The WorkKeys® tests for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) will be offered four times in Wayne County in August.
The Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success (WORKS) program will provide testing sessions 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Aug. 4, and 4:30-9 p.m. on Aug. 10. All of these sessions will be held in Room 136 of the Walnut Building on Wayne Community College’s main campus in Goldsboro. Pre-registration by calling (919) 739-7004 is required.
Cost to take the set of three skill assessments (applied mathematics, locating information, and reading for information) is $36 but assistance to cover that cost may be available.
The Airman and Family Readiness Center on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base offers free assessments to military personnel and their dependents. Call (919) 772-1123 for more information and to register for the next testing session on base.
Those wishing to prepare for the NCRC may take advantage of the self-directed instruction and skills upgrade training offered in the WORKS Lab, which also is located in Room 136 of the Walnut Building. The lab is open 9 a.m.-noon on Mondays and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 5-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will be closed on Monday, July 4.
Individuals may earn bronze, silver, gold, or platinum certificates based on their performance on the tests. The NCRC is recognized by employers across the state as a proven measurement of job skills.
Wayne County leads the state, with more than 16,600 certificates awarded. A quarter of the county’s population holds the credential.
WORKS is a collaborative effort of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Wayne Community College, Wayne County Public Schools, County of Wayne, Wayne County Career Center, City of Goldsboro, and the Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board. It is housed Wayne Community College’s campus in Goldsboro.
More information on WORKS and the NCRC is available at www.wayneworksnc.com/works/.
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The Wayne Business and Industry Center will offer the free seminar “Starting a Home-Based Business” 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9, in Room 101 of the Walnut Building on Wayne Community College’s main campus in Goldsboro.
Presenter Melissa Rivera-Terrell of the Women’s Business Center will cover getting started, finding a niche, legal requirements, developing a business plan, marketing and financial plans, and more for those who believe they want to set up a business in their home.
To register, go to www.ncsbc.net, click on “Contact your Local SBC,” select “Wayne County,” choose an event, and click “Register.” Potential participants also may call (919) 739-6940.
This seminar is provided by the Small Business Center which is a component of the Wayne Business and Industry Center at Wayne Community College. In addition to offering seminars, the Center provides access to business resources and one-on-one counseling for exploring business ideas, starting a new business, or expanding an existing business.
Wayne Community College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs. Anyone who anticipates needing accommodation or has questions about access should contact Linda Berard at (919) 739-6941 or lrberard@waynecc.edu.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, it serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 72 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
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The Duke Energy Foundation has given Wayne Community College $24,048 for its Camp Kilowatt.
This is the eighth year of the camp and of the energy company’s support of it through a grant to the Foundation of Wayne Community College.
The four-day camp for middle and high school students explores alternative energy as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by providing hands-on learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. This year’s camp, which was held July 11-14 on the college’s campus in Goldsboro, focused on robotics.
The “N.C. Education Grant” was one of 52 donations given to innovative education programs and initiatives across North Carolina. The Foundation gave more than $2.7 million this year to enhance educational programs and initiatives that focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and childhood reading proficiency.
“It is essential that next-generation employees have a strong educational foundation that prepares them for the workforce,” said David Fountain, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Our investments in students and STEM initiatives strengthen the pipeline of highly skilled workers that will lead us to an even smarter future in North Carolina.”
About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of its communities. Annually, the Foundation funds more than $25 million in charitable grants, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact. Duke Energy has long been committed to supporting the communities where its customers and employees live and work, and will continue to build on this legacy. For more information, visit duke-energy.com/foundation.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
About the Foundation of Wayne Community College
The Foundation of Wayne Community College is a non-profit organization that works to broaden the base of community support for educational opportunities at the college. The Foundation assisted WCC students with 569 scholarships worth more than $367,000 for the summer 2015, fall 2015, and spring 2016 semesters. It also provides funding for innovative campus projects and employee recognition, and offers cultural programs for the community. Learn more about the Foundation of WCC at waynecc.edu/foundation/.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, it serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves. For more information, go to waynecc.edu.
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The director of Wayne Community College’s Aviation Systems Technology program has been honored by the Aviation Technician Education Council.
Mark S. Peeples was named the “Ivan D. Livi Aviation Maintenance Educator of the Year,” an award that recognizes excellence in aviation maintenance training, during the council’s annual conference in Atlanta.
The ATEC states that winners of the award “represent the very best of the AMTS community.” The award recognizes the outstanding achievement of an aviation maintenance technology instructor. The achievement can be in the form of a single event or long term outstanding performance but must have had a direct impact on aviation maintenance students.
This award, Peeples said, is “like the who’s who in our industry. This is the top.”
Peeples has more than 40 years’ experience in aviation. After serving 25 years with the U.S. Navy, he worked for two years at a maintenance repair and overhaul facility. For the last 15 years, Peeples has worked in academia, teaching in Florida at Florida State College at Jacksonville, and in Louisiana at SOWELA Technical Community College and Baton Rouge Community College, before coming to WCC.
He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2002 with a degree in aeronautics and holds a pilot certificate with instrument rating and an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanics certificate. Peeples is also a Designated Mechanic Examiner appointed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The move to WCC in 2014 was a homecoming for Peeples, who grew up in Smithfield and Clayton.
Peeples was nominated by WCC Applied Technologies Division Chair Dr. Ernie White who stated in his recommendation, “Professional, committed and driven are just some of the adjectives that describes Mark. Dedicated to student success is the primary mission that keeps the AMT [aviation maintenance technology] Department on task.”
“He consistently places students first in the classroom and is willing to come early or stay late to help students to be successful,” White wrote. “His strong values serve as a model for students prior to beginning their aviation career.”
“There are many A&P instructors, but few continue to pass the rigors of annual inspections like Mark,” White said. “Like hours on a plane, Mark has touched many students and as he continues to climb to altitude, leaving behind the legend of a complete aviation maintenance educator.”
This is Peeples’ second major recognition for his teaching acumen. In 2011 Peeples was recognized with a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award, nominated by SOWELA Technical Community College at which he was an aviation maintenance technology instructor.
The award, which has been presented since 1990, honors Ivan Livi (1920-2015) who was one of the council’s founding fathers and provided leadership to the organization for more than 50 years. According to ATEC, Livi’s passion for guiding aviation and maintenance students was infectious and he loved his role on the Northrop Rice Foundation, which gave him a venue to provide scholarships for young men and women to attend ATEC member institutions. His life – spanning nine decades – is a testament to what can be achieved through dedication, hard work and a commitment to serving others.
About ATEC
ATEC is a partnership of over 150 FAA-certificated training schools across the country. The council is dedicated to fostering aviation maintenance education and providing industry with skilled labor. More information is about the organization is available at www.atec-amt.org/.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, it serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves. For more information, go to www.waynecc.edu.
The Wayne Business and Industry Center will offer the free seminar “Credit 101: Raise Your Credit Score” 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, in Room 101 of the Walnut Building on Wayne Community College’s main campus in Goldsboro.
Presenter Robert Ivey will share what lenders look for when determining credit, what the different types of credit are, and how to begin the steps to increase a credit score. Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their most recent credit report to the session. They can go to annualcreditreport.com or creditkarma.com to get a free credit report.
To register, go to www.ncsbc.net, click on “Contact your Local SBC,” select “Wayne County,” choose an event, and click “Register.” Potential participants also may call (919) 739-6940.
This seminar is provided by the Small Business Center which is a component of the Wayne Business and Industry Center at Wayne Community College. In addition to offering seminars, the Center provides access to business resources and one-on-one counseling for exploring business ideas, starting a new business, or expanding an existing business.
Wayne Community College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs. Anyone who anticipates needing accommodation or has questions about access should contact Linda Berard at (919) 739-6941 or lrberard@waynecc.edu.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, it serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 72 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
