WEP Connections Quarterly Newsletter

WEP Connections

April 2023

ST Wooten is the 2022-2023 recipient of the

Jim and Carolyn Hunt Friend of Education Award

We were so excited to recognize ST Wooten Corp. with the Jim and Carolyn Friend of Education Award during a reception hosted by J. Michael Moore Interiors. From left are WEP President Rob Ferrell, Abbie McKeel and husband ST Wooten Division Manager Chris McKeel, Meagan Wooten and husband ST Wooten CEO and President Chris Wooten, ST Wooten CFO Doug Godwin, ST Wooten Vice President of Commercial Hank Butts and wife ST Wooten Recruiting Coordinator Debbie Butts and WEP Executive Director Robin Williams. Read more about our awesome recipient here: Olivia Neeley | Times

"Let the Music Play" Trivia/Spelling Bee Winners

Overall - Purdue Pharma

Trivia Winner - Wilson Early College Academy

Thanks to everyone who played, volunteered, sponsored and supported our signature event. We raised $15,000+ to help student programs and teacher

mini grants.

Congrats to the Purdue Pharma team from left, Jim Prunty, Angie Kearney, Amy Stancil and Shonecia Williams.

Congrats to the WECA team from left, Dr. Randy St. Clair, Jay Long, Kim Smith, Ashley Lamm and Michael Pardue.

Most Spirit

Vinson Bynum Elementary

Best Dressed

Wells Elementary

Best Table

Barnes Elementary

Above left our 22-23 Principal of the Year Jennifer Fogerty and our 22-23 Teacher of the Year Carrie Maravi were our star balloon poppers. Top right, Beth Searcy and Ryan Simons were are Bee and Trivia Hosts and to the right is the village that made this event happen. THANK YOU!!

Career Connections

WEP and Wilson County Schools partnered to provide numerous connections for our students and teachers this semester. We recorded 7 more "Learning from the Locals" videos for the library and started work on our job board.

Thanks to 3CStore Fixtures we also updated our #worknwilson signs for each high school.

Firefighter Ja'Monte Isler shared his career journey on one of our latest videos. He is a Fike High School graduate.

Thanks to Merck for their continued support through their Neighborhood of Choice grant.

Our "Communicating with Confidence Program"

Continues to Grow.

In March our Communicating with Confidence Committee met to evaluate the program. Thanks to WEP Board Member Ryan Simons and WEP President Rob Ferrell for leading us in strategic discussions. Several great suggestions and decisions were made to improve the program. We have added 20 more interviewers to the committee this semester.

Welcome Beddingfield English Teacher Heather Williams. She has joined our team and is helping implement the program for her students. The program is now in all three of our traditional high schools.

From left, Ms. Williams, Hunt teacher Jamie Sutton, Fike teacher Laura Nelson and Hunt teacher Ginny Shreve talked strategy as they welcomed Mrs. Williams to the team. They lead the program and share ideas and lessons with each other. They create their program based on their unique classroom dynamics.

As they learn more about career opportunities in Wilson, they can incorporate that knowledge into work-based learning for their students. Recently we took them on a tour of 3C Store Fixtures, Wilson Mold and Machine and Construct Inc. They spent much of the day, seeing the work firsthand, and asking the employers how best to prepare students for the workforce.

3C Store Fixtures

Construct, Inc.

Wilson Mold and Machine

Career Health Connections

Thanks to our Career Health Connections partners, students get to experience 9 weeks of engaging, hands on opportunities at different healthcare facilities.

This semester our 9 students earned the following:

HIPPA/Confidentiality Certificate
Youth Health Service Corps Certificate
Narcan Training
Career Health Connections Certificate

Above, our spring Career Health Connections class. From left back, Area L AHEC's Director for Health Careers and Workforce Diversity George Venturella II, Camila Rios, Caitlyn Baran, Chloe Duzlar, Duy Tran, Connie Pleasants, Amy Greene and WEP Executive Director Robin Williams. Front from left, Jesenia Rangel-Guerra, Diana Martinez-Lopez and Cathy Lee. Absent from the photo is Miriam Medina-Sanchez.

Below, Duy Tran, Carolina Family Health Centers Pharmacist Debra Mercer and Connie Pleasants have some fun during their visit.

Above, students got to deliver a baby using the mannequin at the Virtual Medical Center. Wilson Community College nursing students answered questions about classes, their training and expectations from professors.

Below, Miriam, Chloe and Camila learned about pediatrics, and all program participants received Narcan training and substance misuse education from Wilson County Substance Prevention Executive Director Jeff Hill and Data Coordinator Pamela Letchworth.

2022-2023 Teacher of the Year Luncheon

We love celebrating these amazing educators.

Thanks for all you do!

"Beginning Teachers" Valentine's Social

Thanks to Dean's Farm for hosting us!

Scavenger Hunt fun!

Gloria Burks Mini Grant

Thanks to Carlos Burks, Sr. for continuing to support Frederick Douglass Elementary students with the Gloria Burks Mini Grant. Funds purchased headphones for the school. Mrs. Burks retired from (Elm City Elementary) and was a teacher in several schools in our county. She passed away in 2020 and this is a way to keep her legacy alive. THANK YOU!