CVCC student Blalock recognized as latest recipient of student incentive funding

Catawba Valley Community College welding student Chase Blalock is the latest recipient of the CVCC School of Workforce Development and the Arts (WDA) and the CVCC Foundation’s student incentive funding.

05/25/2021

The award will count toward summer 2021 semester tuition and fees for Blalock as he continues his studies in the School of WDA’s Department of Welding Technology.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of education is to watch a student grow — both personally and professionally,” said Jeff Penley, CVCC School of WDA Special Advisor and Senior Professor for Technical and University Transfer Programs. “I have known Chase since he started the Welding Technology program here at CVCC, and he has developed into an outgoing, skilled craftsperson who will represent our welding program and the welding profession itself in an outstanding fashion in the Catawba Valley community.”

Blalock was nominated for the award by CVCC Welding instructor Daniel Barnes and the nomination was supported by CVCC Director of Welding Technology Mark Sigmon.

Those attending the ceremony to recognize Blalock included School of WDA Dean Gary Muller as well as Penley, Barnes and Sigmon.

“We are so pleased to support Chase’s career journey to become a welding professional,” Muller said. “Mr. Barnes and Director Sigmon have remarked on numerous occasions that Chase is one of the hardest working students in the welding program, and here in the School of Workforce Development and the Arts we like to reward and recognize those students who have an outstanding work ethic and who are truly committed to their craft.”

For more information regarding this initiative and the CVCC School of Workforce Development and the Arts and its programs, please contact Dean Gary Muller at gmuller@cvcc.edu or Senior Professor and Student Advocate Jeff Penley at jpenley@cvcc.edu.

Note: The photograph accompanying this article was taken in full recognition of COVID-19 safety protocol, and all participants voluntarily removed their masks for only a few seconds for the purpose of having the photograph taken.

Photo caption: From left,  Dr. Jeffrey Penley, CVCC School of WDA Senior Professor and Student Advocate; CVCC welding student Chase Blalock; CVCC Director of Welding Technology Mark Sigmon; and School of WDA Dean Gary Muller.

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