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Student Testimonials
Student's Name: Sharon Nassef
| | Area of Study: Art Education/Art History |
Testimonial: "With the help and support of the faculty and staff at Craven Community College, I have been able to further my education and pursue previously unattainable goals. My plan is to transfer to East Carolina University in the year 2001."
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Term: Summer 2001
Student's Name: Kathleen Kennedy | | Area of Study: Associate Degree Nursing |
Testimonial: Kathleen Kennedy knew she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up. Her mother was a nurse, and Kathleen knew her mother had a rewarding career caring for others. Last summer, after graduating from the Associate Degree Nursing program at Craven Community College and passing the National Council Licensure Exam, Kathleen's dream came true. She was offered a job as a Registered Nurse at Craven Regional Medical Center. The hospital also offered her additional on-the-job training to work in the specialty area of Intermediate Care. Kathleen accepted. Like most nursing graduates today, Kathleen is fortunate. Career opportunities in the nursing field are abundant as the nation faces yet another shortage of nurses. According to a 1999 national survey conducted by the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American Nurses Association, "This shortage appears to be about an increased demand for nurses with competence, skills and experience to meet patient demand for care in a changing health care system." The shortage translates into increased job opportunities and more competitive salaries for Registered Nurses like Kathleen. Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that positions for RN's will experience faster than average growth through the year 2006, with job opportunities increasing by 21 percent in nursing, versus 14 percent for all other occupations.
While Craven Regional Medical Center gave Kathleen the opportunity to fulfill her life-long dream, Kathleen says she wouldn't be there today if it weren’t for Craven Community College. "My experience at the community college was very positive. The nursing instructors are knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated to helping their students succeed." For more information about the Craven Community College Associate Degree Nursing program and nursing scholarship opportunities, call Carolyn Jones, director of health care programs, at 638-7342.
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Student's Name: Lilyan Jreisat | | Area of Study: Business Administration |
Testimonial: "Craven Community College is one of the best things that's ever happened to me. It's giving me the opportunity to earn the first two years of my four-year degree while living at home and saving money. I will transfer as a junior to UNC-Chapel Hill next fall."
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Student's Name: James Sanders | | Area of Study: Computer Programming |
Testimonial: "Craven Community College definitely provided the resources and support I needed to go back to school. The community college opened the door to improve the quality of life for me and my family by providing the technical skills I need for a career in computer programming."
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Student's Name: Trevor Edwards | | Area of Study: Co-Op |
Testimonial:  Craven Community College offers courses to high school students in their junior and senior years. As a high school student, Trevor took advantage of the opportunity to take courses at Craven Community College through the dual enrollment program.
Trevor earned high school credit and college credit through this program, which put him a step ahead when he graduated from high school. He then enrolled in Craven Community College full-time and had the opportunity to participate in the earn-as-you-learn cooperative education program with the Navel Air Depot in Cherry Point.
Trevor is completing his co-op program and expects to be hired by NADEP full-time. For more information about dual enrollment courses, call Student Services at 638-4131. For more information about the NADEP cooperative education program, call Wanda Thomas at 638-7401 or Tom O’Donnell at 638-7211.
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Student's Name: Kathy Toler | | Area of Study: Cooperative Education |
Testimonial: "The Cooperative Education Program at Craven Community College opened the door for me to get a job at NADEP. I now work full-time as a production controller and still attend Craven part-time. Within the next year, I should finish my Associate degrees in both Information Systems and Business Administration."
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Student's Name: Denise Brown | | Area of Study: Education |
Testimonial: Denise is a non-traditional student who began her college education later in life. She graduated from Craven Community College in May and accepted a job as a teacher’s assistant with a local elementary school. Denise will continue her education this fall, enrolling in the ECU/CCC Partnership East elementary education program.
Through Partnership East, ECU faculty will teach upper-level education courses on the campus of Craven Community College. This means that Denise will have the opportunity to earn her baccalaureate degree in elementary education from East Carolina University without having to commute to Greenville.
This program is a great opportunity for Denise and other students who wish to become teachers, as well as the State of North Carolina, which continues to face a teacher shortage. Craven Community College is the first hub for the ECU Partnership East Program. Students from surrounding counties will have same opportunity to take upper-level education courses on the campus of Craven Community College and eventually on other North Carolina community college campuses as well.
For more information on the ECU/CCC Partnership East Program, contact Anne Faulkenberry at 638-6492.
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Student's Name: William Toler | | Area of Study: History |
Testimonial: "Choosing to attend Craven Community College was a good decision for me. It has given me an opportunity to earn a two-year degree with courses that will transfer to a four-year university, helped me find direction for my future, and helped me develop the technical skills that I'll need in my career. I plan to transfer to UNC-Greensboro in the fall to earn my Bachelor's degree."
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Term: Spring 2002
Student's Name: Eric S. Carlo | | Area of Study: Law Enforcement |
Testimonial:  Eric S. Carlo served in the United States Marine Corps for 20 years. As his retirement drew near, Eric enrolled part-time at Craven Community College, taking general education courses at night on the Havelock campus.
When Eric retired from the military, he was already well on his way to a second career. Taking advantage of classes offered in the mini-semester format, he had already completed most of his general education course requirements when he retired.
Soon after retiring, Eric enrolled as a full-time student in the Criminal Justice Technology program, taking advantage of financial aid. "The financial assistance programs helped motivate me to pursue this degree," he said. In fact, Eric may graduate with two degrees - he's taken several courses in sociology to supplement the criminal justice program.
Students in the Criminal Justice Technology curriculum learn about local, state, and federal law enforcement, judicial processes, corrections, and security services. Emphasis is on criminal justice systems, criminology, juvenile justice, criminal and constitutional law, investigative principles, ethics, and community relations.
Employment opportunities exist in a variety of local, state, and federal law enforcement, corrections, and security fields. Examples include police officer, deputy sheriff, county detention officer, state trooper, and probation/parole surveillance officer.
His criminal justice training, coupled with his background in sociology should help Eric land a job with a local law enforcement agency when he graduates this year. For more information on the Criminal Justice program at CCC, call Pat McCain at 638-7282.
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Term: Fall 2001
Student's Name: Michael Bennett | | Area of Study: Machining Technology |
Testimonial: Craven Community College is providing a skilled workforce for the Naval Aviation Depot (NADEP) at Cherry Point through co-operative education. The earn-as-you-learn program gives students the opportunity to earn an income through work-related experiences that enhance their academics, as well as secure possible future employment. At the same time, the program provides NADEP with a group of highly qualified job candidates.
Michael Bennett is a prime example of how the program can work. Michael began taking college level machinist courses at Craven as a Step Ahead student while still in high school. After graduating from West Craven High School, Michael enrolled at CCC as a full-time student. Once he completed 30 semester hours of credit towards his Associate Degree, he became eligible to apply for the program. He was accepted and began working as a machinist in the NADEP co-op program in January, 2000. Last May, Michael earned his degree from Craven Community College in Machining Technology. His training, combined with his experience at NADEP, has led to permanent, full-time employment through the NADEP apprenticeship program. Michael says getting hands-on training in the work environment while earning a salary gave him a head start. "The co-op program between Craven and NADEP helped me get started in my career while giving me the opportunity for a secure future."
Additional training opportunities available through the NADEP co-op program include aircraft mechanic and electrician, electronics mechanic, metals inspector, production machinery mechanic, and sheet metal mechanic, to name a few. For more information about the Craven Community College/NADEP co-op program, contact Wanda Thomas, Director of Career Development, at 638-7401, or Tom O’Donnell, Dean of Industrial Technology, at 638-7211.
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Term: Spring 2001
Student's Name: Stephen Kernaghan | | Area of Study: Network Technology |
Testimonial: Craven Community College is keeping pace with the world of technology, providing cutting-edge training in the computer-networking field. Students in the Networking Technology curriculum prepare for employment supporting local- and wide-area networks. Students learn how to use technologies to provide for data, voice, image, and video communications in Course work includes design, installation, configuration, and management of local- and wide-area network hardware and software. Emphasis is placed on developing proficiency in the use of network management software and the use of hardware. Certification training is offered in both Microsoft and Cisco networking.
Stephen Kernaghan, who will complete the Networking Technology program at Craven this fall and works full-time with East Carolina Internal Medicine, testifies to the quality of the program. "Craven Community College has one of the best networking programs in this state. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to work at ECIM if it weren't for the excellent training I've received and the referral I got from Ken Wallace, Director of Business Programs at the College. The ECIM staff is extremely professional, and it is a fantastic opportunity for me to do what I love, thanks to Craven Community College." Stephen's goals are to earn his Cisco Certified Network Professional credential, his bachelor's degree in Digital Networking from East Carolina University, and to teach on a part-time basis in the Networking Technology program at Craven. "The knowledge that has been imparted to me through the instructors at Craven is a gift to me. I want to give that back to others, and the best forum to do that is in a classroom."
Job opportunities such as local area network managers, network operators, network analysts, and network technicians are abundant, and graduates can earn starting salaries reported to be as high as $40,000. For more information about the Networking Technology program at Craven Community College, contact, Ken Wallace at 252-638-7244.
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Student's Name: David Sharlow | | Area of Study: Political Science |
Testimonial: "I chose to attend Craven Community College for three reasons: a friendly and knowledgeable staff, the convenience of the campus, and the flexibility to schedule courses at times to meet my needs. I plan to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill next year, eventually attend law school, and become a corporate attorney."
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Student's Name: Amanda Berry | | Area of Study: Practical Nursing |
Testimonial: "I'm getting the training I need at Craven Community College to become a Practical Nurse while maintaining my responsibilities as a mother of three children and a full-time employee at Craven Regional Medical Center. I plan to work full-time as a Practical Nurse after graduating and earning my license."
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Term: Fall 2001
Student's Name: Ashley McKeithen | | Area of Study: Science |
Testimonial: Like many students, Ashley McKeithen chose Craven Community College after high school to provide a solid foundation for a four-year baccalaureate degree. She wasn't quite sure of her long-term career goals and she wasn't ready to leave Craven County just yet. That was more than a year ago. Ashley is now entering her second year at CCC, has set her career path, and is prepared to make the transition to a university.
An honor student at CCC, Ashley is majoring in science with a concentration in biology. She will graduate in the spring of 2002, then transfer to a university and pursue a degree in the medical field.
Students who transfer have many options. For example, students who earn a 3.0 grade point average or above and who transfer to UNC-Wilmington are automatically admitted. Students who transfer to UNC-Pembroke are exempt from the $50 application fee. Students earning the Associate in Science degree often choose to attend NC A&T, UNC-Charlotte, or NC State University. NC State, which has reputable programs in biology, chemistry, math, computer science, and engineering, is partnering with eight community colleges in eastern North Carolina to improve community college students' transition to the University level.
"Attending Craven Community College has really been a blessing for me," Ashley says. "The small classes, the individual attention I have received at Craven have been a definite advantage. The faculty and staff have also made me aware of shown me of the financial aid options and transfer choices that are available. Craven Community College was certainly the right choice for me."
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Term: Spring 2002
Student's Name: Steven Arthur | | Area of Study: Welding |
Testimonial:  Steven Arthur, barely 19 years old, is responsible for maintaining the equipment at Arthur Farms - a big task for a teenager. Growing up on Arthur Farms, however, Steven has always been a hard worker. While still in high school, Steven began taking courses at Craven Community College through the Step Ahead program.
The Step Ahead program allows high school students to take college level courses and receive credit for both high school and college. According to CCC welding instructor, Roy Thompson, Steven had earned certification in plate welding by his senior year in high school. Immediately after graduating from high school, Steven received certification in pipe welding and continued in the CCC welding program until he graduated.
The Welding Technology curriculum provides students with a sound understanding of the science, technology, and applications essential for successful employment in the welding and metal industry. Instruction includes both electric and gas welding and cutting processes. Courses in math, blueprint reading, metallurgy, welding inspection, and destructive and non-destructive testing provide the student with industry-standard skills developed through classroom training and practical application.
Successful graduates of the welding program may be employed as entry-level technicians in welding and metalworking industries. Career opportunities also exist in construction, manufacturing, fabrication, sales, quality control, supervision, and welding-related self-employment, like Steven Arthur.
For more information about the welding program at CCC, call Roy Thompson at 638-7334.
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