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Greetings!
As we continue through the fall semester, there is much to celebrate at Halifax Community College. In September, the HCC Foundation welcomed 18 teams and 72 players to its 17th Annual Golf Tournament, bringing together supporters and community partners to support student success. We are also creating new pathways for future students through NC College Connect, which provides eligible North Carolina high school seniors with a direct path to college admission, while continuing to support our current students through free tutoring, peer study sessions, and 24-hour virtual tutoring offered through our Center for Academic Excellence.
Our 2nd 8-Week Session begins October 20, offering another opportunity for students to start or continue their educational journey at HCC. Together, these efforts reflect our continued commitment to opening doors, supporting success, and strengthening the community we are proud to serve.
At our 2026 Board of Trustees Retreat, we reflected on HCC’s continued progress and welcomed two newly appointed trustees, Anthony “Tony” Gravanda and Kathryn Strickland Wrenn, and reappointed trustee Barbie Shearin, as we continue advancing student success, workforce development, partnerships, and opportunities across our College and community. Building on this momentum, we are launching HCC’s strategic planning process, inviting our campus and community to help shape our mission, priorities, and shared vision for a stronger HCC and a brighter future.
Dr. Patrena Elliott
President/CEO, Halifax Community College
| | Shaping HCC’s Next Chapter | | | | |
Halifax Community College held its 2026 Board of Trustees Retreat on September 29 to reflect on the College’s progress, accomplishments, and future priorities. During the retreat, President/CEO Dr. Patrena Elliott presented the State of the College, highlighting continued progress in enrollment and FTE growth, expanded academic and workforce programs, increased financial resources, campus infrastructure improvements, new transfer and community partnerships, and initiatives supporting student success. HCC also welcomed two newly appointed members to the Board of Trustees: Anthony “Tony” Gravanda, Kathryn Strickland Wrenn, and reappointed trustee Barbie Shearin. The College looks forward to their leadership and perspectives as HCC continues its mission to inspire excellence, ignite possibilities, and transform lives.
Building on this momentum, HCC has launched its strategic planning process as a college cohort of the inaugural Belk Strategic Planning Institute. This process will give students, employees, trustees, and community members opportunities to share their perspectives and help shape the College’s future. The planning process will examine HCC’s mission, vision, and values while exploring priorities including student success and completion, workforce and economic mobility, organizational excellence and sustainability, and community impact.
| | The Strategic Planning Institute (SPI) and Fellows Program is a year-long, cohort-based program that helps rural-serving community colleges build their next strategic plan through structured facilitation, tools and peer mentoring. SPI is a partnership between the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University and the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) with funding from Ascendium Education Group — offered at no cost to participating colleges. | |
HCC Foundation Celebrates Successful 17th Annual Golf Tournament | | The impact of your support can continue long after the final putt. By making a gift to the Halifax Community College Foundation, you help provide resources and opportunities that directly support student achievement and success at HCC. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps make a difference in the lives of our students and strengthens our community. To make a gift and support student success, donate online at www.halifaxcc.edu/give. | First Place: Roanoke Rapids High School team, pictured here with Elijah White, team sponsor (center). From left to right: Joe Huss, Brayden Midgette, Elijah White, Holden Ford, and Josh Craddoc. | | Second Place: Halifax Linen. Team Members: (Not pictured) John Simeon, Preston McElheney, Chase McElheney, and Sean Beaver | | Third Place: Smurfit Westrock. Team Members: Danny Harris (right), Ronnie Holt (left), Bryan Hyman, and John Felts (not pictured). | | | | The HCC Foundation celebrated another successful year on the course at its 17th Annual HCC Foundation Golf Tournament on September 4, 2026, bringing together community partners, supporters, alumni, HCC’s faculty and staff, the board of trustees, and golfers to support student success at the college. This year’s tournament welcomed 18 teams and 72 players for a day of friendly competition and fellowship. The HCC Foundation extends a special thank-you to Cummins, the 2026 Title Sponsor, for its generous support of this year’s tournament. The Foundation also thanks Chockoyotte Country Club for hosting the annual event, along with the many sponsors, donors, golfers, attendees, volunteers, and supporters whose contributions made the tournament possible. | | The HCC Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization designated by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation will provide an acknowledgement of contributions for tax purposes. For more information, please contact Dr. Jennifer Welch-Jones, Executive Director of the Foundation, at (252) 536-7280. | |
HCC Opens Direct Path to College for Local High School Seniors Through NC College Connect | | |
Halifax Community College is helping make the path from high school to college simpler for students across the Roanoke Valley through NC College Connect, a statewide effort that provides eligible North Carolina high school seniors with a direct path to college admission.
This fall, 105,036 North Carolina public high school seniors who are on track to graduate with a diploma and meet program requirements are eligible to receive direct admission to their local community college through NC College Connect. That represents more than 95% of current Grade 12 and 13 students in North Carolina public schools.
The program has also expanded this year to reach more students. In the previous two years, NC College Connect was limited to public high school seniors with a GPA of 2.8 or higher. This year, 37,429 additional students are being reached because eligibility for community college direct admission has been expanded to all public high school seniors who are on track to graduate, regardless of GPA.
| | Celebrating Constitution Day at HCC | | | | In recognition of Constitution Day, September 17, 2026, Halifax Community College students were asked to share their thoughts on an important part of our democracy: “The Right to Vote.” What does the right to vote mean to them? | | |
Please join us in congratulating Linda Smith, WIOA Operations Manager, and Charles Wilkinson, English Instructor, as they celebrate their retirements after many years of dedicated service.
Linda retires after 25 years of service, during which she devoted her time and talents to serving others and showed a strong commitment to her work and the individuals she supported. Charles retires after 26 years of service, leaving a lasting impact through his dedication to teaching and his commitment to the students of Halifax Community College.
Together, Linda and Charles represent an incredible 51 years of service. We are grateful for their dedication, contributions, and the positive difference they have made throughout their careers.
As they begin this exciting new chapter, we wish Linda and Charles many wonderful days filled with relaxation, adventure, happiness, and joy.
Congratulations on your retirement, Linda and Charles, and thank you for your many years of dedicated service!
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The Next NC Scholarship offers an opportunity for many adults to return to school at no cost, helping them gain the skills they need to secure in-demand, high-paying jobs right in their community. Through the Better Skills. Better Jobs. initiative, we engage directly with adults who have earned some college credits but haven’t yet received a degree or certification. This initiative features community events, social media promotions, targeted digital marketing, and personalized resources to make it easier for adult learners to reconnect and re-enroll. Thanks to our collaborative efforts with the John M. Belk Endowment, myFutureNC, and several other state and local partners, we’re excited to launch this special outreach campaign to welcome even more adult learners back to college!
Better Skills. Better Jobs Link: https://betterskillsbetterjobs.com/halifax-community-college/
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