VGCC recognized for entrepreneurial focus
Oct. 8—HENDERSON — Vance-Granville Community College has been honored as the outstanding entrepreneurial community college in the nation for 2022.
The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship named VGCC the 2022 "Heather Van Sickle Entrepreneurial College of the Year."
The award was announced at NACCE's Annual Conference, held in Boston, where the organization celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. NACCE was founded on the campus of Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2002.
The award recognizes schools that have demonstrated a strong commitment to entrepreneurship both inside and outside the classroom. It is based on the principle that "community and technical colleges are ideally positioned to take the lead in furthering entrepreneurship and supporting local economic development."
A news release announcing the award stated that Vance-Granville Community College's selection as NACCE's 2022 Entrepreneurial College of the Year attests to the leadership of President Rachel Desmarais, who has steadily expanded the college's entrepreneurial initiatives.
In 2021, Desmarais signed NACCE's Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge, committing the college to five action steps designed to create economic vitality through entrepreneurship, including a commitment to:
—Form teams to focus on entrepreneurship.
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—Connect with entrepreneurs in the community.
—Collaborate with industry in the region.
—Focus on business and job creation.
—Share stories through events and the media.
Among an array of other entrepreneurial initiatives, the college hosted an innovative entrepreneurship youth camp called "Be a 'Trep" (short for entrepreneur) for area middle school students aspiring to be entrepreneurs.
"Through innovative events hosted by Vance-Granville's Small Business Center and other entrepreneurial programming, the college has demonstrated its commitment to promoting entrepreneurship throughout the region it serves," said Rebecca Corbin, president and CEO of NACCE. "It is a pleasure to recognize this outstanding college, which was selected by an independent judging panel, as the winner of NACCE's 2022 Entrepreneurial College of the Year Award."
NACCE is an organization of educators, administrators, presidents and entrepreneurs focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their communities and campuses. It has more than 340 member colleges.
