Top 10 Stories of 2022 at Robeson Community College
The year 2022 has been a remarkable year for Robeson Community College. With much of the impacts of the pandemic fading into the distant past, many things seemed to be returning back to normal with the college holding many in-person events, such as an outdoor graduation, the first Homecoming Celebration, and much, much more.
Below we list some of the most talked about stories on the RCC Campus this year.
#1 – The US Army’s Golden Knights land on campus, celebrating the opening of RCC’s Military Affiliated Resource Center
In one of the most memorable events in the history of Robeson Community College, the college commemorated the opening of its Military Affiliated Resource Center in April with a grand opening celebration featuring the United States Army Golden Knights. The event lived up to expectations becoming the ultimate show-stopper, star-studded event featuring military personnel and veterans.
In addition to the Golden Knights, the event featured the Lumbee Warriors, Veterans from all branches of the military, and active-duty service members. North Carolina Senator Danny Britt and the former North Carolina Community College System President Thomas Stith were also in attendance, in addition to members of the community and RCC students, faculty, and staff.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
Golden Knights headline RCC Military Affiliated Resource Center
https://www.robesonian.com/news/178684/golden-knights-headline-rcc-military-affiliated-resource-center
US Army’s Golden Knights to jump for opening of Veterans Center at RCC
https://www.robesonian.com/news/178476/u-s-armys-golden-knights-to-jump-for-opening-of-veterans-center-at-robeson-community-college
WPDE
Look up! US Army parachute team Golden Knights celebrates opening of veterans center at RCC
https://wpde.com/news/local/look-up-us-army-parachute-team-golden-knights-celebrates-opening-of-veterans-center-robeson-community-college
SouthNC News
Golden Knights scheduled to jump for opening of Veterans center
https://southncnews.com/stories/621180100-golden-knights-scheduled-to-jump-for-opening-of-veterans-center
Photos:
https://tinyurl.com/9ybhc5kr
https://tinyurl.com/yr89mb83
Videos:
https://tinyurl.com/5e2fcc9h
https://tinyurl.com/3byvbaja
#2 – RCC begins a truck driving program thanks to a generous donation from Mountaire Farms
Recognizing the immediate need for more truck drivers and the national shortage, Robeson Community College started making plans in 2021 to start a truck driving program, but trucks are expensive. When Mountaire Farms heard of the need from Robeson Community College, they stepped in to help get the program off the ground and running by donating two trucks, a 2015 and a 2016 Kenworth T680, a total value of almost $100,000.
The Truck Driving Academy currently has a waitlist of more than 3 months and in January 2023 will begin offering more classes to help meet the needs of the industry.
Since the donation, the partnership with Mountaire has continued to flourish, making them one of RCC’s most generous supporters.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
Mountaire Farms donates two trucks to RCC’s Truck Driving Academy
https://www.robesonian.com/uncategorized/179199/mountaire-farms-donates-2-trucks-to-rccs-truck-driving-academy
RCC’s Truck Driving Academy up and running
https://www.robesonian.com/uncategorized/235998/rccs-truck-driving-academy-up-and-running
WCNC
Truck driver training programs, trucker shortage supply chain crisis
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/jobs/truck-driver-training-programs-trucker-shortage-supply-chain-crisis-united-states/275-9d9e336e-b08b-4302-9c81-07c5f7d072b7
EdNC
Robeson Community College creates intentional partnerships with local industries.
https://www.ednc.org/robeson-community-college-creates-intentional-partnerships-with-local-industry/
Mountaire Farms
Read the latest about our partnership with Robeson Community College
https://mountaire.com/read-the-latest-about-our-partnership-with-robeson-community-college/
SouthNC News
RCC’s Truck Driving Academy up and running
https://southncnews.com/stories/628269972-rcc-s-truck-driving-academy-up-and-running
#3 – Emergency Medical Services Building Opens
Robeson Community College unveiled its new Emergency Medical Services Building in April with a special Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. As part of the festivities, a helicopter from AirLife North Carolina landed on the campus near the new building. The building was greatly needed as the Emergency Medical Services program grew so quickly, they ran out of space to hold classes. The building features cutting-edge technology, which includes panoramic camera systems and two 86-inch interactive panels with a high-definition projector.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
RCC cuts ribbon on new EMS facility
https://www.robesonian.com/news/178857/rcc-cuts-ribbon-on-new-ems-facility
WBTW
New EMS Building open at Robeson Community College
https://www.wbtw.com/news/state-regional-news/robeson-county/new-ems-building-opens-at-robeson-county-community-college/
Photos
https://tinyurl.com/4r7493u2
https://tinyurl.com/3exzkks2
Video
#4 – Robeson Community College graduates the largest class in history; experiences a surge in enrollment
The Class of 2022 became the largest graduating class in the history of Robeson Community College! To celebrate the occasion, RCC had to hold two outdoor ceremonies to accommodate the record-breaking number of graduates on the center lawn of the campus.
In all, 377 students became official graduates. Of those graduates, 262 received associate degrees, 48 were awarded diplomas, and 65 students completed the requirements of a high school diploma.
Enrollment continues to bounce back after the pandemic, with the college experiencing a surge of growth in its curriculum, continuing education, and college and career readiness programs.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
More than 300 students receive degrees during RCC Commencement
https://www.robesonian.com/news/199947/more-than-300-students-receive-degrees-during-rcc-commencement
RCC Rebounds Enrollment, Swears in Trustees
https://www.robesonian.com/news/236239/rcc-rebounds-enrollment-swears-in-trustees
RCC welcomes back students, sees growing enrollment
https://www.robesonian.com/news/237278/rcc-welcomes-back-students-sees-growing-enrollment
Continuing Education experiences explosive growth at RCC
https://www.robesonian.com/news/154550/continuing-education-experiences-explosive-growth-at-rcc
College and Career Readiness Enrollment at RCC Skyrockets
https://www.robesonian.com/uncategorized/237741/college-career-readiness-enrollment-at-rcc-skyrocket
Photos:
Morning Ceremony: https://tinyurl.com/bdfkz9p7
Afternoon Ceremony: https://tinyurl.com/mrx7z3ef
# 5 – RCC’s Nursing program continues to receive accolades, achieves national accreditation; graduates the largest, most diverse class ever
Robeson Community College proudly announced in October that its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program became fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission on Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). The NLN CNEA is the gold standard that is highly sought among nursing schools and demonstrates that the ADN program at Robeson Community College has successfully passed a rigorous external quality review process which ensures students receive the most effective education needed to deliver quality patient care.
In 2022, the ADN program graduated the largest, most diverse class ever in the history of the program with 48 students completing the program. The program also saw an increase in the number of paramedic to RN graduates and the class of 2022 was one of the most culturally diverse cohorts of students enrolled. The program attracted first-generation college students, military-affiliated and veteran students, as well as Americans from Asia, and the Middle East, as well as students of Hispanic and African descent.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
RCC Nursing program earns accreditation
https://www.robesonian.com/news/239232/rcc-nursing-program-earns-accreditation
RCC addresses nursing shortage
https://www.robesonian.com/news/240095/rcc-addresses-nursing-shortage
RCC paints the campus pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
https://www.robesonian.com/news/239185/rcc-paints-campus-pink-for-breast-cancer-awareness
SouthNC News
RCC students raise awareness of cardiovascular health
https://southncnews.com/stories/620929948-rcc-s-nursing-students-raise-awareness-of-cardiovascular-health
Photos from the pinning ceremony held for the ADN Class of 2022: https://tinyurl.com/ym2843u7
# 6 – RCC launches major apprenticeship campaign
Apprenticeships was the name of the game in 2022, with Robeson Community College launching a major campaign targeted at businesses in hopes more programs would be established at the college. All businesses in Robeson County were invited to take part in Business Apprenticeship Day in June to learn more about the benefits of apprenticeships and the $2000 incentive offered to employers from the State of North Carolina for each apprentice hired.
The campaign featured billboards along the I-95 corridor in Robeson County, segments on WBTW’s Living Local Carolina, a special broadcast on WPDE, and a business roundtable discussion with the magazine, Business North Carolina.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
Business Apprenticeship Day set for June 29 at RCC
https://www.robesonian.com/news/235708/business-apprenticeship-day-set-for-june-29-at-robeson-community-college
Dekk Corp joins RCC for apprenticeship program
https://www.robesonian.com/news/236078/dekk-corp-joins-rcc-for-apprentiship-program
RCC to be featured in Saturday television broadcast
https://www.robesonian.com/uncategorized/235550/rcc-to-be-featured-in-saturday-television-broadcast
RCC director takes part in BusinessNC roundtable discussion
https://www.robesonian.com/news/236757/rcc-director-takes-part-in-business-nc-roundtable-discussion
WBTW – Living Local
Emergency Medical Services
https://www.wbtw.com/living-local/living-local-carolina-robeson-community-colleges-emergency-medical-service-program-and-apprenticeships/
Industrial Technology
https://www.wbtw.com/living-local/living-local-carolina-robeson-community-colleges-industrial-technology-program-and-apprenticeships/
Public Safety
https://www.wbtw.com/living-local/living-local-carolina-robeson-community-colleges-public-safety-programs/
Nursing
https://www.wbtw.com/living-local/living-local-carolina-robeson-community-colleges-nursing-programs/
Culinary Arts
https://www.wbtw.com/living-local/living-local-carolina-robeson-community-college-business-culinary-arts-programs/
WPDE
Robeson Community College: Apprenticeships for Today’s Business
BusinessNC
Roundtable Discussion – Article
https://issuu.com/businessnc/docs/bnc_aug2022/38
Roundtable Discussion – Video
https://youtu.be/KJUP1OJZ4gM
Photos with WBTW: https://tinyurl.com/5n799s9b
# 7 – RCC featured on WWAY’s Carolina Beat
Robeson Community College is on the Carolina Beat! The college was featured in late July and early August on the WWAY show hosted by Christina Dees. Episodes included segments on RCC’s University Transfer Program, Mechatronics, Welding, Cosmetology, and Early Childhood Education.
Read more about this story at the links below:
Robesonian
RCC on the Carolina Beat
https://www.robesonian.com/news/236611/robeson-community-college-on-the-carolina-beat
WWAY
Cosmetology
https://thecarolinabeat.com/the-carolina-beat/robeson-community-college-cosmetology/
Mechatronics
https://thecarolinabeat.com/the-carolina-beat/robeson-community-college-mechatronics/
Welding
https://thecarolinabeat.com/the-carolina-beat/robeson-community-college-welding/
Early Childhood Education
https://thecarolinabeat.com/the-carolina-beat/robeson-early-education/
College Transfer
https://thecarolinabeat.com/the-carolina-beat/robeson-community-college-transfer/
SouthNC News
RCC on the Carolina Beat
https://southncnews.com/stories/629451629-robeson-community-college-on-the-carolina-beat
Photos with WWAY: https://tinyurl.com/y2kerebn
# 8 – RCC Students Win Big at SkillsUSA Conference in Greensboro
Ten students from Robeson Community College made their way to Greensboro for the North Carolina SkillsUSA competition in April. They competed against 2,500 other students enrolled in various schools across the state, from grades 6-12, and postsecondary institutions.
Celeste Rosas, Tiffiney Hunt, Latoria Locklear, Jaeyln Deese, Sammie Strickland, and Emily Scott; Industrial students Allan Inestroza, Jonathan Gabino, Lydia Woods, and Virgil Lowery represented RCC well during the competition.
Allan Inestroza and Jonathan Gabino took gold in Greensboro with a 1st place finish and moved on to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia, where they placed 4th in the Mechatronics category.
Read more about this story at the link below:
SouthNC News
RCC students win big at SkillsUSA competition in Greensboro
https://southncnews.com/stories/624632775-rcc-students-win-big-at-skillsusa-competition-in-greensboro
Photos: https://tinyurl.com/4mrk4x5c
#9 – Cybersecurity students present at a National Conference in Washington, DC
Two students enrolled in the cybersecurity program at RCC, Adrian Barrales and Chelsey Hunt, took part in a student poster presentation session during the National 2022 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Principal Investigators’ Conference held in Washington, DC.
Several other students, faculty, and staff also attended the conference, which was held at the end of October this year and was made possible through the RCC CyberConnect Grant funded by the National Science Foundation – Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) Grant #2100012.
Read more about this story at the link below:
Robesonian
RCC Cybersecurity students faculty seize the moment in Washington, DC
https://www.robesonian.com/news/239478/rcc-cybersecurity-students-faculty-seize-the-moment-in-washington-dc
#10 – RCC celebrates its 1st Homecoming Week Celebration; Golf Tournament most successful in history, raises $80,000
Robeson Community College sought to make the college home, sweet, home for its students in October with its first Homecoming Week. The weeklong celebration kicked off with “The Fun Zone,” a day of fun, games, and registration too, and ended with a ‘Made in Robeson Day’ and a job fair. It also included a tug-of-war competition, pumpkin paint party contest, free haircuts and massages, and the 38th Anniversary Memorial Clifford Bullard Golf Tournament which featured several sports legends.
The tug-of-war competition was an upset, cosmetology students beat favored BLET students in the competition, taking ownership of the RCC Spirit Stick.
The golf tournament set records, raising more than $80,000 for scholarships thanks to a $25,000 donation from Robeson County native, John Townsend. The Foundation hopes to break records again in 2023 with a goal of raising $100,000.
Read more about this story at the link below:
Robesonian
RCC Homecoming Week details
https://www.robesonian.com/news/238390/robeson-community-college-homecoming-week-details
Homecomings in Robeson County
https://www.robesonian.com/uncategorized/238319/homecomings-in-robeson-county
Tarheel / Wolfpack legends to play in RCC’s Bullard Golf Tournament
https://www.robesonian.com/sports/238501/tar-heel-wolfpack-legends-to-play-in-rccs-bullard-golf-tournament
WWAY
Pumpkin paint party held at RCC
https://www.wwaytv3.com/pumpkin-paint-party-held-at-robeson-community-college/
WFXB
Students give free haircuts and massages during homecoming
https://www.wfxb.com/2022/10/05/how-to-use-your-talents-to-spread-good-and-stories-of-carolina-kindness/
WPDE
Homecoming Job Fair
https://wpde.com/news/local/more-than-50-employers-expected-for-lumberton-job-fair
SouthNC News
RCC to host First Homecoming Week October 3 – October 7
https://southncnews.com/stories/632536076-rcc-to-host-first-homecoming-week-october-3-october-7
RCC celebrates National Manufacturing Day with tours, job fair
https://southncnews.com/stories/633262331-rcc-celebrates-national-manufacturing-day-with-tours-job-fair
Photos: https://www.robeson.edu/robeson-community-college-home-sweet-home/
Other notable stories from 2022:
The John M. Belk Endowment Toured RCC
RCC hosted future chefs from area high schools who learned how to master the art of cooking alongside students in the culinary arts program.
Cosmetology students created fantasy model displays – which gained the attention of other cosmetology programs across the state.
Members of the RCC Campus got “mugged” over summer break, including President Singler.
The RCC Foundation raised almost $16,000 for scholarships during a National Day of Giving Telethon in honor of veterans and Trooper Kevin Conner.
In December, RCC celebrated its first Community Christmas celebration with a craft fair, gingerbread house competition, a tree lighting ceremony, and a visit from Santa.
