R-CCC and Hertford County Public Schools kick off Power of 15

October 17, 2023

October 3, 2023

MEDIA RELEASE
Contact:  Diamond G. Smith
Phone: (252) 862-1243 
Email: dgsmith@roanokechowan.edu

R-CCC and Hertford County Public Schools kick off Power of 15

(AHOSKIE) Roanoke-Chowan Community College and Hertford County Public Schools have partnered to offer the Power of 15, a new program for high school students. A ‘kick-off’ event was held on the campus Friday, September 29th with hundreds participating.

“This is a great day for our college and Hertford County Public Schools,” stated Dr. Murray J. Williams, president of R-CCC in her welcoming remarks.  “I would like to thank Dr. Jesse Pratt, and the school board members of Hertford County Public Schools for making the Power of 15 possible at our college.”

The Power of 15 program allows eligible high school students to take a minimum of 15 hours of tuition free college classes while still in high school.

Dr. Jesse Pratt, Superintendent of Hertford County Public Schools added, “We are immensely satisfied with the success of the Power of 15 initiative and the strong partnership established at Roanoke-Chowan Community College. We take great pride in our students’ achievement and their commitment to higher education.”

Senator Bobby Hanig, District 3, Dr. Shirley Carraway, NC Community Colleges System State Board, Dr. Angie Jenkins, Northeast Regional Impact Manager of myFutureNC, and Dr. Alvetta Thomas from the Technical College System of Georgia were in attendance for the event.  

Also attending the event were Hertford County Board of Commissioner Mr. John Horton, Hertford County Board of Education members Mr. J Wendell Hall, Mr. David Shields, and Mr. Dennis Deloatch; Roanoke Chowan Community College Board of Trustees members, Chairman Ronald Gatling (also a county commissioner and R-CCC Foundation Board Member), Betty Pugh, Andre’ Lassiter (also Chairman of the R-CCC Foundation & Chairman of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners), Albert Vann, Dr. Mary Ruffin-Harrell; and R-CCC Foundation member Mr. Warren Hall.

Representatives from faculty and staff of Hertford County Public Schools and Roanoke-Chowan Community College attended along with Hertford County High School & C.S. Brown STEM High School Students and R-CCC students.

High school students were invited to visit R-CCC department displays and talk with instructors   about curriculum and continuing education opportunities available at the college. Student advisors were on hand to guide students and help with applications.

Over 60 students signed commitments to attend R-CCC in programs including Welding Technology, HVAC (Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology; Mechatronics Engineering Technology, associate degrees in science and other curricula for college transfer. 

The benefits of the Power of 15 program include reducing the amount of time to obtain a post- secondary degree or diploma; cost savings of 15 hours of tuition free credits; earning dual credit and avoiding large amounts of student loan debt.

“We encourage students to commit to the Power of 15,” concluded Dr. Williams. “R-CCC is the place with a powerful curriculum, a passionate community, a pivotal career network, and the place where you belong.”

For more information about R-CCC and the Power of 15, call 252.862.1200 or visit www.roanokechowan.edu.

Roanoke-Chowan Community College – “Where Community and Careers Connect’” #DiscoverRCCC