SCC’s Early Childhood Graduates Host Celebration

The graduates of Surry Community College's Early Childhood Education program celebrated their accomplishments in May with a dinner at the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture & Enology on the Dobson campus. The Grand Hall was decorated by the students using the “Up ” movie theme.

“Up ” is a 2009 Pixar animated movie. The plot revolves around Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old balloon salesman, is about to fulfill a lifelong dream. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, he flies away to the South American wilderness. But curmudgeonly Carl's worst nightmare comes true when he discovers a little boy named Russell is a stowaway aboard the balloon-powered house.

SCC Early Childhood Education Lead Instructor, Dr. Mary Olvera, conducted most of the evening including introducing guest speaker Waynett Taylor, M.Ed, Program Chair of Early Childhood Education at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Taylor spoke about her journey from receiving an associate degree to earning her masters. She encouraged graduates to continue their education and keep learning.

Fall 2019 graduates include Haley Payne of Dobson; Saran Price of Dunn; Melissa Bussard of King; Shakia Griffin, Jennifer Lupinacci, and Valeria McDaniel of Mount Airy; Carolyn Harrell, and Jennifer Sink of Yadkinville.

Spring 2019 graduates include Lizbeth Cristobal, Cassandra Moss, and Haley Newman of Dobson; Josephine Dumas of Elkin; Misti Dewitt of Hamptonville; Amanda McCauley of Jarvisburg; Abigail Hooper, Zuleima Miranda Garcia, Alma Ortega Grajeda, and Abby Thompson of Mount Airy; Brittany McNeill of North Wilkesboro; and Carolyn Harrell of Yadkinville.

The Early Childhood Education curriculum at SCC prepares individuals to work with children from infancy through middle childhood in diverse learning environments. Students combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers.

Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with parents and children. Students foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional and creative development of young children.

Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school age programs.

For more information about the Early Childhood Education program at SCC, visit www.surry.edu or contact Dr. Mary Olvera at olveram@surry.edu or (336) 386- 3511.