Volume 27, Issue 1

Virginia Beach Hosts Human Resources and Management Development Workshop

THECENTURIAN

The holiday season is generally the season of giving, and the Columbia campus really got

into the giving spirit. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, the held a food drive at the campus and donated baskets to individuals in need.

The Angel Tree has become a tradition for the Columbia Campus. Students were able to submit 3 items from one of their children’s Christmas lists to be purchased by faculty or staff. This year, the faculty, staff, and even local businesses were able to volunteer to provide Christmas wishes for all 23 children on the tree. n

Tis’ the Season for Giving at the Columbia Campus

by Janella Palmer, CCOl

The Career Services department at Centura Virginia Beach organized a workshop on

resume building and mock interview session for students who are interested in the Human Resources field, whether medical, IT, or business. The resume building workshop highlighted the important criteria for building an effective resume that will help enhance the candidates’ impression on the potential employer.

Speaker at the workshop, Maibet Aiken, Director of Human Resources at PEMCCO, stressed the minute details regarding resume contents and also clarified the differences among resume, Curriculum Vitae (CV), certifications and bio-data.

The workshop was followed by mock interviews, a simulated session that provided an opportunity for the candidates to experience a real time interview and augment public relations. The session was conducted by Mrs. Aiken. She highlighted that, along with having proper planning and preparation, the candidate should set a clear career objective, aligning their specialization and interest for better

career perspective. On the other spectrum, they elucidated the importance of the physical gestures such as: eye contact, posture, voice tone and confidence, while appearing for any interview. She offered pending graduate Sharon Morse an interview and our current student Mayowa A. an internship

At the end of the presentation, one of the student members of the Student Council, William Prince, a business student, presented the speaker with a certificate and goody bag to show CVAB appreciation.

Mrs. Aiken stated she loves coming to this campus and is excited to help out as much as she can. n

EVENTS2 COMMUNITY

JAN2017

4

The resume building workshop highlighted the important criteria for building an effective resume that will help enhance the candidates’ impression on the potential employer.

By Damika HowarD-wayne, CVaB

GRaDUaTES6

2 EVENTS

Virginia Beach Campus Celebrates “National Book Month”

The Centura College Virginia Beach Campus celebrated “National Book Month” from October

3-29, 2016. The National Book Foundation conducts National Book Month each year in October and announces The National Book Award Finalists in November for the categories of Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.

Mr. Barbour, the Librarian at Centura College’s Virginia Beach Campus, designed a “National Book Month” library promotional event to encourage students to explore classical novels and new resources located within the library. He displayed a silhouette of a “tree” on which he placed multi-colored paper

“leaves” with the names of those students who qualified for the contest drawing. The contest required that the students visit the library and complete a crossword puzzle using the clues.

The culminating event of “National Book Month” was at the end of the mod when all of the “leaves” fell from the “tree” and a lucky winner was drawn from the correct entries!

Jamica Moore, a student enrolled in the Medical Assisting program, was the lucky winner, receiving a Barnes and Noble Gift Card

for her correct responses to the crossword puzzle! “National Book Month” was another fun, yet learning event for our students! n

I n celebrat ion of Medica l Assistants Appreciation Week, which was October 17-

21, 2016, the theme created by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) was “Medical Assistants at the Heart of Health Care.” We were encouraged by the AAMA to do something special to show our appreciation and express gratitude to our Medical Assisting

students for choosing Centura College as their place of training. The Medical Assisting students enjoyed cupcakes and participated in hand painting art where they placed their hands on a canvas labeled “Health Care with a Human Touch.” Medical Assisting students also received chair massages provided by our Massage Therapy students. n

Peninsula Campus Holds Medical assistant appreciation Week

Left: Medical Assistants placing their caring hands on canvas ; Above: Gloria Michelle Jones

By Jeff BarBour, CVaB

by ana marin, CPen

Right Top: Courtney Taitt (Massage Therapy) and Ariel Mayberry (Medical Assisting); and Librarian: Mr. Jeff Barbour; Right Bottom: Jamica Moore, Medical Assisting Student – Winner of Prize Drawing!

3EVENTS

Virginia Beach Prepares Students for Job Interviews

C entura College’s Virginia Beach Campus held a “Get ‘Suited’ for the Right Career

Fashion Show” on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. The event provided all students with a first-look at professional attire to wear to interviews within various industries. The student participants modeled acceptable and unacceptable attire to wear to job interviews, externships, work, and college.

One of the prerequisites for a job interview is for students to decide what to wear in order to make a positive, lasting impression within the first 30 seconds when they meet their future employer! The Career Services Coordinator, Ms. Damika Howard-Wayne, works with our students and graduates with cover letters and resume reviews in addition to holding mock interviews. The Fashion Show was just another way for students to have an opportunity to learn through role-play the “Do’s and Don’ts of what to wear for an interview. At the conclusion of the Fashion Show, Ms. Howard-Wayne provided feedback to the group

about acceptable interview outfits. The event created an awareness of how to dress professionally for interviews within their chosen fields of study.

We would like to thank the staff and students who attended the Fashion Show and especially those students who participated. From the Information Technology Specialist Program, those students included: Marcus Barrett, Melissa Warden, Santana Crump, Lakeasha Hill, Caitlin Loughner, and Rachqel Ricks. The students of the Business Program consisted of Mayowa Afolabi, Emily Griffin, Tamara Harvey, Alexander-Ireland, Kerry Kavula, Lena Pagan-Mohr, and William Prince. From the Medical Assisting Programs, the students included: Debra Brackett, Jewel Hall, Paulette Perkins, and Allison Wells. n

Above L to R: Kerry Kavula; Debra Brackett; Allison Wells, Ms. Damika Howard-Wayne, Career Services Coordinator; Tamara

Harvey, Paulette Perkins and Jewel Hall. Right: Fashion Show participant modelling an “Interview Do”.

Chesapeake Shows School Spirit

by matthew ashby, CChe

On the week of October 17th, Centura Chesapeake’s students, faculty, and staff participated in their second Spirit Week of 2016. For Monday, everyone dressed in clothing and hairstyles from the 1980s! On Tuesday, in order to prepare everyone for the Career Fair, it was Professional Dress Day and everyone looked super sharp. The next day, people woke up and came to school in their pajamas. It was easily the most comfortable day of the week. Finally, on Thursday, everybody dressed up in a costume to get ready for Halloween. It was certainly a variety of themes, but each day, Centura Chesapeake truly showed school spirit. Days like this make us all proud to be part of such a great campus. Go CCHE! n

“The event provided all students with a first look at professional attire to wear to interviews within various industries. The student participants modeled acceptable and unacceptable attire to wear to job interviews, externships, work, and college. ”

Top L to R: Cheryl Swartzenberg (Medical Assisting) and Angel Brown (Medical Assisting)

dressed up for Costume Day!

Bottom L to R: Courtney Wright (Massage Therapy), Margaret Plez (Medical Assisting), and Autumn Henderson (Massage therapy) pose with Mr. Michael Rust (Medical Assisting Coordinator).

By Jeff BarBour, CVaB

4

Holiday Themed Pancakes and BINGO By Damika HowarD-wayne, CVaB

By SHeryl SteVenS, CCHe

There is nothing like enjoying the holiday spirit while eating hot pancakes! Stacked and soaked

with butter and syrup, pancakes are the ultimate comfort food especially for the Virginia Beach campus. On December 14th, faculty and staff joined together to serve the student body with holiday themed pancakes, whether they were cooking the pancakes, serving the hot pancakes, or being the caller for the holiday themed BINGO! The students not only played BINGO but started caroling Jingle Bells and the 12 days of Christmas. The event was set up for CVAB day and night students located in the Centura College Event Room. Students came to socialize and share the holiday spirit.

“The red and green pancakes were a smart idea, and they tasted amazing” Phillip, a Business student stated.

“Better than IHOP,” Melissa, an IT Student stated.

It was great to know that the students were please. The objective was to spread holiday cheer and it was successful. n

Santa Came to Town!by luana shafer, CChe

Students and staff purchased leaves to personalize and stick on the tree to grow

our food pantry and ensure that nobody “leaves” hungry.

During the month of November, Centura Chesapeake started a food drive to

replenish the school’s food pantry. This food pantry is a wonderful resource for our students when money is tight, especially around the holiday season. Matthew Ashby, our Student Services Coordinator and Millie Davis, our Director of Education, created a tree in the Education Hallway. Additionally, they took cash donations to purchase food for the pantry. For every 25 cents donated, students and staff received a leaf to write their name on. They would then place their leaf on the tree to help “grow the food pan-tree.” The school raised lots of money and now has a fully restocked pantry available to our students. n

No One “Leaves” Hungry at Centura Chesapeake

EVENTS - COMMUNITY

For the students at Centura College’s Chesapeake campus, Santa arrived a little early this year and brought a whole lot of holiday cheer! On December 14th, Santa greeted students and their families in a delightful replication of his North Pole workshop. It was a free holiday event for students, their families, and the Chesapeake community. Students and their families not only took pictures with Santa, but were personally greeted by the one and only Mrs. Claus, who brought along an abundance of candy canes for all who participated. There were plenty of other treats and refreshments, and Centura’s own staff took on the role of Santa’s elves with hot cocoa, a make-your-own cookie station - complete with icing, sprinkles, and several types of cookies - and plenty of holiday arts and crafts for children. It was a gooey, yummy mess and the perfect occasion for students to relax and watch their families enjoy the holiday spirit of their teachers and admissions staff. Not a lump of coal was found this year as Santa was immensely impressed with the dedication and hard work ethic of all Centura College Chesapeake students! Centura not only offers students a chance to further their education, but provides a safe and nurturing environment for its students and their families to enjoy many special events, such as Santa’s workshop, all year round. n

5

Peninsula’s 22 Push-Up ChallengeVirginia Beach Campus Makes Strides against

Breast Cancer

On Saturday, October 22, 2016, Centura College’s Virginia Beach Campus participated

in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk held at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the 3-mile walk raised funds for breast cancer research. Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. While its causes are not fully known, the breast cancer survival rates have increased significantly due to improved treatment and early detection.

The MAE Mu Alpha Epsilon Sorority of Medical Assisting students and alumni of the college, the “MAE Centura CVAB” Team, gathered with their family and friends early Saturday morning at Mount Trashmore in order to show their compassion by completing a 3-mile walk. Through the Team’s efforts, Centura College’s Virginia Beach Campus surpassed its goal, raising $649 to support breast cancer research. Mrs. Lori Bedford, Medical Program Coordinator, was ecstatic with the participation, remarking, “It was fun, team-building and for a great cause. It put our school name out there for community outreach!” Bedford would like to thank everyone who supported the event and looks forward to partnering with the Hampton Roads Community again next year! n

By Jeff BarBour, CVaB

Never forget, together we can make a difference. The purpose of the 22 Push-

Up Challenge is to raise awareness of the fact that 22 American Veterans will commit suicide today. Participants assembled and completed 22 push-ups a day for 22 school days. The challenge was led by the campus Veterans Affairs Officer. Students from every program gathered in the front lobby to do their 22 push-ups. During and after the completion of the challenge, raffle tickets

were sold to enter to win an Acer Intel Atom Quad-core Tablet with detachable keyboard. This fundraising event was very successful and it was also a great way to bring us all together while raising awareness of veteran suicide. Our prize winner was one of our business students and veterans, Mr. Sharrod McDowell. All sales were donated to the Operation 22 awareness and advocate website https://www.22kill.com/. n

“The purpose of the 22 Push-Up Challenge is to raise awareness of the fact that 22 american Veterans will commit suicide today.”

By VaCHele JenkinS (Va work-StuDy), CCHe

COMMUNITY

L to R: Alberta Caldwell, Ms. Latoya Gregory (Instructor), Paulette Perkins, Patricia McCain,

Tennille Dozier, Christina Ohst, Mrs. Lori Bedford (Medical Program Coordinator), Shannon Nelson,

Alumni, and Allison Wells (Pictured in front-center).

6 GRaDUaTES

ABIODUN, MojisolakALEXANDER, Brandee ALSTON, J GANDERSON, Jeanette DANDERSON, KimberlyAPPERSON, Patricia HASHE, Meagan AVILA-NARVAEZ, Luis BAILEY-LAWSON, RevediaBAILEY, JoliyaBAILEY, NBAIRD, Ashley C BAKER, JamekaBAKER, Keonda BAPTISTE-WALT, HBARBER, ReginaBARZINJI, Suzan BAUGHAN, CherokeeBECRAFT, Ashley NBEDFORD, T NBELL, Eugenia BELL, Eugenia BELL, Nikole BENJAMIN, Terrence BENNETT, OBERNAL, Roberto BERNARD, Brittany KBEST, Telayia BICKHAM, Micquelle BLACKWELL, William HBLIETZ, Barbara BOHREN, Karista BOURNE-GREENE, KBRAXTON, Tanisha BROWN, ABROWN, Brennan BROWN, FrancineBROWN, Jennette L BURKETT, HBUSH, Chaunte BUTLER, NCAMERON-BUTLER, Meagan CAPERS, BCARTER, BriahnaCASSEL, DCASSITY, A JCASTILLO, Felicia CASTINEIRA, Jonathan CHAPMAN, SCHAVIS, ShemikaCHOICE, Allen JCHRISTIANSEN, MCLARK, Theresa COLES, Chrishaun L COLLINS, Anthony COMBS, Leha’ E CONKLE, Cheryl COOK, TaliaCOOPER, Ariel

NA*** PHL*** NA PHL*** DA** PHC MA MA PHL MBC** MA***MBC***DA PHL*** DA MA*** PHL*** MA MAC**MA-DEG *MAC***MAM***PHC PHC DA MT DA BUS MA*** BM*MA PHC MA-DEG MA DA BS PHL*** MT***DA*MA MA MA * DA DA DA*MA***PHC MT DA***MA* PHC MA-DEG ***ITS***MT***PHC PHL***BUS *** PN PHC

COOPER, JenniferCORLEY, N DCORNISH, Sheree CORONA, Tami JCORTEZ, Jennin COTE, Stacie CRAFT, Stephanie CRUZ, C LCUARESMA, ACUFFEE, Lakeisha CUFFEE, Marshawna CUNNINGHAM, Larissa CURRY, Lenell CURRY, Raven DANIEL, Johnny DANIELS, SDAVIS, NDAVIS, Tonya DAVIS, Victoria DENNIS, ADEPTO, Nicole DIXON, Reginald ADIXON, Teresa E DOUGHTY, Theresa DOVE, AntoinetteDUNGCA, Angela EARLY, Tylene M EDWARDS, Antonia ELLIS-WILSON, Gwendolyn ELLIS, Ivory ELLIS, Sydirah EPISCOPO, Michelle ETHINGTON, TiffanyEVARISTO, Nicolas FARROW, Lafenna LFAUGHNAN, KathleenFIGUEROA, JFIRMAN, Derek FISCHER, J RFITHIAN, Sherri LFLOWERS, Sheila FORKER, JFORTUNE, Lovie DFREEMAN-SMITH, Adrienne FREEMAN, B RFRYE, VictoriaGANBIN, WGARRISON, Angela LGEIGER, K EGIBSON, Brandy GILBERT, Nicole MGILLIAM, Espanola GLOVER-JONES, Atiya GONZALEZ-LYKE SULLI, C MGONZALEZ, Wverney GOODWYN-BEY, IeshaGRAHAM, ChristineGRAHAM, Stedman GRAVELY, Justin

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GREEN, Michelle GRIFFIN, Bonnie GRIFFIN, Louis GRIMSLEY, Lindsay GRUENDEL, Kelly GWINN, N MHALL, Glenn HALL, Kaneesha MHARDY, ShannanHARPER, Dexter HARPER, Kesha K HARPER, M CHARRELL, Fahja HARRIS, Kedrick DHARRIS, TeranaHART, Natalie HASBERRY, C THASKINS, Sheila MHAYES, CherrelleHAYNES, Ashley HAZELWOOD, NashemaHENDRICKSON, Michelle HEREDIA, Jeanette HERRERA, Elizabeth HERRON, Jarrett DHICKS, Dora HIGHSMITH, L DHILL, LaKeshaHINES, Eric HODGES, Bettina LHODGES, Emerald LHOFFMAN, BHOLLEY, Kevina CHOLLINS, Rihana SHOLMES, MelvinaHOWE, Ciria LHUNTER, Tabitha KJACKSON, CJACKSON, QJAMES, SJARVIS, Morgan RJEFFERSON, AshleyJENKINS, Sarah EJOHNSON, Blake JOHNSON, Jaz-NaJOHNSON, O’Nesha JOHNSON, S VJOHNSON, Sherita DJOHNSON, Victoria JOHNSTON, Sue AJONES, D MJONES, Elease JONES, K lJONES, Kendra JONES, Tamika A JONES, Teleka JOSEPH, Barbara JJOYNER, V YKEITH-LUNSFORD, Jacie

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7

KEITH, Damon KERNES, OliviaKIDD, Sandra KIDDER, Branden KING, AliciaKING, Teresa KOVALESKI, Joel KULESZA, Beata KWAMINA, Natasha KYLE, Sophia LLAFORGE, Kayla MLANE, TacaraLEE, RLEFLORE, Angelica M LEWIS, Ravin LIVESEY, Anna LOVE, Kim MLOYD, Magan AMACK, Charles MANSFIELD, Damon MARCUCCI, Amanda MARKLAND OWENS, T SMATEO-SANCHEZ, Alpha MCADAMS, Alyssa MCALEA, Polly AMCCORMICK, Timothy MCCOY, L DMCLEAN, O AMCMILLIAN, Antwoinette LMCPHERSON, Angel L MCPHERSON, Brittany OMCWILLIAMS, M PMEDLEY, GerrisMENELLY, Kayla LMERCER, Clinton JMEYERS, Stacey MIFFLETON, Jacquita MILLS, Andrea LMOORE, Keith MORALES, B LMORGAN, SherryMOYE, Carl MULHERN, Thomas MULLINS, Jenny NESBIT, Sean NOCELLA, DNORMAN-BRICE, Angela NUNEZ, T MO’DONNELL, Kathryn PO’NEAL, C COEHMAN, JOGUNLANA, Omowumi APARHAM, Aaliyah SPARK, Vivian PATRICK, Deborah D PATTERSON, ShenequaPAYNE, Jasmine LPAYTON, MPERKINS-GOULD, Chauncy

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PETERSON, HilleryPEYTON, Ryan PLEASANTS, DanikaPLEASANTS, V BPOOLE, Candice WPOPOVICH, Kelly PORTER, Maya IPRINCE, William PUGH, KarenQUARLES, J VREIVER, Chasity RELIFORD, Donnie RICE, Vanessa RICHARDS, LaChelle RICHARDSON, Jasmine RICKS, T MRIGSBY, Emily RISH, Courtney RIVERA, LeahRIVERA, RamonROBERTS, Francelia ROBERTS, Treasure ROBERTSON, M LROBINSON, A NRODRIGUEZ, Cynthy RODRIGUEZ, Kathleen ROGERS, Shannon ROLLINS, Brigit LROSE, Janet SAVAGE, Cierra SAVAGE, TreshawniaSCOTT, Rachel SEBURN, S JSHAW, Meghan SHELTON, B SSIMMONS, Cynthia SIMMONS, LaQuan MSIMPSON, Megan SIMS, Naomi I SLOCUM, Harriet SMITH-GARY, Camiel SMITH, Jami SMITH, LSMITH, Shavvone YSNYDER, ChristineSOLOMON, EunieceSOW, RokhayaSPELLMAN, Dashia SPRUILL, Shakeda STAMPS, Dominick STARKE, S MSTEPHENSON, Kayla LSTEVERSON, James ASTEWART, Dionne SUMLER, A MSWARD, SamanthaSYLVESTER, Pamika TAYLOR, Daysha TAYLOR, Melissa

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GRaDUaTES

TEAGUE, TrinityTHOMAS-MILLER, A NTHOMAS, Danielle lTHOMAS, TTHOMPSON, Amanda THOMPSON, Tiffany TOLIVER, S DTONEY, Maria TORRES, Anthony TTRETOLA, Monica TUAZON, Jed TUCKER, Sterling TURNER, Keona CTURNER, Laquisha TYLER, JasmineTYNES, Betsy MUNDERWOOD, V DVALACH, Alicia VANN, FVASQUEZ, RashemiaVEAL, Ashley VILLALOVOS, Christopher VON SCHIMPF-GANGOY, Christiana WALKER, Destiny WASHINGTON, JermeshaWASHINGTON, John WEBB, Conchata WELSH, MWHEAT, Jozi WHITE, KWHITE, Shantiqua WHITEHURST, Regina WIGGINS, TameekaWIGHT, Kari WILK, JutamasWILKERSON, Shanara WILKERSON, Shawndrika WILLIAMS Jr., Terence WILLIAMS, Ronald WILLIAMS, S AWILLIAMS, Steven WILLIAMS, TWILLIAMS, Tashima NWILSON, Cory GWILSON, Rhonda HWILSON, SherrellWINSLOW, John WISE, Brittany WRIGHT, SWRIGHT, Shakeema WYNN, Melanie YELDELL, MYOUNG, Brittany YOUNG, Ebony MYOUNG, Ericka YOUNG, ShakeemaZIMMERMAN, Melinda

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8 COMMUNITY

On Monday December 19, 2016 some of the staff at Centura College Chesapeake had the pleasure

of participating in the Buffalow Family & Friends Community Days 5th Annual Warm and Fuzzy Christmas Coat Giveaway in South Norfolk. Over 300 people turned out to experience the love, compassion and unity of our community. Each year the Buffalow Family and volunteers work tirelessly to make sure those in need have a little magic during the holiday season. Donated warm clothing items were available to those families, dinner was served and additional food baskets were raffled off. Toys and other wonderful goodies were raffled off for the children as well, including an awesome bike donated by Centura College.

This was a truly magical event which warmed the hearts of everyone involved and should remind us all what the holiday season is all about. n

Chesapeake HoldsChristmas Coat Giveaway

N.

North Chesterfield Campus Truly “Connecting Communities and Careers” in 2016

In 2016, the North Chesterfield campus hosted an array of events that helped the

students, faculty, and staff to better connect with the community. The campus’ bake sales have always challenged the inner pastry chef in our students, as well as our faculty. With the first bake sale of 2016, the campus wanted to express its sincerest gratitude to our four-legged friends in the United States Armed Forces. Funds raised during the sale were donated to the United States War Dog Association to benefit service dogs. Proceeds from another bake sale benefitted the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation as well as the YWCA to help combat domestic violence.

In an effort to reach out to the local homeless population, the campus held a sock drive, right before the onset of winter. When the

word went out to the students and faculty, everyone responded graciously. Children’s, women’s, and men’s socks, from small to extra-large, were donated to the Healing Place, a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless community.

Although many organizations typically host toy drives during the holidays, the North Chesterfield campus closed out the year with a book drive instead. This marked the second consecutive year that books were donated to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, a partnership that the campus hopes to continue next year.

In closing, the North Chesterfield campus had a great time extending its hand to the community in 2016 and looks forward to doing the same in 2017! n

This marked the second consecutive year that books were donated to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, a partnership that the campus hopes to continue next year.