Celebrating Two Decades of Success: Local VISIONS Program Honors Pitt County High School Graduates

The Pitt Community College VISIONS Career Development and Scholarship Program recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and the upcoming graduations of its high school participants. The event took place in Winterville and included awards presentations and student testimonials about their experiences in the program. Partners such as the PCC Foundation, Eddie & Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation, and Pitt County Schools were present to celebrate the students' achievements.

Rebecca Warren, the Director of PCC VISIONS, emphasized the importance of recognizing the hard work of VISIONS students, who often do not receive recognition at their high schools' awards ceremonies. Since its start in 2004, the VISIONS program has worked to lower the high school dropout rate in Pitt County by offering mentorship and career development opportunities.

The program has a high success rate, with 98% of its 1,224 participants since 2005 graduating high school on time. This year, 73 students from six Pitt County public high schools are set to graduate. The program supports both academic and personal growth, according to PCC High School VISIONS Coordinator Katelynn Speas. Activities include evening seminars, individual meetings, and a Summer Institute.

PCC Police Chief Tyrone Turnage gave a keynote speech at the event, urging graduates to strive for excellence and recognize their supporters. He highlighted the importance of perseverance and setting ambitious goals. The event also acknowledged students who excelled academically or showed significant improvement.

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