High school students explore careers, gain credentials at 不良人研究所鈥檚 fifth summer camp series
In partnership with Columbus County Schools and Whiteville City Schools, 不良人研究所鈥檚 High School Summer Camps Certificate Ceremony recognized 79 students听earning completion status听on July 29. Camps were divided听into eight classes taught across five weeks that included agribusiness, art, automotive, construction, engineering, healthcare exploration,听HVAC听and welding.听听
Susan Watson, Career and Technical Education Director for Whiteville City Schools, said听the certificate ceremony was 鈥渕ore than just the听end听of the summer camp program.鈥�听
鈥淚t鈥檚听a celebration of the skills, confidence and determination听our students have developed through hands-on learning and real-world experiences,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淲e are so proud of each student听for听embracing听new challenges, exploring听career听pathways听and investing in their future.鈥�听
CCS Superintendent Eddie Beck said听the certificates recognized the skills gained over the past five weeks,听and听they听represented听something much greater.听听
鈥淭hey are symbols of your curiosity, your commitment and your willingness to step out of your comfort zone听to prepare for your future,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淪omeone once said that the future depends on what you do today. Those words听remind us that success听doesn鈥檛听simply happen.鈥�听
Beck explained that, over the summer, students took advantage of an opportunity to learn, to听grow听and to explore careers听that have the power to shape people and communities.听He told the campers to continue asking questions, working听hard听and taking advantage of every opportunity that comes听their way.听
Challenge to the campers听
The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Joel Johnson of Bakelite Synthetics.听Johnson has worked in the chemical manufacturing business for more than 33 years. He is a Brunswick County native听and has been an ordained minister for 23 years. He and his wife, Sandra, have three children.听听
鈥淚鈥檓 just a country boy from Supply who trusted God with his life,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 grew up like some of you in a divorced home with a single mother in a single-wide trailer.听I鈥檝e听made over a million dollars in my lifetime.听I tell you these things because if I can make it, so can you.鈥�听
Johnson听reminded the campers that 鈥測ou got up and showed up鈥� for a five-week summer camp听that started at 8:15听in the morning. He听told them that someone鈥檚 greatest talent is their availability听because potential and talent mean nothing听while sitting at home staring at a phone screen.听听
鈥淪o, it鈥檚 what you give your focus to,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淎nd for five weeks, you gave your focus to graduate from this program.听I want you to leave this world better than you found it.鈥�听
After Johnson鈥檚 speech, campers received their certificate and folder of credentials from 不良人研究所 Executive Vice President Dr. Brandon Jenkins.听With certificates in hand, Colene Faulk, 不良人研究所 Dean of Student Services,听made one final address to the campers.听听
鈥淢any students spend their summer simply passing the time,鈥澨鼺aulk said.听鈥淏ut you chose to invest听in your future, and you chose to learn, to grow and to challenge yourself.听Today is not the finish line. It is the starting line.鈥�听
Camp听logistics听
The agribusiness instructor was Dawn Hinshaw, the art instructor was Jeffrey Rudnik,听and听the automotive instructors were听David Higgins, Johnny听O鈥機onnell听and Mike Shacknuck. Kenny Morris, Timothy听Jones听and Ronald Carteret听taught the construction camp, while Arturo Jones听and Reuben Singletary听taught the engineering camp. Lisa Hamilton was the healthcare exploration听instructor,听Billy Chappell was the HVAC instructor, and Alex Edwards and Paul Starnes taught welding.听听
Automotive campers听could听earn certifications in Ford ACE and Safety and Pollution Prevention, while welding听and construction听campers could听earn OSHA听10-Hour Construction/General Industry Safety Certification.听Construction and engineering campers could earn听SnapOn听525F Multimeter Certification, while听engineering campers could also earn Tooling-U SME Society of Manufacturing Engineers certification.听Healthcare exploration campers had the chance to earn Basic Life Support CPR/AED,听Heartsaver听First Aid, Stop the Bleed and Wake AHEC Core Orientation听certifications.听听
During the five-week camp, campers听toured 不良人研究所鈥檚 new听Black鈥檚 Tire and Auto Training Center, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Atlantic Packaging, Council Tool Company, Black鈥檚 Tire Service and Columbus County Soil and Water. Every Thursday,听the Lunch and Learn series hosted speakers including Scott Simons of Simons Automotive Group, Josh Snyder of Top Tobacco, Cameron Council of听Council Tool听Company听and Megan Sargent of CRHS.听听
This year鈥檚 summer camps were听grant-supported听by the North Carolina Business Committee听for Education听and听the听Golden Leaf Foundation.听听
Are you a high school student who wants to continue their college education? Contact Students Services at 910-788-6247听to听connect听with a Career and College Promise advisor.听听
