the Cleveland Lions Club. He served these clubs for more than 40 years and was active in the Cleveland Community Volunteer Fire Department.

His other community service included being chair of the Cleveland Precinct of the Democratic Party and president of the Rowan County Farm Bureau. The family of Joe and Suzanne Hall also supports an endowed scholarship fund at Catawba Co11ege.

The breakfast began years ago as a bunch of friends gathered before the races at Darlington, S.C. At some point it moved to the Lions’ Den. Since his death in 1991, the breakfast has been known as the Joe Hall Memorial Breakfast.

The scholarship started as a joint effort with the Mount Ulla Lions Club and later became the effort of the Cleveland Lions Club alone. In 1998, with an agreement between the family and the Cleveland Lions, the scholarship grew to $1,500 and is given as The Joe W. Hall Memorial Scholarship, presented by the Cleveland Lions Club.

In 2008 the scholarship was changed to two $1,000 scholarships. Since 1995 the Hall family has contributed $1,000 to each year’s efforts.

Seniors at West Rowan apply for the scholarship through the guidance office. The office ranks the applicants according to need, academic achievements and demonstrated contribution to the school, student body and community.

The applications are returned to the Cleveland Lions Club for final selection. The awardees are usually notified at the senior awards assembly. The scholarship is paid directly to the college the student attends.

The Cleveland Lions Club continues this tradition, for it demonstrates their motto: We Serve.

The recipients for the last several years are:

2009/10 — Ranisha White and Claire Steele

2008/09 — Dustin Davis and Nicole Emerson

2007/08 — Jerica Sherrill and Christopher Martin

2006/07 — Zachary Carscaddon

2005/06 — Treymane Smith

2004/05 — Susan Gullett

2003/04 — Danielle McKnight

2002/03 — Gail Murph

2001/02 — Jake Sunding

2000/01 — Kristina Nicole Bradshaw

1999/2000 — Joey Wilhelm

KidSports hosts PreSchool Drop-In

KidSports PreSchool Back-to-School Drop-In will be held Thursday, Sept. 2 from 10-11 a.m. and 6-7 p.m.

Preschoolers and their parents are invited to come learn about the 2010-11 preschool program, including class schedules and activities and visit the preschool classrooms. Registration materials and Parent Packets will be provided.

The PreSchool LEARN (Literacy-based Early Academic Readiness and Nurturing) Program at KidSports focuses totally on Kindergarten readiness and success. The program includes: weekly themes and lessons, computer classes, music and movement, physical education, lunch buddies, field trips, guest speakers, learning centers, circle time, arts and crafts, stories, organized games, physical activities and snack.

The PreSchool is also a Rowan Public Library BookMobile Stories-to-Go site.

PreSchool hours are Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. until 12 p.m. Children ages 18-months to 5-years (pre-kindergarten) are accepted and two, three or five-day enrollment is available. Classes start Wednesday, Sept. 8, and pre-registration is requested.

KidSports is located at 2324 S. Main St., Salisbury. For more information, call 704-638-0075.

RCCC offering OSHA construction course

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is offering the 10-hour OSHA Construction Industry Course Aug. 26-27 in Concord.

The class will meet both days from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at RCCC’s Cabarrus Business & Technology Center, 660 Concord Parkway N. The course fee is $72.

The course will help managers and employees understand the federal safety legislation and the actions required of them to provide an acceptable workplace safety and health program.

The instructor will provide an overview of construction standards, with a specific focus on the four-most-common workplace hazards: falls, electrical shock and “struck-by” and “caught-in” incidents involving machinery and equipment. Successful completion of the course will provide participants an official OSHA 10-hour card, as well as one continuing education credit.

Certification by the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) is viewed as a plus for those seeking employment in a number of industries. Businesses profit from having certified employees because promoting safety in the workplace protects workers and reduces lost time and costs.

OSHA considers companies with certified employees to be committed to providing a safe workplace, an advantage to the employer during an OSHA compliance inspection. Such inspections have the potential to result in substantial fines and possibly even the closure of non-complying businesses.

For more information about the course, call 704-216-3598.

Pfeiffer appointsnew director forTriangle-area campus

Bennie Lee Felts, who has served as a faculty member at several colleges in the Research Triangle Park area, has been named director of Pfeiffer University’s Triangle campus.

Felts replaces Brad Frazier, former Triangle director who will serve as associate professor of leadership on the Charlotte campus. As director of the Triangle campus, Felts will be responsible for planning and implementing recruiting efforts, developing relationships within the local business and government communities in the Triangle area and assisting with the recruitment of faculty for the campus. Additionally, Felts will provide guidance to new and current students and aid in the development of course schedules.

Prior to the post at Pfeiffer, Felts most recently served as an adjunct professor at Peace College. He taught leadership in organizations for the adult evening program. He also served as an adjunct and associate professor at DeVry University in Morrisville, where he taught and advised students. Felts has also had similar roles as a member of the faculty at Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, Elon University in Elon and Alamance Community College in Graham.

Felts’ professional experience goes well beyond the classroom. He serves as the president of Felts & Associates Consulting Group LLC in Burlington. He also is a retired law enforcement officer who served as a Deputy Chief of Police in Burlington, and he has served in several law enforcement-affiliated professional associations.

An avid volunteer in his community, Felts is a past president of the Alamance Rotary Club, Alamance County Human Relations Council, Alamance County Family Abuse Services and is a graduate of the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Alamance, where he formerly served on the program’s steering committee.

Felts earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Elon University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from N.C. Central University in Durham.

RCCC graduates,pins 15 in PracticalNursing

Fifteen students have completed the Practical Nursing program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and participated in a recent pinning ceremony.

The ceremony took place at RCCC’s North Campus Teaching Auditorium and was attended by family and friends, college faculty members, clinical partners and nursing preceptors representing Genesis Elder Care and Autumn Care.

Graduating and receiving pins were:

Charlotte: Lauren Jennings, John Moore

China Grove: Emily Aderhold

Cleveland: Michelle Hastings

Concord: Allison Stewart, Janice Turner

Faith: Natalie Bost

Kannapolis: Nicole Williams

Landis: Sharon White

Mocksville: Danielle Casey

Mooresville: Sheena Painter

Rockwell: Kathy Coe, Holly Greene

Salisbury: Jasmine Clowney, Kristin Everhart.

Serving as class officers were Holly Greene, president; Natalie Bost, vice president; Nicole Williams, secretary; Danielle Casey, treasurer; and Kristin Everhart, student government representative.

Debbie Davis, RN, MSN, is the practical nursing program coordinator. Cathy Norris, RN, MSN, is RCCC’s director of nursing education.

Upon completion of the program, RCCC’s practical nursing graduates earn a diploma and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).

Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation/long-term care/home health facilities, clinics and physician’s offices.

Recycling services come to area schools

CONCORD — An exciting new partnership between local school systems, the business community and local government will bring a comprehensive recycling program to local schools beginning this school year.

The Cabarrus Sustainability Council, Cabarrus County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools, the cities of Concord and Kannapolis and Cabarrus County have all partnered to provide recycling services to local schools.

The effort, which was organized by the Sustainability Council, will provide the resources for schools to recycle paper, aluminum, plastic and cardboard. Prior to the program, each school had a varying level of recycling activity. This program enhances and formalizes efforts that are already underway.

“This project really is an example of what can happen when the public and private sector roll up their sleeves and work together for a common community good,” said Ian Prince, chair, Cabarrus Sustainability Council. Prince is the manager of real estate and sustainability for Roush Fenway Racing.

Recycling bins and weekly pick-ups are being provided jointly by the local governments under the shared identity “School Recycling Partnership.” As such, citizens may see vehicles from other jurisdictions serving the schools and en route. The local schools are responsible for developing recycling program goals and measurement.

The Cabarrus Sustainability Council, a joint effort between the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development, works to promote sustainability through public and private collaboration. The Sustainability Council made implementing the school recycling program its primary goal for its first year. During the coming year, the Council will focus on air quality in the region and ways to make improvements.

For more information about the Sustainability Council, contact Samantha Moose at 704- 782-4000, smoose@cabarrusbiz.

Keely White recipient of Chick-fil-A award

Keely A. White of East Spencer has been awarded a $1,000 Leadership Scholarship by Chick-fil-A, Inc.

White was nominated by Bo Hawkins, operator of Salisbury’s Towne Creek Commons restaurant.

Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Scholarship program provides assistance to restaurant employees who want to further their education. White’s award brings team member scholarships to over $26 million.

White is now also eligible for Chick-fil-A’s S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award, which provides additional $1,000 scholarships to the top 25 Leadership Scholarship recipients each year.