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CCCC Employee of the Month!

June Full-Time Employee of the Month:
Mary Schmid Carter

"Mary Schmid-Carter partnered with Dean Scott Byington to dream, plan, and implement the new initiative, Red Carpet Registration. Mary worked to create an experience for high school students who were currently enrolled at CCCC to encourage them to apply for admission this summer or fall. While the program was initially planned for students who would be eligible for the Central Carolina Promise Program (CCP/K14), she also invited any senior who was interested in enrolling at CCCC. She worked to host this event at high schools in all three counties in our service area. She spent every day for two weeks visiting high schools and recruiting students for CCCC. The events were beyond successful, having as many as 74 potential students at a single event. She spent a lot of time, energy, and effort preparing for these events and also in following up on assessment data and potential applicants. This event series was so popular, the college is considering adopting the event for all students. Mary worked hard to make this happen and it was event enjoyed by all!"

"Mary has provided the college with a new outreach approach to Promise/K14 students who are entering CCCC as a freshman. She is always available to assist other departments around campus as well."

"Mary has been able to gather employees from multiple departments to put together a rock solid event for incoming CCP students who were able to participate in the Promise/K14 program. Not only was it a one-stop deal, but students felt welcome in the environment and had a little fun doing so. She went above and beyond on this and has put a lot of work into the Promise/K14 program!"

"Mary was able to create an event that has not been done before at CCCC. She put a lot of heart and soul into the event. She seems to always think and create new ways to help put students first and making their process a little smoother along the way."

Mary Schmid Carter (aka Mary Schmarter)
College Access Coordinator

How long have you worked for CCCC?
I first started at CCCC in August of 2016 and have been here ever since (except for a four-month gap after my husband got out of the Army and we moved away, but then we moved right back!). I previously served as Director of Secondary Partnerships and Associate Registrar.

What brought you to CCCC?
Virginia Brown Mallory helped recruit me! I had worked with CCP for about four years at that point, and when she left the college, she encouraged me to apply for her position. Also, as some of you may have heard, Sarah (Hoffarth) Deal has been my BFF since 2004, and the fact that she worked here during that time was also a huge "plus" for coming to CCCC. One of our greatest accomplishments was letting Dr. Merritt think that us sharing an office for several months was "his idea."

Describe what you do for CCCC.
Right now, I serve as the Academic Advisor for our homeschool families in the Career & College Promise program (dual enrollment), which offers free college classes to students during high school. I coordinate the Central Carolina Promise/K14 program, which offers free college classes to students after high school. The names of both programs are often confused, but basically, I get to help a lot of students go to college for free. It's a pretty sweet gig!

Where were you born?
Syracuse, NY

Where did you grow up?
Baldwinsville, NY (just outside of Syracuse)

Where do you live now?
Downtown Carthage, NC

Educational credentials?
Bachelor of Art in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy, Master of Education and CAS in School Counseling, all from the SUNY University at Buffalo

Tell us about your family!
My husband Justin and I share our home with our old-man furbaby, Abraham Lincoln Schmarter. We don't have children of our own but I love being "Auntie MarMar" to my niece and nephew, Josefine and Jace, who both live in the town where I grew up.

What are some of your hobbies or other interests outside of CCCC?
I mostly love to travel. COVID was hard because I was cooped up for so long. I have a lot of fun travel plans for this fall, including a two-week trip to the United Kingdom with my mom and dad. I am a huge supporter/volunteer for a few local Honor Flight programs. I'm also a life-long, die-hard, never-gonna-give-up Buffalo Bills fan (this is our year...I can feel it...). #BillsMafia for life!

Who is one of your favorite fictional characters and why?
This is a hard one. I love a good series, and the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich are some of the few I've ever read that actually make me laugh out loud while reading. She is a spunky, lovable disaster.

Anything else you'd like to share with the CCCC family?
I'm thankful to be part of this team! #RedCarpetRegistration was mentioned as one of the reasons I was nominated for EOM, but I want to say again how grateful I am to SO MANY PEOPLE who participated in or otherwise supported that event. It was so much fun to go out into the high schools, so that we could meet the students on their own turf and help them get excited to attend CCCC this fall.

WOW! WHAT A TEAM!

Juneteenth Freedom for Everyone

by Adana Arnold, Admissions and Enrollment Assistant

Central Carolina Community College recently celebrated the first of what is hoped to be many more Juneteenth celebrations on June 16, 2022. An event open to all, it included an open mic Session, musical tributes given by CCCC's newest SAS (Student Advising and Success) Education Navigator Zack Ledwell and the beautifully talented Miss Ryan Vinson (daughter of Chatham Main Campus Assistant Director of Student Advising and Success Ashlee Dockery).

There was plenty of music, laughter, camaraderie, and knowledge shared throughout.

The food provided was selected with careful thought, sentiment, and intention. We discovered the meaning of the colors of the food, attributed to Juneteenth and African American Pride. Red represents power or resilience, a notable historical fact shared with us by Harnett Main Campus Education Navigator April Raines. Red symbolized cloth worn by slave trappers to lure the slaves into captivity, unpeeledjournal.com/juneteenth-food-ideas-recipes, 2022. Joelle Chase, Lee Main Campus Education Navigator, shared historical facts of why there is such a thing called the Black Independence Day.

When asked her thoughts for future occasions, event hostess and Chatham Main Campus Assistant Director of Student Advising and Success Ashlee Dockery had this to say,

"Juneteenth is an important day that unfortunately does not always get the recognition it deserves. I am so grateful that we were able to come together to celebrate such an important milestone in history, and I appreciate everyone who worked hard to ensure that the program was a success. Juneteenth doesn't just represent the emancipation of Black and African Americans, it also represents our commitment to continue to fight for equality and justice daily."

With that said, it is the hope of Ms. Dockery, the Black ERG, and the multiple attendees that this historical observance does not fall by the way side. Not only will it grow in number but in audience participation as well. As Langston Hughes said, "I have as much right as the other fellow."

Freedom by Langston Hughes

Freedom will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want my freedom
Just as you.

Hughes, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems.

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College Night at the Ballpark

CCCC Night at the Sanford Spinners home game will be on Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. The game will be played at Southern Lee High School. A former student will be singing the National Anthem and a CCCC employee will be throwing out the first pitch. Come out wearing a CCCC shirt and you will receive free admission. Thank you Foundation!

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ECU Smiles for Veterans

The CCCC Dental Programs participated in the ECU Smiles for Veterans event which took place on June 24. Seventeen veterans were provided with dental cleanings and dental restorations. Vicky Wesner, the Dental Programs Department Chair, and Melissa Valdez Davalos, a CCCC Dental Assisting Program student, helped with the event.

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CCCC Salon Services: Nail Technology

The Mission of the Barbering & Cosmetic Arts Department at CCCC is to provide quality education and learning experiences for Barbering & Cosmetic Arts students.

For this reason, all services are performed exclusively by students under the supervision of Barbering or Cosmetic Arts instructors.

Find out more about Salon Services and pricing.

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Fall Welcome Week is Coming

Get Excited! Fall Welcome Week is Coming!

Big things are coming for our students. Fall Welcome Week is coming soon. Student Activities is beyond excited to be partnering with the Office of Student Advising and Success Onboarding Team to create a robust and impactful experience for all students.

If you are:

  • Planning to have an event, workshop, program, etc. during the first week of classes and would like to be included on the Welcome Week Calendar.
  • Interested in hosting an event or program but need some support from Student Activities.
  • Interested in volunteering your time to oversee an already planned and ready-to-go program that just needs a staff or faculty point-person on the day of the program.
  • You have an idea for an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event that you would like to see during Welcome Week.
  • You would like to be involved in some way, shape, or form with Welcome Week but don't know how to get involved.

Email Katy Jones, Student Activities Coordinator, at kdjones@cccc.edu to get things started. Student Activities would love to collaborate on this amazing experience for our students.

Thank you for all you do for our students and get excited for a Welcome Week Experience like no other. More specific information will come out later this summer from the Student Advising and Success Office and Student Activities Office.

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Local Anesthesia Training

Macy Woods, our first-year clinical coordinator, completed local anesthesia training with her dental hygiene students this summer. The NC Legislature passed a rule in 2021 to allow dental hygienists to give local anesthesia to their patients who require it for non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Macy was the first instructor to fully train current dental hygiene students in this new skill in the state. She acquired local anesthetic models through some grant funding to help with the process. Dr. Bonnye Anthony, our CCCC clinical instructor, supervised and assisted in the clinical training. Macy is also putting together a CE for local dental hygienists to complete this training in the near future.

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Meet CHARGE: Nutrition Coaching

Personal coaching from a Registered Dietitian is proven to help you achieve results including a healthier diet, more activity, better sleep, and less stress. The best part? CHARGE can be covered by your health insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield. On another plan? Charge works with Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Your dependents are also covered. The best way to get started is to schedule your first visit.

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C/Ch/Kristi/ie/y

How well do you know your Christy's? The C/Ch/Kristi/ie/y's got together. A screenshot of the meeting was captured, but the names are hidden. Do you know who is who? Can you guess the spelling of each? They're all different!

Answers below*

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"Ask Me" Welcome Program

The department of Student Advising and Success invites you to join our new CCCC Welcome Program! Learn more about the program and contact Adam Wade should you have any questions.

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Supply Store

by Brandi Hernandez, Buyer

The Supply Store transitioned to an eForm for requisitions effective July 1, 2022. The eForm is under the Purchasing menu in Etrieve. The link is also under Helpful Files by Department on the college intranet. We will no longer be using the paper forms or catalog.

Once the Supply Store has completed your order, you will receive an email notification. If your location is on Lee Main Campus, please pick up your order from the Supply Store within one business day. If your location is elsewhere, a courier will deliver your order.

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Federal Work Study Requests for 2022-2023

by Amy Berrier-Gerber, Associate Director of Financial Aid

Please make your plans now to request student assistance through the Federal Work-Study Program for the 2022-2023 academic year. Please complete the request form as soon as possible.

All supervisors must attend annual FWS Supervisor training prior to receiving a FWS student. I will contact you at a later date to schedule virtual supervisor training.

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The next issue of COUGAR BYTES will be published on Friday, August 26, 2022.

Flashback to Cougar Bytes July 2020