FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC TO HOST  STATEWIDE STUDENT

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

DANVILLE, VA, November 2, 2004 – Danville Community College will host the annual Virginia Community College Student Leadership Conference in the Danville area, Nov. 5-7. Using the theme, “Racing for Success: Getting on Track,” the conference will bring together more than 360 student leaders and advisors from the 40 campuses of Virginia’s community colleges. All conference activities will be held at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

            Pete Castiglione, Director of Student Development, said this is the first time the conference has been hosted by DCC.

            “We are excited about the event for this area,” Castiglione said. “We are focusing on three things: Technology, Virginia’s Racing Region, and an opportunity to showcase the Danville region. We also are bringing some key people in the area of leadership.”

Among the speakers who will offer welcome remarks in Friday’s opening session are State Senator Charles Hawkins, R-19^th; Delegate Robert Hurt, R-16^th; Delegate Daniel Marshall, R-14^th; DCC President Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, and Danville Vice Mayor Dr. Wayne Williams.

Additional highlights of the conference include:

Friday

2:00 -4:00 p.m.

Pre-conference Sessions

• Scott – The Wendell Scott Story (documentary) will be shown.

• Leland Melvin, NASA astronaut and mission specialist and co-manager of NASA’s Educator Astronaut program, and Roy Bridges, Jr., former astronaut, former director of the Kennedy Space Center (1997-2003), and current director of the Langley Research Center in Hampton (2003-present), will make presentations. Melvin is also a native of Lynchburg, VA. The two NASA officials will be introduced by Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode.

4:30-6:30 p.m.

• Leadership Workshop with international motivational speaker and author Jason Dorsey, whose topic will be “No More Excuses!”

Dorsey is the author of Graduate to Your Perfect Job and Violence NOT Allowed: Stopping School Violence Starts with You! He will address student leaders on how to stop making excuses and stop restricting their true performance ability.

8:00 - 11:00 p.m.

• The Virginia Community College System’s American Idol competition

Competition includes 15 contestants who have won the competition at their respective colleges. The panel of judges will include area radio personalities. Alex Vardavas of WBTM Radio will serve as emcee. Deanna White will represent DCC in the contest.

Saturday

12:00 -1:15 p.m.

• Luncheon and presentation with Comedian Bernie McGrenahan

McGrenahan’s “comedy with a message” is intended to make student leaders and advisors laugh before making them sit-up and pay attention to the high-risk drinking problems facing many college campuses and corporations across the country.

Sunday

8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

• Breakfast Presentation with Don Roberts, WAVY Radio’s “Marathon Man” and author of Hey Dad Read This and Rap to Live By.

While the conference is restricted to registered community college students, the entire conference will be webcast on the internet by DCC’s Growing Digital Network program of the Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training. The web address is http://2gdn.net. In addition, community colleges throughout the Commonwealth will host sessions for students to view the VCCS American Idol Competition and vote on their favorites. DCC’s Justice Club will host a session for DCC students at 7:00 p.m., November 5, in Oliver Hall (Temple Building).

For more information about the VCCS Student Leadership Conference, contact Castiglione, at (434) 797-8490, or toll free at (800) 560-4291.