News

SCC's new associate dean of public safety Ronnie Hayes stands in front of the fire training tower on campus.

Hayes rejoins SCC staff as new Associate Dean of Public Safety

02/20/2026

Ronnie Hayes, a Columbus County native from the Bethel community and retired fire chief, is Southeastern Community College’s new Associate Dean of Public Safety. As the head of public safety, his main responsibilities are to oversee the short-term training classes in fire, EMS and law enforcement, expand the newly established curriculum programs in EMS and public safety administration and assist each division’s directors and coordinators.

18-Wheeler decorated with SCC logos and imagery dedicated to Truck Driver Training at Southeastern Community College

Southeastern Community College Celebrates $4.9 Million Federal Investment to Expand Truck Driver Training

02/18/2026

Southeastern Community College celebrates a $4.9 million federal investment to expand its Truck Driver Training Program, strengthening workforce development across Southeastern North Carolina. The funding will support new training facilities, modern equipment, and increased access to high demand career pathways for students in Columbus County and beyond.

Golden LEAF Foundation Announces $200,000 IN Funding.

Southeastern Community College Receives Golden LEAF Funding to Expand High School Welding Opportunities

02/16/2026

Southeastern Community College has been awarded $200,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation to expand welding opportunities for high school students across Columbus County. The funding will support a new mobile welding lab, allowing SCC to bring hands-on, industry-aligned training directly to local campuses and community sites. This investment strengthens the workforce pipeline, increases access to technical education, and prepares students for high-demand careers right here at home.

An LPN students gets hands-on experience with needles and administering medication in the nursing sim lab at SCC.

New accelerated bridge program fast-tracks registered nursing school for working licensed practical nurses

02/15/2026

Southeastern Community College will launch its Licensed Practical Nurse to Associates Degree Nurse Transition Program this summer to help address Columbus County’s shortage of registered nurses. This accelerated program will turn working licensed practical nurses (LPNs) into registered nurses (RNs) in three semesters. Detra Edwards, nursing instructor and program coordinator, said the need for the program grew from a widening gap in the local healthcare workforce.

Truck Driver Training Instructor Will McCulloch stands in front of the new orange wrapped truck at the driving pad in Fair Bluff.

McCulloch makes U-turn back to SCC as new Truck Driver Training instructor

02/12/2026

Will McCulloch, a Columbus County native, is Southeastern Community College’s new and first full-time Truck Driver Training program instructor. After a two-and-a-half-year partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, the groundwork was laid out for SCC’s own Truck Driver Training program. With nearly 40 years of truck driver experience and as an alumnus, McCulloch returned to SCC ready to place safe, qualified truck drivers on the roads across the county and beyond.

SCC nursing instructor Marcia deAndrade stands in front of her classroom with students in the background.

‘Light bulb moments’ – new SCC nursing instructor prepares next gen nursing workforce

02/05/2026

Marcia deAndrade, an Elizabethtown native, is Southeastern Community College’s newest nursing instructor with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare. When two of her undergraduate nursing instructors told her she would not pass state boards, a fire for teaching was ignited to prove them wrong. With deAndrade teaching the Associates Degree Nursing capstone course, she is determined to produce the most qualified next generation of healthcare professionals.

First ever ‘Careers on Wheels’ to showcase local industry partners to more than 3,400 students

02/03/2026

In collaboration with Columbus County Schools (CCS), Southeastern Community College (SCC) will showcase local technical, public safety and healthcare career opportunities at its first ever Careers on Wheels event on March 23. With more than 3,400 CCS students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grades, they will get hands-on exposure to career fields that involve vehicles, technical equipment and mobile technology.

Veronica Powell stands in the middle of SCC's campus as the new Associate Dean of Transitional Studies and Prison Education.

Veronica Powell appointed Associate Dean of Transitional Studies and Prison Education at SCC

01/28/2026

Veronica Powell, a Lumberton native, was promoted from Director of Transitional Studies to Associate Dean of Transitional Studies and Prison Education at Southeastern Community College. Starting her new role on Jan. 5, Powell is tasked with building a stronger relationship with Columbus County’s two prisons: Tabor Correctional Institution and Columbus Correctional Institution. Her goal is to create and maintain new classes taught at the prisons, grow the current high school equivalency diploma program at SCC and the prisons and knock down barriers to student success.

SCC President Dr. Chris English smiles after signing the steel beam at the construction site.

SCC tops new transportation technology building with signed steel beam

01/27/2026

The cold weather did not stop history and progress being made at Southeastern Community College as state representatives, trustees, college leadership, architect and construction representatives, instructors and staff signed the final steel beam for the Transportation Technology/STEM Building on Jan. 27. The topping ceremony marked a significant milestone in the completion process expected by October this year.

Southeastern Community College Announces Major Multi-Year Partnership with Black’s Tire Service

01/26/2026

Southeastern Community College is proud to announce a significant multi-year commitment from Black’s Tire Service, Inc., a longtime local business and trusted community partner. This generous multi-year pledge will support the College’s mission, students, and programs through the Southeastern Community College Foundation, with funds designated to be used where the need is greatest.