ANC Student Snapshot - April 2020 - Darrius Nichols

April 2020 Arkansas Northeastern College Student Snapshot recipient, Darrius Nichols.

𝗔𝗡𝗖 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧

𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗨𝗦 𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗦, 𝗕𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲

Arkansas Northeastern College would like to announce Darrius Nichols of Blytheville as one of its Student Snapshot recipients for April. ANC Instructor in Construction Technology Josh Chipman nominated Nichols.

“I have known Darrius for two years now. He was a high school student in the 2018-2019 academic calendar year and is now a college student finishing up his construction Certificate of Proficiency,” said Chipman who added that Nichols was a responsible student who works hard in the program.

Getting a start at ANC through the College’s Secondary Technical Center, helped Nichols decide to continue his studies. ANC Tech Center provides a wonderful opportunity for high school students to learn about different career options. The ANC Tech Center is a workforce education center that offers both high school and college credit in career and technical programs to all high school students in Mississippi County, Arkansas. It is housed in ANC’s Center for Allied Technologies and provides students with hands-on training in career and technical fields. Tech Center programs of study teach marketable job skills and offer industry certifications, as well as college credit. High school students taking advantage of the Tech Center are able to do so at no cost. All costs are covered by the school districts and the Arkansas Department of Career Education.

Nichols has enjoyed his time at ANC and has learned a great deal in his classes.

“My favorite class is taught by Mr. Chipman and it’s a construction class. It’s my favorite because not only is he a great teacher, but he helps a lot and knows the information. This class alone will also help with my future plans by getting me the skills I need to perform the things I will have to do,” said Nichols.

Chipman, who has many years of experience in both residential and commercial construction, brings a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge to his program. He enjoys working with the students, especially those like Nichols.

“Darrius is very punctual, professional, and demonstrates a great work ethic in the classroom. I feel that Darrius is a great representative of ANC, and I am proud of his work and glad that he is being recognized as one of ANC’s Student Snapshot recipients.”

Nichols, who grew up in Blytheville, has always been an outgoing person. As an energetic person who has trouble sitting still, he finds the hands-on work in the ANC Construction Technology Program to fit his personal learning style. “I’ve always wanted to do something and be involved. If I wasn’t doing anything, I felt like I was just wasting time. I like to get involved and I love to help out.”

This involvement can be seen in his community. Outside of school, Nichols is involved in many things including the Juneteenth Celebration each summer, which celebrates the abolishment of slavery. Additionally, he participates in the ‘Dancing for the Cure’ fund-raiser for cancer research. His ANC family appreciates his dedication to education and his desire to help others.

ANC was a good choice for him as he wanted to be close to home, and he has some words of advice for others considering attending college.

“Don’t follow the trend. Be yourself and go for what you like. Not for the popularity of the college or what others want. If it meets your needs, attend it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a community college, private school, or big university, go for YOU!”

ANC Student Snapshot - April 2020 - Sade Ford

April 2020 ANC Student Snapshot recipient, Sade Ford

𝗔𝗡𝗖 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗, 𝗕𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲

Sade Ford of Blytheville has been selected as one of Arkansas Northeastern College’s Student Snapshot Recipients for the month of April. While the ANC campus is currently closed to the public, most students are still engaged in classes remotely, and nominations for ANC snapshot student recipients occurred in early March.

Ford, who is enrolled in the HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration) Program, was nominated by instructor Rick Sones who is excited to have her in class. “She is the only female in a predominately male-oriented field,” said Sones, who would like to encourage other females to consider the program. Given the latest data from the 2019 Economic Security Report where it showed that graduates of ANC’s HVAC Technical Certificate, working full-time, earned $58,193 in their first year of work following graduation. That is an excellent paying career for a one-year certificate program.

Though she seems to have found her fit at ANC, Ford admits that the decision to go to college came later for her, but her children helped her changed her focus. “I grew up in a single-parent home and watched my mom struggle to take care of us. Where I'm from, college is something that every parent wants for their child, but it isn’t always in the budget. I have four older siblings who set great examples for me, but I was the rebel of the family. I graduated from high school in 2007 and really didn't have an urge to continue my education. I had my first child in 2012 and when I became a mother it changed my outlook on bettering myself. She is the first thing that came into my life that made me want more out of life,” said Ford.

Still, she struggled to manage college, citing the wrong choice of a major. “What I majored in didn't really interest me, so it didn't have my full attention. Then in 2016, I gave birth to my son and I knew I had to do something to set a great example for both of my children. I knew I had to make sure that I had time to focus on furthering my education, so that's what made me enroll this fall.”

She decided to follow in her brother’s footsteps and attend ANC. “My brother just recently graduated from ANC, and he told me how great of an experience he had while he attended,” she said.

For Ford, getting her start may have been difficult, but choosing the HVACR Program was the best decision she could have made. “I chose this major because this is a field that my dad is in, and I would go out and help him sometimes. This is one of the only things that I have done that actually sparked my interest.”

According to Sones, her class performance is impressive. “Her grades, work ethic, and willingness to help others go above and beyond most people,” he said.

By finding her fit, Ford has evolved as an enthusiastic learner. “I'm only in my second class, but I love both of them. The things that I am learning are wonderful and very informative. I have the best instructor that I could have ever asked for. He is all about helping to ensure that we all pass this program with a great understanding,” added Ford, who plans to open her own business servicing residential units when she completes the program. However, she is still thinking further out into the future and would love to grow a business that eventually services industrial units as well.

When asked what advice she could give to others like her, she touted the opportunities that the Arkansas Northeastern College has to offer.

“Honestly, I would advise students to attend ANC. This has been the best experience I have ever had while attending college. It was also very easy to enroll and there are a lot of people at the college who are ready and willing to help with your success. The best decision I have ever made.”