RCCC instructor finalist for state award
Cathy Cook, an English and communications instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, was chosen as a finalist for 2008 North Carolina Community College System ń R.J. Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award.
As part of her recognition, Cook received a letter of congratulations from Gov. Mike Easley, a plaque and a $500 prize. Cook is the first faculty member from RCCC selected as a finalist for the award.
The Excellence in Teaching Award was established in 1985 by the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges to provide recognition for full-time teachers who exemplify the highest standards of instruction and professionalism in the classroom and who consistently demonstrate excellence in service to their colleges and communities.
The award is sponsored by the State Board of Community Colleges and endowed by R.J. Reynolds.
Cook has taught at RCCC four years and has more than 17 years of teaching experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Pfeiffer University, a master’s degree from Duke University, and a doctor of ministry degree from Drew University. She also holds a master’s degree in communication studies from UNC Charlotte.
Cook received RCCC’s 2008 Outstanding Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2007, she received the Mary E. Jarrard Award for a graduate research paper she presented at Carolinas Communication Association annual convention. She recently spoke by invitation at the National Communication Association’s annual conference in San Diego.
Granite Quarry star students
The following students were named star students at Granite Quarry Elementary for December:
Pre-kindergarten: Roberts-Zachary Cornell
Kindergarten: Chloe Pate, Ivan Poag, Skyler Davis, Kinsley Dougherty, Ella Hedenskog, Thomas Okulam, Edith Morales, Dakota Bostian, Alexis Portillo, Camren Mauldin
First grade: Jackson Smicker, Yiselle Maquiera, Brandon Walls, Sierra Braun, Emanuel Botello, Natalie McBride, Kourtney Welch, Phillip Boggess
Second grade: Analea Audette, Ernie Webb, Ashley Freiman, Brandon Pullaim, Cameron Hicks, Maribel Portillo, Billy McGee, Katelyn Byrd, Kaceyann Robbins, Ivy Burleson
Third grade: Noah Powell, Emma Shank, Noah Wiles, Lila Kogmany, Guadalupe Barajas, Zachary Huddleston, Matthew Mathis, Leah Mesimer, Will Brown
Fourth grade: Wesley Porter, Lauren Wilsey, Austin Vandezande, Tyra Wylie, Alexis Whitley, Kaden Watkins
Fifth grade: Skylar Miller, Brendan Dougherty, Rachel Marlowe, Jacqueline Morales, Jaymier Kennard, Britney Smith, Joseph Brooks, Ashon Wylie
Hurley citizens of the month
The following students were named citizens of the month for November at Hurley Elementary:
Kindergarten: Juan Garcia, Alexi Rodriguez-Hernande, Emily Knorr, Chad Sells, Nikolas Wolfe
First grade: Jose Cervantes Flores, Jean Holman, Malia Hughley, Levontae Jacobs, Caleb Knight, Payton Proctor
Second grade: Makayla Bringle, Dalton Kepley, Hannah Pratt, Jose Rodriguez, David Woodie
Third grade: Katie Ferguson, Henry Holman, Adanya Johnson, Jordan Oglesby, Mary Wood
Fourth grade: Bailey Herndon, Maryn Miles, Jake Murphy
Fifth grade: Jordan Collins, Evelyn Mercado Lopez, Kristen McNabb,William Steinman, Alex Yang
Landis citizens of the month
The following students were named citizens of the month for December at Landis Elementary:
Kindergarten: Bryston Biles, Cydney Livengood, Camylle Steadman, Lillian Duncan and Casey Cline
First grade: Kaitlyn Castro, Isaiah Jefferson, Gracie Corriher, Julia Johnson and Dalton Barnes
Second grade: Camryn Jessop, Jacob Gainer, Taylor McKnight and Carson Beck
Third grade: Meggan Dancy, Misty Parson, Mercedes Hunter, Malik Wilson and Jennifer Siller
Fourth Grade: Keiyonne Benjamin, Jacob Moore, Zack Nave, T. J. Smith and Hunter Huffman
Fifth Grade: Malik Williams, Austin Russ, Jennifer Ervin and Cody Henry
North Rowan good citizens
The following students were named good citizens for December at North Rowan Elementary:
Brock Henry, Dora Nunez, Ja’Myiah Foster, Neveah Knox, Camille Cunningham, Tianece Nock, Nikarious Chalk, Victor Mendoza, RyQuan Clark, Daeshun Hargrave, Lapuritsha Stiller, Alex Burnham, Caroline Koerner, Jolie Savage, Elijah Sturdivant, Marilyn Santamaria, Logan Robbins, Feliz Nesbitt, Kaylee Matthews, Jeremy Jacobs, Nizariah Winchester, Jairese Simpson, Summer Pike, Dylan Bates, Kolby Smith,Jaden Soliz, Zechariah Garrison, Desiree Ellis, Lashay Little, Heahter Dellinger, Daniel Davis, Taelor Davis, Anthony Chalk, Caitlyn Gagliardo, Brandon Myers, Allie Stewart, Hannah Spry, Dillon Temple, Brooklyn Hawkins, Abbey Williams, Phillip Martin, Carlos Romero, Matthew Fesperman, Lily Savage, Julio Nunez, Nichole Bates, Jaylen Reid, Oscar Moran-Nunez, Dalilah Kamili, Tei”Zae Oglesby, Mary Kameron, Trinity Gladden, Shawn Wilhoit, Ethan Smith, Micah Cahmbers, Nikis Miller, Glexa Reyes, Omar Lara-Martinez Faizon Little, Cassy Young, Briannna Osorio, Courtney Gushlaw, Victoria Scheve, Tre’asia’niq Allen, Casey Eller, Javeon Foster, Brandon White, Paul Baker
RCCC inducts honor society members
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society recently held its annual induction ceremony and welcomed 36 new members.
The Alpha Sigma Sigma chapter at RCCC also celebrated receiving the prestigious Pinnacle Award for the second time in three years. The Pinnacle Award recognizes PTK chapters for successfully enhancing their recruitment and orientation strategies, as measured by the number of its new members.
Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education, with more than 2 million members and 1,200 chapters located in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and several other countries..
Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of associate degree course work and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for membership. Students also must maintain a high academic standing throughout their enrollment in a two-year college, with a 3.0 GPA.
The 2008 inductees of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at RCCC are:
Charlotte:Casey Manuszewski
China Grove: Ryan Galloway
Concord: Kellie Annas, Matthew Boyle, Justin Cantrell, Erin Derr, Pamela Feeney, Dennis Gray, Randi Swaringen, Robin Ventro
Denton: Rhonda Hogeland
Faith: Patty Long, Rhonda Morgan
Kannapolis: Selena Cabral, Dawn Evans, Cynthia Floyd, Melissa Green, Barry Lentz, Darlene McCorkle, Mark Royster
Mooresville: Charles Bass, Kristy Cloutier
Mount Pleasant: Ailene Monroe, Virginia Yost
Rockwell: Sondra Merrifield, Brandi Smith, Britini Starnes
Salisbury: Joseph Ackerman, Heather Fogner, Atalie Frick, Sebrena Gaither, Alton Link, Chelsea Moore, Julia Peck, Adam Ryerson, Tara Safrit
North Hills students volunteer to help children
North Hills Christian School high school seniors and their chaperones traveled to Charlotte Dec. 9 to help sort and pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
The program is a worldwide Christian ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers boxes filled with items for needy children along with a message about the love of Jesus Christ.
North Hills students took 103 shoeboxes that were collected by students at the school. They worked in the Charlotte Samaritan Purse Distribution Warehouse, one of six distribution centers nationwide, alongside 500 other volunteers from the Southeast.
They were part of 30,000 volunteers who will work at that location this year. A total of eight million shoeboxes will be processed nationwide at all six processing centers.
The NHCS group prepared part of 2.1 million shoeboxes that will be processed at that site. They checked the boxes for unacceptable items, taped them up, and helped sort them and prepare them for shipment to Zambia and India.
The group listened to the testimony of a young Sudanese man, who said he received an Operation Christmas Child box as a child. He said the ministry had an impact on his life.
Groups interested in touring or volunteering for Operation Christmas Child (processing continues through March each year) may contact the regional office at 704-583-1463 or by e-mail at occcarolinas@samaritan.org.Information is also available at www.samaritanspurse.org.
East Rowan FBLA group attends competition
Eight members of East Rowan High School’s Future Business Leaders of America group attended the FBLA Southwest Regional Competition on Dec. 13.
Students traveled to Lincolnton High School, where the competition involved students from throughout southwestern North Carolina.
Students that competed for East Rowan were: Sarah Newman, Andrew Watkins, Brynne Lippard, Matt Small, Chuefue Lor, Taylor Buttry, Donovan Smoot and Brittany Zalinsky.
The students participated in various events such as public speaking, a job interview and word processing.
Brynne Lippard won third place in computer applications and will go on to represent our county at the FBLA State Competition in Raleig in April.
Advisors who accompanied these students and administered tests in various competitive events were: Cindy Adkins, Becky Sabo, and Blaire Fulcher.
Student wins school’s science fair
Perry Taylor, grandson of Bill Poole of Salisbury and Sandi Poole of Kannapolis, won the first-place prize at the science fair at Morganton Elementary School.
Taylor, a fourth-grader, did a project about the shopping trends of males and females.