Businessman and former county commissioner Steve Tyson was named for Individual Leadership and James F. “Smoke” Boyd, owner of The Flame Catering & Event Center, was picked for Business Leadership by the Craven Community College Foundation’s 9th annual Community Fabric Awards.
The college’s Kathryn Amerson was named in the Leadership in Education category.
The event was created by the Craven CC Foundation to “showcase excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of service and inspiration of others.”
The recipients will be honored during the annual CFA Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Thursday, April 18, at the Havelock Tourist & Event Center.
After Hurricane Florence, Tyson spent countless hours serving to direct critical help and support to hundreds of displaced families all across Craven County. Tyson has lived in New Bern his entire life. Since concentrating on real estate brokerage in 2006, he has received multiple honors for exceptional sales volume. He has supported the community through diligent involvement in several local organizations. He is currently a board member of the CarolinaEast Health System, Craven 100 Alliance Building Committee and the Craven County Disaster Recovery Alliance.
The award for business leadership will be presented to The Flame Catering & Banquet Center owner and executive chef “Smoke” Boyd. The Flame opened in 1990 and has become well known across Eastern North Carolina. With over 30 years of experience in the catering, events and restaurant industries, Boyd provides exquisite culinary crafts and excellent customer service. His love and compassion for the community have made a tremendous impact on everyone he meets.
Amerson was selected for the leadership in education award for her teaching career at Craven Community College since 2000. She teaches history and humanities, and is the faculty adviser for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Study Abroad program.
All three recipients will be honored during the 9th annual CFA Ceremony and Luncheon. Funds raised through event sponsorships and ticket purchases are used to support the Foundation’s programs, as well as equipment, facilities and emerging initiatives of the college. To date, the CFA events have netted over $350,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission.
“The 2019 CFA recipients truly demonstrate why the Foundation established this event,” said Craven CC Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Charles Wethington. “Although it was a difficult decision, the selection committee ultimately chose these recipients due to their remarkable service and support for this community.”
Individual tickets are available for purchase at https://foundation.cravencc.edu/cfa. For more information, contact Wethington at 252-638-7350 or email wethingc@cravencc.edu.
Posted in Community Fabric Awards, Craven Community College
NEW BERN – Craven Community College (Craven CC) will host a Spring Open House for new students Tuesday, March 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Student Center on the New Bern Campus. The open house will have information relevant to all types of students, ranging from those embarking on a college journey or looking to take the next step in their career.
This event will give students the opportunity to tour classrooms, get a feel for the campus and meet face-to-face with instructors from Craven CC’s career programs, health programs and workforce development departments. Interactive booths will demonstrate the college’s many opportunities and provide a better understanding of what each program entails. Students can explore course offerings for the summer and fall semesters, with classes available on both campuses and online.
Academic, admissions and financial aid advisors will be on hand to personally assist students with navigating the application and financial aid processes. They will also show students how to apply for various scholarships and answer questions. Information will be available on the college’s many clubs, organizations and events, as well as university transfer programs through NC State, NC Wesleyan and ECU.
Several programs will be on display, such as flight and maintenance, nursing, physical therapy, construction, information technology, basic law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, computer-aided drafting, cosmetology, information technology, automotive, welding, machining and early childhood education. Props and demonstrations will also be set up, and the barbering program will provide free haircuts.
“These are programs that are in high demand,” said Ricky Meadows, dean of career programs. “If students come in here and complete the two-year program, they have no problem getting a job.”
For more information, call Zomar Peter, dean of enrollment management, at 252-638-4597.
Posted in Community, Craven Community College, New Bern
Craven Community College’s (Craven CC) Adult Enrichment Program (AEP) will host a symposium entitled “Stop the Cravin’!” in an effort to promote substance abuse education, prevention and intervention.
This free event will take place at Orringer Hall on the New Bern Campus from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14.
The event will feature a diverse panel of speakers from local health care providers, local and state law enforcement and community-based organizations. It will provide statistics for the area, health effects and the science behind the many aspects of addiction, case studies and firsthand accounts from those in the medical field. There will also be perspectives shared by former addicts, an emergency room charge nurse and local law enforcement.
Professional panelists include Kenneth W. Wilkins, Jr., MD, FACP, endoscopist and president of Coastal Carolina Health Care, PA; Matt Knight of the NC Task Force for Safe Schools and NC Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) branch; Henry D. Beckwith, PsyD, a licensed psychologist; and Nadine Williamson, a certified substance abuse counselor.
Those in attendance will have the opportunity to: participate in a Q&A, learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid and related substance abuse issues, how to intervene and prevent future addictions. Equipping people with knowledge so they know what to do in such situations can ensure that loved ones don’t become just another statistic.
“Our goal is to raise awareness of the substance abuse epidemic that is steadily increasing and affecting our community and communities throughout the country, and in turn aid in the prevention of their use,” said Megan Johnson, AEP coordinator. “It is our hope that this symposium will be of great benefit to those who have been touched by this crisis and who are impacted in their daily personal and professional lives.”
Preregistration is not required and CEUs are available for eligible professionals. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.
This event is sponsored by Craven Community College, the CCHC Foundation, the Harold H. Bate Foundation, ABC of Craven County, Coastal Coalition and Trillium Health Resources.
For more information, contact Johnson at 252-638-7273 or johnsonm@cravencc.edu.
Posted in Community, Community issues, Craven Community College, Health, New Bern, Public safety
A BSH forklift is unloaded at Craven Community College, to be used in a training program as the manufacturer ramps up its workforce.
BSH Home Appliances, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of home appliances, is expanding the workforce at its New Bern manufacturing and assembly lines to meet demands for its products.
Working in collaboration with Craven Community College (Craven CC) and Blue Arbor Staffing (BAS), BSH is seeking to add approximately 50 new employees to its current workforce.
Craven CC will offer a Manufacturing Career Pathway (MCP) program from March 11-April 11 to help train and screen potential employees. The MCP will be dedicated specifically to the initiative to enhance the success for individuals wanting to start a career with BSH.
This program will provide training in the following topics: Intro to Manufacturing, Forklift Operator Certificate, Lean Yellow Belt, OSHA 10-Hour Safety, Workplace Ethics and Intro to Microsoft Word. Students will also receive hands-on training with mock simulators.
Students who complete the program will work through BAS. BAS will arrange an interview between the candidate and BSH. Candidates chosen after the interview process will start in a temporary position and work toward permanent placement.
Craven CC offers MCP programs throughout the year that conclude with interviews from local manufacturers for potential direct-hire positions. At the conclusion of Craven CC’s last MCP class, 55% of the students were offered direct hire positions with local industries, 18 percent chose to further their education through Craven CC by enrolling in a trade program and 100 percent were asked to complete applications for potential employment through local employment agencies.
For additional information on the program, contact Eddie Foster, Craven CC executive director of environmental safety and corporate training, at 252-638-3919 or fostere@cravencc.edu. To register, contact Cat Johnson at 252-633-0857 or johnsonc@cravencc.edu.
Posted in Business, Community, Craven Community College, Economy, Economy and Employment, Education, New Bern
Craven Community College will celebrate Black History Month with events hosted on the New Bern and Havelock campuses. “Hidden Figures and Community Involvement” will be held Friday, Feb. 8 from 6-8 p.m. on the New Bern Campus and “Unfolding History: Black History Reflections” will be held Thursday, Feb. 14 from 4:30-6 p.m. on the Havelock Campus.
“Hidden Figures and Community Involvement” will celebrate the ways African American organizations and individuals in the region have improved local communities. Guest speaker Chris Suggs, who founded the nonprofit Kinston Teens, Inc. at the age of 14, will discuss his work in Kinston and the positive impact young people can have on their own communities. Other organizations participating in the event include the Craven CC Foundation, Neuse River Bridge Run, Craven Arts Council, Tryon Palace and New Bern Civic Theatre.
“I love being able to coordinate events that bring our community, students, staff and faculty together in meaningful ways,” said Emily Stewart, Craven CC campus life coordinator. “A community college not only provides a place to further your educational goals, but it is a place to come together and connect and learn from each other. When a community can celebrate together, everyone thrives.”
“Hidden Figures and Community Involvement” will be held in the Student Center on the New Bern Campus. There will be refreshments, ticket giveaways to the New Bern Civic Theatre play Miss Evers’ Boys and community organizations on hand to help participants discover different ways they can get involved. Craven CC’s singing student ambassador group, Encore!, will also perform.
On the Havelock Campus, historian Nelson McDaniel will present “Unfolding History: Black History Reflections” as an exploration of African American achievements and contributions to Craven County’s history.
McDaniel was born in New Bern and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, George Washington and Georgetown Universities, New York University and the University of Lyon. For 30 years, he was a teacher at the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. McDaniel has served in various volunteer capacities, including the New Bern 300th, New Bern Historical Society, Camps Sea Gull and Seafarer, Christ Church, Tryon Palace Foundation, Carolina East Foundation, Kellenberger Foundation, Craven Arts Council, Coastal Carolina Chamber Music Festival and Swiss Bear.
“Black history laid the foundation for much of American history,” said Sylvia King, Craven CC director of student services on the Havelock Campus. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks paved the way for so many of the freedoms that we enjoy today. For example, many people went to see the movie “Hidden Figures” and were surprised to learn that Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who worked with NASA to put John Glenn into orbit, was an African American.”
The presentation will take place in the Institute of Aeronautical Technology Hangar at 305 Cunningham Blvd. Light refreshments will be served.
“This event is to empower us with knowledge so that we can continue to grow as Americans and to teach the generations to come that the United States is great,” said King. “Knowing the past opens the door to the future—this statement is true not just for the past but for the history that is in the making today.”
Both events are free and open to the public. For more information on the New Bern event, contact Stewart at 252-514-0562 or stewarte@cravencc.edu. For information on the Havelock event, contact King at 252-444-2120 orkingsy@cravencc.edu.
Posted in Craven Community College, Events
The Craven Community College Foundation is accepting nominations for the 9th Annual Community Fabric Awards, an event that awards individual, educational and business leadership in the community. The deadline to nominate is 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21.
The Community Fabric Awards were created by the Craven CC Foundation to celebrate and showcase excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of service and the inspiration of others.
Previous individual recipients include J. Troy Smith, Jr., Dr. Jim Congleton, Linda Staunch, New Bern Alderman Sabrina Bengel, Nelson Bell McDaniel, Maj. Gen. Tom Braaten USMC (Ret.), David L. Ward, Jr. and Robert L. “Bob” Mattocks. Business recipients include Trent Cadillac Buick GMC, Century 21 Zaytoun-Raines, The UPS Store, A Dog’s Dream, Mitchell Hardware, Moen, CarolinaEast Health System and Minges Bottling Group, Inc.-Pepsi. Previous educators to receive the award include Jorge Benitez, David Wang, Dr. Shelly Hines-Brooks, Jessica Cofield, Jeffrey Brown, Jessica Saxon, Donald Carpenetti and Dr. Bruce Waugh.
Funds raised through event sponsorships and tickets are used to support the Craven CC Foundation’s programs, as well as equipment, facilities and emerging initiatives of the college. To date, the Community Fabric Awards have netted more than $350,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission.
Submission forms for all three categories are available online at www.cravencc.edu/cfa.
After all submissions are in, the three award recipients will be selected by a confidential and independent committees. This year’s awards luncheon will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center.
For additional information about the Community Fabric Awards, contact Tanya Roberts at 252638-7351 or robertst@cravencc.edu.
The Craven Community College Foundation has supported the vision of higher education for the residents of Craven County and beyond for more than 40 years. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides financial support to students through scholarships and funding for programs, equipment, new and emerging initiatives, facilities and other priorities on the New Bern and Havelock campuses.A
Craven Community College is part of the North Carolina Community College System. With campuses in New Bern and Havelock-Cherry Point, Craven CC serves about 3,200 curriculum students and more than 10,000 continuing education students each year. The college offers a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs, as well as college transfer courses, career and occupational offerings, partnerships with four-year universities, specialized workforce training options, developmental studies and basic skills classes. The Lifetime Learning Center and Adult Enrichment Program offer lifelong learning opportunities. Craven Early College High School programs are available on both campuses. Craven CC is also home to Public Radio East, one of the few community colleges nationally with this distinction. For more information about the college, visit www.cravencc.edu.
Posted in Community, Community Fabric Awards, Community issues, Craven Community College
Craven Community College will host Willie E. Atkinson and the Transitional Jazz Quintet for “The Poetry of Jazz” on Friday, Feb. 15. This show begins at 7:30 p.m. and will take place in Orringer Auditorium, located on the New Bern campus.
Atkinson uses his talents as a jazz vocalist to provide audiences with a fluid interpretation of jazz and blues standards. Whether exploring the syncopated rhythms of a swinging tune or telling the story of a lonesome, wanting heart, Atkinson offers a fresh approach and seizes every moment to make the songs his own.
Members of the Transitional Jazz Quintet include Stephen Anderson (piano), Phil Owens (guitar), Doug Trammel (bass), Michael Hanson (percussion), Jeff Bair (saxophone) and guest vocalist Liz Pina.
“Poetry of Jazz” is part of the Exploration in the ARTS series presented by the Craven CC Foundation’s Lifetime Learning Center.
This program is made possible in part by a grant from corporate sponsors Jon Tait, CFP and Ashely Martin, Financial Advisor with securities offered by Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., New Bern.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for students and available by phone at 252-633-2618 or online at
https://foundation.cravencc.edu/Event-Registrations.
Posted in Craven Community College, Entertainment, New Bern
Craven Community College’s New Bern Campus will host a new class, Introduction to Home Brewing, every Tuesday from 6-9 p.m., Jan. 15 through April 2.
The course is designed for entry-level home brewers with little or no experience and will familiarize students with beer styles, expose them to various brewing technologies and provide hands-on experience with beer brewing and tasting in a safe environment.
The class is a collaboration between Craven CC’s Workforce Development department and Brütopia Brewing Company, a craft brew house and homebrew supply store in James City. Tim Dryden, a co-owner of Brütopia, will be co-instructing with Rob Jones. Jones, who has been brewing for 25 years, said this class is for anyone who has the desire to learn about beer and how it’s made.
“Ideally, those that complete the class will be able to get their first brew kit and know exactly what to do with it and make great tasting beer,” said Jones. “The students will get in 12 weeks what took me 25 years to gain.”
A new aspect of home brewing will be explored during each of the 12-week sessions. Classes will cover topics such as chemicals, sanitation and equipment; fermentation; recipe formulation; brewing and bottling; grain preparation; mashing; and sampling.
“We want to provide a well-structured curriculum for those interested in exploring home brewing,” said Jeff Schulze, Craven CC workforce development coordinator. “And who knows—a student in this class could be the next one to open up a microbrew business in Craven County.”
The class has a 15-student limit and the cost is $180, which includes the supply fee. For more information or to register, contact Schulze at 252-638-5467 or schulzej@cravencc.edu.
Posted in Craven Community College, New Bern
Craven Community College students impacted by Hurricane Florence may apply for the Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Fund, which is a specific state fund that provides financial assistance for tuition, fees, transportation, textbooks and living expenses.
Craven CC will receive $408,333, or $1,250 distributed among 322 students per semester, in state funds to assist students through June 30, 2019. These funds are available to students who were enrolled at Craven CC or resided in a major disaster area as of Sept. 10, 2018. Craven CC students impacted by the hurricane may utilize funds for assistance with tuition, fees, transportation, textbooks and living expenses.
“When students are stable financially, they are able to stay enrolled, complete a degree or credential and have the opportunity for employment or to further their education and career goals,” said Zomar Peter, dean of enrollment management.
Thanks to a new $18.5 million relief fund passed by the North Carolina General Assembly on Oct. 15, Craven CC is among 21 colleges in the state to receive funding to help minimize the historic storm’s impact on student success. The package includes $5 million in emergency grants to assist students from disaster-affected counties with tuition, fees and expenses so they can stay enrolled. Colleges were required to begin accepting applications by November 1, 2018.
Applications for the Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Fund are available for download. For more information or to download the application, call Peter at 252-638-4597 or visit www.cravencc.edu/florence.
Posted in Craven Community College, Hurricane, New Bern
Craven Community College (Craven CC) has been recognized as one of the best colleges offering online learning in North Carolina by the Community for Accredited Online Schools.
As a leading resource for campus and online learning, the site released its annual ranking for the 2018-19 school year, honoring Craven Community College for its excellence in online learning.
Craven CC was ranked No. 4 on the list 44 two-year colleges in North Carolina offering online programs.
“We wanted to highlight schools like Craven Community College who are providing exceptional online education experiences for their students,” said Doug Jones, CEO and Founder of the Community for Accredited Online Schools. “These schools continue to uphold rigorous accreditation standards and show an overall commitment to maximizing student success.”
To qualify, schools must be regionally or nationally accredited, hold a not-for-profit status in the United States and offer at least one online degree. Schools were then ranked based on their quality, affordability, flexibility and degrees granted to their students.
Go here For more information on Craven CC’s online learning ranking and further details on the methodology used to rank each school.
Founded in 1965, Craven Community College is part of the North Carolina Community College System. With campuses in New Bern and Havelock-Cherry Point, Craven CC serves about 3,200 curriculum students and more than 10,000 continuing education students each year. The college offers a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs, as well as college transfer courses, career and occupational offerings, partnerships with four-year universities, specialized workforce training options, developmental studies and basic skills classes. The Lifetime Learning Center and Adult Enrichment Program offer lifelong learning opportunities. Craven Early College High School programs are available on both campuses. Craven CC is also home to Public Radio East, one of the few community colleges nationally with this distinction. For more information about the college, visit www.cravencc.
The Community for Accredited Online Schools (AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org) was founded in 2011 to provide students and parents with quality data and information about pursuing an education that has been certified by an accrediting agency. Its community resource materials and tools have been featured by over 1,000 schools and universities and span topics such as college accreditation, financial aid, and online learning resources. Its annual school rankings feature higher education institutions that offer excellence in online learning programs.
Posted in Craven Community College, Education, New Bern
New Bern Now
