The CFCC Foundation and Sea Devil Athletics are partnering with NewBridge Bank to bring the Wilmington community the 2nd Annual NewBridge Bank Bridge to Bridge 4.0 run / 1.0 walk. A 4-mile course will take participants from the Isabel Holmes Bridge to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge through some of the most scenic areas of downtown Wilmington, NC. The race will take place Thursday, June 13th, at 6:30 pm. The finish line will consist of a celebration inside the Schwartz Center with food, beverages and community supporters. Funds raised will support student scholarships at CFCC. Click here to register.

“Comfortable and efficient” are the words that professional surfer Tony Silvagni uses to describe Cape Fear Community College. “I felt very at home there. I had a lot of fun classes, and I was in and out of class easily.” Silvagni says. “The downtown experience was wonderful. I rode my skateboard to class and all over downtown between classes.”

Tony and his family moved to Kure Beach, NC from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1993.  He adapted to the coastal lifestyle easily, and began to realize a love for the outdoors and for staying active. “I have to stay busy,” he says. “Even now I can’t sit still.”

As a child, Tony spent many afternoons on the beach and quickly learned to surf. At eight, he frequently entered local body-board contests, and by age sixteen, he was surfing professionally. Soon, he was entering surfing competitions in exotic destinations such as Hawaii, Brazil, France, Australia, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka and Japan.

Although he competed professionally as a shortboarder, Tony says he prefers the “grace, style, finesse and flow” of the longboard over the aggressive aerial maneuvers of shortboarding.

This choice suited him well. By 2008, Tony was ranked second overall on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North American Longboard ratings. In 2011, he became the ASP North America Longboard Champion, the Japan Pro Longboard Champion, sixth in the ASP World Longboard Tour, and the first-ever longboarder from North Carolina to become a gold medalist in the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Longboard competition, where he represented the USA Surf Team in the “Olympics of surfing.”

All his success is even more extraordinary given the fact that while Tony was winning surfing competitions he was also attending CFCC and earning transfer credits in CFCC’s associates of arts program with a 3.6 grade point average. In 2012, he graduated from UNCW with a bachelor of science in business marketing.

Tony says his instructors at CFCC were very supportive and understanding of his competition schedule. “The instructors really reached out to help me. I also spent a lot of time in the Learning Lab and the staff there was very helpful.” He says that CFCC helped him learn to manage his time. “Preparing for homework, getting a task done…that’s how you learn to become successful.”

While he still competes internationally – most recently he finished in fifth place on the World Longboard Tour – Tony has also parlayed his education in business marketing into a successful local business. The Tony Silvagni Surf School opened in March, 2008 in Carolina Beach and offers private surf lessons, group surf lessons, surf camps, stand-up paddleboarding tours, advanced surf coaching, kayak tours and rentals of surfboards, paddleboards, skimboards, bodyboards, kayaks, beach chairs and umbrellas. This summer, he will be expanding his business by debuting a tiki hut location at 100 Hamlet Avenue at Carolina Beach and offering lessons at Access 33 at Wrightsville Beach near the Blockade Runner Hotel  Both locations will offer surfing and paddleboard equipment rental as well as sign-ups for surf lessons and camps.

Although Tony’s surfing competitions have taken him around the globe, he says he loves surfing at home in Carolina Beach and operating his surf school there. “We have a great surfing environment here. There are prominent sand bars that allow for more breaking waves and are conducive for learning to surf at all skill levels. In Carolina Beach we have a very family-friendly atmosphere, great restaurants and community activities such as the weekly fireworks during the summer. It’s a great place to own a business.”

Tony’s advice for CFCC graduates is simple: “Work toward goals in life that interest you. When you wake up every day to go to work you want to enjoy your job.”

In celebration of Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day on Thursday, February 28, the Cape Fear Community College Foundation introduces the Class of 2013 True Blue Fund…

Graduating seniors: As you prepare to leave Cape Fear for your next adventure, consider also leaving a legacy.

Give a gift of at least $20.13 to the Class of 2013 True Blue Fund and receive a special blue ribbon to wear at your commencement ceremony. You will also receive free membership in the CFCC alumni association so you can stay connected to Cape Fear long after you graduate.

Your gift will leave a legacy for future CFCC students by providing scholarship support and helping academic programs meet crucial needs. In addition, the CFCC Student Government Association will designate a permanent landmark to the campus in honor of the 2013 True Blue campaign. Together, the Class of 2013 will make a significant, indelible impact.

To make your gift now, click on the link below. Make to indicate in the comments section that you are donating to the “Class of 2013 True Blue” Fund.

LEAVE YOUR LEGACY. CLICK HERE AND GIVE NOW.

Board members of the Got-Em-On Live Bait Club recently presented the Cape Fear Community College Foundation with a $5,000 donation to begin funding an endowed scholarship for Marine Technology students at CFCC. The donation was funded by proceeds from the club’s 15th annual golf tournament held in December at the Echo Farms Golf Club. Pictured (left to right) are Captain Mike Harrison, treasurer; Captain John Batson, president; Teresa Lomas, golf tournament chair, and Jason Rogers, chair of the Marine Technology Department at Cape Fear Community College.

Once fully funded, the Got-Em-On Live Bait Club Endowed Scholarship will provide financial support to marine technology students at CFCC, with preference given to graduates of the South Brunswick High School Mose Lewis Aquaculture Facility.

The Got-Em-On Live Bait Club was formed in 1979 by a small group of tournament-winning live-bait fishermen. This group of competitive friends would announce their catches with a spirited cry of “Got ‘em on!” over their CB radios. The club was incorporated with 17 members in 1981 and today the membership consists of approximately 300 families. The club hosts several annual King Mackerel tournaments, numerous club socials and activities. Got-Em-On is also a philanthropic non-profit organization and has supported numerous charitable and educational organizations in the region. Previously, the club has donated proceeds from its annual golf tournament to a UNCW graduate fellowship in marine biology, which has been fully funded with over $70,000.

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The Cape Fear Community College Foundation exists solely to support the students, instructors, programs and mission of the College. The Foundation secures and manages gifts and grants, including cash contributions, estate gifts, securities, donated services, and equipment and supplies for educational purposes. For more information about CFCC, or about scholarship opportunities, please contact the Cape Fear Community College Foundation at 910.362.7207 or visit www.cfcc.edu/foundation.

Established in 2005 by Betsy Leonard, a board member of the Cape Fear Community College Foundation, Holiday Helpers is a way for donors to support CFCC students who are struggling financially during the holidays. “The initial focus of the program was to ensure that the children of hard-working students would be able to experience the joy of knowing Santa Claus remembered them on Christmas morning,” said Leonard.

After a careful vetting process to ensure each student meets financial need requirements, students are selected to receive gift cards so they may purchase toys, gifts, food and clothing for their families during the holidays.  And in some cases, donors choose to accompany students on shopping trips.

Anjanette Hare was one student who received assistance from the Holiday Helpers program. Hare is a pre-elementary education student at CFCC.  She has three children, an 18 year old son serving in the Army, and two younger children, a boy and a girl.  When Hare’s husband suddenly died in June of this year, she found herself exhausting all her disposable income to pay for medical bills and funeral expenses.  The family did not have medical insurance.

As the holidays approached, Hare feared she wouldn’t be able to afford Christmas presents for her kids.  After the terrible year they had been through, she didn’t want them to endure another disappointment.  When she heard about the Holiday Helpers program, she reluctantly applied.  “I’m the kind of person who hates to ask for help,” Hare said.

Hare’s application was reviewed, and she was selected by the CFCC Business Office staff to be taken on a shopping excursion.  “I am overwhelmed at the kindness I’ve been shown,” Hare commented as she met with Jennie Price, Administrative Assistant to Vice President of Business and Institutional Services, who accompanied Hare on the shopping trip. 

On the shopping trip, Hare picked out games and toys for Christmas gifts.  She was very selective and wanted to make sure she made the most of the money she had to spend.

Hare purchased several board games.  She said she wanted to create a standing family game night each week.  She said since her husband’s death, she’s trying to spend as much time with her family as possible.  “When something like that happens so quickly, it makes you think – don’t waste a minute,” said Hare.

“I can’t express how grateful I am for the help I’ve received this year.  The last 6 months have been more of a struggle than I expected.   My teachers at CFCC really worked with me this summer when everything happened, and now this.  My goal is to get my degree through NC Wesleyan after I finish my Associates at CFCC.  NC Wesleyan offers classes at CFCC, so I’ll never have to leave,” said Hare.

The Holiday Helpers program has grown dramatically since its inception in 2005. “In the first years of the program, about 50 students received assistance,” said Dana McKoy, Director of Annual Giving at the CFCC Foundation, “but because of the dedication of our volunteer committee, more than 140 CFCC students and 300 children in the Wilmington area will experience the joy of the holiday season this year.”

The Holiday Helpers committee consists of program founder Leonard and long-time volunteers Marietta Gwathmey, Jane Rippy, Madeline Trask and Joyce Vietto, who support the program through personal networking with friends, and social, civic and religious organizations. “The outpouring of support this year for the Holiday Helpers program has been tremendous,” said Leonard. “This is just another indication that our donors value the importance of community college education by helping worthy students who are striving to help themselves and ultimately use their education and vocational skills to become a vital part of the community in which they and their families live.”

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The Cape Fear Community College Foundation exists solely to support the students, faculty, academic programs and mission of the College. The Foundation secures and manages gifts and grants, including cash contributions, planned or estate gifts, securities, donated services, and equipment and supplies for educational purposes. For more information about CFCC, or about scholarship opportunities, please contact the Cape Fear Community College Foundation at 910.362.7207 or visit www.cfcc.edu/foundation.

Margaret Robison, Executive Director of the CFCC Foundation (center) poses with team members from gold sponsor PPD.

Wilmington, NC – On October 29, the Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Foundation introduced tennis to its second annual Halloween Golf Tournament to benefit student scholarships. Thirty golf teams and thirty-six tennis players sponsored by local businesses and individuals participated in a fun-filled day at the Cape Fear Country Club.

Donations ranged from $1,000 to $2,500. Gold sponsors included BB&T and PPD. There were also twenty-six Silver Sponsors. Marine Max and Parkway Volvo were Hole-in-One Sponsors, and there were over thirty Hole Sponsors. Ortho Wilmington was this year’s first ever Presenting Sponsor for Tennis. Court Sponsors included McGladery, Queensboro and PPD. Food and beverage sponsors included Coastal Beverage, Outback Steakhouse, Wellington Benefits, Coca-Cola, Pita Delite and Dan Smith. Special thanks also go to Courtyard by Mariott and the Hilton Garden Inn for hosting the John Daly Lemonade Stand.

The CFCC Foundation congratulates Mitch Henry, Chip Gettys, Matt Kirby and Jamie Sischo from PPD as this year’s Gross Champions and Beth Quinn, Mary Barto, Greg Neel and Tommy Mann from First Citizens as this year’s Net Champions. Special congratulations also go out to our tennis winners, “The Fearful Group” which included Summer Springstead and Karen Musselwhite, and “The Capeable Group,” which included Joy Hosier and Han Goh.

Cape Fear Community College Foundation’s Executive Director, Margaret Robison offered a special incentive for golfers to place a bid on one of the holes. Bids placed on the hole allowed golfers to attempt to land his or her ball into a twelve foot circumference surrounding the hole in order to double their money. However, if the golfer made a hole-in-one, Robison would have been forced to plunge herself in the pond. Thankfully, Margaret stayed dry and donations for student scholarships increased.

The Cape Fear Community College Foundation exists solely to support the students, teachers, programs and mission of the College. Most of the funds raised are designated for our students in the form of scholarships to directly assist with their education. For more information about providing scholarship opportunities for CFCC students, please contact the CFCC Foundation at 910-362-7207 or give online at www.cfcc.edu/foundation.

Giant’s Causeway

Travel with CFCC, Cape Fear Community College’s premier leisure travel program, has announced a spring 2013 excursion to Ireland, March 10-18. The trip is open to all students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends of the college. This unique experience will allow travelers to engage in a variety of activities from touring Dublin and Belfast to exploring a “Titanic” walking tour of Cobh and a visit to the newly opened Titanic museum.

Along with spending seven nights in superior and first class hotels, travelers will have the luxury of indulging in full breakfasts and dinners, including a traditional Irish dinner and show at Abbey Tavern. A welcome toast will also be scheduled.

Tour participants will enjoy several fully-escorted excursions including walking tours of Waterford and Derry with local guides, and visits to the Glendalough Visitor Center, the Dunbrody Famine Ship, the House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Woolen Mills, the Skellig Experience, the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, the Cliffs of Moher, Knock Shrine and W.B Yeats’ Grave.

Travelers will also experience Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway, ranked as the fourth greatest natural wonder of the United Kingdom. The Causeway is a picturesque area of about 40,000 interlocking columns of rock, resulting from an ancient volcanic eruption on the coast of the County Antrim. Participants will visit the Ring of Kerry, a beautiful circular tourist trail which covers about 179 kilometers of road and includes many scenic views and historical attractions. All visits and admissions will be included.

Total cost is $2,890 per person based on double occupancy, land and air from Wilmington. More information is available at www.cfcc.edu/travel or by calling Karen Pittman at AAA vacations at 910.763.8446, ext. 17513.

A special information session will be hosted by Irish travel specialist Brian Moore on Wednesday, November 14, at 5:30 pm in room L-210 of the Learning Resource Center at Cape Fear Community College’s downtown campus; the building is at the corner of Walnut and Second Streets. This session is free and open to the public.

On September 27, Dr. Frank Sells, interim president of Cape Fear Community College, along with Susan Booth and Bob Philpott, employee co-chairs of the CFCC Campus Fund Drive, presented a ceremonial check to the CFCC Foundation for $77,000. The check represented the collective donations of more than five hundred CFCC employees who donated during the college’s annual employee fund drive in September, which focused on a theme of “raising hopes and fulfilling dreams” for CFCC students. The funds collected will be used to provide scholarships and support initiatives for students, such as departmental grants for innovative academic programs. Over 75% of the college’s full-time employees have already contributed to the fund, and donations will continue throughout the year.

By Jenni O’Toole, CFCC Foundation Intern 

A graduate from CFCC’s Culinary Arts program, Bree Peterson- Resnick has used her talent and education to give Wilmington a new choice of bakeries by opening Uprising. 

Uprising, located at 1701 Wrightsville Avenue, advertises itself as “Not Just a Bakery.” Uprising has everything from cheesecake and red velvet cake to savory goat cheese pastries and veggie scones. Resnick’s tasty treats are unique, due to her use of almost entirely locally grown, organic ingredients and her large selection of gluten-free goodies. Local or American made retail items such as hammocks, greeting cards, wind chimes and shirts can also be found at Uprising. Resnick describes this unique fusion as, “selling an atmosphere, not just a cupcake.” 

Resnick relocated from Syracuse, New York, to the Port City in 1991. She graduated from New Hanover High School in 2001. As an arts enthusiast, Resnick imagined herself working in the theatre, but years later, discovered her love for cooking. “I knew that I wanted to do something food-related and I eventually figured out that I was good at making things taste good and look pretty. That combination let me use my creativity to the max,” says Resnick. 

Resnick launched her culinary journey by enrolling in CFCC’s Culinary Arts program. She praises the program and its benefits. “They give you all the tools you need to be successful,” says Resnick. “You learn how to purchase your products, set up your kitchen, hire your staff, create menus, evaluate your product, and to analyze your profits and losses.” 

Resnick applauds her CFCC culinary professors, Chef Valerie Mason, Chef Jim Dishaws and Chef Marilyn Lowers. “They helped to shape my style and views on everything from steak to cake and back again! I admire and love those chefs and am so grateful for all they have taught me,” she exclaims. 

Resnick has some advice for current and future CFCC culinary students. “I would recommend this program to other prospective students, as long as they are focused, strong and enthusiastic.” The importance of class attendance is something she stresses. “This program is not for everyone, and having a few students in the class that do not take it seriously, or don’t show up for class can make it hard on everyone else,” says Resnick. 

Resnick’s own work ethic has certainly paid off. With the achievement of earning her culinary arts degree, and the support of her loving family, Resnick was able to successfully start her own successful in-home wedding cake business, which eventually led to the opening of Uprising. 

Today, Resnick is married and has two children. She co-owns Uprising with Michael Scott, her husband, and says she has achieved her culinary dream. She says, “I not only work in a kitchen where I’m needed and appreciated, but I get to be my own boss and I have all the artistic freedom I could ever want!”

Wayne Long, Carolina Farmin’ CEO, is happy to support CFCC students. “Cape Fear Community College showcases the best of what our area has to offer. It provides a quality education and the workforce training that’s an incredible asset to local businesses, including Carolina Farmin’. Tanya, Ben, and I are proud to support an organization that continues to be such an integral part of our community,” said Long.

CFCC’s Hospitality Management curriculum prepares students to understand and apply the administrative and practical skills needed for supervisory and managerial positions in hotels, motels, resorts, inns, restaurants, institutions, and clubs.

The Culinary Technology program at CFCC provides training required to prepare students to assume positions as culinary professionals in a variety of food service settings including full service restaurants, hotels, resorts, clubs, catering operations, contract food service, and health care facilities.

Carolina Farmin’ was established with a mission to invigorate our community and revive the agricultural heritage of the Carolinas by selling locally grown and produced farm-fresh foods and strengthening the health and welfare of the community in which we live and work. The store works with directly local farmers, fishermen, ranchers and bakers to deliver the best farm fresh produce, seafood, meats, baked goods and specialty items to its customers at the best prices…everyday.

The Cape Fear Community College Foundation exists solely to support the students, instructors, programs and mission of the College. The Foundation secures and manages gifts and grants, including cash contributions, deferred gifts, securities, donated services, and equipment and supplies for educational purposes. For more information about CFCC, or about scholarship opportunities, please contact the Cape Fear Community College Foundation at 910.362.7207 or visit www.cfcc.edu/foundation.