< Previous38 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU we rememberFTCC ANNUAL REPORT 39 Lt. Col. Jason R. Wayne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, served as the guest speaker on Sept. 11, 2018, during the 9/11 Observance Ceremony on FTCC’s Fayetteville Campus. FTCC annually conducts the ceremony to remember and honor the victims who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Centers in New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania.40 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU I n 2019, Army Public Affairs profiled one of our graduates for doing more than just serving his country since 1999. Sgt. 1st Class Esteban Sepulveda decided to make a career change after years-long pain from corrective back surgery in 2016, stemming from an injury sustained while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The choice was a hard one for the soldier. He’s had family members serve in the military since World War II, including his father and stepfather. “I was upset, angry with myself and confused because I didn't know what to expect next. I felt for the first time in my career it was in someone else’s hands and I had no control. The reality was my Army career was coming to an end,” Sepulveda said. “I started to look at the successful things my family had accomplished through our time in the military, and it reminded me that things could be worse. The military provides you with the opportunity to grow and be successful and have a sense of belonging.” He enrolled in the College’s Transition Tech Program, which trains and helps transition current military service members into a rewarding career in the civilian workforce. When Sepulveda and his family moved to Fort Bragg, he focused on information technology. He chose Transition Tech’s CompTIA, Network & Security track at FTCC, learning about hardware, operating systems, networking, security and troubleshooting. Attending a job fair and networking with attendees led to Sepulveda receiving two job opportunities. “I live my life according to a quote from motivational speaker Les Brown: “Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” *The above are excerpts and a paraphrased summary of the original article “Sgt. 1st Class Esteban Sepulveda: Charting his own path to success,” written by Annette P. Gomes, Warrior Care and Transition, for www.army.mil released on Feb. 8, 2019. FTCC honors the men and women of our armed forces who commit every day to protect and serve. We recognize the hard work and dedication of our veterans to their studies. S tudent Jesse Watts represented FTCC at the United States Information Technology Collegiate Conference in Microsoft Office in Galveston, Texas, this school year. He earned his ICCP ISA certification, Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals Information Systems Analyst. The certification exam is comprised of questions from seven areas: information systems, data and information management, IT infrastructure, IS project management, systems analysis and design and IS strategy, and management and acquisition. Kenneth Kleiner, a mobile & web programming instructor at FTCC, said the certification serves as a great resume builder and proves a level of knowledge has been achieved in a specific skill set. Watts is an Army veteran and serves as the Sergeant at Arms for FTCC’s Student Government Association. Brig. Gen. Donald G. Fryc, 32nd AAMDC Commander, presents Sgt. 1st Class Esteban Sepulveda with the Army Accommodation Award, February 2015. (Photo Courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Esteban Sepulveda) Student Jesse Watts represented FTCC at the United States Information Technology Collegiate Conference.FTCC ANNUAL REPORT 41 I n March 2019, some FTCC instructors visited Monroe’s Crossroads on Fort Bragg, the site of one of the final battles of the Civil War. The location is one of the places Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led his troops to during his famous march through the Carolinas. Confederate cavalry troops made a surprise attack on the Union encampment, but they lost the fight. The visit by the FTCC contingent was made on the 154th anniversary of the occupation of Fayetteville by Union troops. Dr. Daniel P. Stewart, one of our history and humanities instructors, was instrumental in leading the tour, which was also part of a Professional Development Opportunity for faculty. The tour was based on research by Stewart, which won the California State University Dominguez Hills All-Campus Thesis of the Year in 2004. Clockwise from top left: Flags fly for the 9/11 Observance ceremony that FTCC conducted in September, 2018; Lt. Col. Jason R. Wayne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, serves as the guest speaker at the ceremony; bagpipes have become a traditional part of FTCC’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony; a monument at Monroe’s Crossroads on Fort Bragg; Long Street Presbyterian Church, near Monroe’s Crossroads. 42 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU Military Friendly National Program Manager and Army veteran Brian Hucik presented FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen with a plaque for our campus being ranked #1 in the Top 10 Gold Category College Award (large community colleges) by the organization and VIQTORY. The list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, which includes input from student veterans. Hucik shared a few words: “Today, we celebrate the efforts of Fayetteville Technical Community College for not only being awarded the Military Friendly designation, but for setting a new standard by being named the number-one college in their category. Congratulations … once again on your hard-earned achievement by supporting the veteran community and truly providing better outcomes for our country’s veterans.” In October 2018, Military Times listed FTCC #5 nationally in its “Military Times Best for Vets: Career and Technical Colleges” rankings. In their ninth year, the rankings are based on the results of Military Times’ annual survey – the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement – as well as a detailed review of public data collected by federal agencies. As is true for all Military Times rankings, Best for Vets: Colleges is an editorially independent, objective, and rigorous news project. This feature evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans, and their families. About 500 colleges took part in this year’s survey. NUMBER 1 NUMBER 5 FTCC ranked as a top college in 2019 Military Times rankings FTCC awarded the #1 in Top 10 Gold Category Colleges in US FTCC is proud to honor our military service members of today, their sacrifices overseas, in the field, and at home. And as we’re proud of those service members here with us today, we hold the same sentiment for those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation. As we remember them, we reflect on the history. Every year on November 11, FTCC remembers Armistice Day. It marks the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany in 1918, ending World War I. Instructors across various programs collaborated to host a series of events about the war on topics outside of conflict such, as technological legacy, music, photography, and literature. The College’s events in 2018, reflecting on “the war to end all wars,” was a time of not just remembering, but of learning about our nation’s history and its impact on today. YEARS 100 FTCC celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day FTCC hosted the 18th Annual North Carolina Defense & Economic Development Trade Show & Fort Bragg Business Outreach Event on its Fayetteville campus, spanning the Tony Rand Student Center to the Horace Sisk Gymnasium. The one- day event provides networking opportunities and government procurement workshops for current and prospective federal contractors. The trade show was hosted by United States Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, FTCC, and the North Carolina Military Business Center. The event was also a partnership with the Fort Bragg Garrison and the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Bragg. The event included more than 100 exhibitors. It typically draws a crowd of more than 600. FTCC ANNUAL REPORT 43 The North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs selected Courtney Smedick as the recipient of the year’s Military Spouse Recognition/Leadership Award at its ceremony in Raleigh in May. Smedick was one of eight from across the state to receive the honor. The award was presented by North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper and North Carolina Department of Military & Veterans Affairs Secretary Larry D. Hall. Smedick’s work focuses on the areas of Statewide Integrated Marketing, Events Coordinator for major events, and Government Relations for the North Carolina Military Business Center. Smedick has been married for 13 years to Major Brian Smedick, currently assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group. She’s also the mother of two daughters. In June 2019, FTCC earned the 2019-2020 Top Military Spouse Friendly® School designation. The Military Spouse Friendly® Schools list is a reliable resource for military spouses and sets a standard for higher education institutions to provide the best post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members. “The Military Spouse Friendly Schools designation helps military spouses select schools that will support them in their education journey by meeting their unique needs as a part of a military family,” said Brian Hucik, National Program Manager, Military Friendly. “Schools that are selected for the list are at the forefront of supporting the goals of military spouses.” FTCC hosted the 18th Annual North Carolina Defense & Economic Development Trade Show & Fort Bragg Business Outreach Event on its Fayetteville campus, spanning the Tony Rand Student Center to the Horace Sisk Gymnasium. The one- day event provides networking opportunities and government procurement workshops for current and prospective federal contractors. The trade show was hosted by United States Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, FTCC, and the North Carolina Military Business Center. The event was also a partnership with the Fort Bragg Garrison and the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Bragg. The event included more than 100 exhibitors. It typically draws a crowd of more than 600. WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU STUDENT LIFEFTCC ANNUAL REPORT 45 Anya Mangroo, 18, found a spot in the Horace Sisk Building to practice her sketching. She drew flowers and worked on her art assignment for the day: creating a 1-point perspective. She chose a hallway, leading to the main breezeway. Mangroo is majoring in culinary arts on campus. The Fayetteville native graduated from Terry Sanford High School. NT LIFE46 WWW.FAYTECHCC.EDU we are F TC C From funeral services to the science lab, students with extraordinary talent show how FTCC changed their lives forever. Student recipient of top scholarship from funeral service provider Service Corporation International (SCI) named Sarah Bammel, a first-year student at Fayetteville Technical Community College, one of three recipients in 2019 of its namesake Mortuary Science scholarship. It’s valued at $5,000. She’s the first student from FTCC to receive the top scholarship award. Bammel is studying funeral service education. FTCC is the only accredited mortuary school in North Carolina; it’s also one of 57 across the nation. Bammel learned of her achievement via phone call. Her first reaction? She screamed. The caller on the other end of the phone wasn’t prepared. “That poor woman… She laughed so hard, but her eardrums are fine,” Bammel said with a laugh during a phone interview. “And then I broke down in tears, tears of joy. I couldn’t believe it.” A panel selected 50 finalists from more than 100 candidates to receive scholarship awards. Of the finalists, 35 were awarded $1,000; 12 received $3,000 and three, $5,000. SCI calls itself the largest provider of funeral, cremation, and cemetery services in North America, according to its website. Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a college or university program with accreditation from the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Applicants must also write an essay and submit a video about helping others and funeral service, according to SCI’s website. Bammel’s honor culminated with a trip to Houston, Texas, where she was awarded her scholarship. In Houston, she met other recipients along with funeral industry leaders in a networking opportunity. Bammel also met a funeral director based in New Bern and, later, toured his establishment.F TC C Sarah Bammel, right and left, a dual student at FTCC and East Carolina University, poses under ECU’s cupola on the Mall of the campus. This structure is a replica of the original which sat on top of the Old Austin Building which was demolished in 1968. Students don’t walk under the cupola on the busiest days of the semester. There’s a widely held superstition within the ECU community that any student who walks under the cupola before they graduate won’t graduate in four years.Next >