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CCCC EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH!

Employee of the Month: Alexandra "Alex" Dowdy


Employee of the Month Employee of the Month

Alex Dowdy helped develop a new student evaluation form and process that will save the college a significant amount of money and still provide valuable feedback on instructors and their classes. She has willingly shared the process with the other deans and has offered to help others implement the process.

Alex works hard every day on behalf of the college, pitching in wherever she is needed to make things run more smoothly. She is particularly valuable to the Career and Technical Education Division, communicating well with faculty and helping them with a variety of administrative tasks that make things run more smoothly. She is a whiz at purchasing and accounting activities and has helped streamline the purchase, organization, and record keeping of our supplies and equipment for academic programs.

Alexandra Dowdy

CTE Administrative Specialist

How long have you worked for CCCC?
I started with CCCC in May of this year.

What brought you to CCCC?
After working as a bookkeeper/ payroll manager with Lee County Schools for several years, I was ready to seek a new challenge in my career. My brother, Daniel Berndt, had worked at CCCC for many years and had always raved that it was such an amazing place to work for and the employees here were truly a family. When this position became available, he really pushed me to go for it and I am extremely happy that I did. I have truly enjoyed my time here and look forward to the many years to come.

Describe what you do for CCCC.
I work with the Career and Technical Education Division under Dean Drew Goodson and the Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development, Dr. Brian Merrit. I manage the budget and facilitate purchasing for all CTE departments and my duties span record-keeping for our internal budget spreadsheets, the purchasing of supplies and equipment as needed for our academic programs, and other administrative tasks such as contracts, Datatel entries, and payroll.

Where were you born?
I was born in Sanford.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Sanford.

Educational credentials?
I earned my Bachelor in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of North Carolina- Wilmington. I also earned a Cosmetology Certificate from Central Carolina Community College, and I am currently working on my MBA with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

Where do you live now?
I live in Bear Creek, Chatham County.

Tell us about your family!
My parents, Eric and Sandra Berndt, are both from Lee County. My late father was born in South Bend, Indiana (go Notre Dame), but moved here at a young age. He worked for a local floral company for 20 years in Sanford and passed away this year in February. My mother was born here in Sanford, NC, and grew up in Deep River. She is a local hairdresser and salon owner in Sanford for 40-plus years. My husband's name is Mitchell Dowdy of Chatham County. He works at Sequris in Holly Springs and we have one son, Cole Thomas Dowdy, who will turn two in February and the sweetest child ever.

What are some of your hobbies or other interest outside of CCCC?
Spending time with my son and family. I am a part-time cosmetologist. I also love to sing. It is a hobby I started with my dad in our church, Cool Springs Baptist, when I was a little girl. I love snowboarding, kayaking, and four-wheeling. I love watching ACC Basketball (Go TarHeels), the game show network, and any type of singing or talent competition shows.

What superhero power would you most like to have?
I think it would be neat to have ShapeShifter abilities that enable me to change into anything I want to be at any given time, like Mystique in X-men.

Which actor would portray you in a movie about your life?
Reese Witherspoon.

What is your favorite meal?
Tuna steak with sweet potato fries. Any kind of seafood is my favorite.

Anything else you'd like to share with the CCCC family?
I would like to personally thank the people who have taken me under their wing and have helped me since I started here at CCCC. Thank you all for everything you have done for me. I greatly appreciate it.

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WOW! WHAT A TEAM!

Christmas Tree Lighting

Great music by Lee County High School's Marching Band and The Temple Teens, a visit by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, and lighting of the Christmas tree all added to the festivities Dec. 5 as the Central Carolina Community College Foundation hosted its Annual Christmas Tree Lighting celebration for the community. Pictured here are various scenes from the celebration.

View and download Christmas tree lighting pictures at Foundation Christmas Tree Lighting.

View and download 2019 Holiday Pictures with Santa in Lee County.

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First in the World Grant

by Dr. Brian Merritt, Vice President, Learning & Workforce Development/Chief Academic Officer

CCCC is in its fifth and final year of its First in the World Grant. In partnership with nine other North Carolina community colleges and organizations, including Aviso Retention, DVP-PRAXIS LTD, and JFF, the primary project goal has been to implement and evaluate success coaching. With support from a U.S. Department of Education’s First in the World grant, more than 20 success coaches are now serving more than 7,000 students across North Carolina, representing a diversity of genders, ages, races, and experiences.

This white paper describes what we’ve learned about success coaching and how it fits within—and can augment the impact of—broader student success efforts in North Carolina community colleges.

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Annual Senior Christmas Party

The Central Carolina Community College Dunn Senior Center and the City of Dunn Parks and Recreation Department held their annual Senior Christmas Party Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Dunn Community Center, 205 Jackson Road, Dunn.

Seniors were honored with a catered meal by Blackmon’s Catering, music, small gift bags, and door prizes. Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell and her family donated money to the Dunn Center to help with transportation fees so more seniors could be included on day trips. The money was given in honor of her uncle, Bobby McKoy, Senior Volunteer of the Year 2019.

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STEP-Up Scholars Travel to NIH

On Nov. 25, six students traveled with Dr. Powell to Washington, D.C., to attend the annual National Institutes of Health community college day. The trip was funded as part of cohort building activities for the National Science Foundation funded STEP-Up scholarship program for students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math fields. On Nov. 26, they attended sessions ranging from self care to research careers, health related careers, transfer success, summer internships, and networking in your field. After the day at NIH, they toured the National Mall before returning to Sanford.

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My Experience

by Jenni Dalrymple

On Oct. 16, I had the opportunity to observe the creative writing workshop with guest speaker Dasan Ahanu. This was the first instructional workshop of any kind that I have attended, and I was curious to see what it would entail. I wasn’t sure what would be discussed, until the beginning, when he announced it was about poetry styles. I enjoy writing, but poetry has always been something that I was never able to dig my heels into. However, by the time I walked out of the session, my opinion had completely changed.

After his introduction, Ahanu began to recite a few of his poems. At this point, my view of poetry was already shifting. It wasn’t the unemotional textbook poetry that I had read before — it was raw and intriguing. I felt what he was saying more than I heard it.

Once he had recited his poems, Ahanu transitioned into his lesson. He presented two strategies of constructing a poem: “Deconstruction/Reconstruction” and “Objective Correlative.” As he was explaining the two options, it appeared to me which of the poems he recited was written with one of the strategies. The way he showed the audience his own work, before explaining the process, made the understanding of the material easier in my opinion. Following the instruction, participants had the opportunity to write their own poem using one, or both, of the strategies provided. Once they had finished, they would work together to share and critique.

I normally would not have seen myself attending a workshop at school that was not required, and I doubt many of my peers could see themselves doing it either; however, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity for this experience. I have not only gained a new and exciting view of poetry, but I have also learned to step out and explore what our college has to offer for us.

While in college, you learn who you are, what you like, and how you define yourself. I admit that I am someone who doesn’t stray far from the things that I know and like, but this workshop has changed my mindset. I plan to encourage my friends and fellow students here at CCCC to look at the opportunities that are offered here, and try a few of them out, because you never know what might have you leaving with a new perspective.

Jenni Dalrymple is a student at Central Carolina Community College. Read Jenni's full article.

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CCCC Hosts Creative Writing Workshop

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written by Jenni Dalrymple, who is a student at Central Carolina Community College.

SANFORD — The community recently gathered together in the Library of the Central Carolina Community College Lee Main Campus to learn and create works of art, in the form of poetry, at a recent Creative Writing Workshop. Individuals of all ages were eager to hear the knowledge and expertise of Christopher Massenburg, better known as Dasan Ahanu.

Ahanu is a community organizer, educator, writer, recording and performance artist. He was a founder of Black Poetry Theatre, an artist with the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation/Hayti Heritage Center located in Durham, and a founder, as well as a coach, of the Bull City Slam Team. In 2018, he helped create the St. James Encyclopedia of Hip-Hop Culture.

Ahanu began the workshop by reciting poetry that he wrote, such as “Sunday in Paradise.” He then transitioned to teaching the participants two different strategies of writing a poem. The first being “Deconstruction/Reconstruction.” In this type of poem, the deconstruction represents “taking a familiar thing, breaking it apart, and finding the deep obscure parts,” said Ahanu. Reconstruction is then “taking the elements found within the deconstruction and creating a new story to deliver a message or raise awareness.” The second poetry option presented was “Objective Correlative,” which contains an equation consisting of “set objects, a situation, and a chain of events.” Ahanu explained that the purpose of this strategy was to “show the emotion, not tell the emotion,” by adding details to continually pull the reader in.

Following the lecture, the workshop moved into the computer lab, where the participants were able to choose from the two techniques, or choose to do both, and write their own poems. Once they were done, they came together and had the opportunity for sharing and critiquing.

CCCC History & Social Sciences Lead Instructor Bianka Rhodes Stumpf organized the event. After the workshop came to a close, participants had the option to give feedback.

Besides the workshop held on the CCCC Lee Main Campus, similar workshops with Dasan Ahanu were held at the Chatham Community Library in Pittsboro and the CCCC Harnett Main Campus Library.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

See Jenni's reflection on the experience.

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Accessibility in the Classroom

This year, the Distance Education department began offering "Accessibility in the Classroom" online via Blackboard. This training educates faculty on different aspects of accessibility and is a part of the College's DE Refresh certification. To sign up or learn more, please email acart117@cccc.edu. Seated training options are available for this training by request.

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North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh

CCCC Spanish instructor Begona Buxens recently took her Spanish I class to a special exhibit of acclaimed Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and her husband, the Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera, at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Her class had explored these artists' work in class, but it was a rare opportunity to see this work first-hand. Buxens' students each identified works of art and gave mini-lectures to their classmates.

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Cougar Vets Club at Tree Lighting


CCCC President, Lisa M. Chapman, and Cougar Vets Club Vice President Daniel Rodriguez at the Dec. 5 Christmas Tree Lighting event. Daniel is an Army Veteran, VUB participant, and new CCCC student working in the Medical Assistant program.

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Laser and Photonics Tour

Army veteran and VUB participant Josh Risano tours the Laser and Photonics program at the Harnett campus. Josh is shown by a first-year student how they focus a laser beam in a lab setting. Josh is considering enrolling in this program in the fall of 2020.

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Siler City ESL Students in the Holiday Spirit


College and Career Readiness's SIler City ESL students are getting in the holiday spirit!

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Year End Potluck

Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is having a year-end potluck for its participants, other military affiliated students, and friends Dec. 13 from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Wicker Center (big room). Any interested guests please follow up with Karmisha Hernandez Luciana at khern141@cccc.edu. This is intended to be an after lunch event, so please stop over and spend a few minutes with our VUB participants, and other military affiliated students. We will be having finger foods, cookies, and drinks.

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Traditional Thanksgiving Meals for VUB Participants

For the third consecutive year, Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) has been able to gather enough funds through generous donations to purchase traditional Thanksgiving meals for VUB participants in need. This year, through a gracious $100 donation from a veteran who attended this year's Veterans Day event and from our long-time supporter and CIT instructor Rich Biggs for purchasing the turkeys, we were able to create and deliver nine meals. These meals included everything needed for a family of four. The turkeys were all between 16-18 lbs. VUB could not continue going above the standard if it were not for our CCCC family.

VUB is having a year end potluck for its participants, other military affiliated students, and friends 13 Dec from 1-3pm at the Wicker Center (big room). Any interested guests please follow up with Karmisha (khern141@cccc.edu). This is intended to be an after lunch event so please stop over and spend a few minutes with our VUB participants, and other military affiliated students. We will be having finger foods, cookies, and drinks.

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Helping Lee County Children During Holidays

by Bianka Stumpf, Social Sciences Lead Instructor

It is my privilege each year to coordinate getting interested CCCC employees connected to the Christmas JOY Program in Lee County. This program is an opportunity to make the holidays special and memorable for deserving children in our community, and CCCC has been participating at least my 15-year tenure (and probably even longer). Interested individuals and groups agree to sponsor a child (an "angel") by purchasing things like clothing, coats, and toys. Children range in age from birth to 12.

I have angels ready for adoption. Last year CCCC adopted 39 angels! Some departments, buildings, and peer groups at the college pool their resources to adopt an angel in lieu of gift exchanges on campus. Some individuals at CCCC wish to support an angel, but don't want to do the shopping. In these cases, I can do as I have in the past and do the shopping for you with your monetary contribution.

As a child with little resources, I received my holiday gifts through this program 30 years ago, and my heart holds a special place for it. Participation is a remarkable way to embody a spirit of service. If you or a CCCC group of you are interested, please call me at (919) 498-5452 or e-mail bstum056@cccc.edu.

Gifts will be due to First Presbyterian Church on Hawkins Avenue in December. You can drop them off there, or I can arrange for a pick-up and drop-off for you. Details on drop-off will accompany your angel materials.

Thanks so much for considering and/or sharing with anyone you think would be interested.

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Fit For Spring - Personal Training Clients

by Carl Bryan, Department Chair, Health and Fitness Science

Spring 2020 is approaching and the Health and Fitness Science First Year students will be providing Personal Training sessions twice a week to volunteers. This includes pre-testing, fashioning SMART goals for your own fitness endeavors, and post-testing. This will start Feb. 3 and run until the end of the Spring 2020 semester. The commercial value of this endeavor is over $1000, but as a volunteer, you get it for free.

The Personal Training Class will run on TTH from 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., however, the sessions will run only one hour.

We have 25 trainers who need the hours and in some cases, they can adjust their class schedules to meet their clients' job hour requirements. They cannot get their personal training in AFTER the work day nor on their own on weekends or at your personal gym. It has to be done here at the Lee Campus.

If you are interested in the Spring of 2020 having a personal trainer, please email Dr. Carl Bryan at cbryan@cccc.edu so he can add you to the list of clients.

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PERSONNEL NOTES

Thank You

Debra McNeill, who is Helpdesk Support, Information Technology, and has been out since March, thanks everyone for their cards, prayers, contributions, flowers, and helping out with the benefit. “God bless them all,” she says.

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Welcome New Employees!

New employees as of Nov. 30.

  • Kelly Brucker, Administrative Assistant, Chatham Health Sciences Center
  • Crystal Sanders, Dental Program Clinical Assistant/Instructor
  • Betsy Walton, Animal Facilities Manager, position change

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2019 Pay Dates

MONTHDUE DATEPAY DATE
DecemberDec. 3, 2019 Dec. 23*, 2019

*December's pay day has been changed from what was previously put out in the 2019 pay dates document. December's pay day is now DECEMBER 23, 2019.

2020 Pay Dates


MONTHDUE DATEPAY DATE
January Jan. 10, 2020 Jan. 31, 2020
February Feb. 10, 2020 Feb. 28, 2020
March Mar. 10, 2020 Mar. 31, 2020
April Apr. 10, 2020 Apr. 30, 2020
May May 8, 2020 May 29, 2020
June June 3, 2020 June 30, 2020
July July 9, 2020 July 31, 2020
August Aug. 10, 2020 Aug. 31, 2020
September Sept. 10, 2020 Sept. 30, 2020
October Oct. 9, 2020 Oct. 30, 2020
November Nov. 10, 2020 Nov. 30, 2020
December Dec. 3, 2020 Dec. 23, 2020

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Holiday Challenge Begins Soon

by Human Resources

FREE Holiday Challenge Begins! You can register at any time during the challenge from Nov. 18 through Dec. 31.

Maintain, don't gain this holiday season with the 13th annual Holiday Challenge! This FREE seven-week program provides you with access to weekly newsletters, daily tips, and healthy holiday recipes.

Last year's Holiday Challenge was the largest to date with more than 39,000 participants from all 50 states, all 100 North Carolina counties, and 17 additional countries. You are invited to join the 2019 Holiday Challenge! For more information and to register: esmmweighless.com/holidaychallenge

The first 50 employees to register and send a screenshot of registration to humanresources@cccc.edu will receive a CCCC scarf!

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Holiday Assistance

by Human Resources

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Birthdays

Birthday list provided by Human Resources

12/13 Joanna Lewis
12/14 Ginger Bartholomew
12/14 Trevor Bradian
12/14 Nicole Malott
12/16 Danielle Bruner
12/17 Nora Burmeister
12/18 Tamara Joyner
12/19 Wenonah Craig
12/19 Liza Guzman-Ramirez
12/19 Dianne Johnson
12/20 Michelle Powell
12/21 Trevor Dobbins
12/22 Crystal Sanders
12/23 Maryann Aucompaugh
12/23 Anne O'Shaughnessy
12/24 Heather Willett
12/27 Henry Wilson
12/28 Katie Hall
12/29 Benjamin Buchanan
12/29 Derek Chester
12/29 Mike Spivey
12/29 Richard Stump
12/29 Adam Wade
12/30 Fred Fritz
12/31 Kimberly Brzozowski
1/2 Elizabeth Ryan
1/3 Brenda Barefoot
1/3 Michael Peluso
1/5 Kelly Dorman
1/5 Johnny Frye
1/5 Mariann Woodward
1/6 Evelyn Gomez
1/6 Michael Parnell
1/7 Jason Rouse
1/10 Jessica Brown
1/10 Ashlee Dockery
1/10 Nichelle Lariviere
1/10 David Watson
1/11 James Anderson
1/11 Karen Sides
1/12 Stephanie Whitaker
1/14 Tracy Autry
1/14 James Lassiter
1/15 Richard Heptig
1/15 Andrew McMahan
1/16 Kelly Dehring
1/16 Pamela Riddle
1/17 Patricia Wicker
1/17 Grace Wolf
1/18 Amy Kennedy
1/20 Sharon Konowitz
1/20 Mitchell Patterson
1/22 Mary Burke
1/22 James Fry
1/24 Richard Love
1/24 Abby Walker
1/24 Hampton Williams
1/24 Jason Ziebart
1/25 Deborah Kauba
1/26 Michael Murray
1/26 Mary Schmid-Carter
1/27 Walter Creswell
1/27 Benjamin Falero
1/27 Tina Godbey
1/27 Mark Hall
1/27 Joshua Johnson
1/27 Laura Musselwhite

If you would prefer not to be listed, or if your name does not appear as you'd like, please email marketing@cccc.edu.

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Cougar Kudos

Looking for a way to say thank you without being noticed? Send an anonymous* compliment or note of appreciation to a colleague! Try this great feature from the Center for Academic Excellence by completing this form.

*Your name and email address will be kept confidential and not sent with your message.

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News From The CCCC Family

We sadly want to inform everyone of the passing of Lorraine Whitaker's uncle, Bobby Ray Yarborough. Bobby Ray Yarborough, 76, of Sanford peacefully passed away Sunday Dec. 8, surrounded by his family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Liberty Home Care and Hospice, P.O. Box 66, Sanford, N.C. 27331. May we all keep Lorraine and her family in our thoughts and prayers.

We sadly want to inform everyone of the passing of Peggy Cotten's niece, Tamiker Diane Jackson, who passed away on Saturday, Nov. 23, in her home. For more details, or to send flowers/condolences, please view the obituary at www.mcleodfh.com/notices/Tamiker-Jackson. Please keep Peggy and her extended family, including Tamiker's daughter who is a LEC student, in your thoughts and prayers.

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FACULTY AND STAFF ONLINE

COUGAR PETS

Cougar Pets News

Meet Theo


Cougar Pets

Theo

My name is Theo. I am a 5-year-old male that would love to come home with you! I am a very sweet boy and laid back. I prefer snuggling and pets rather than playing. I would love to find a home that is quiet and enjoys cuddling as much as I do! Theo is available for adoption!

Meet Georgia

Cougar Pets

Georgia

My name is Georgia. I am a sweet 4-year-old female that is looking for a human that will give me all the snuggles! I am very shy, but love to play once I get used to you! I absolutely love playing with my dog friends. They help me come out of my shell. I cannot wait to find my furever home! Georgia is currently available for adoption!

All adoptable dogs and cats are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on all vaccines. They have had regular dental cleanings, blood work, and physical exams. We pride ourselves on the care that our cats and dogs receive during their stay. Contact us at www.cougarpets.org for more information on our colony dogs and available cats.

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CCCC-BAY

Things Wanted, For Sale, or For Free!


Wanted to RENT

House or apartment within reasonable driving distance of both Sanford and Pittsboro. 2+ bedrooms and access to a yard needed. We have friendly, non-destructive pets. Move-in date flexible. Contact Fred Brucker at (910) 814-8859 or wbrucker@cccc.edu.


Picnic Basket

Picnic basket never used. Please contact Rhonda Jones at rjones@cccc.edu for more information!


Land!

Who needs land for their dream home?! Two lots available for purchase off Hickory House Road. NO CITY TAXES! 3.53 acres and 3.39 acres. Each lot $45,000. Contact Heather McKenzie at hmcke851@cccc.edu.

CCCC-Bay is happy to post your unneeded, unwanted, or unused items in Cougar Bytes! Send an email (photos would be great) to Cris Oliver at coliv016@cccc.edu and we will feature in next month's publication.

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CONTRIBUTE

Contribute to Cougar Bytes

Send along your Cougar Bytes contributions!

Our monthly Cougar Bytes newsletter is focused on staff and faculty. We welcome your stories, successes, events, photos, or shout-outs in every issue. Please submit your contributions to marketing@cccc.edu or contact Cris Oliver at coliv016@cccc.edu with any questions or suggestions.

The deadline for contributions is Jan. 22 for the January issue.

To be sure your contribution is included, please submit at least two days ahead of the publication date. Thank you!

Mark your calendars for 2020! Cougar Bytes will be published on:

Jan. 24
Feb. 21
Mar. 20
Apr. 24
May 22
June 26
July 24
Aug. 21
Sept. 25
Oct. 23
Nov. 20
Dec. 18

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The next issue of COUGAR BYTES will be published on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.