< Previous28 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU is an aspect FTCC student Joshua Carter can relate to. The 19-year-old is in his second year in the building construction technology program and working toward earning a diploma in plumbing. He has worked on construction projects with his grandfather and father from a young age; his mother did prohibit him from doing any work that involved cutting until he was older. He’s often asked why he does construction projects for free. Joshua Carter is Keith Carter’s son. “It makes you feel good when you’re doing it for someone who needs it more than you do,” Joshua Carter said. “It’s great to help the community out. I get a sense of enjoyment completing a job, seeing a happy customer with everything you’ve done.” And aiding those in need is a lesson the Carters were reminded of during the summer of 2018. A stove fire ripped through the family home. Joshua Carter and the family dog, Sweetpea, were the only ones home. Joshua suffered the only injury: singe burns on his hands. For several weeks, former students helped the family tear down damaged material inside the home. They even came to help on weekends. Students called to check on the family. Fayetteville Area Habitat allowed the Carters to purchase items they needed for their rebuilt home in its store. Joshua Carter said it was a blessing to receive the help from volunteers who worked in temperatures teetering at 100 degrees. Being on the receiving end of kindness wasn’t familiar territory for Carter. Giving is ingrained in his work as a pastor. “It made us feel good that people care, and we could see their hearts were like our hearts,” Carter said. "We’re back in the house, and the whole family is doing great. We really appreciated that. Blessings coming from all directions.” The sun began to peek through the clouds on Link Street. Students continued working on the home’s skeletal frame with hopes of completing the project by the end of the next school year. Joshua Carter helped hold a piece of wood as it was measured. He hopes to obtain his contractor’s license after he graduates and work as a project manager or supervisor for a construction company. For now, Keith Carter’s hopes are different, tied to thoughts about the College and Fayetteville Area Habitat. “I hope whoever takes the reins after me, I hope they have the same mindset and initiatives, working with Habitat,” Keith Carter said. “That they’ll work to keep the relationship strong as it’s been for years and years now. I’m glad the College, from Dr. Keen on down, has always been supportive of us in our efforts. It’s a benefit for Habitat and Fayetteville Tech, too.” Keith Carter, department chair for both building construction technology and carpentry at FTCC, points as he gives instructions to his students who are building a future home for a family in need through the College’s partnership with the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity. Carter has worked at FTCC for more than 20 years. In that time, he’s seen how the partnership has changed his students – some develop an appreciation for service work, others began to volunteer their time to service organizations, and some have worked for the local nonprofit organization which continues to build homes in and around Fayetteville.FTCC ANNUAL REPORT 29 A student uses a circular power saw to cut wood as he and fellow classmates from the Building Construction Technology program build a home as part of a partnership with Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity. Program department chair Keith Carter said that through the years, people from the community have appreciated the work done by his students. “They know the work is done first-class. We’re not just driving nails but paying attention to detail and careful about the quality put out there. That’s one reason why we’re out here so much. We take time to make things right.”30 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU Time for Training The Cumberland County Commissioners and FTCC partner to develop a new regional center for firefighters The Cumberland County Commissioners and the Fayetteville Technical Community College Board of Trustees agreed to partner on developing a new regional center for firefighter and other emergency responder education and training. The proposed FTCC-Cumberland County Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center will be built on 30 acres of County property in the Cumberland County Industrial Park, adjacent to the Sheriff’s Training Center and Animal Control Shelter, off Tom Starling Road on Corporation Drive. The facility will support FTCC’s Public Service curriculum, which includes courses in emergency management, fire technology, and fire training. A new facility would enable the college to add classes not currently offered, including fire investigation/arson certification, thermal image school, vehicle extrication school, high-angle rescue technician, and other types of fire and rescue special training. The facility would include classrooms, live fire buildings, apparatus bays, technical rescue areas, and other specialized training grounds. In addition, the training center would partner with the Sheriff ’s Office in using its driving track and possibly space for an outdoor shooting range. Cumberland County is responsible for funding capital projects at the community college, and the center will provide additional training facilities for member departments of the Fire Chiefs’ Association and other emergency responders. The facilities will also potentially draw emergency responders from across the state and out of state with the unique training courses that will be offered. “It is our responsibility to make sure we have the best trained, most qualified firefighters,” said Commissioner Jimmy Keefe. “This project is a demonstration of collaboration by everyone involved for the purposes of serving and protecting the people of Cumberland County,” said Dr. J. Larry Keen, FTCC president. The facility is projected to cost $18 million. FTCC plans to use $8 million the college was allocated from the Connect NC Bond. Cumberland County has included $10 million for the project in its Capital Investment Fund and will pursue funding to support the project. A rendering depicts what the proposed FTCC-Cumberland County Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center could look like. The facility would be built on 30 acres of County property in the Cumberland County Industrial Park and provide firefighter and other emergency responder education and training.FTCC ANNUAL REPORT 31 Travel Abroad Students from the Psychology Club get the opportunity to see London, Paris Traveling abroad isn’t something many people feel is synonymous with the community college experience, but it is at FTCC. From May 14-21, 2019, the FTCC Psychology Club visited London and Paris, giving students the opportunity for foreign immersion, cultural experience, and hands-on education. One of the reasons that FTCC hosts trips abroad is to provide the opportunity to get students out of their comfort zone. Travel allows students to see new places, learn different cultures and religions, and interact with people from around the world. It also encourages students to become more competent individuals, embracing the discomfort of leaving home and connecting with people from different environments. Travel also builds confidence: while in Europe, students had to learn how to use public transit and navigate the language barrier. They bridged the cultural gap and went grocery shopping, experienced new cultural norms, and connected with locals and tourists along the way. While in London, students visited Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Freud Museum, and the Wellcome Collection. They also did a Jack the Ripper walking tour, perused the Charles Darwin house & garden, and got a look inside Bethlem Royal Hospital and Museum. They also took advantage of every opportunity to eat at local establishments, walking from location to location or experiencing the Tube, London’s oldest subway. Traveling to the Freud Museum brought to life the theorists and psychologists who are studied in Sociology and Psychology. While in Paris, they visited the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre, walked the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and saw the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. They also toured the Museum of the History of Medicine and the Sacré-Cœur basilica in the village of Montmartre. After the trip, students said that even though they read about different cultures in textbooks, it was eye-opening to observe them firsthand. The Humanities Department is planning future trips and is currently working on a 2020 adventure to Costa Rica. The Eiffel Tower was a notable stop that students toured on a foggy day in May while in Paris. 32 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU 10K Partnerships, Articulation & Making Education Happen: FTCC partners with GARDNER-WEBB to further ease the transfer process; UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT This year brings multiple partnerships with colleges across North Carolina to help students grow in their educational goals. Each partnership and program strengthens FTCC’s student body and gives students multiple options to continue their education after FTCC at a four-year institution. Celebrating connections Dr. J. Larry Keen and Dr. David Poole, President of the University of Mount Olive, shake hands before signing an agreement that will allow for seamless college transfer between the two institutions. OLIVEFTCC ANNUAL REPORT 33 In August 2018, Fayetteville State University and Fayetteville Technical Community College signed an agreement that will allow FTCC graduates to complete an online bachelor’s degree at FSU at a total cost of no more than $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. The $10K Degree Pathway Partnership will provide access to affordable bachelor’s degrees in accounting, birth to kindergarten (teaching and non-teaching), criminal justice, fire and emergency services administration, business administration (general), intelligence studies, nursing, professional studies, psychology, and sociology. While these degree programs are fully online, FSU will provide regular face-to-face contact with program participants when needed. Dr. J. Larry Keen and Dr. Ben Leslie, Provost and Executive Vice President at Gardner-Webb University, sign a partnership agreement that further eases the process for FTCC students to transfer into programs at GWU. Gardner-Webb University and FTCC joined a partnership in July 2018 that will further ease the transfer process for students. Representatives for both schools signed agreements to create continuous degree tracks for students who complete any associate’s degree program at FTCC and finish a baccalaureate program at Gardner-Webb. The Transfer Admission Promise agreement provides a seamless pathway into any of GWU’s undergraduate programs. FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen believes the partnership will ultimately benefit students. “We look forward to working with Gardner-Webb University,” Keen said. “We expect great opportunities for our students.” Students will save time and money, thanks to the partnership, which aligns degree courses at FTCC and GWU to reduce instances of course repetition and loss. Dr. J. Larry Keen and Dr. David Poole, President of the University of Mount Olive, shake hands before signing an agreement that will allow for seamless college transfer between the two institutions. Dr. David Poole, President of the University of Mount Olive, and Dr. J. Larry Keen, President of FTCC, signed a partnership agreement that will enhance and expand options for community college students. The two educational institutions originally partnered in 2010 to allow associate degree graduates from FTCC to transfer seamlessly into the full range of bachelor degree programs at any of UMO’s locations. This update of the original 2010 agreement now accommodates the agricultural production systems bachelor’s of science degree and FTCC’s horticulture technologies program. The agreement honors the transfer of associate of applied science graduates’ programs of study. It also allows FTCC students to be eligible to apply for all state and federal financial aid. Following the signing, representatives from FTCC toured the UMO campus and the Kornegay Student Farm. OLIVE agrees to expand options to FTCC; FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY promises to provide pathways to current students at under $10,000 Fayetteville State University Chancellor Dr. James A. Anderson and Dr. J. Larry Keen shake on the pathway plan that allows FTCC graduates to complete a bachelor’s degree for under $10,000.34 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU SUMMER Jonathan Thomas, above left, helps tutor a student in a classroom on FTCC’s campus. He graduated from the College in 2019 and spent that summer as an intern with infotech consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, which has an office in Fayetteville. Thomas participated in the firm’s coveted “Summer Games” for students at two-year colleges and four-year institutions.FTCC ANNUAL REPORT 35 RG A M E S More than an internship A summer with an international firm opens door for Information Technology grad Jonathan Thomas Jonathan Thomas spent his summer differently than his fellow graduates from the Class of 2019. He was in Fayetteville, but as a team member of the coveted “Summer Games.” Thomas earned a spot in the annual internship program offered by infotech consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, which has international offices working in consulting, analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber in a range of industries – from defense, to health, to energy, according to its website. The firm receives thousands of applications annually, but only a few hundred spots are filled. Thomas worked in the firm's Fayetteville office. He served as his team’s cloud engineer, creating their project’s network infrastructure, as they were tasked with “gamifying” training that would help soldiers more quickly detect IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Thomas was 19 at the time of participating in the 10-week program where teams develop solutions for Booz Allen’s clients. He graduated from FTCC with an associate’s degree in Information Technology/Systems Security & Analysis. “I got a lot of hands-on experience with the different industry-level tools and worked closely with those who have worked in the field for some years,” Thomas said. “I was one of the only ones [on my team] that had knowledge of software and techniques for doing things.” Thomas’ interest and understanding of computers began before he became a student on campus. The Fayetteville native grew up around computers and developed more of an interest in the field, thanks to his father. The pair played computer games together. Over time, Thomas’ passion for technology began to take form. “I like the flexibility of the IT world, and I’m able to pivot on my current interests,” he said. “I started with cybersecurity at FTCC but now, I’m doing cloud and networking.” While at FTCC, Thomas learned about the Linux operating system from Instructor Chris Herring, the department chair for Systems Security & Analysis. The internship provided Thomas the chance to “really impress” his team’s mentors. Thomas did the team’s cloud work on Amazon Web Services, learned PHP (hypertext preprocessor) and MySQL (a database management system). He also did extra studying at home to stay on top of his workload. “While at FTCC, a lot of the tools [that were] taught to me in class, I was able to use in the internship,” he said, even about Linux. “If I hadn’t done those classes, I would’ve been in the weeds a lot. I was one of the only team members that had knowledge of software and techniques for doing things.” Thomas knew he performed well during the Summer Games. Booz Allen Hamilton agreed. The firm offered him a full-time position in the latter half of 2019 as a Junior Cloud Software Engineer at its Fayetteville office. Thomas said the hands-on class work, thanks to Herring’s teaching approach, is similar to what he does at Booz Allen. It’s another reason why Thomas would recommend FTCC to someone who asked about the college. “They start you off with a foundation and build you up, teaching from the ground up,” he said. “It’s really helpful and easy to process and digest.” Thomas sent an email to Herring detailing the summer internship and the job offer. He told Herring he wouldn’t have been able to make as much progress in a short time without help from instructors and more at FTCC. He closed the email with four words: “Thank you for everything.”36 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU The Global Education Committee and SGA hosted the Oxfam Hunger Banquet, an interactive experience that teaches guests about food distribution and hunger in the world. After a decade of decline, global hunger has unfortunately begun rising again. At the event, guests picked random tickets designating them to a high-, middle-, or low-class tier, based on statistics of people living in poverty. The tickets determined a guest’s meal: hearty for rich, rice and potatoes for middle, and rice and water for low. The event allowed guests to share their experiences and stories as a way to educate and help. About 75 people attended the event including FTCC and High School Connections students, faculty, and staff. Oxfam has been providing this experience for more than 70 years and, in that time, helped more than 875,000 people view poverty differently, with the event hosted up to 600 times a year across the world. FTCC HOSTS THE OXFAM HUNGER BANQUETFTCC ANNUAL REPORT 37 The sweet and savory talents of our Culinary Arts students continue to expand beyond the typical classroom. In November 2018, The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County tapped the College’s culinary department to create a colorful, delectable spread for its 45th birthday celebration. The spread included cold canapes, a cheese display, and a variety of stations including a Build-Your-Own Crostini (an Italian appetizer of grilled bread with toppings), fresh fruit, and pasta paired with red and white sauces. Students in Culinary 240 (Advanced Culinary Skills) and 275 (Catering Cuisine) created the dishes, to much fanfare, under the direction of Chef Instructors Carl Miller and Daniel Tippett. Through the years, an event that continues to draw dozens from the community to our Culinary Dining Room in the Horace Sisk Building is the department’s Meal Services every semester. Diners are treated to a sophisticated five-course meal created by the students, inspired by a variety of international cultures and flavors, many served in upscale American restaurants. Students also serve as the waiters during the events. The services are also a graded assignment for students who earn marks for cooking skills, customer service, presentation, and more. The affordable meal, usually costing $12.96, has included tasty dishes such as Lamb Ouzi, Osso Buco, Crawfish Etouffee, Beignets, Baklava, and Linzer Torte. Culinary Arts shines in Birthday Celebration Pictured is one of the many upscale dishes created by our Culinary Arts students during their classroom instruction or as part of the Meal Service dining experience events on campus that the public can attend. Dishes served on past menus include Shrimp and Scallop Satay and Vegetable Tamale, Steamed Coconut Cake, Ghormeh Sabzi, Knafeh, Prime Rib, and Profiteroles. A student patiently waits for guests at her food station as The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County celebrated its 45th birthday. The College’s Culinary Arts Department’s students and instructors created and prepared the menu. Through the years, Culinary Arts has created the menu for events on the College’s campus.Next >