Greetings! Here's your monthly guide to what's happening at CFCC.

Dear Sea Devil Community,

We’re off to a wonderful start to our fall semester. Our curriculum enrollment has remained up, over 2020 and 2019 numbers. I am incredibly thankful to all of our faculty and staff who have worked so hard to make sure our students have what they need despite the challenges facing us all.

In addition to our full fall semester, we are offering two “mini” sessions this fall, both of which are enrolling now, and we will also offer a winter session between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. Our aim is to provide as many opportunities as we can to help students get enrolled and on their way to achieving their goals. Funds are available to help offset costs for these shorter sessions, so if you know someone who would like to take a class at CFCC, please invite them to apply and get started.

I'm sure you're aware that CFCC nursing programs are consistently ranked #1 in the state. I'm excited to share that we are now able to offer more assistance to our nursing students, thanks to a generous gift from Dan Saklad, in memory of his wife, Sheila. Saklad's gift means more help with program expenses and support, and includes a living stipend of 12 hours per week. You can find more information below and get all the details here.

We’re also excited to announce that we have added a spring start for our Associate Degree Nursing program. Our community needs more nurses and we are actively working to expand our capacity.

Please join me in welcoming three new members to our board of trustees – Deborah Dicks Maxwell, Deloris Rhodes, and Bill Rivenbark. We look forward to working with these experienced professionals who are volunteering their time to help our students and community. Jonathan Barfield, Jr., and Zander Guy have been reappointed to the board. We appreciate their continued service and leadership. We'd also like to welcome our new SGA President, Miguel Nandlal.

On Saturday, September 11, CFCC hosted a 9/11 memorial ceremony honoring victims, first responders, and survivors on this 20th anniversary. Ten years ago, CFCC students created a monument at the north campus using a beam from the World Trade Center. The video at the right shows the student's hard work on this project. Please take a moment to watch and reflect with us.

All my best,

Here's a look at what's happening at CFCC...

For the latest news, visit cfcc.edu/news

Cape Fear Community College hosted a 20th Anniversary ceremony of 9/11 on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Safety Training Center at CFCC's North Campus. CFCC President Jim Morton and Chris Nelson, director of public safety training, led the ceremony. Thanks to all who joined us to pay tribute.

In 2011, the College’s design students crafted a 9/11 monument modeled after a beam given to the school from the World Trade Center (pictured right). The students created two towers, carving 3,000 holes throughout the steel beams in order to represent the lives that were lost that day.

We are pleased to announce a significant expansion of support for the LPN-RN program and its students through the leadership gift of Dan Saklad, in memory of his wife, Sheila. Gifts to both the Cape Fear Community College Foundation and NHRMC Foundation ($400,000 in total) will support two major initiatives.

The Sheila M. Saklad Accelerated Nursing Fellowship will support students in CFCC’s Accelerated LPN to RN program, allowing seasoned licensed practical nurses to gain the education needed to attain registered nursing licensure in only two semesters. This fellowship provides funding for all educational expenses (tuition, books, supplies), a brand-new laptop, a living stipend of 12 hours per week, plus professional tutoring, career counseling, and alumni mentorship.

Through the Upward Mobility RN Scholarship, NHRMC Novant employees obtaining their education at CFCC will receive up to two years of full tuition coverage for their licensing program; a flexible reduced schedule at the same rate of pay and benefits in order to dedicate time to their studies; and monthly meetings with a nurse mentor and career coach.

CFCC’s nursing programs are continually ranked among the best in North Carolina. Most CFCC nursing graduates stay in the Cape Fear region, working with New Hanover Regional Medical Center who employs approximately 60 CFCC nursing graduates each year.

“Not only will I be able to give back to the community myself, but I will show my children and other children that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” said Fraley. “Not many people are able to go through one nursing program successfully with children, but [I will] show others who are battling with doubt that there is no limit to your success and the number of goals you can reach.”

We are pleased to welcome three new members to the Board of Trustees at Cape Fear Community College. Please join us as we offer a warm greeting to Deborah Dicks Maxwell, Deloris Rhodes, and Bill Rivenbark.

Deborah Dicks Maxwell serves as president of the New Hanover County NAACP and District Director for the Walter B. White District of the NC NAACP. She also chairs the Southeastern Regional Network of Care and Prevention and spent 25 years as a public health social worker. Dicks Maxwell is a Desert Storm veteran and served in the U.S. Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Deloris Rhodes brings over 35 years of education experience, working in five states and overseas with Department of Defense schools. Rhodes has served as a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, and assistant superintendent before serving as an outreach liaison for UNCW's Watson College of Education from 2007 to 2014 and was a founding member of the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW) and UNCW's Dropout Prevention Coalition. She served on the Governor's Task Force for Safer Schools and local boards for the New Hanover County Arts Council, Community Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Landfall Foundation, Cape Fear Literacy Council, New Hanover Library, and the Bellamy Mansion.

Bill Rivenbark serves as a New Hanover County Commissioner and also serves on the Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board, the New Hanover County ABC Board, the New Hanover County Health and Human Services Board, and is an Ex-Officio Director of the Wilmington Business Development Board. He also previously served as a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education.

Deborah Dicks Maxwell

Deloris Rhodes

Bill Rivenbark

We'd like to introduce you to CFCC's new Student Government Association President Miguel Nandlal. We look forward to a great year!

Give it up for this group of high achievers - our newest class of Electrical Lineworker Graduates. We are so proud of you!!

Ready to explore this great program?

We love recognizing our team for outstanding work and this award couldn't be more deserved! Kudos to CFCC music instructor Benny Hill (Pictured right, with CFCC President Jim Morton). We were happy to present you with this award!

Pictured left to right: Logan Thompson, Director of Philanthropy - CFCC Foundation, Suzann Ankrom, Board President - Assistance League of Greater Wilmington, and Shane Fernando, Vice President of Advancement and the Arts - CFCC.

We are so grateful to our friends at the Assistance League of Greater Wilmington who presented the CFCC Foundation with $10,000 to support CFCC students! Your generosity will make a huge impact on so many lives!

Go from Cape Fear to your career! Explore dozens of options to grow or start your career, business, and more. Train for an essential career, grow your professional toolkit, or take classes for personal enrichment at CFCC this fall!

Soccer: Free Admission • Volleyball: Adults $5 | Kids 12 and under FREE

All Games: Employees and Staff get in FREE with ID

Ensure workplace and job site safety for you and your construction employees!

CFCC's Customized Training division is offering safety and OSHA training for employees at all levels. 10 and 30-hour training classes will be held this November. Sign up today!

November 15-17

OSHA 10 HR Training

8 am - 5 pm

November 15-19

OSHA 30 HR Training

8 am - 5 pm

This may actually be the best time to do it. Just for starters, there are temporary financial aid programs available to address pandemic-related economic hardships. The Longleaf Commitment Grant, which is available to 2021 NC high school graduates, could provide up to $2,800 per year for students from households earning less than $90k. There is also the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which is part of the CARES Act and can provide between $250 and $750 per student.

In addition to extra financial assistance, CFCC has more options to prepare students for in-demand careers, including an expanded student workspace for our auto collision repair program, a brand new Advertising and Graphic Design program, just to name a few.

Read more about these opportunities available at CFCC and what they can mean for your career!

Cape Fear Community College celebrated the graduation of its most recent group of Detention Officer Certification Course (DOCC) students on Friday, September 3, 2021. Five students from New Hanover County participated in the five-week course and passed the state exam.

Offered to detention officers from across the region, the state-mandated course load requires 174 hours of instruction, but these students completed 196 hours of instruction. Extra hours were built in to account for subject control techniques, contraband searches, a mock trial for investigative process, and extra time for review sessions.

“Detention Officers are often unsung heroes, but they play a vital role in keeping our communities safe,” said Fuss. “Congratulations to these officers and best of luck as they further their detention careers.”

Well done, grads! We are extremely proud of your accomplishments.

We offer a hearty congratulations to our recent CFCC Teaching Academy class of 2020 and 2021 graduates! 👏 You did it! These instructors completed this Teaching Academy to enhance their teaching practices and ultimately increase student engagement and success. We are amazed and inspired by these instructors and how they strive for excellence!

The Cape Fear Electrical Contractors Association, Inc. awarded $6,000 to student apprentices in the Electrical Apprenticeship program at Cape Fear Community College. Thanks to this award, students will receive a $600 scholarship to help finance the cost of tools, books, and other supplies essential to the electrical trade.

The Cape Fear Electrical Contractors Association, Inc. established the Robert C. Massengill Scholarship Fund at CFCC in 2020 to honor the memory of Robert C. Massengill, an electrical contractor with a long history in the Wilmington area. This latest gift brings the cumulative total for the scholarship to $12,000. We are so grateful for this gift to our students!

“CFECA’s support of CFCC apprentices is a true investment in our community,” said CFCC Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development, John Downing. “This generous gift will help our apprentices excel in the trade and continue to positively impact their families and our local economy.”

Read the full story here.

October kicks off Countdown to College activities across North Carolina to assist high school seniors with post-secondary planning.

To support these efforts, and as part of College Application Week (October 18-22), Cape Fear Community College will provide students and families the opportunity to get one-on-one assistance with residency (tuition determinations) and admissions applications across all four campus locations.

“While students can apply to CFCC throughout the year, Countdown to College efforts and our Application Nights will help students get started early and to begin thinking about future plans,” said CFCC’s Sr. Director of Admissions, Student Recruitment, and Engagement.

Tuesday, October 19 • 4-7 PM

Downtown Wilmington Campus

Location: Union Station, Room 211

Parking: Visitor Lot

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Wednesday, October 20 • 4-7 PM

North Campus

Location: McKeithan Center

Parking: Visitor Lots

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Thursday, October 21 • 4-7 PM

Surf City Center

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Thursday, October 21 • 4-7 PM

Burgaw Center

Application Nights are open to the public. Get all the details.

October 5 and 7

9 am-Noon

CFCC Union Station

502 N Front St, Wilmington

Unlock the potential of your team with this FREE series! Four modules cover topics from leadership goals and communication to multi-generational workforces and working with different personalities.

Cape Fear Community College is partnering with Coastal Horizons to make free licensed therapy sessions available to students. Through the Coastal Horizons and CFCC Collaborative, CFCC students will have a direct and immediate way to connect with licensed therapists and have confidential discussions on campus or virtually.

“At Cape Fear, our commitment to students doesn’t stop with academic success; it extends to their overall wellbeing,” said CFCC President Jim Morton. “With a Coastal Horizon’s licensed therapist readily accessible on campus, our students will have a convenient and confidential way to address personal challenges and concerns.”

CFCC recognizes the need for childcare expenses and has expanded the grant program for 2021-22 to include expenses for the following types of licensed businesses or organizations that provide childcare services:

CFCC adult high school graduate Crystal Harris discovered her passion at CFCC and is on her way to a career as a substance abuse counselor.

Harris enrolled in the adult high school program planning to become a law enforcement officer. However, after leaning into the CFCC support staff, she discovered that her skills, strengths, and passions better aligned with something else: Substance abuse counseling for teenagers and children.

“I used to struggle with questions like ‘what am I supposed to do now?’ and ‘how am I supposed to support my family?’” said Harris. “If it wasn’t for Cape Fear Community College’s Adult High School program, these doubts would still be ringing in my ears,” she added. Read about Crystal's inspiring story.

CFCC's Small Business Center supports the development and growth of small businesses with a diverse offering of resources and seminars. Here's a glimpse at a few upcoming FREE events. Please attend if you can and tell a friend!

Online

Topic: Marketing and Sales

Online

Topic: Technology

Online

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Online

Topic: Marketing and Sales

Online

This is just a snapshot of our offerings. View the full list.

ECU College of Business will host an information table in Union Station Lobby for CFCC transfer students.

Learn more here.

BB&T auditorium: CFCC North Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Rd, Castle Hayne, NC

To schedule your appointment: Visit redcrossblood.org, Enter CFCC in the upper right "Find a Blood Drive" window, and schedule your time.

This session will provide a brief overview of CFCC academic programs and options, student life, and enrollment steps. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how to connect with appropriate resources.

Join the session here.

This is just a partial list of upcoming events at CFCC! Check out the full list at CFCC.EDU/EVENTS.

Keep an eye on our social media for updates on program information sessions and other upcoming events.

Written when Georges Bizet was a 17-year old student and promptly shelved, his Symphony in C was rediscovered in 1933 and has since become one of his most popular works due to its precocious invention and charm. This youthful work will be featured as well as Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by Wilmington's favorite Paolo André Gualdi.

Get tickets here.

This high-energy, interactive stage production brings the culinary hit TV shows MasterChef & MasterChef Junior directly to fans and foodies alike…LIVE on stage! The family-friendly show will feature head-to-head cooking demonstrations and fun (sometimes messy!) challenges with past MasterChef & MasterChef Junior contestants, and an overall immersive audience experience fun for all ages. Celebrate all things MasterChef with a VIP Package. Limited packages are available that include a premium seat, meet and greet experience, signed show poster, photo, and more.

Get tickets here.

1970 London: Three sons of US Air Force personnel became what we know as the band called America. They shot to the top of the charts with “A Horse With No Name” and their folk-rock sound quickly earned them global acclaim.

Get tickets here.

THE VILLAGE PEOPLE brought us Disco hits like "Y.M.C.A," "In the Navy," and "Macho Man," and have produced five hit records starting with their debut album in 1977. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of that first album, Willis decided to take the group back out on the road... and they are on their way to Wilmington with the hits that made them famous!

Get tickets here.

There are so many great events coming up! Visit WisonCenterTickets.com to see the full lineup and get tickets.

Click here to see more of what's coming up!