72 Certifications Earned as SCC’s High School Summer Camp Students Graduate
High school students from Columbus County Schools and Whiteville City Schools wrapped up their summer with a sense of pride and purpose during Southeastern Community College’s High School Summer Camp Graduation Ceremony, held Wednesday, July 30, at 3 p.m. in the college auditorium.
Fifty-six students completed the five-week program, which ran Monday through Thursday and offered hands-on training in six key career areas: agribusiness, automotive systems technology, construction, engineering, healthcare, and welding. Campers received instruction from SCC, Columbus County Schools, and Whiteville City Schools—strengthening the long-standing partnership between the college and local school districts.
In total, students earned 72 industry-recognized credentials, including certifications such as Ford ACE, OSHA 10-Hour Construction/General Industry Safety, SnapOn 525F Multimeter, Basic Life Support (CPR/AED), Heartsaver First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Wake AHEC Core Orientation. Instructors also presented superlative awards to campers for achievements such as best performance and most improved in each program.
In addition to classroom and lab instruction, each Thursday featured a lunch and learn session where guest speakers from local businesses spoke to students about their careers and what it takes to succeed in their industries. Representatives from Bakelite Synthetics, Top Tobacco, Black’s Tire, and Columbus Regional Healthcare System participated, offering insight into both technical skills and soft skills employers value.
Students also toured local businesses to experience the workplace firsthand. This year’s field trips included visits to Council Tool, Applied Plastics, Black’s Tire, and Columbus Regional Healthcare System.
One of the highlights of the summer was a joint event hosted in collaboration with SCC’s quarterly HR Director’s Breakfast. Rather than a traditional meeting, industry partners and students gathered on the lawn of the Nesmith Student Center for a career-themed game day. HR directors from employers such as Shoreland Health Care, Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Black’s Tire, and the Columbus County Health Department hosted interactive booths while students played games like cornhole and Connect Four.
As the summer camps came to a close, Southeastern Community College encouraged students to continue exploring career pathways through its Career & College Promise (CCP) program. CCP allows high school juniors and seniors to take tuition-free college courses during their regular school day, with no additional transportation required.
Students or parents interested in registering for fall classes or learning more can reach out to SCC’s CCP advisors. For West Columbus, South Columbus, or homeschool students, contact Khadijah Tart at [email protected] or (910) 788-6285. For East Columbus, Whiteville, Thomas Academy, or Columbus Christian Academy, contact Lynn Leonard at [email protected] or (910) 788-6263.
This summer marked the fourth successful year of SCC’s high school summer camps. With a growing number of students earning credentials and gaining early exposure to high-demand, high-wage careers, the program continues to be a strong workforce development tool for Columbus County.
