Hutchinson and Vincett Attend Academic Awards Banquet

            Gregory Hutchinson and Cheryl Vincett of Rockingham represented Richmond Community College in Raleigh at the N. C. Community College System Academic Excellence Awards ceremony on April 16th.  This special event provides a unique opportunity for the Community College System to showcase its students and academic achievements, as well as highlight the work community colleges do every day.  Legislators are invited to attend the event and meet with students from their districts.

            Hutchinson, a Mechanical Engineering Technology major, is the Production Floor Supervisor and Maintenance with SEM Products in Rockingham. He began classes to be able to advance within the company and for self improvement, but decided to expand his goals to include earning a degree.  Attending part-time, he plans to graduate in 2009.

            “This comes as quite a surprise.  When I started, I hoped to obtain good grades, do well and learn a lot.  I never anticipated this amount of success.  Much of the success is really because of the college.  It’s nice to have small classes and personal contact with the professors.  You don’t normally have that at large universities,” he said.

            Many RCC students attend on a part-time basis, often taking classes during the day and evening as Hutchinson has done. He admits there have been rough semesters when he didn’t see his family much.

            “I just thank them for backing me in this.  I’d definitely recommend coming back to school to anybody,” he said.

            Cheryl Vincett is an Early Childhood Associate major who plans to transfer to a senior institution for a bachelor’s degree in Birth to Kindergarten education.  She also holds an associate degree in Paralegal Technology.  She assists the college’s financial aid department through the college work study program.

            “I’m honored, especially knowing faculty make the selection,” said Vincett.  “It means a lot.  You know, it had been 20 years since I was in a classroom, and I started here with a family and home.  I didn’t think attaining a 4.0 was something I could do, but once it happened, I worked very hard to keep that – and I still am.  It’s not over yet!”

            Vincett also attends college on a part-time basis, which makes graduation even sweeter because it takes longer.  She graduates in May.

            “I tell people what a great place this is to start to get what you need.  The faculty and staff care about you and your success,” she said.

            To be eligible for the award, a student must have completed 24 semester credit hours and have an overall 4.0 grade point average.

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