Nine firefighters graduated from Richmond Community College’s Fire Academy on Oct. 1 after more than 400 hours of training. Upon completion, the graduates received their Firefighter I and II certifications with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and their Firefighter Fire and Rescue Commission IFSAC certifications.

Hanna Chavis was in elementary school when she found her calling to care, to comfort and to heal.

A nursing student at Richmond Community College, Chavis discovered this calling when her nephew was born with congenital heart disease and spent most of his first year in the neonatal intensive care unit at UNC Children’s Hospital.

“I visited him almost every week, and each visit left a profound impact on me,” the Wagram native said.

Ricky McRae started working for his family’s business, R.H. McRae Electrical Contractors in Rockingham, part-time in 2017 after he graduated from Richmond Community College’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology program. He is now working  full-time and has three different titles at the company that specializes in electrical installation.

“My position at McRae Electrical is a Controls Engineer, Panel Shop Coordinator and Manufactures Technical Representative, or MTR,” McRae said.

Shannon Haywood of Rockingham launched her new mobile food business, Our Daily Graze, back in April after receiving assistance from Richmond Community College’s Small Business Center.

Our Daily Graze combines Haywood’s woodworking skills with a knack for crafting beautiful and delicious charcuterie spreads. Customers can choose to have their spreads on an Our Daily Graze branded board, or get a custom laser engraved board for a special keepsake.

Eleven high school students at Shaw Academy in Laurel Hill are taking classes this fall semester at Richmond Community College.

Richmond Community College students now have a direct path to Western Carolina University through its new guaranteed admission program, WCU Connect.

Weaver Owenby was awarded the Jack R. Hill III Welding Scholarship during a ceremony recognizing students completing Richmond Community College’s Welding program. The scholarship was established in memory of former welding student, Jack R. Hill III, who was the son of Robyn Smith and Robbie Hill.

Jack graduated from Richmond Senior High School and was enrolled in RichmondCC’s Welding program in 2016-2017.

James Tate and Jim Wright were appointed to Richmond Community College’s Board of Trustees and attended their first meeting on Aug. 5.

Tate of Rockingham was appointed by the N.C. State Senate, and Wright, also of Rockingham, was appointed by the N.C. House of Representatives.

James Tate

Tate is an experienced leader in healthcare, serving as Enterprise Client Executive – Government Business for Philips Healthcare for the last 11 years.

Richmond Community College’s Board of Trustees received a report Tuesday on the impact of the budding grant program, Building Brighter Futures, which supports individuals in recovery from addiction or recently released from incarceration.

In April, Tina Hildreth of Wadesboro began working as a volunteer at Family Promise of Scotland County. Family Promise is an organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for families with children. It was only five years ago that Hildreth herself was looking for a safe place to go to escape an abusive relationship.

“There were no shelters for families that I, nor Pee Dee Coalition, nor Anson County Domestic Violence Coalition were aware of.  I had children, and I didn’t want to take them to a co-ed homeless shelter,” Hildreth said.