Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College and the National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education (EntreEd) recently partnered to deliver a hands-on workshop for local K-12 educators to learn about, experience, and integrate entrepreneurship education into their classrooms this upcoming school year.
A total of 16 educators, ranging from school principals to classroom teachers, joined the team at Mountain Empire Community College’s campus to engage in a day of learning.
The workshop was facilitated by Amber Ravenscroft, Program Manager of the America’s Entrepreneurial Schools initiative and Manager of Innovation for The EdVenture Group. The training featured sessions on entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurship infusion in the classroom, with hands-on activities for educators to take back to their students.
Teachers participated in creativity challenges, learned strategies to foster entrepreneurial mindsets both within themselves and with their students, and explored best practices in infusing entrepreneurship into core academic subject areas.
The workshop concluded with a design thinking workshop, where participants designed entrepreneurship projects for their school or classroom. Schools in attendance will be eligible to receive their America’s Entrepreneurial School designation, which recognizes any K-12 school that provides entrepreneurship education to every student, every year.
“[The training] expanded my ideas of the use of entrepreneurship ideas in the classroom,” said attendee Vicki Snodgrass. Educators walked away with tangible resources and actionable strategies to begin implementing upon the school year’s start this August. “It’s the first time I’ve actually enjoyed a workshop in a very long time,” added attendee Jessica Trent.
Attending the workshop were Robert Underwood, St. Paul Elementary; Lisa Addington-Mason, Wise Primary School; Angela Greear, Central High School; Barbara Hass, Coeburn Primary; Holly Tucker, L.F. Addington Middle School; Jared Coffey, Eastside High School; Kelly Foster, J.W. Adams Combined School; Kara Adkins, Coeburn Middle School; Vicky Welch, Union Middle School; Jodie Bowen, Wise County Career-Technical Center; Kim Mabe, Union High School; Allie Brickey, Union Primary School; Jacqueline Pauley, Flatwoods Elementary School; Vicki Snodgrass, Thomas Walker High School; Jessica Trent, Thomas Walker High School; and Jolene Lambert, Jonesville Middle School.
The partnership between Mountain Empire Community College and EntreEd is part of a three-year, Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant which was funded in 2016. Wrapping up in August 2019, the grant has provided entrepreneurship experiences to over 45,000 Appalachian students throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The project is a collaborative partnership between EntreEd, The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), The EdVenture Group, and the National Center for Resource Development and eight local community colleges throughout the region. To learn more about the initiative, visit http://www.entre-ed.org/ today.
Big Stone Gap, VA – MECC will welcome more than 130 students to the 15th Annual Mountain Music School on campus July 22-26.
MECC’s Mountain Music School is a week-long event dedicated to the preservation and continuation of Appalachian music and culture. Students from age 10 and up learn to play an instrument of their choice, including beginning and advanced options in “old-time” fiddle, claw-hammer banjo, autoharp, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, shape note singing, and dog house bass. In addition, a string-band class for intermediate/advanced musicians is offered for students who want to expand their skills in a group setting. A limited number of instruments are available to loan during the week.
The public is invited to join the class each day for a free concert from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Goodloe Center. The concert schedule is as follows:
· Monday, July 22 – Mountain Music School Faculty
· Tuesday, July 23 – Bill and the Belles
· Wednesday, July 24 – Whitetop Mountain Band
· Thursday, July 25 – Jim Lloyd
· Friday, July 26 – Mountain Music School Students
For more information about MECC’s Mountain Music School visit the Mountain Music School website at or call 276.523.2400 ext. 304.
Appalachia — Mountain Empire Community College will hold an open house for the Center for Workforce and Innovation of Appalachia, 3965 Kent Junction Road Appalachia, on Saturday, August 3 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Open House event is part of the annual Appalachia Railroad Days Festival. Visitors will be able to tour the facility, which now houses MECC’s Power Lineman and CDL programs. Future programs will include smart farming, culinary and service training, as well as dental assisting. The open house will also feature a special “Meet Your Teacher” event from 2 to 3 p.m., with former teachers at Appalachia Elementary School available to meet with their students. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact the MECC Office of Community Relations at 276.523.7480 or visit www.mecc.edu.
The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation is pleased to present “Diamonds and Denim,” an evening of elegance and entertainment featuring the music of the Jeff Little Trio and Wayne Henderson, at the beautiful Crooked River Lodge in Hiltons, Va., Saturday, August 24.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Scott County Endowed Scholarship Fund, supporting Scott County students who wish to further their education and skill level at Mountain Empire Community College. Continued financial support is needed to assist students with tuition, book, and attendance costs.
The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, wine, beer, concert entertainment and a silent auction. Guests are encouraged to wear their diamonds and denim for this relaxed, semi-formal evening event. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $65 or $125 per couple and may be purchased online at www.meccfoundation.org/scevent or at Farm Bureau Insurance located in Gate City, VA.
The Scott County Endowed Scholarship Committee is currently seeking sponsorships to support event costs. Sponsorships range from $500 to $5000 and include tickets, branding, and special recognition. For more information on becoming an event sponsor, visit www.meccfoundation.org/scfund.
With few exceptions, the piano does not play a prominent part in Appalachian or Americana music, and is rarely the lead instrument. But Jeff Little is an exception – and a remarkable one. His distinctive two-handed style, much influenced by the mountain flat-picked guitar tradition, is breathtaking in its speed, precision and clarity. He has performed at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Folk Festival, Merlefest and has been featured on National Public Radio and PBS. In 2014, Jeff was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. He is a full-time faculty member and artist in residence at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.
Wayne Henderson’s top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family and neighbors in Grayson County, Virginia. His guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of Masters of the Steel-String Guitar, and in seven nations in Asia. In addition to his reputation as a guitarist, Henderson is a luthier of great renown. He is a recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. He produces about 20 instruments a year, mostly guitars; he is almost as well-known for the mandolins he has made.
Crooked River Lodge is located on a 200-acre estate along the Holston River close to Seven Shoals in Hiltons, Virginia. This enchanted estate includes rolling hay fields, over a mile of river frontage, oak forests and open glades. The view is spectacular down an open valley with Clinch Mountain on one side, rocky cliffs along the river on the other side and beautiful meadows and hay fields between. A restored 1823 timber frame lodge towers above the valley below. The power and magnetism of the river delight the eye and pull you in while the forest and glades make the outside world fall away. The heart of Crooked River is the circa-1823 Ohio Grist Mill that serves as the concert venue, featuring 12×12 oak beams and majestic lighting.
For more information on the event, please contact the MECC Foundation at 276.523.7466 or visit the Foundation’s website at www.meccfoundation.org.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College held its 46th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. at the Big Stone Gap campus.
The Class of 2019 includes 570 graduates. MECC awarded 118 Associate of Arts & Sciences degrees, 182 Associate of Applied Science degrees, and 147 Certificates and 271 Career Studies Certificates.
Graduates participating in the commencement were welcomed by MECC Local Advisory Board President Rodney Baker. Dr. Kristen Westover, MECC President, introduced the featured student speakers for the commencement ceremony, which included Kara Mullins and Vicki Pearcy. These student speakers were chosen because of their exceptional academic performance and unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges during their college career.
Kara Mullins,of Big Stone Gap, is graduating Summa Cum Laude with an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in Science and General Studies. She is a dual enrollment student at Union High School, where she has been named the Salutatorian of the 2019 Class. She is a member of the Lady Bears Basketball Team. She plans to attend UVA-Wise in the fall and will major in Chemistry. Kara is the daughter of Lisa and Greg Mullins.
Vicki Pearcy, of Duffield, is graduating Summa Cum Laude with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Administrative Support Technology. Vicki has been the Assistant Registrar at Mountain Empire Community College since October 2018. She is married to Eddie Pearcy and has two sons, Adam and wife Ashlyn, and Brian. She is the daughter of Patricia Berry and the late Billy Berry. Vicki’s speech tonight is dedicated in loving memory of her father.
In addition to the graduation ceremony, MECC hosts an Awards Night event honoring graduates and current students who have displayed exceptional academic and leadership qualities during the 2018-19 academic year. This year’s honorees include:
ALL-VA ACADEMIC TEAM
Erin McCracken
ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK AWARD
Kylee Bundy
Alex Haley
Tanner Lawson
Caleb Richardson
Cameo Smith
COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM GRADUATES Michelle Berry………………Column Break………………Aaron Brummit Elizabeth Carroll
Christopher Chandler
Brittany Christian
Caitlyn Clymer
Cody Cox
Kelsey Dean
Skylar Fleming
Melanie Harber
John Hines III
Kierra Knight
Mark Lane
Jonathan Large
Adam Lyons
Haley Mathes
Stephen McCoy
Selena Moore
Kris Rowe
ShamberSchenck
Melissa Skeens
Anthony Swindall
DeidraWallace
CHEMISTRY AWARD
Julianna Morris
Kara Mullins
EXCEPTIONAL GRADUATE AWARDS
Madison Childress
Kenzie Crusenberry
Christian Hale
Melanie Harber
Jazmine May
Brandon Pridemore
Tracy Reece
Cameo Smith
Joshua Winston
EXPLORATIONS ARTS COMPETITION AWARDS
Drawing
Celeste Aguinaga
Walter Brummett
Fiction
Cody Cox
Anthony Swindall
Painting
Alexis Barber
Chelsey Stapleton
Yijia Wang
Poetry
Dillion Mabe
Anthony Swindall
Photography (B&W)
Kevin Cooper
Photography (Color)
Walter Brummett
Kevin Cooper
FAST FORWARD STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Ashley Knoskie
THE JAKKAE JACKSON EXCELLENCE IN PHLEBOTOMY AWARD
Shirley McCoy
Jack Wallace
THE JAMES L. DURHAM MATHEMATICS AWARD
Kevin Stanley
LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP
Melanie Harber
LONESOME PINE HOSPITAL AUXILIARY AWARD
Kenzie Crusenberry
OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STUDENT AWARDS
Administrative Support Technology
Vicki Pearcy
Computer Networking
Devan Summers
Computer Software Specialist
Adam Lyons
Health Information Management
Robin Richards
Management
Jazmine May
Paralegal Studies
Ginger Krovich
PEGGY DURHAM
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD
Cameo Smith
PHI THETA KAPPA AWARD
Erin McCracken
SCOTT COUNTY HORIZON’S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Frances Ramsey
Jonathon Ramsey
SPECIAL SERVICES AWARD
Mikki Blessing
Kylee Bundy
Amanda Fleming
Kipp Kiser
Lori Mullins
Cameo Smith
Yijia Wang
STUDENT DIPLOMAT AWARD
April Bailey
Jacob Goodman
STUDENT SERVICES AWARD
Caleb Richardson
STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA
Jerry Allen
Steven Boyd
Tyler Shuler
Primmel Wallace
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA’S COLLEGE AT WISE TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS
Cody Cox
Haylee Dotson
Rebekah Earwood
Hannah Gilly
Hallie Hembree
Elexis Holbrook
Jonathan Large
Victoria Manis
Cameo Smith
Kevin Stanley
Candidates for Degrees May 10, 2019
The students whose names appear below made formal application for a degree or certificate by the date specified in the Academic Calendar.
Associate of Arts and Sciences
General Studies
Sarah Danielle Adkins**
Eden Ruth Allan*
Sarah Lynn Allen
Nickolas Blake Arney***+
Nickolas Elijah Arquette
Audrey Elise Baker
Sierra Jade Baker**+
Jonathan K. Blackwell*
Tyler Kevin Blake Bright**
BrynnaLeShea Bundy***
Kylee Arden Bundy***
Carter Steven Burke
Brittany Nicole Christian**
Justin Ray Clark*
Caitlyn Mercedes Elizabeth Clymer**
Jessica Brooke Cooper
Alec Daelen Couch*
Timothy Chandler Counts
Cody Allen Cox**
Kaitlyn Shay Cox***+
Dylan Czar Dahley
Hunter Lee Davis*
MekyahVarshaun Davis
Olivia Claire Dishner*
Haylee Chanel Dotson*
Jacob Hunter Dotson**
Britni Elizabeth Early
Rebekah Ann Earwood**
Zoe S. Fleming
Jacob Tanner Fox*
Jonathon Caleb Fraley
Katelyn Brooke France
Erica Paige Gardner
Cameron Christopher Gill*
Audrey Louise Gilliam**+
Christian Lucas Allen Hale
Alex Clifton Haley*
Tanner Branson Hall*
Samantha Nicole Hampton***+
Melanie R. Harber**
Skylar Blake Hillman
Elexis Marie Holbrook
Ethan Cole Kilgore*
Kimberly Caycee Kindle*
Kierra Dominique Knight***
Jonathan Douglas Large***
Tanner Cole Lawson*
Logan Alexander Lester
Timothy Noah Long***
Cameron Paige Lovelace
Carly D. Maine
Victoria Gail Manis
KaeliRosse McKinney***+
Anna Morgan Meade
Autumn Lane Meade***+
Lindsey Hannah Meade*
Melissa Danielle Meade**
Ryan Gabriel Messer*
Darrell Allen Mullins*
Kara Rashae Mullins***+
Kristopher Jordan Mullins
Noah Blake Mullins*
Tyler Sampson Oakes
Connor Allen Pendergraft**
Katalin Ann Perry***
Jackson Reece Porter**
Brandi DeAnn Potts
Brandon Ray Pridemore
Katherine Grace Pridemore**
Payton YancyPyne**
Jonathon Brett Ramsey
Cynthia Christine Ratcliffe
Brianna Vada Rife
Ashley Lynn Riley**
Joshua D. Rivers**
Daniel Roberson
Katherine Elizabeth Roberts
Baylee Madison Robinette**
Madison Briana Rowe***+
Jayme Leigh Salyers***
Austin Matthew Schlobohm**
Kassidy Hope Sharpe*
Tyler Campbell Shuler***
Noah Reed Slemp
Cameo Reese Smith*
Cameron Wayne Smith
Ryland Glenn Smith
Gayce May Snyder***
Hunter Cole Stanley**
Chelsey Jo Stapleton
Ciara Marie Staudinger*
Dalton Aaron Strouth
Anthony Paul Swindall**
Bethany Nicole Turner
Karli Faith Underwood*
Kelvin Luan Vo***+
Deidra Ann Wallace***
Bethany Suzanne Ward**
Rachel Alexis Ward*
Donna Lynn Winebarger
Ariel Hope Worley*
Associate of Arts and Sciences
General Studies – SoftwareEngineering Specialization
Jonathan Douglas Large***
Kevin Franklin Stanley**
Page Break
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Pre-Teacher Education
BrynnaLeShea Bundy***
Haylee Chanel Dotson*
Alexis Paige Flanary*
Christian Lucas Allen Hale
Crystal Rose Yeary
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Science
Hannah Brooke Gilly
Kara Rashae Mullins***+
Cameo Reese Smith*
Gayce May Snyder***
Kelvin Luan Vo***+
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Science: Engineering Specialization
Cory Alan Carlton**
Dalton Kevin Mullins**
Alexander O’Neal Pritchard***
Jordan Marshall Wampler**
Associate of Applied Science
Accounting
Tracy Lynn Reece
Associate of Applied Science
Administrative Support Technology
Brandi Nicole Bundy*
Leanna Nadine Eldridge**
Arietta LeRae Harvey
Sarah Danielle Lane
Elizabeth Nicole Lester
Vicki Denise Pearcy***
Shelli R. Roberts**
Vicki Marie Rutledge*
Associate of Applied Science
Administrative Support Technology– Medical Office Specialist
Computer Software Specialist: Mobile Application Development
Sean Andrew Owens
Career Studies Certificate
Construction
Sean C. Ratliff
Career Studies Certificate
Cybersecurity
Jimmy Garland Carico
Austin Harley Gross
Roland G. Lovern, Jr.
James Matthew McCarty
Beckett Alexander Osborne
Melissa LoraneSkeens
Derek Cleve Viers
Career Studies Certificate
Early Childhood Development
Nikki Elaine Baldwin
Alyssa Grace Perry
Kimberly Brianna Robinette
Ashley Morgan Sloan
Career Studies Certificate
Electricity
Aaron Michael Brummitt
Ronald W. Gilliam
Cody Allen Joseph
Randall Edward Amos Lawson
Curt Aaron Rose
Brandon R. White
Career Studies Certificate
Emergency Medical Technician – Basic
Rebekah Rena Christian
Tyler Scott Dingus
Audrey LaWanna Dotson
Margaret Hope Farmer
Lakin Marie Hope Fritz
Derrek Bryon Harris
Robin Renee Lynthlin
Kaylee Marie Murphy
Emilie Dorthea Perdue
Angela Faith Price
Shelby Jean Roberts
Mikaeya Faith Williams
Darrien Cole Yeary
Career Studies Certificate
Emergency Medical Technician- Advanced
Matthew Richard Corbett
Tristan Anthony Craiger
Destiny Nichole Hatfield
Career Studies Certificate
Energy Technology- Electrical Emphasis
Aaron Michael Brummitt
Joseph Edward Freeman
Ronald W. Gilliam
Randall Edward Amos Lawson
Curt Aaron Rose
Brandon R. White
Career Studies Certificate
Energy Technology- HVAC Emphasis
Aaron Michael Brummitt
Ronald W. Gilliam
Randall Edward Amos Lawson
Career Studies Certificate
Forestry
Maria D. Powers
Career Studies Certificate
Geographic Information Systems
Alyson Marie Bergamini
Susan Mary Brundage
Mark Anthony Caruso
Austin Drake Counts
Jerry Justin Elkins
Eddie D. Parsons
Caleb I. Richardson
Garrett Dalton Shortt
Bethany Suzanne Ward
Connor Matthew Wilson
Career Studies Certificate
Health Sciences
Sarah Elaine Adkins
Rachaelle Elizabeth Bailey
Brandi Dawn Baker
Shamerine Nichole Barber
Tabatha Brooke Barker
Rebacca Alice Barnett
Chelsea Brooke Begley
Maggie Lee Begley
Matthew Erin Shayne Bellamy
Alysia Rachee Benfield
Aimee Michelle Bishop
Tiffany Holli Blankenship
Randall Scott Bradley
Nichole Ann Cantrell
Bobbi R. Carroll
Austin Joe Tyler Caudill
Allison Caitlin Christian
Ashley Paige Christian
Justin Ray Clark
Emily Rose Collins
Darien Chase Cottrell
Morgan Andrea Cox
Tyler Blake Craft
Amber Nichole Crihfield
Whitney Michelle Cross
Samantha Hope Cupp
Melissa Marie Cuykendall
Kelsey Lauren Hope Dean
Tabitha Lynn Earwood
Christy Michelle Edwards
Kayla Denise Edwards
Morgan Brooke Elliott
Hannah Niah Fee
Caleigh Alyssa Fletcher
Candlyn Michelle Forton
Lindsey Erin George
Leighann Michelle Hamilton
Natalie Athnel Hamilton
Destiny Nichole Hatfield
Skylar Blake Hillman
Madison Louise Hopkins
Michael Trevor Horner
Makayla L. Hubbard
Kaitlyn Grace Jessee
Chelsea Leeann Jones
Kimberly L. Jones
Katherine R. Kegley
Kara Blake Kennedy
Amber Marie Kern
Joycelyn Kimble
Tyra Latisha Lamb
Tiffany Lynn Lawson
Taylor N. Lefevers
Nancy A. Leftwich
Autumn Nicole Logsdon
Timothy Noah Long
Ashley Brooke Longsworth
Megan Lorraine Lovell
Isharah Elise Lundy
Rachel Anne McCowan
Alexandrea Eaden Meade
Samantha Zellar Meade
Kalyn Nicole Middleton
Kristal L. Miles
Alexis Sierra Mullins
Andrea Leeann Mullins
April Louise Mullins
Autumn Nichole Mullins
Kaleigh Annabelle Mullins
Gerri LaShae O’Quinn
Sadra Marie Owens
Emily Denise Parker
Amira Dawn Perrigan
Jerry Austin Perrigan
Katalin Ann Perry
Haylee Jay Ann Phillips
Samantha Faye Phillips
Ashley Nicole Phipps
William Logan Poston
April N. Powers
Anna Grace Proctor
Candace Hope Ramey
Rebecca Rayburn
Patricia Nicole Repass
Ashley Lynn Riley
Brittany Michelle Robinette
April Michelle Rose
Briana Rachelle Rose
Candace Nicole Sanders
Olivia Tracey Sexton
Noah Reed Slemp
Dylan Anthony Smith
Katherine Shiann Stacey
Samantha Fae Stallard
Caitlin Marie Stanley
Brittany Ann Stapleton
Chelsey Jo Stapleton
James A. Stevans
Tracy Lee Sturgill
Hope LaShae Tankersley
Courtney B. Thompson
Primmel Jackson Wallace
Brooklyn Paige Warner
Haven Raye White
Amanda Dawn Wright
Emily Rose Yeary
Career Studies Certificate
Law Enforcement Management & Supervision
Mark Anthony Caruso
Zachary Grant Clifton
Gary Wayne Coleman
Grayson Cuel Cothron
Stanley D. Lampert
Jackie M. Mullins
Justin L. Mullins
Mark A. Payne
Raymond T. Perkins
Curtis B.Tate, Jr.
Career Studies Certificate
Medical Receptionist & Transcriptionist
Abigail Faye Quillen
Carrie Ann Quillen
Career Studies Certificate
Medical Records Technician
Kevin Ray Cooper
Career Studies Certificate
Old Time Music
Madison A. Childress
Career Studies Certificate
Pharmacy Technician
Carrie Louise Anderkin
Cierra Alexsis Barker
Madison Lynette Bishop
Elizabeth Anne Carroll
Brittany LeeAnn Christian
Lindsay Nicole Dean
Vanessa Ann Falin
Abigail Grace Farmer
Crystal D. Farmer
Adriana Danielle Fonseca
Laura Marie Gardner
Abigail Brooke Gentry
Sarah Elizabeth Jessee
Kressa Lynn Johnson
Brittany Nicole Kennedy
Haley Morgan Light
Jennifer Nicole Moore
Lisa L. Pridemore
Ashante Nichelle Zander
Career Studies Certificate
Phlebotomy
Carrie Louise Anderkin
Samantha Jo Austin
Autumn Brooke Bolling
Rebecca Lynn Bush
MistiDannielle Collins
Nancy Dale Cox
Austin Fred Davis, Jr.
Amber Nicole Fleenor
Caleigh Alyssa Fletcher
Laura Marie Gardner
Mindy L. Hale
Breanna Kathleen Hensley
Haley Nicole Isom
Brooke Nichole Jefferson
Kaitlyn Grace Jessee
Erica A. Kennedy
Emily Ann Lawson
Tiffany Lynn Lawson
Haley Breanna Mathes
Shirley Diane McCoy
Abigail Faye Quillen
Kris Samuel Rowe
Shamber Nicole Schenck
Gracia Elizabeth Staton
Alisha Carolyn Taylor
Melissa A. Tritt
Crystal A. Wagner
Primmel Jackson Wallace
Sydney Grace Wells
Anna M. Williams
Career Studies Certificate
Small Business Management
Jim Henry Clark
Career Studies Certificate
Software Development I
Tori Shea Gibson
Mark Anthony Lane
Adam S. Lyons
Sean Andrew Owens
Charles Howard Smith
Derek Dewayne Vanover
Career Studies Certificate
Software Development II
Tori Shea Gibson
Mark Anthony Lane
Adam S. Lyons
Charles Howard Smith
Derek Dewayne Vanover
Career Studies Certificate
Water Plant Operator
Jeremy Thomas Long
LeRoy A. Rice, Jr.
Zachariah S. Stern
Douglas P. Towne
Career Studies Certificate
Welding Operator
Shannon Dwayne Bishop, Jr.
Nathaniel Loren Clasby
Justin Wayne Elkins
Skylar Hunter Fleming
Logan Seth Fletcher
Evan Alexander Jones
Randy W. Kennedy
Stephen Austin McCoy
John Andrew Moore
Dennis Paul Anthony Mullins
John Elliott Mullins
Robert Acie Mullins
Tia Marie Pennington
Austin Chase Ramsey
Austin Tyler Reed
Stephen Bradley Slayton
Quincy Howard Thompson
GRADUATION WITH HONORS
To be eligible for graduation with honors, a student must have at least the following grade point average and complete an associate degree or certificate:
*Honors (cum laude), 3.2
**High Honors (magna cum laude), 3.5
***Highest Honors (summa cum laude), 3.8 +High school students
Individuals have been designated in the program as honor students based on their grade point average at the completion of the semester prior to the one in which they will graduate. Students wearing gold tassels are honor students. Students wearing gold stoles are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society.
Students wearing red, white, & blue cords are U.S. Military Veterans.
WORKFORCE CREDENTIALS The students whose names appear below have completed a workforce credential program.
Big Stone Gap, VA— The Southwest Virginia Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management announced the presentation of a Belk Gift Card to Mountain Empire Community College’s Business & Information Technology Division, enabling the Division to purchase MECC Business Graduates with needed job interview attire.
“This gift is a chance for our next generation of business leaders to put a positive step forward toward their first jobs in our region,” said Valerie Lee, President at the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management.
Positive Interview Attire
Mrs. Lee states that many graduates entering the job market are stressed enough with the initial interview. Let’s put them at ease and give them a positive step toward getting that first job by providing them with appropriate interview attire. SWVA SHRM and MECC, who is awarding 668 individuals on May 10th, recently committed to helping as many students as possible take that next step from college to the workforce. These organizations would like to remind everyone that the rule of thumb for interview attire is one step up from that company’s day-to-day dress code. For a professional position, this means a suit and tie, dress pants and a nice blouse, or a dress. If an interview attire should be business casual, wear slacks and a button-down shirt or blouse. For the non-professional, casual dress codes include khakis and a polo or blouse. Jackets always dress up casual attire. Clothing that is flashy, too bright, or risky might not result in a successful interview. SWVA SHRM would like to thank the Norton VEC Employers Advisory Committee and all the business professionals who participated in the March 28th Results Driven Leadership Employer Conference, whose conference proceeds provided the funding for this support.
Founded in 1984, the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management is the local chapter of SHRM National. Our group seeks to provide area human resource professionals and business leaders with useful information, education and energizing discussions related to the HR field. For more information on this organization, please visit www.swva.shrm.org.
Big Stone Gap – One lucky golfer will go home with a $500 prize, and other great prizes will be awarded, as well, at the Auto World – MECC Golf Classic on Friday, May 17, at Lonesome Pine Country Club to benefit scholarships at Mountain Empire Community College.
All players hitting a hole-in-one on Hole #10 will win a 2019 Jeep Renegade sponsored by Auto World of Big Stone Gap. There is also a prize of $1,000 for hitting to within 12 inches of the pin on Hole #10. If more than one player accomplishes this feat, the prize money will be divided among the winners.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9:15 a.m. The tournament will be Captain’s Choice and will feature two flights and two places. There will be “most accurate drive” and “closest to the pin” prizes.
The entry fee of $100 per person includes a continental breakfast, golf shirt, cart and green fees, luncheon, goodie bag of snacks, most accurate drive and closest to the pin contests, and entrance into the drawing for the $500 cash prize to be given away at the end of the tournament. Golfers must be present to win the cash prize. Shirts for the tournament are sponsored by Glass Machinery & Excavation, Inc. of Jonesville, Virginia.
A delicious lunch will be served following the tournament. During that time, golfers may bid on unique and interesting items including art, sports memorabilia, and spa packages during the live auction. There will also be a silent auction which will begin during the continental breakfast and continue throughout the event.
Tournament Sponsorship is available at four levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum for financial support in the amounts of $500, $1,000, and $2,500, and $5,000 and above respectively. All tournament sponsors will receive a complimentary team(s) and will be recognized during the tournament welcome and in the printed materials for the tournament.
Other sponsorships are available. Please visit the MECC Foundation website at www.meccfoundation.org for more information, to become a sponsor, or to register a team.
Registrations may also be faxed to 276-523-7485, e-mailed to Jeri Bledsoe at jbledsoe@mecc.edu, or completed by phone at 276-523-2400, extension 287.
Individuals or businesses who would like to sponsor the tournament, provide an item for the auction, or receive more information may contact Jeri Bledsoe, Tournament Coordinator, by telephone or e-mail as indicated in the previous paragraph.
Big Stone Gap — Alicia Belcher, a resident of St. Paul and math teacher at Ridgeview High School, has been named MECC’s 2019 Alumna of the Year.
Belcher, a 2014 Summa Cum Laude graduate of MECC, earned an Associate’s Degree in Pre-Teacher Education. She began at MECC as a non-traditional college student, enrolling as a single mother in her thirties with only a high school education. After graduating from MECC, Belcher graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2015 from UVA-Wise, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Concentration in Mathematics and Teaching Endorsements in PK-12, Special Education, Middle School Mathematics, and High School Mathematics.
In 2017, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Aurora University, earning a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education. She is currently in the dissertation sequence at Northcentral University where she will earn her PhD in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Teaching in late 2019. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA in her graduate work.
Belcher currently teaches mathematics at Ridgeview High School in Dickenson County where she assists more than 40 at-risk youth earn high school diplomas. She is also an employee of UVA-Wise Upward Bound Program where she teaches at-risk youth in several mathematics classes and heads up several STEM projects.
Belcher formerly worked for nearly 12 years with local non-profit agencies serving at-risk youth, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and the local homeless population. Additionally, she is a GLOBE certified instructor in the areas of atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and pedosphere.
Previous years outstanding Alumni of the Year winners include, Dr. Patricia Vanhook, Faculty, East Tennessee State University; Dr. Amanda Graham, Online Instructor, Kaplan University; and Rohini Sampooman Swaminathan, United Nations Institute for Training and Research. For more information, contact the MECC Foundation at 276.523.7466 or visit www.meccfoundation.org.
Big Stone Gap, VA — Mountain Empire Community College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2019 Phlebotomy cohort. Students interested in completing this two-semester, 25 credit program are encouraged to apply online at www.mecc.edu/forms.
The deadline to apply for the next phlebotomy cohort at MECC is July 15. Students who need to complete pre-requisite courses for the cohort must enroll for the Summer 2019 semester which begins this June.
MECC is pleased to announce the following students are completing the requirements for a Career Studies Certificate in Phlebotomy. The Spring 2019 Phlebotomy cohort graduates are:
Abigail Quillen, Tiffany Lawson, Misti Collins, Autumn Bolling, Shirley McCoy, ShamberSchenck, Sydney Wells, Rebecca Bush, Alisha Taylor, GraciaStaton, Sam Rowe, Haley Mathes. Not pictured: Kaitlyn Jessee
For more information on MECC’s Phlebotomy program or other health science programs, contact Sarah Clarkston, Health Sciences Advisor at 276-523-7456 or by email at sclarkston@mecc.edu.
Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will lead an international travel excursion to England, Ireland, & Scotland in May 2020. The trip is open to students and community members. This 10-day trip will feature stops in London, Dublin, Edinburgh and visits to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, St. Andrews and much more. The majority of expenses (lodging, airfare, and most meals) are included. This is an amazing opportunity to travel abroad with a group at a low cost! Scholarships are available for students who have at least a 3.0 GPA and 12 credit hours completed. Additional scholarships are available for students who reside in Dickenson County. Payment plans are available. For more information, or to enroll, visit www.mecc.edu/travel or call Amy Greear, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, at 276.523.2400 ext. 740.
Big Stone Gap, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation will honor the late Dr. Brownie Edward Polly, Jr. and Barbara Creasy Polly at the annual Hall of Honor Gala on Saturday evening, April 13, 2019.
The gala theme is “Bow Ties and Broadway,” and proceeds from the event will create the Dr. Brownie and Barbara Polly Cultural and Humanities Endowment at MECC, which will support student and community events that promote the preservation and continuation of Southwest Virginia’s unique cultural heritage while also exposing the region to varied cultural and historical mediums. Events will include the John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival, MECC’s Mountain Music School, the Home Craft Days Festival, the Slemp Art Gallery, programming specifically for student and community veterans, as well as other guest speakers that will contribute to the enrichment of students and varying audiences. In addition, the endowment will support scholarships for students enrolling in music or arts-related coursework.
Mistress of Ceremonies for the Hall of Honor Gala will be noted Big Stone Gap author, Adriana Trigiani.
The evening will begin with a reception in the Slemp Commons of Phillips-Taylor Hall at 6 p.m., followed by a full-course buffet dinner in the Goodloe Center at 6:45 p.m. A short recognition program will follow dinner and precede the musical entertainment of the evening, a concert by John and Mary K Wilson.
The Pollys will be recognized for their leadership and service to the region in cultural and civic affairs in Big Stone Gap and in Southwest Virginia. As a member of the Big Stone Gap Music Study Club, Barbara was instrumental in the production of annual Broadway musicals utilizing only local talent. In 1964, she became involved in the new outdoor musical drama in Big Stone Gap based on John fox, Jr.’s novel, “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.” She played the lead role of June Tolliver for the first five seasons. That began a lifelong relationship with the drama and its parent organization, Lonesome Pine Arts and Crafts. In 1970, when John Fox, Jr.’s sister passed away at the family home in Big Stone Gap, Barbara negotiated the purchase of the home and created the John Fox, Jr. House and Museum. To help pay the mortgage and defray expenses, the Fox House went into the dining business with Barbara and other volunteers providing private dinners.
In 1967, after failed attempts by others to charter a Cub Scout pack, Barbara successfully helped to re-charter a Cub Scout pack in Big Stone Gap. She remained involved in scouting for 18 years as a Den Mother and a scouting leader, eventually receiving the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award in scouting. The Cub Scout pack continues today.
Barbara was certified to teach high school, and in 1977 she returned to teaching at Powell Valley High School, where she taught English and instructed the One Act Play team for the next two years. She left teaching and began selling real estate, eventually becoming a broker. She was Realtor of the Year in 1999 for the Southwest Virginia Association of Realtors.
Brownie was Valedictorian of his Big Stone Gap High School graduating class, and was quarterback of the football team. He was a founding board member of Lonesome Pine Hospital, and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Three Star Wellmont Hall of Fame in 2001. He was named to the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia in 1970, and also served on the boards of Clinch Valley College (now UVa-Wise) and Mountain Empire Community College. He also served on the board of directors of the Wise County Mental Health Association and was a member of the Big Stone Gap Kiwanis Club for 68 years, serving as President, and being named Kiwanian of the Year. In his later years, he enjoyed delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. He coached Little League Baseball and Peanut Football. He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Big Stone Gap, serving on a number of committees. In addition, he served the people of Wise County for 42 years in his dental practice.
Brownie was an avid sports fan, golfer, and bird hunter. He was a diehard University of Tennessee football fan and Cincinnati Reds baseball fan. He also enjoyed grouse hunting on Black Mountain. He was a past president of Lonesome Pine Country Club.
Gala tickets and event sponsorship opportunities are available. Please call or e-mail Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation office, 276-523-2400, extension 287, jbledsoe@mecc.edu, or visit the MECC Foundation website online at http://www.meccfoundation.org/mecc-foundation-gala/. Tickets are $75 each. Sponsorships start at $500.
If you have questions, or need additional information about the event, please contact Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation Office at 276-523-2400, extension 287, or by e-mail at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Five Mountain Empire Community College students went from hitting the books to hitting nails on MECC’s first annual Alternative Spring Break service trip sponsored by MECC Student Activities.
The team traveled to Greensboro, NC and partnered with Habitat for Humanity to rehab an existing Habitat house. Over the course of five days, the team demoed the existing interior, tore down and replaced siding, and demoed and replaced the entire front porch.
The MECC students who participated were: Kylee Bundy, Alex Haley, Tanner Lawson, Caleb Richardson, and Cameo Smith. Students applied for the team during the Fall 2018 semester and were invited to participate in the service trip, which took place from March 3-9, 2019, during MECC’s Spring Break. The team got to work with volunteers from Eastern University in Philadelphia, PA and learned valuable skills from the Habitat Greensboro professional construction crew.
The MECC team worked hard all week, but managed to find some time for fun as well. The team sampled some cuisine that many had never tried before, participated in an escape room game (and escaped with barely a minute to spare), and got to attend an ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament game.
For more information regarding MECC’s Alternative Spring Break or other student activities, please contact Kari Paschetto, Great Expectations and Student Activities Coordinator, at 276.523.2400 ext. 422.
Photo caption:
Final Day: The final day of work! L-R from back – Caleb Richardson, Tanner Lawson, Alex Haley, Kemper Edwards, Cameo Smith, Kylee Bundy, Kari Paschetto, Shawn Singer (Habitat Greensboro), Tandy Brown (Habitat Greensboro)
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Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College recently donated fifteen biology labs kits to local dual enrollment high school biology classes to provide students with hands-on experiments to enhance their learning experience.
MECC Biology Assistant Professor Dr. Stacy Adams said she was inspired to donate the equipment during a visit to one of the MECC general biology classes being taught at a local high school. She learned it is sometimes difficult for instructors to purchase supplies for the required laboratory component of sciences courses and she wanted to help.
“Serendipity must have prevailed,” said Adams. “The MECC bookstore provided fifteen biology lab kits to the MECC biology department soon after my visit. For me, the next step I would take was a no-brainer; it only made sense to pay it forward by offering these kits to our local high schools where the
MECC General Biology I and II courses (BIO 101 and BIO 102) are being taught.”
The kits, which include all the materials needed to conduct eighteen different experiments, from general laboratory safety to ecological interactions, were recently presented to teachers Ashley Burke at Gate City High School, Amanda Horton at Lee High School, and Denise Carter at Thomas Walker High School. Five kits went to each school. Adams said the kits were a hit with students immediately.
Adams noted that according to a survey of science students completed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, students learn concepts better in the hands-on laboratory setting. The students at each local high school where the kits were presented wanted to start working on the experiments immediately.
“This donation is just one of the many ways that MECC supports its surrounding communities and embodies the slogan, MECC Proud” said Adams.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College offers a free Quick Start to College class designed for individuals who have considered college, but have hesitated to enroll.
The course allows students the opportunity to obtain college credit at no cost without having to enroll for a full semester. To qualify, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
The course will include an orientation to the basics of college life at MECC. Students will be able to learn how to find offices and classes on campus, use online learning tools, and MECC email. Career counseling sessions will also be included so that students can learn more about program offerings that best fit their interests.
The course will cover computer basics including using Word and saving documents to flash drives. Students will also focus on math and English. Students will be able to freshen up on important basics that will help them take or retake the math and English placement tests.
The Spring Quick Start program will be offered:
Monday & Wednesday afternoons (11:05 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.) February 4 – February 27
February 4 & 6 – Orientation and Campus Information
February 11 – English Skills
February 13 – Math Skills
February 18 & 20- Computer Skills
February 25 & 27 – Career Exploration & College Success Skills.
For more information or to register for Quick Start, Contact Beth Boggs, Career & Transfer Counselor, bboggs@mecc.edu; 276-523-7438 or visit our website: www.mecc.edu/quickstart.
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MECC Offers Quick Start to College
Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College offers a free Quick Start to College class designed for individuals who have considered college, but have hesitated to enroll.
The course allows students the opportunity to obtain college credit at no cost without having to enroll for a full semester. To qualify, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
The course will include an orientation to the basics of college life at MECC. Students will be able to learn how to find offices and classes on campus, use online learning tools, and MECC email. Career counseling sessions will also be included so that students can learn more about program offerings that best fit their interests.
The course will cover computer basics including using Word and saving documents to flash drives. Students will also focus on math and English. Students will be able to freshen up on important basics that will help them take or retake the math and English placement tests.
The Spring Quick Start program will be offered:
Monday & Wednesday afternoons (11:05 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.) February 4 – February 27
February 4 & 6 – Orientation and Campus Information
February 11 – English Skills
February 13 – Math Skills
February 18 & 20- Computer Skills
February 25 & 27 – Career Exploration & College Success Skills.
For more information or to register for Quick Start, Contact Beth Boggs, Career & Transfer Counselor, bboggs@mecc.edu; 276-523-7438 or visit our website: www.mecc.edu/quickstart.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College will hold a Career & Transfer Fair on Tuesday, February 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Goodloe Center, Phillips-Taylor Hall. More than 35 representatives for regional employers and local transfer institutions will be on campus.
Attend the fair to ask questions regarding employment or transfer requirements; learn about job placement services or internships; discuss the opportunities that may be available to you; learn about your marketability; talk to employers about job openings; and speak with transfer representatives about course requirements.
Even those who are not immediately seeking employment have plenty to learn from the Career & Transfer Fair. Representatives can provide valuable insight to what employers are looking for when screening new hires. This insight can assist students and community members in refining their resumes and help them know which skills to focus on improving. Those attending are invited to bring copies of their resume and be prepared to complete job applications for those representatives that may be hiring. Transfer institutions will be available to speak to current students or recent graduates about admissions requirements and program options.
For more information on MECC’s Career & Transfer Fair, contact Beth Boggs, Career and Transfer Counselor, at 276.523.2400 ext. 324 or bboggs@mecc.edu, or visit www.mecc.edu/career-services
The following students have been named to the Mountain Empire Community College Honor’s List for the fall 2018 semester. Students are eligible for the Honor’s List if they have at least 12 credits and a GPA of 3.5 to 3.79 during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades.
APPALACHIA: Peyton Hylton and Camrynn Russell.
BEN HUR: Verona Swindall.
BIG STONE GAP: Amber Boring, Caitlyn Clymer, Bryson Cothron, Matthew Dupree, Kaylee Garrison, Audrey Gilliam, Jacob Goodman, Christopher Hall, Cassidy Holcomb, Lonijonli Kern, Tanner Lawson, Elizabeth Lester, Megan Lovell, Michael Martin, Kaeli McKinney, Autumn Meade, Alli Miller, Sean Owens, Larissa Phillips, David Quillen, Austin Schlobohm, and Alicia Wynn.
CAMERON, NC: Matthew Green.
CASTLEWOOD: Jessica Maples and Hannah Maxfield.
CLINCHCO: Nicole Owens and Makayla Smith.
CLINTWOOD: Vanessa Blevins, Nikole Counts, Jacob Dotson, John Dotson, Curtis Edwards, Emily Elswick, Miana Fleming, Kayla Little, Selena Moore, Noah Mullins, Ronnie Robbins, Kerri Tompkins, and Eric Watkins.
COEBURN: Laken Austin, Amanda Bartley, Cassidy Farmer, Logan Greear, James McCarty, Lindsey Meade, Kirklyn Milgrim, Sierra Mullins, Darrian Richardson, Nathan Sanders, Vickie Smith, Hunter Stanley, and Kendra Stanley.
DUFFIELD: Michelle Berry, Shannon Bishop, Caleb Dillon, Caleigh Fletcher, Grace Isbel, Cieara Posey, Madison Rowe, and Rufus Williams.
DUNGANNON: Abigail Farmer.
FT. BLACKMORE: Teara Austin.
GATE CITY: Brittany Baker, April Bull, Stephanie Falin, Alexis Flanary, Yesha Gardner, Tia Jenkins, Sarah Jessee, Jennifer Moore, William Painter, Austin Reed, and Joshua Winston.
HAYSI: Sarah Adkins, Lindsey Wood, and Cody Woods.
HILTONS: Amelia Stockard.
JONESVILLE: Jeffrey Crumley, Cindy Hawkes, Ashlyn Lee, Kendra Maness, Kalli Marcum, Jackson Porter, Jeffrey Rowlett, Bethany Ward, and Tanya Woodard.
KINGSPORT, TN: Alexa-Caroline Sexton and Heather Sigmon.
NICKELSVILLE: Whitney Hufnagle and Cameron Smith.
NORTON: Paloma Barongan, Autumn Bolling, Cassie Carroll, Christopher Castle, Joshua Greene, Brittany Kennedy, Logan Lagow, Caitlynn Maggard, Regan Phipps, Bryson Roberson, Julia Sturgill, Emily Trent, Davina Vanover, and Aidan Wells.
PENNINGTON GAP: Katherine Anderson, Andrew Barrier, Jim Clark, Joshua Clark, Alex Haley, and Noah Harber.
POUND: Samantha Austin, Destiney Barnett, Michael Branham, Skylar Fleming, Emily Hobbs, Adrian Mullins, Garrett Shortt, Benjamin Stallard, Chase Strouth, and Derek Vanover.
ROSE HILL: Hallie Hembree.
ST. PAUL: Brandon Armistead, Grace McCowan, and Melissa Meade.
WEBER CITY: Katherine Roberts.
MECC announces fall semester Merit List
The following students have been named to the Mountain Empire Community College Merit List for the fall 2018 semester. Students are eligible for the Merit List if they have at least 12 credits and a GPA of 3.2 to 3.49 during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades, and part-time students who have between 6-11 credits and a GPA of 3.2 or higher during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades.
APPALACHIA: Thomas Adkins , Chelsea Ashley, Ethan Bowman, Zoe Brooks, Teagan Carter, Abigail Hall, Faith Hamblin, Christopher Holmes, Caleb Johnson, Amia Lawson, Leigh-Anne McDaniel, Kassidy Mullins, Kris Rowe, Samantha Sizemore, Victoria Sizemore, Cameo Smith, Gayce Snyder, Megan Snyder, and Christian Worley.
BEN HUR: Jacklyn Hall, Christopher Short, Jamie Stapleton, and Anthony Swindall.
BIG STONE GAP: Hannah Austin, Greyson Baker, Sierra Baker, Alexis Barker, Clay Barker, James Baugh, Evan Blanton, Rachel Blanton, Dominick Brooks, Lauren Bryant, Madison Childress, Justin Clark, Joseph Collins, Cody Cox, Ashley Cusano, Steven Davis, Abbi Dickenson, Aaron Earwood, Rebekah Earwood, Jacob Falin, Zoe Falin, Adrianna Fields, Brett Fields, Tori Gibson, Saylor Gilly, Connor Giza, Andrew Goodman, Ethan Harris, Olivia Harvey, Nathaniel Hersel, Matthew Holding, Emily Hurd, Emily Hylton, Haley Isom, Tyra Lamb, Owen Lawson, Randall Lawson, Keerston Lovell, Brandi Matheison, Hallyce McCoo, Emily Meade, Kenneth Meade, Krista Meredith, Lisa Milanese, Noah Moneyhun, Jeffery Morgan, Brayden Mozingo, Ashlyn Mullins, Caroline Mullins, Luke Needham, Beckett Osborne, Madison Pease, Hunter Phillips, Koby Poff, Haley Quillen, Kirsten Record, Melissa Rhoten, James Richardson, Devin Robinette, Benjamin Roman, Jessica Seabright, Cassandra Shelton, Noah Slemp, Whitney Slemp, Wes Smith, Rylie Spears, Rebecca Stapleton, Sydney Stapleton, Devan Summers, Emily Thomas, and Rebecca Perry.
BIRCHLEAF: Jeromy Fletcher, Colby Hackney, Raegan Rasnick, and Camdyn Sykes.
BLACKWATER: Victoria Manis, Rebekah Moore, and Joshua Winegar.
DANTE: Anthony Kiser, Brett Newton, Isaac Rasnick, Lauren Rasnick, and Ayden Vitatoe.
DRYDEN: Jordan Arnold, Austin Caudill, Kevin Cooper, Destiny Fee, Hannah Fee, Randy Kennedy, Ryan Messer, Baylee Robinette, Brittany Stapleton, and Jennifer Ward.
DUFFIELD: Damon Ballard, Jesse Barnette, Chelsea Begley, Alexis Bledsoe, Savannah Bowen, Alisha Burchfield, Dennis Carden, Christian Caudill, Krista Collins, Christina Cox, Britni Early, Isaiah Fritz, Tyler Hammonds, Savanna Hass, Rachel Hubbard, Ammon Huish, Autumn Johnson, William Love, Haley Mathes, Marlin McComas, Preston McElyea, Faith Miles, Brian Pearcy, Vicki Pearcy, Ethan Rhoton, Sarah Shuler, Ethan Sloan, Makenna Smith, Tyler Starnes, Lydia Tankersley, Tyler Williams, Connor Wilson, and Cheyanne Wolf.
DUNGANNON: Joanna Begley, Lauryn McCoy, and Kirstin Stansberry.
EAST STONE GAP: Tiffany Colvard and Jacob Fox.
EOLIA, KY: Prince Miranda.
EWING: Isaac Allen, Rachel Engle, and Destiny Hatfield.
FT. BLACKMORE: Summer Dean, Michael Griffin, John Hillman, Abigail Quillen, Kari Rhoton, and Kara Smith.
GATE CITY: Joules Bagienski, Jeremy Benjamin, Callie Blessing, Christopher Chandler, Olivia Dishner, Autumn Elliott, Vanessa Falin, Jason Fields, Katelyn Hall, Ashley Mauk, Skylar McNutt, Regina Meade, Marah Mullins, Emma Odle, Teresa Phillips, Brady Porter, Johnny Ramsey, Rachel Reid, Patricia Repass, Kaleb Saez, Elizabeth Salyers, Channa Sanders, Haley Smith, Lindsay Starnes, Deneta Taylor, and Jakob Thompson.
GLEN ALLEN: Toby Bryant.
HARROGATE, TN: Dennis Sandefur.
HAYSI: Amanda Fleming, Taylor Fuller, Raegan Lamkin, Stefanie Mullins, Kloe Rife, Alexis Souleyrette, Matney Sutherland, and Hayli Wright.
HILTONS: Dylon Clark, Noah Jones, Brianna Rife, and Mckenzie Turner.
JENKINS, KY: Matthew Corbett.
JOHNSON CITY, TN: Zachrey Carter.
JONESVILLE: Taylor Alsup, Olivia Baker, Ryan Bales, Benjamin Bowles, Taylor Bowles, Jasmine Brewer, Cortny Carder, Elizabeth Carroll, Alyssa Clark, Tanner Cope, Shawn Daniels, Mackenzie Davis, Asia Dean, Bronwen Fischer, Cassie Flinders, Dewayne Garrett, Sarah Graham, Jordan Hampton, Melanie Harber, Brandi Herrell, Sydnie Hines, Haileigh Hounshell, Miranda Howard, Morgan Jessee, Ethan Kilgore, Hannah Martin, Abigail Middleton, Justin Miles, Ronald Minor, Mikenzie Mooneyhan, Kayla Moore, Zackary Moore, Kimberly Muncy, Bailey Nash, Tonya Nash, Abigayle Nighswander, Connor Pendergraft, Callie Perkins, Canaan Phillips, Gage Pittman, Taylor Province, Vicki Rutledge, Kaleb Sharrett, Shauna Vowell, Kayla Weston, Emily Wilder, and Darrien Yeary.
KEOKEE: Nancy Cox, Leah Lane, and Emily Whisman.
KINGSPORT, TN: Piper Banks, Gracie Bass, Kenneth Essick, Madison Grizzle, Jocie Hunley, Mark Jones, Isharah Lundy, and Shyanne Van Heel.
LEBANON: Jacqueline Hampton.
McCLURE: Clinton Counts.
MECHANICSVILLE: LeRoy Rice.
NICKELSVILLE: Steven Boyd, Lakin Castle, Levi Castle, Kenzie Crusenberry, Joshua Daugherty, Jared Helbert, Sherrie Horchak, Ethan Kegley, Corbin Kilgore, Carol Larson, and Mackenzie Warner.
NORA: Tonya Lundy, Crystal McCoy, Tiffany Pigott, and Mckenzie Sproles.
NORTH CHESTERFIELD: Douglas Towne.
NORTON: Allison Baker, Caleb Barnette, Madison Bohnert, Summer Bower, Abreena Burchfield, James Campbell, Ethan Cates, Roland Cochrane, Wendy Cooke, Ashley Crabtree, Tyler Craft, Daniel Cress, Landon Elkins, Morgan Fawbush, Lillian Hall, Nathaniel Herron, Autumn Hill, Akyssa Hollinger, Beylee Jenkins, Amy Jones, Alexander Kennedy, Savahanna Kern, Kaitlyn Laney, Kammee Lindsey, Makayla Martinez, Shacodi Mays, Harper McCall, Markie Miller, Brayden Mullins, Sydney Mullins, Elizabeth Owens, Sydney Phillips, Andrew Price, Jaden Pritchard, Summer Rhodes, Shelli Roberts, Caelen Robinette, Stacy Robinson, Jeremy Shepherd, Dasanye Smith, Ryland Smith, Trinity Smith, Sadiki Steele, Bailey Sturgill, Lauren Webb, Hannah Wells, Josh Wells, Caleb Williams, and Maggie Williams.
PENNINGTON GAP: Timothy Smith, Alanah Aldridge, Haley Anderson, Brandi Bundy, Gracie Calton, Misti Collins, Tonya Counts, Larissa Crider, Brianna Deirth, Kenley Eisenmenger, Walker Feck, Letcher Jackson, Mary Litton, Ashley Longsworth, Shannon McQueen, Robert Parker, Katherine Pridemore, Kandace Quillen, Curtis Reece, Tracy Reece, Cassie Rogers, Matthew Rowe, Hailey Saylor, Michael Snodgrass, Dawnna Stebbins, Austin Wells, Andrew Williams, Morgan Woliver, and Angie Zhang.
ROSE HILL: Robin Cottrell, Taylor Hensley, Pamela Hurst, Morgan Rouse, and Tammy Thomas.
ST. CHARLES: Jalaina Jessee and Erika Wilson.
ST. PAUL: Matthew Bellamy, Nancy Leftwich, Belinda Levy, Rachel McCowan, Carissa Mullins, Edward Ward, and Vegas Weigle.
SURGOINSVILLE, TN: Rick Barrett.
TRUSSVILLE, AL: Hollis Prosser.
WEBER CITY: Cori Baker, Megan Burton, Brooke-Lynn Cooper, Tapanga Gillenwater, Katalin Perry, and Isaac Stapleton.
WHITESBURG, KY: Savannah Day.
WISE: Olivia Basham, Madison Beller, Rebecca Bush, Dustin Carter, Emma Chandler, Anthony Clark, Constance Collins, Eden Collins, Christopher Conner, William Darnell, Monica Darter, Andrew Deel, Reagan Dotson, Adam Dutton, Sidney Flanary, Chloe Gonzalez-Prince, Michaela Hall, Cassandra Hamilton, Leighann Hamilton, Jordan Harrison, Nathan Hill, Thomas Hillman, Tyler Hopkins, Athena Horne, Madeline Hubbard, Bryan Jones, Stephenson Jones, Patrick Labong, Nicholas Ledford, Roland Lovern, Shirley McCo, Kayleigh McNew, Tristan Miller, Courtney Miniard, Thelma Moore, Alexis Mullins, Amanda Murphy, Alexander Pritchard, Nickolas Ramey, Natalie Rhodes, Kimberly Robinette, Aaron Rose, Saidee Sexton, Macey Sheppard, Connor Short, Elle Smith, Chassay Stafford, Timothy Sturgill, Clara Taylor, Jillian Taylor, Joshua Tille, Jordan Wampler, Rachel Ward, Alexander Wheatley, and Austin Yeary.
MECC announces fall semester President’s List
The following students have been named to the Mountain Empire Community College President’s List for the fall 2018 semester. Students are eligible for the President’s List if they have at least 12 credits and a GPA of 3.8 or higher during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades.
ABINGDON: Savannah Brooks.
APPALACHIA: Brittany Christian, Jason Johnson, Nathaniel Mullins, Shamber Schenck, and Brittany Worley-Johnson.
BEAVERDAM: Zachariah Stern.
BIG STONE GAP: Nikki Baldwin, Jacob Coomer, Jerry Elkins, Krystina Gangl, Samantha Hampton, Lauren Harkleroad, Alissa Hatfield, John Head, Amanda Hopson, Titus Houston, David Kelley, Danielle Lamb, Kara Mullins, Madison Shuler, John Snodgrass, Jared Sullivan, and Kelvin Vo.
COEBURN: Christopher Anderson, Tyler Bright, Caleb Carico, Lyndsey Fuller, John Kilgore, Sheila Slemp, Kevin Smith, Savannah Varney, and Megan Wheatley.
DRYDEN: Trevor Hamm and Tyler Shuler.
DUFFIELD: Aaron Best, Rebekah Bush, Veronica Canto, Miranda Gilbert, Deana Haines, Zachary Hammonds, Cory Hensley, Mark Lane, Sarah Lane, Adam Lyons, Joshua Rivers, Kassidy Sharpe, Cody Smith, Kevin Stanley, and Caitlin Summey.
ERMINE, KY: Joshua Ferris.
GATE CITY: Melinda Babb, Kylee Bundy, Courtney Cassell, Zachary Davidson, Nathan Godsey, Brandi Osborne, Melissa Skeens, and Angela Vanzant.
HAYSI: Candlyn Forton, Brandy Presley, Gauge Stiltner, and Jacob Yates.
HILTONS: Chelsea Mann and Phyllis McGlothlin.
JONESVILLE: Jerry Allen, Nickolas Arney, Kaitlyn Cox, Samantha Cupp, Amanda Harber, Kelly Harvel, Caleb Haynes, Evan Jones, Ginger Krovich, Joshua Ledford, Timothy Long, Noah Middleton, William Miles, Amber Morris, and Katharine Wall.
Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College is pleased to announce the GO Virginia Region One Council’s recent approval of a $310,371.84 grant to establish Smart Farming at the Center for Workforce and Innovation of Appalachia (CWIA).
Located in the Town of Appalachia in the former Appalachia Elementary School, the CWIA will be a satellite training facility to enable Mountain Empire Community College to expand many of its existing programs, as well as launch several new programs. The GO Virginia funding request will support MECC and its partners to establish the Smart Farming program, focused on using drone technology for agricultural purposes, which will allow the College to expand their Unmanned Systems program.
The concept of “Smart Farming” involves the use of technology to improve farming techniques, increase yields, and maximize profits. The program will involve a two-step process of data collection using drone technology and data analysis using the new Agricultural Science Laboratory. The addition of the Smart Farming courses will enable MECC to develop the first Unmanned Aerial Systems Associate Degree program in the Virginia Community College System and the only such program in Region One.
As part of the Smart Farming program, the College will establish the first Agricultural Science Lab in the region to provide space and resources to analyze data collected by the UMS program. MECC projects that the establishment of the program will create new jobs in the agriculture industry and increase production and profits for existing farmers in the region.
Mountain Empire Community College President, Dr. Kristen Westover stated, “Mountain Empire Community College is honored and excited about the GO Virginia Region One funding opportunity to support the development and creation of new workforce training programs in smart farming and agriculture technology. These funds will support MECC in developing entrepreneurial offerings, purchasing equipment and developing coursework, programming and other new and innovative learning opportunities to enhance the workforce development offerings at the Center for Workforce & Innovation of Appalachia.”
“The Region One Council is pleased to recommend to the State Board the innovative project put forth by Mountain Empire Community College, which addresses specifically one of our industry targets, Food and Beverage Manufacturing”, said Mike Quillen, chair of the Region One Council. “This project will also provide insight to Region One’s other targeted industries through advancement of drone technology and training. Additionally, the project brings revitalization to the Town of Appalachia, repurposing a vacated educational facility to continuing use and providing certification in a rapidly growing sector.”
The Mountain Empire Community College proposal will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for further evaluation. The GO Virginia State Board will review the project at their March 12, 2019 meeting. The GO Virginia Region One Council accepts applications for Per Capita Grant funding on a rolling basis.
The Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity in each Region (GO Virginia) was initiated by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) and the Council on Virginia’s Future to foster private-sector growth and job creation through state incentives for regional collaboration by business, education, and government. Recognizing the harsh effect of deep federal budget cuts on a Virginia economy that is overly dependent on public-sector jobs, business leaders formed the GO Virginia campaign to work for regional cooperation on private-sector growth, job creation, and career readiness.
GO Virginia Region One covers the 13 counties in the three planning districts that represent Southwest Virginia. The Region One Council is mostly made up of private sector business leaders and some members of the public sector and higher education. The University of Virginia’s College at Wise serves as the support organization for the Region One Council.
Nominations Sought for 2019 MECC Outstanding Alumnus Award
The Mountain Empire Community College Alumni Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for the 2019 MECC Outstanding Alumnus Award, which recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to one or more areas of society, i.e., professional, academic, and personal achievements, civic service, or service to MECC.
All living MECC alumni who have completed at least one class at MECC are eligible to be nominated and considered for the award. Self-nominations are also welcome. Current members of the MECC Local Advisory and Foundation Boards of Directors, current faculty and staff of the college, and members of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee are not eligible to receive the award.
The nomination form is available online at the MECC website, www.mecc.edu or at the MECC Foundation website, www.meccfoundation.org. There is no limit to the number of nominations that one may submit. The deadline for nominations for the 2019 Outstanding Alumnus Award is February 15, 2019.
A subcommittee of the MECC Alumni Advisory Committee will select the winner of the award and the winner will be announced at the annual Scholars’ Recognition Night banquet to be held in the March 2019.
For questions, please contact Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-2400, extension 287, or at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.
Mountain Empire Community College recently participated in the United Way of SWVA Careers Expo for Youth held at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon on September 25 and 26. More than 4,000 students participated in the event. The college was represented by Health Science Recruiter and Retention Specialist Sarah Clarkston, CTE Recruiter Vicki Pearcy, and MECC Recruiter Todd Clendenon and EMS Instructor Michael Cross. Pictured is Cross with two student attendees.
Mountain Empire Community College will host the Inauguration of the college’s seventh president, Dr. Kristen Westover, on Friday, October 19 at 10:30 a.m.
The ceremony will take place in MECC’s Phillips-Taylor Hall Goodloe Center. A reception will immediately follow the inauguration in the Slemp Commons. Invited guests, students, and members of the public are asked to RSVP their attendance at www.mecc.edu/inauguration.
Those that cannot attend are encouraged to view a live stream of the inauguration from MECC’s Facebook page, @mountainempirecollege. The ceremony will also be broadcast on Wise County’s Public Access Channel 6 on Comcast Cable.
The inauguration event will be held in coordination with the college’s annual Home Craft Days Festival. A free concert celebrating the festival and inauguration will be held Friday, October 19 at 6 p.m. in the Goodloe Center featuring Wayne Henderson & Helen White, John McCutcheon, and Joe Newberry & Mike Compton.
As a high school dropout who obtained her GED and held numerous labor-intensive positions before finding the courage to seek education, Dr. Kristen Westover first gained a love and appreciation for the community college mission through her own life-changing experience at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas. There she experienced an education delivered through support, encouragement and high expectations, quickly recognizing her passion and purpose are grounded in creating those same experiences for others, particularly those who may not have a history of positive educational opportunities.
Dr. Westover began her educational career over 25 years ago, serving as a high school math and computer science teacher and middle school coach. After 10 years in the high school setting, she seized the opportunity to serve as a faculty member at Colby Community College, her alma matter. After teaching at the college level for a few years, she shifted into administrative work, serving as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the same college. Dr. Westover also served at the Kansas Board of Regents, where she was the Director of Technical Programs and Curriculum, and as the Program Coordinator for the national initiatives leadership team for the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Having spent most of her life in a rural setting, Dr. Westover felt a connection to the people of Southwest Virginia during her first visit to the region in 2013. She made the connection official when she agreed to serve as Mountain Empire Community College’s seventh president in July of 2017. She came to Mountain Empire from Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia where she served for six years as the Vice President for Academic and Student Development Services.
Dr. Westover holds an A.S. from Colby Community College, a B.S. in mathematics and a M.S. in instructional technology from Fort Hays State University, and an Ed.D. in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Westover and her husband Mark live in Lee County Virginia. They both love animals and enjoy everything Southwest Virginia has to offer, including motorcycling, golf, hiking, music and art.
For more information on Mountain Empire Community College, or the inauguration ceremony, visit the college’s website at www.mecc.edu or www.mecc.edu/inauguration or call 276.523.2400.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Students who did not meet the deadline for enrolling in fall classes have a second chance to enroll at Mountain Empire Community College for the semester.
MECC will offer a free Quick Start to College class designed for individuals who have considered college, but have not yet enrolled.
The course allows students the opportunity to obtain three college credits without having to enroll for a full semester at no cost. To qualify, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
Quick Start includes an orientation to the basics of college life. Students will be able to learn how to find offices and classes on campus, use Blackboard, and MECC email. Career counseling sessions will also be included so that students can learn more about MECC program offerings that best fit their interests.
The course will cover computer basics including using Word and saving documents to flash drives. Students will also focus on math and English. Students will be able to freshen up on important basics that will help them take or retake the Math and English placement tests.
The Fall Quick Start program will be offered Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, 9:40 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. from September 4 through October 11. The schedule is as follows:
September 4 & 6 – Orientation and Campus Information
September 11 & 13 – Career exploration & College Success Skills
September 18 & 20- Computer Skills
September 25 & 27 – Computer Skills
October 2 & 4 – Math Skills
October 9 & 11 – English Skills
For more information, or to enroll, please contact Beth Boggs, MECC Career & Transfer Counselor, at 276.523.2400 ext. 324 or by email at bboggs@mecc.edu.
Join us Friday, October 19, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. in the Goodloe Center of Phillips-Taylor Hall for the Inauguration of Mountain Empire Community College’s Seventh President – Dr. Kristen Westover.
Students who have not yet enrolled for the Fall 2018 semester are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an advisor and register for classes by Tuesday, August 21. Classes begin Wednesday, August 22. New students who enroll after Tuesday, August 21 will only be enrolled in late-starting classes and MECC’s Quick Start program. To schedule an appointment with an advisor, call 276.523.2400. Students may call today until 4:30 p.m. MECC offices will be closed all day Friday, August 16 for faculty/staff in-service. The college will be open Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to serve students.
Jonesville — The MECC Foundation, in partnership with Ballad Health, will host the MECC Foundation — Ballad Health Golf Classic at the Cedar Hill Country Club in Jonesville on Friday, August 10.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Lee County Endowed Scholarship at MECC. Because the scholarship is endowed, it will be a permanent source of scholarship assistance and will support students from Lee County throughout the years to come. All proceeds raised during the tournament will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $30,000.
Registration for the Captain’s Choice tournament will begin at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. The tournament will feature two flights, putting and chipping contests, as well as “Most Accurate Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” prizes. Players who hit a hole-in-one on Hole # 5 will win a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, sponsored by Freedom Chevrolet of Big Stone Gap.
The entry fee is $75 per person, or $300 per 4-person team. The entry fee includes breakfast, mulligan package, gift for every golfer, goodie bag, range balls, cart fees, green fees, and lunch.
Three levels of corporate sponsorships are available: Bronze – $500; Silver – $1,000, and Gold – $1,500 and up. Corporate sponsors receive a team(s), a hole sign, and recognition at the tournament.
Hole sponsorships are available for a fully tax-deductible gift of $50 to the MECC Foundation. Signs will be placed on the golf course recognizing all hole sponsors. Businesses or individuals needing information or wishing to be a sponsor, enter a team, or provide a prize may call Jeri Bledsoe, Tournament Coordinator, at (276) 523-2400, extension 287, or e-mail at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.
Financial gifts to the Lee County Endowed Scholarship are fully tax-deductible and are always welcome and appreciated. Gifts of any amount may be sent to MECC Foundation, Attn: Lee County Endowed Scholarship, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219.
Big Stone Gap — Wise County K-8 teachers recently participated in Mountain Empire Community College’s first-ever Literacy Institute for Teachers (LIFT).
LIFT, or EDU 295: Literacy Institute for Teachers, is designed to allow teachers to earn recertification points for professional license renewal. The course focused on effective teaching strategies using literacy skills and storytelling, utilizing active engagement and modeling strategies.
Fourteen teachers were trained in integrating the elements of storytelling and literacy to motivate student learning and retention of critical concepts across content areas. Although literacy was the focus, teachers learned how to incorporate literacy education across disciplines.
MECC Dean of Arts & Sciences Harriette Arrington said the college developed the program as a way to meet two needs – improving the literacy skills of youth in the region while providing quality professional development and required re-certification credits for local educators.
“It was an absolute privilege to work with these outstanding teachers in grades Pre-K through sixth from across Wise County,” said Dr. Arrington, a who is also a children’s book author and professional storyteller. “We learned from each other and had such fun exploring exciting ways to build student success.”
Shameeka Williams, a fifth grade math teacher at Union Middle School described the class as enlightening. “I learned how to incorporate various literacy activities into my math classroom that I would have never known about before.”
“The LIFT class was more than uplifting,” added D. J. Sabo, a pre-school teacher at St. Paul Elementary School. The class gave me the confidence to become a better storyteller and allowed me the chance to meet fellow teachers in Wise County and learn from them.”
MECC plans to offer additional teacher re-certification training in during the 2018-19 academic year. To learn more about training opportunities for educators, call 276.523.2400 ext. 243.
Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will hold an upcoming information session to assist those interested in enrolling in the college’s Certified Nursing Assistant Program in Lee County. The cohort will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 18 through December 4 in Pennington Gap. An information session to enroll in this cohort will be held on Monday, July 30th at 6:30 p.m. at Lee Health and Rehab Center, 208 Healthcare Drive, Pennington Gap. For more information on MECC’s Certified Nursing Assistant program or the upcoming Pennington Gap information session, call 276.523.7456.
Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College’s Health Sciences Division will host an Open House and Career Fair on Tuesday, July 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Goodloe Center, Phillips-Taylor Hall. Regional healthcare employers will be represented, with over 90% indicating they have current open positions.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a resume and dress professionally. Employers attending this year’s event include Ballad Health, American HealthCare, and many more.
Employers are invited for refreshments in the Slemp Commons at 5 p.m. with a tour of MECC’s Simulation Laboratory to follow.
For more information regarding MECC’s Health Sciences Division Open House and Career Fair, contact Kim Dorton, Dean of Health Sciences at kdorton@mecc.edu, Arietta Harvey, Division Administrative Assistant at aharvey@mecc.edu, or Lena Whisenhunt, Director Practical Nursing program at lwhisenhunt@mecc.edu or call 276.523.7456.
Governor’s School is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the counties of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson, and the City of Norton, who have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
The two-week program, held annually on MECC’s campus in June, features a variety of hands-on activities in one of several subject areas selected by the student. Students spend time in the field, in labs, on tours, and in the classroom with the faculty of Mountain Empire Community College, receiving six college credit hours – tuition free.
Chris Allgyer hasn’t had a job interview in 46-years. He attributes that fact to his memorable experience interviewing for the position of math instructor at Mountain Empire Community College.
Allgyer, who is originally from Piqua, Ohio, was called for an interview after a position became vacant at the soon-to-open Mountain Empire Community College. He had no idea where Big Stone Gap was at the time. But the AAA Travel Agency provided directions and he set off for what he describes as an “adventure”.
The winding two-lane backroads through Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia prompted a serious case of car sickness. By the time he arrived at the Trail Motel in Big Stone Gap, he was seriously dehydrated and bed-ridden. But Allgyer contends the college was persistent and somewhat desperate. MECC President George Vaughn offered to bring the interview committee to his bedside.
“I was basically flat on my back, sick in the bed in the Trail Motel, and they came to my hotel room to do the interview. I remember they asked me questions like what was my philosophy on community college education. I remember that question particularly because I really didn’t have a good answer. I was deathly sick, just excused myself to the bathroom, came back, and the interview continued.”
Despite his rather unusual introduction to MECC, Allgyer got the job. For the last four decades, he has made MECC his home, marrying his wife Paxton, a “lovely Virginia-girl,” and changing the lives of thousands of students whom he instructed.
This week, Allgyer will close his classroom door, ending 46 years of service with MECC. He is the last of the original faculty members who started at MECC’s opening to retire. Allgyer describes his decision to drive to that remarkable interview in Big Stone as one of the best he’s ever made.
“I was very fortunate to land in Big Stone Gap,” said Allgyer. “When my mother saw the campus, her first thought was ‘My goodness son, they actually pay you to work here’ because it was so pretty with the mountains compared to Western Ohio where it’s all flat.”
“When I came here I thought I’ll stay here and get a few years of experience and then I’ll go back up north. But as I started working here I realized how friendly the people were, how talented they were. They did have a lot of Cincinnati Reds baseball fans and I could listen to the games on the radio. But I think the feeling of what we were doing for the community and the gratefulness of people for the college, gave you a feeling that hey, this is a really good place.”
Allgyer has learned a lot in his tenure as an instructor and can now easily describe his teaching philosophy. He attributes his success to the great mentors and colleagues he has had at MECC, the opportunities he had to continue learning in his profession, and the college’s willingness to implement new and innovative teaching strategies.
“In terms of my philosophy, I think our role is to help students grow and to try to excite them about learning and particularly mathematics,” Allgyer said. “But in general to try to produce people who can learn on their own and continue to learn and appreciate the fact that you are always going to have to learn new things.”
“One thing I liked about being at a community college is that we offer students a chance to grow and we can start with the very basics of arithmetic to meet their needs. I can think of students who started at the lowest level of math and went on to become engineers, teachers, and doctors and such. That’s one of the things I most proud about, In my 46-years I’ve helped students grow and get rewarding work.”
Allgyer practices what he preaches in terms of being a life-long learner. In his retirement, he will stay in Big Stone Gap and will absorb himself in gardening, volunteer service, and his work as a Virginia Master Naturalist, Pro-Art, and the college.
Although Allgyer says he will miss teaching, he is ready for the next chapter. He would advise new instructors to never stop learning because students will continue to evolve and to have fun. “I’m going to miss working individually with students and seeing their success. I won’t miss the grading, papers, and committee work that we do. But I’ll be visiting the campus a lot to see my friends. I’ve had a wonderful opportunity here. My advice to new instructors is to share with their colleagues and don’t be afraid to ask for support. Patience is always a good thing. Keep learning new things. And have fun with it, because most of the time, it is a lot of fun.”
Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College held its 45th commencement ceremony Friday, May 11 at 6 p.m. at the Big Stone Gap campus.
The Class of 2018 includes 570 graduates. MECC awarded 118 Associate of Arts & Sciences degrees, 182 Associate of Applied Science degrees, and 147 Certificates and 271 Career Studies Certificates.
Graduates participating in the commencement were welcomed by MECC Local Advisory Board President David Graham. Dr. Kristen Westover, MECC President, introduced the featured student speakers for the commencement ceremony, which included Kara Kennedy and Matt Newman. These student speakers were chosen because of their exceptional academic performance and unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges during their college career.
Kara Blake Kennedy, of Wise, is graduating Cum Laude with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree. Kara plans to continue her education in the fall to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Kennedy is the daughter of Marty and Rose Kennedy. Kara began her path to a nursing career in the Spring of 2015 when she began pre-requisites for the Nursing program. During Summer 2016, Kara was involved in a tragic accident that almost took her life. Despite the loss of a lower limb, Kara successfully fought to return to nursing school and complete her degree.
Matt Newman, of Lee County, is graduating with an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies. Matt is a correctional worker at the United States Penitentiary in Lee County. He has two sons, Gabriel and Maxwell Newman, and is engaged to Heather Walls. He plans to transfer to King University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work/Psychology this fall, with future plans to become a Mental Health Counselor. Matt is the son of Chris and Kelle Newman and Vicki and Jimmie Shoemaker and the grandson of Vincent and Betty Kirk.
In addition to the graduation ceremony, MECC hosts an Awards Night event honoring graduates and current students who have displayed exceptional academic and leadership qualities during the 2017-18 academic year. This year’s honorees include:
2018 HONORS AND AWARDS
ALL-VA ACADEMIC TEAM
Samantha Johnson
Marglo Sarah Osborne
COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM GRADUATES
Sahara Adkins
Sandra Bailey
December Baker
Haley Balthis
Ethan Bowen
Cheyenne Brown
Justin Browning
Augusta Carver
Irvin Chavarria
Dalton Cochran
Amanda Compton
Tristan Craiger
Austin Dean
Anthony Deel
Leighenna Estrella
Chad Fritz
Lindsey Gibson
Jordan Gilly
Nicholas Hadges
Joshua Hill
Jacob Hood
Hannah Hughes
Dylon Huntington
Emmitt Kellogg
Enrique Lopez III
Laquiel McCurdy
Dustin McDavid
Ryan McDavid
Amber McElroy
Casey McKee
Megan McMahan
Summer Meade
Mysti Mullins
Ambria Muse
Eddie Dewayne Parsons
Tessa Parsons
Tristan Phipps
Dillion Poole
Desirae Porter
Brittany Potter
Frances Ramsey
Scotty Ramsey
Kirsten Record
April Rose
Chelsea Rose
Curt Rose
Timothy Sargent
Joshua Smith
Matthew Spears
Billy Stanley
Kayla Stapleton
Jeffery Tippett
Courtney Turner
Brooklyn Wilson
DIPLOMATS
Adam Bowen
Victoria Burton
Logan Fletcher
Sierra Kern
Isaiah Kinsey
Trey Lomax
Eddie Dewayne Parsons
Anna Marie Puorro
EXCEPTIONAL GRADUATE AWARDS
Sandra Bailey
Dylan Cox
Nicholas Hadges
Kara Kennedy
Mysti Mullins
Lyndsay Oakes
Geena Phipps
Belinda Scott
Billy Stanley
Sheena Stanley
EXPLORATIONS ARTS COMPETITION AWARDS
Drawing
Conner Bolling
Courtney Hay
Chelsey Stapleton
Fiction
Dylan Mabe
Anthony Swindall
Painting
Alexis Barker
Conner Bolling
Cassandra Cole
Chelsey Stapleton
Poetry
Mekyah Davis
Kristy Hood-Pickell
Mysti Mullins
Anthony Swindall
THE JAKKAE JACKSON EXCELLENCE IN PHLEBOTOMY AWARD
Leighann Hamilton
Kalee Horner
THE JAMES L. DURHAM MATHEMATICS AWARD
Olivia Meade
LIFE CLUB
Eddie Dewayne Parsons
LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP
Austin Williams
LONESOME PINE HOSPITAL AUXILIARY AWARD
Stephanie Slone
OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STUDENT AWARDS
Administrative Support Technology
Erin L. McCracken
AST-Medical Office Specialist
Barbara Jean Whitehead
Computer Networking
Phillip Kerns
Computer Software Specialist
Rebecca Osborne
Health Information Management
Melanie Mullins
Management
Angelica Shoffner
Paralegal Studies
Andrew Kerr
PHI THETA KAPPA AWARD
Samantha Johnson
Marglo Osborne
STUDENT SERVICES AWARD
Christian Hale
SGA PEGGY DURHAM
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD
Eddie Dewayne Parsons
SPECIAL SERVICES AWARD
Sarah Adkins
Adam Bowen
Richard Jones
Christopher Newman
Crystal Zeppa
STUDENT SERVICES AWARD Christian Hale
STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA
Andrew Kerr
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA’S COLLEGE AT WISE TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS
Shanley Brooks
Carli Cassell
Charles Cox
Opal Evans
Makayla Funk
Charles Gibson
Olivia Green
Hurley Hamm
Phebe Lane
Jordan Langley
Victoria Manis
Dalten McCoy
Briana Meredith
Emily Mullins
Samuel Palmer
Jonathan Robbins
Gary Rose
Micheala Russell
Emily Slemp
Isaac Stanley
Eryn Surber
Matney Sutherland
Jordan Young
Candidates for Degrees
May 11, 2018
The students whose names appear below made formal application for a degree or certificate by the date specified in the Academic Calendar.
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Business Administration
Hurley Alexander Hamm***
Sierra Rana Holmes
Austin Cole Williams***
Associate of Arts and Sciences
General Studies
Claudia Jane Alsup**+
Ryan Andrew Baird
Kayla Makenzie Bird***+
Ethan Scott Bishop
Kody Ray Bledsoe
Connor Grant Bolling
Shanley R. Brooks***
Austin Blake Carroll
Carli Cheyenne Cassell*
William D. Cassell
Ashleigh Blake Collins**
Alec Daelen Couch*
Charles Dylan Cox**
Dylan Scott Cox***+
Tyler Blake Craft
Charna Nicole Davis*
Alexandria Brooke Deckard
Tanner Ray Dingus*
Airica Morgan Dotson**
Tabitha Lynn Earwood*
Micah Joseph Edgar*
Brittany Nicole Edwards
Courtney Paige Eldridge***
Opal Elizabeth Evans*
Chance Karl Fannon*
John Avery Fansler
Morgan Gabrielle Fleming
Robert Eugene Florse*
Makayla Elaine Funk
Ashton Brooke Gardner
Roger Lee Garrett**
Charles Blaine Gibson**
David Clayton Goodman**
Emily Ann Graham***+
Brittany Nichole Hall*
Courtney L. Hay
Danessa Ariel Hensley
Amy R. Johnson
Emmitt Mufasa Kellogg
Rachel LeAnn Kilgore***
Sarah Nicole Kilgore***
Tracy Lynn Kissel
Phebe Grace Lane**
Jordan Alexander Langley
Enrique Lopez, III*
Cole Ryland Maggard*
Dalten Jesse Liam McCoy*
Anna Morgan Meade
Briana Shante Meredith**
Abbey Grace Mullins***+
Emily Leeann Mullins***
Jessalyn Victoria Mullins*
Mysti Skye Mullins
Christopher Matthew Newman
Kaytlin S. Osborne
Holly Leann Owens**
Taylor Brooke Page*
Geena Caitlin Phipps
Ruth M. Potts
Felicia M. Powers**
Tori LeAnne Powers***
Kasey Chase Repass
Jordan Kayleigh Robbins***
Kaitlyn Marie Robbins**
Emily Faith Roberts*
Tiffany Amber Roberts*
Gary Duane Rose, III
April Michelle Rose*
Micheala Dawn Russell**
Alexis Breann Sexton***
Anastasia Eden Smith***
Matthew Jess Spears
Matti-Jo Morgan Spivey*
Isaac Wells Stanley*
Jordan H. Stanley**
Travis Clayton Stanley**+
Noah Cade Steele
Lauren Elizabeth Sturgill**
Matney Paige Sutherland
Emily M. Trent
Keila Janesha Vaughn*
Nathan Andrew Ward**
Grace Nicole White*
Haven Raye White***+
Austin Cole Williams***
Katelyn Renee Wolfe*
Jordan Tyler Young***
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Pre-Teacher Education
Rachel Elizabeth Bartley***
Opal Elizabeth Evans*
Hannah Danielle Flanagan**
Olivia Katherine Green**
Rachel LeAnn Kilgore***
Sarah Nicole Kilgore***
Allison Brooke Rose*
Courtney Ann Smith
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Science
Shanley R. Brooks***
Chance Karl Fannon*
Makayla Elaine Funk
Marglo Sarah-Jo Osborne***
Samuel Joseph Palmer*
Emily Renee Slemp
Isaac Wells Stanley*
Lauren Elizabeth Sturgill**
Associate of Arts and Sciences
Science: Engineering Specialization
Richard E. Jones, II**
Associate of Applied Science
Accounting
Shamra L. Dye**
Sena H. Treadway*
Associate of Applied Science
Administrative Support Technology
Erin Lynn McCracken**
Katlyn Brook Phillips*
Associate of Applied Science
Administrative Support Technology: Medical Office Specialist
Computer Software Specialist: Mobile Applications Development
Timothy J. Fryatt
George Cary Morgan
Career Studies Certificate
Cybersecurity
Travis L. Barton
Noah Jerry Moneyhun
Alex Wayne Roberson
Devin M. Robinette
Devan James Summers
Whitney Cheyanne Tipton
Career Studies Certificate
Early Childhood Development
December Harley Baker
Stephanie Kristen Birman
Bailey Marie Franklin
Summer E. Meade
Jessica Marie Seabright
Sherry Lynn Vanzant
Career Studies Certificate
Electricity
Taylor Douglas Alsup
Adam Samuel Bruner
Joseph Edward Freeman
Marc Anthony Hamilton
Michael Craig Hill
Michael B. Mullins
Bradley Alan Neff
Jimmy C. Pittman
Jason Allen Rose
Matthew Waylon Sturgill
Career Studies Certificate
Emergency Medical Technician: Basic
Michael S. Begley
Dalton Brody Cochran
Benjamin Cyle Collins
Tristan Anthony Craiger
Dustin C. Edwards
Haley Allison Gilliam
Destiny Nichole Hatfield
Joshua Gabriel Herrera
Dedra Michelle Howe
Brian Douglas King
Career Studies Certificate
Emergency Medical Technician: Intermediate
Ruth Michelle Cornett
Dalton Bryce Sargent
Career Studies Certificate
Energy Technology: Electrical Emphasis
Adam Samuel Bruner
Michael Craig Hill
Michael B. Mullins
Career Studies Certificate
Energy Technology: HVAC Emphasis
Adam Samuel Bruner
Career Studies Certificate
Funeral Service Assistant
Adriane Summer Bailey
Sharon Leigh Cox
Ambria Madison Muse
Career Studies Certificate
Geographic Information Systems
Jerry O. Elkins
Amanda Leagh Huskey
Jason Monroe Simpson
Career Studies Certificate
Health Sciences
Angela D. Adams
Holly Nicole Bevins
Emily Faye Bise
Braxton Gregory Bishop
Courtney Alexis Boggs
Michelle L. Bolling
Chelsea Lynn Brickey
Haley Elizabeth Brickey
Mary Abigail Bright
Justin Craig Browning
Rachel B. Burke
Rosetta M. Carter
Samantha Lea Clark
Amanda Jean Compton
Holly Rachel Cox
Brittney Lois Caroline Brock
Kenzie Marie Crusenberry
Kelsey Jo Culbertson
Raina Shea Cumbo
Nicholas J. Darter
Bethany Nora Inez Day
Kourtney LeighAnn Dockery
Airica Morgan Dotson
Victoria Briann Edwards
Jessica L. Elam
Richard Lee Evans
Abagail Grace Farmer
Ericka B. Fisher
Candace A. Flanary
Alexis Shae Foster
Brittany Nicole Francis
Marilyn Rose Gamboa
Lindsey Irene Gibson
Jamie Donald Gilbert
Alexis Maggie Gillenwater
Chandler MacKenzie Glovier
Janet L. Grabowski
Alexandrea Madison Hackney
Brooklyn Nikkole Hensley
Danessa Ariel Hensley
Whitney Shianne Hillman
Kaelie Elizabeth Hines
Mark R. Hubbard, II
Samantha Kaitlynn Keene
Kara Blake Kennedy
Sierra Rose Kern
Rebecca Elizabeth Lane
Amanda J. Laster
Michael L. Leonard
Enrique Lopez, III
Hannah M. Maness
Laken Nicole Martin
Anna Nicole McCarthy
Crystal Dawn McCoy
Tessy Rae McCoy
Sarah R. McFall
Abigail Brooke McKinney
Megan Danielle Mefford
Alyssa Grace Mullins
Ashton Kristina Mullins
Jessalyn Victoria Mullins
Hannah Rebecca Musick
Peyton Andrew Palmer
Tristan Darby Phipps
Allison Paige Ramey
Frances D. Ramsey
Kirsten Brooke Record
Katherine Lynn Reuille
Summer Breanna Rhodes
Emily Teresa LeeAnn Rhoton
Claire Sutton Rigg
Kaitlyn Marie Robbins
Monica Michelle Rowan
Timothy Allan Sargent
Hunter May Smith
Katherine Renee Spears
Gabriel Keith Stacey
Rebecca Ann Stapleton
April Maria Steele
Christie L. Summey
Eryn Madasyn Surber
Emily M. Trent
Neisha N. Tuggle
Courtney Jayde Turner
Rachel Nichelle Vaughn
Kasey Wayne Wagner
Christopher W. Wampler
Gracia Elizabeth Wright
Career Studies Certificate
Information Technology Readiness
David A. Cox
Jared D. Langley
Harold J. Padgett
Benjamin H. Salyers
Career Studies Certificate
Law Enforcement Management and Supervision
Myles Cote
Dewey W. Fulton
Donald Earl Harding, III
Stephenson Jones
Wesley C. Mullins
Ronald L. Shortt
Scottie L. Snapp
Michael P. Stidham
Kevin D. Yates
Career Studies Certificate
Legal Office Assisting
Debbie L. Pyles-Dingus
Career Studies Certificate
Medical Receptionist and Transcriptionist
Leighann Michelle Hamilton
Kayla Nicole Seals
Thelma June Slone
Career Studies Certificate
Medical Records Technician
Makayla Leanna Fields
Career Studies Certificate
Old Time Music
Maggie Evangeline Gatley
John Bradley Webb
Career Studies Certificate
Pharmacy Technician
Haley Brianne Balthis
Michael A. Hall
Courtney Shae Hickman
Artis Nicole Payton Tia Johnson
Gwendolyn D. Kern
Elizabeth Lea Rachelle Laster
Tessa Rae Parsons
Dillion Poole
Desirae Marie Porter
Travis C. Rose
Belinda S. Scott
Allyson B. Stanley
Brittany Nichole Worley
Career Studies Certificate
Phlebotomy
Cheyenne Nicole Brown
Pamela Jane Cates
Martha Jane Davis
Chelsea Renee Evans
Vonda Danielle Green
Leighann Michelle Hamilton
Courtney Brooke Hill
Kalee Rosemary Horner
Pennie Lyn Hyatt
Sharon R. Jackson
Amy Cayla Marie Jones
Brionna Leigh Kern
Laquiel A. McCurdy
Amber Marie McElroy
Corey Matthew McNeil
Lindsay Nicole McNeil
Tessa Rae Parsons
Brittany Raschae Phelps
Summer Breanna Rhodes
Sandra Lucina Robles
Chelsea Nicole Rose
Savannah Nicole Shell
Cheyanne Rena Shuler
Bradley James Tabor Jr.
Brooklyn M. Wilson
Brittany Nichole Worley
Career Studies Certificate
Small Business Management
Angelica Jill Shoffner
Career Studies Certificate
Software Development I
Matthew James Beverly
Timothy J. Fryatt
Nicholas Austin Hadges
Rebecca Jean Marie Osborne
Career Studies Certificate
Software Development II
Matthew James Beverly
Timothy J. Fryatt
Nicholas Austin Hadges
Rebecca Jean Marie Osborne
Career Studies Certificate
Water Plant Operator
Jeffery K. Morgan
Jerry Wayne White
Career Studies Certificate
Welding Operator
Scottlin Keith Baker
Sean Michael Berry
Jordan Tyler Bowen
Anthony Brett Deel
Tyler Edward Deirth
Philip L. Edwards
Leighenna Carmen Estrella
Adam Kedrick Gibson
Dustin Wayne McDavid
Shannon D. Owens
Scotty Ray Ramsey
GRADUATION WITH HONORS
To be eligible for graduation with honors, a student must have at least the following grade point average and complete an associate degree or certificate:
*Honors (cum laude), 3.2
**High Honors (magna cum laude), 3.5
***Highest Honors (summa cum laude), 3.8
+High school students
Individuals have been designated in the program as honor students based on their grade point average at the completion of the semester prior to the one in which they will graduate.
Students wearing gold tassels are honor students. Students wearing gold stoles are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society.
Students wearing red, white, & blue cords are U.S. Military Veterans.
BIG STONE GAP – Mountain Empire Community College will hold an informational session on its summer Unmanned Aerial Systems classes Monday, May 14 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in MECC’s Phillips-Taylor Hall, Room 214.
Courses are free and will introduce concepts related to the building and operation of drones, which are the most common UAS devices. These courses are part of MECC’s Small UAS (sUAS) Operations Technician Technical Studies Associate Degree that is currently pending approval. In addition to the degree, students can also test for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Remote Pilot Certificate at no cost to them. This offering is made possible through MECC’s collaboration with the Appalachian Regional Commission, Virginia’s Community Development Block Grant and Geospatial Technician Education-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (GeoTEd-UAS).
While the UAS industry is growing throughout the region and the state, it can also compliment other industries already present in the region. According to MECC’s UAS Instructor Fred Coeburn, the technology is an excellent resource for police, EMS, realtors, farmers and ranchers to incorporate into their professions.
The first summer cohort session begins June 5. In addition to attending the informational session, those interested in the program can learn more at www.mecc.edu/drone or contact Fred Coeburn at 276.523.2400 ext. 285.
Richmond – In accordance with Section 23.1-307 (D) of the Code of Virginia, the State Board for Community Colleges provides notice that it will consider tuition and mandatory fee increases for Virginia’s Community Colleges, effective fall 2018, at 9 a.m., May 17, 2018, at 300 Arboretum Place, Richmond, Va. The State Board will consider tuition and mandatory fee increases of between 1 percent and 3 percent for all undergraduate students, subject to further actions of the General Assembly. The community colleges would use the revenue generated from the tuition increase to pay for:
Increased state employee fringe benefit costs;
Operation and maintenance of new buildings;
Technology infrastructure upgrades;
Contractual obligations;
Investments in strategic initiatives to improve student success.
Big Stone Gap – Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to participate in the 2018 Mountain Empire Community College Governor’s School to be held June 11 through June 22 on the college campus.
MECC Governor’s School is open to public and home school students in the counties of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson, and the City of Norton, who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. This two-week program features a variety of hands-on activities in one of several subject areas selected by the student. Students spend time in the field, in labs, on tours, and in the classroom with the faculty of Mountain Empire Community College. Students who complete the session will receive six college credit hours, tuition-free. In addition to classroom activities, students will participate in field trips to area colleges.
Twelve academic strands will be offered this summer, including:
3-D Animation/Game Design – Are you a gamer? Take your skills to the next level by learning the basic techniques of game design. Create your own 3D game from concept to implementation using traditional and computer-generated animation.
Art Illustration for Graphic Novels – Love a good story? Create your own narrative by learning character development and illustration techniques. Students will complete a graphic novel they design.
Cyber Security – The FBI anticipates that cyber-attacks will soon become one of the greatest threats to our nation’s security. Fight crime by delving into the minds of hackers. Learn how to prevent cyber-attacks while also preparing for one of the nation’s most in-demand career fields.
Drama – Calling all drama queens and kings! Produce your own full-length play and learn the basic components of play production, from lights to sound, set design and character study. Students will premiere a full-length production of their own creation.
Drones – Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most innovative new technologies. Learn to build, configure, maintain, and legally fly drones both for fun and for commercial use. An exciting career pathway for those interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
EMS – The EMS strand features exciting activities and practical information including: CPR/First Aid certification, examine and stock an ambulance, prepare for an air ambulance (helicopter) landing, interact with air ambulance medics and nurses, extricate a patient from a wrecked vehicle. Students will participate in a SIM Lab emergency simulation and explore health care careers.
Engineering – Be an innovator! Use your technical and creative skills to design 3-D models and animation and solve complex engineering problems. Invent your future in engineering in this exciting field.
Entrepreneurship and Regional Tourism – Interested in starting your own business? Southwest Virginia’s tourism industry is dependent on small businesses. Develop your own business concept while exploring the best of our region’s assets.
Environmental Science – The mountains are calling. You must go! Learn about the mountains and streams of Southwest Virginia and current and potential threats to these ecosystems. Students will engage in a water quality study on the Clinch and Powell Rivers that will have a long-term positive impact on our region’s water systems.
Music – Rockin’ Guitar provides students with an opportunity to build and uniquely design their own electric guitar from a kit. Learn the basics of playing the guitar and perform a song at the completion of the course.
Solar Energy – Want to change the world? The future of energy technology is solar power! Learn basic electrical theory while exploring solar and wind technologies in an exciting new career field.
Web Design – The future of technology is endless. Learn more about computer programming, application design and development, and robotic technologies. Students will explore career paths in high-paying, high-demand technological fields.
Applications to attend the 2018 Governor’s School will be accepted until May 18, 2018 or until spaces are filled. Limited space is available and students are encouraged to apply early. To view additional information or to download the 2018 application, please visit the Mountain Empire Community College Governor’s School website at www.mecc.edu/govschool or contact John Bledsoe, Governor’s School Coordinator, at (276) 523-2400 ext. 307 or Ann Lane at ext. 363.
BIG STONE GAP, Va. – Mountain Empire Community College has announced its partnership with EC-Council, a globally recognized cybersecurity training company, to deliver the company’s official courseware to students in subjects like network defense, penetration testing, and computer forensics.
MECC will incorporate EC-Council courseware into the college’s Cybersecurity Career Studies Certificate program, which began in October 2016. The college has been designated by EC-Council as an Accredited Training Center, or ATC. Benefits of the partnership include access to industry-leading certifications at no cost to students and discounted trainings for faculty. MECC cybersecurity faculty already hold some of EC-Council’s more competitive distinctions including the Certified Ethical Hacker and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certifications.
“This is a big step for our program,” said Nasser Maskoud, Associate Professor in MECC’s Business and Information Technology division and one of the cybersecurity program’s lead faculty. “EC-Council’s certifications are very helpful in making sure students are prepared for today’s competitive IT-based job market, but these trainings can also be quite costly. With this partnership, we can offer these trainings to students at little or even no cost to them.”
MECC is currently accepting Fall 2018 semester applications for its Cybersecurity Career Studies Certificate program. For more information, visit www.mecc.edu/programs/cybersecurity or call Ashvin Raj at 276.523.2400, ext. 261.
Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will hold its 2018 Job Expo on Monday, April 2 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Goodloe Center, Phillips-Taylor Hall. More than 30 regional employers will be represented, with an estimated 90% of participants indicating they have current open positions.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a resume and dress professionally. Employers attending this year’s event include Crutchfield, Eastman Chemical Company, Ballad Health, Virginia State Police, Wallens Ridge State Prison, USP Lee, LogistiCare, The Lane Group, England, Inc. and many more.
For more information on MECC’s 2018 Job Expo, contact Beth Boggs, Career and Transfer Counselor, at 276.523.2400 ext. 324 or bboggs@mecc.edu, or visit www.mecc.edu/career-services.
The John Fox Jr. Festival, originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 at MECC, has been rescheduled to Monday, April 16 at 10 a.m. in the MECC Phillips-Taylor Hall Goodloe Center. Individuals who purchased lunch tickets and who are not able to attend the rescheduled date should call 276.523.7466 for refund information.
Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College has pledged to join the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) in promoting and assisting entrepreneurial opportunities in Southwest Virginia.
The college joined Big Sandy Community College in Pikeville, Kentucky, in signing the NACCE’s Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge (PFEP). MECC President Kristen Westover along with Sherry Zylka of Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) signed the PFEP pledge together during a recent ceremony in Pikeville. Area high school students, teachers and education officials participated in the event.
In taking the pledge, college presidents commit to five action steps aimed at advancing entrepreneurship in the classroom and in their communities. The action steps range from creating and expanding internal and external teams dedicated to entrepreneurship, to increasing entrepreneurs’ engagement in community colleges and spurring innovation and job creation.
“Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial spirit are vital to the continued success of our region,” said Dr. Kristen Westover, MECC President. “Through the creation and support of existing entrepreneurs, MECC is committed to the expansion of entrepreneurial strategies to create new businesses, add opportunities for the region, and create conditions for a flourishing economy. Working with NACCE, we have the opportunity to apply proven methods to enhance entrepreneurial spirit and activity in our community.”
“The PFEP is a helpful tool for community college presidents who are seeking to embrace an entrepreneurial culture and mindset at their colleges,” said Rebecca Corbin, Ed.D., president and CEO of NACCE. “Signing the PFEP symbolizes their commitment to leveraging assets and maximizing entrepreneurial opportunities in their local communities and through the NACCE network.”
MECC and BSCTC share a common service area and similar demographics and are participants in the EntreEd program, which provides entrepreneurship curriculum for K-12 students. The two colleges are also recipients of Appalachian Regional Commission Power grants, which assists with retraining opportunities for laid-off coal miners and their families. The two presidents have vowed to work together to explore mutually beneficial collaborations.
NACCE is an organization of educators, administrators, presidents and entrepreneurs focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their communities and campuses. NACCE has two main goals: to empower college leaders to approach the business of running a community college with an entrepreneurial mindset and to grow the community college’s role in supporting job creation and entrepreneurs in their local ecosystem. NACCE has over 330 member colleges, representing nearly 2,000 members and approximately 3.3 million students.
Big Stone Gap – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation will host a special benefit featuring internationally-acclaimed musical group The Black Lillies on Sunday, April 29 at 3 p.m. in the Goodloe Center.
Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased online at www.meccfoundation.org/mmsbenefit/. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Sue Ella Boatright-Wells Mountain Music School Memorial Scholarship. Backdraft Barbecue (food truck) will be available on campus for food purchases.
Sue Ella Boatright-Wells served as the Dean of Workforce Development for Mountain Empire Community College for 39 years. She touched hundreds of lives in her efforts to keep the culture and traditions of the Southwest Virginia region alive and growing, serving as a tireless advocate for workforce programs in Southwest Virginia. Sue Ella, who passed away in July of 2016, was the primary coordinator of the Home Craft Days Festival, was instrumental in the development of MECC’s Mountain Music School, and the Wise County and Scott County Jams afterschool program.
The scholarship, named in her honor, supports students who wish to attend the Mountain Music School one-week event held annually during the fourth week in July. Located in Big Stone Gap, Va., the school provides opportunities for students age 10 and up to experience traditional old-time music with fun and supportive instruction. Students may select an instrument and skill level of their choice, including beginning and advanced “old-time” fiddle, claw-hammer banjo, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, autoharp, and dog house bass. A limited number of instruments are available for loan for the week. In addition, those with intermediate and advanced skills can participate in an optional string-band class. Dance and sing along at daily concerts featuring some of the region’s most gifted old-time musicians. To learn more or to enroll, visit www.mountainmusicschool.org.
With four albums under their belts, The Black Lillies have been a mainstay on radio and album sales charts, winning praise from outlets including American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, NPR, CMT, Wall Street Journal and Billboard. With their blend of folk, soul, red dirt country, blue and rock, The Black Lillies have enthralled audiences at festivals including Bonnaroo Music + Arts, New Orleans Jazz Fest, MerleFest, Stagecoach, CMA Fest & Fan Fair, and Pickathon. Equally at home on theatre stages and in rock clubs, they were one of the first independent bands to play the Grand Ole Opry and have since returned dozens of times.
Big Stone Gap — Are you interested in improving your eating habits and personal wellness? Mountain Empire Community College will offer HLT 138 – Principles of Nutrition as a one-credit online course beginning October 18. Students will study the nutrient components of food, including carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. The course will provide a behavioral approach to nutrient guidelines for the development and maintenance of optimum wellness. Senior citizens may qualify for a tuition waiver for this course. For more information or to enroll, call 276.523.7474.
Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College will offer a variety of accelerated 8-week course offerings this spring. Classes begin March 12 and include online and on-campus offerings. Topics in accounting, small business taxes, art, business, management, economics, medical terminology, computers & computer programming, cybersecurity, fitness, customer service, CPR, and psychology will be offered. Senior citizens may qualify for a tuition waiver for these classes. For more information, or to register, visit www.mecc.edu/go8 or call 276.523.7474.
Big Stone Gap, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation will honor the late Mr. Ken Gilley and Mrs. Thelma Sorah Gilley at the annual Hall of Honor Gala on Saturday evening, April 21, 2018.
The gala theme is “Music of the Mountains,” and proceeds from the event will benefit the Gilley-Sorah Hall of Honor Mountain Music School Endowed Scholarship at MECC. Mountain Music School, held annually during the summer, draws many local and out-of-state students to the one-week program that carries on the rich musical heritage of our region.
The Gilleys will be recognized for their support of Mountain Empire Community College and their service to the region. They have been strong proponents of higher education in southwest Virginia, providing financial support to MECC. The Gilleys have created two scholarships, the William Kenneth Gilley Memorial Scholarship for Mountain Music School, and the Gilley-Sorah Endowed Scholarship, which was created along with their son, Michael, and Thelma’s sister, Shirley Walborn. Additionally, Mrs. Gilley was involved in establishing the East Stone Gap Tigers Scholarship at MECC.
The Gilleys were also active in civic organizations and volunteered in the community. Mr. Gilley worked for Norfolk Southern Railway for 41 years, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners. Mrs. Gilley worked for the Virginia Division of Mines in Big Stone Gap, the Social Security Office in Norton, and retired from the Department of Labor as supervisor of the Black Lung Office in Norton. She also served as a negotiator for the local AFL-CIO. After their retirement, the Gilleys enjoyed taking classes at MECC and especially enjoyed participating in Mountain Music School.
The evening will begin with a reception in the Slemp Commons of Phillips-Taylor Hall at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner in the Goodloe Center at 6:45 p.m. A short recognition program will follow dinner, and musical entertainment by mountain music artists and bands will follow. Musicians will include Mountain Music School instructors, Chris Rose, Richard Phillips, Steve Souther, Joey O’Quinn, Sarah Kate Morgan, and Larry Mullins. The evening will also feature some Mountain Music School students.
Event sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit www.meccfoundation.org for more information.
Tickets to the April 21 Gala event are $75 each and may be purchased by calling the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-7466 or by visiting the MECC Foundation website at http://www.meccfoundation.org/mecc-foundation-gala/.
Tickets may also be purchased by mail by sending a check to MECC Foundation, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219, Please make checks payable to MECC Foundation and indicate in the memo section of your check “Gilley-Sorah Hall of Honor Mountain Music School Scholarship.”
If you have questions, or need additional information about the event, please contact the MECC Foundation Office at 276-523-7466, or e-mail Jeri Bledsoe at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.
The workshop concluded with a design thinking workshop, where participants designed entrepreneurship projects for their school or classroom. Schools in attendance will be eligible to receive their America’s Entrepreneurial School designation, which recognizes any K-12 school that provides entrepreneurship education to every student, every year.
The partnership between Mountain Empire Community College and EntreEd is part of a three-year, Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant which was funded in 2016. Wrapping up in August 2019, the grant has provided entrepreneurship experiences to over 45,000 Appalachian students throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The project is a collaborative partnership between EntreEd, The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), The EdVenture Group, and the National Center for Resource Development and eight local community colleges throughout the region. To learn more about the initiative, visit http://www.entre-ed.org/ today. 
Wayne Henderson’s top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family and neighbors in Grayson County, Virginia. His guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of Masters of the Steel-String Guitar, and in seven nations in Asia. In addition to his reputation as a guitarist, Henderson is a luthier of great renown. He is a recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. He produces about 20 instruments a year, mostly guitars; he is almost as well-known for the mandolins he has made.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College held its 46th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. at the Big Stone Gap campus.
Kara Mullins, of Big Stone Gap, is graduating Summa Cum Laude with an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in Science and General Studies. She is a dual enrollment student at Union High School, where she has been named the Salutatorian of the 2019 Class. She is a member of the Lady Bears Basketball Team. She plans to attend UVA-Wise in the fall and will major in Chemistry. Kara is the daughter of Lisa and Greg Mullins. 
Vicki Pearcy, of Duffield, is graduating Summa Cum Laude with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Administrative Support Technology. Vicki has been the Assistant Registrar at Mountain Empire Community College since October 2018. She is married to Eddie Pearcy and has two sons, Adam and wife Ashlyn, and Brian. She is the daughter of Patricia Berry and the late Billy Berry. Vicki’s speech tonight is dedicated in loving memory of her father.
Big Stone Gap, VA— The Southwest Virginia Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management announced the presentation of a Belk Gift Card to Mountain Empire Community College’s Business & Information Technology Division, enabling the Division to purchase MECC Business Graduates with needed job interview attire.
Big Stone Gap — Alicia Belcher, a resident of St. Paul and math teacher at Ridgeview High School, has been named MECC’s 2019 Alumna of the Year.
Big Stone Gap, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation will honor the late Dr. Brownie Edward Polly, Jr. and Barbara Creasy Polly at the annual Hall of Honor Gala on Saturday evening, April 13, 2019.
Big Stone Gap, VA – Five Mountain Empire Community College students went from hitting the books to hitting nails on MECC’s first annual Alternative Spring Break service trip sponsored by MECC Student Activities.
Mountain Empire Community College recently participated in the United Way of SWVA Careers Expo for Youth held at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon on September 25 and 26. More than 4,000 students participated in the event. The college was represented by Health Science Recruiter and Retention Specialist Sarah Clarkston, CTE Recruiter Vicki Pearcy, and MECC Recruiter Todd Clendenon and EMS Instructor Michael Cross. Pictured is Cross with two student attendees.
Governor’s School is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the counties of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson, and the City of Norton, who have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
