Numerous volunteers, students, faculty and trustees will be gathering at Star Telephone next Tuesday night to make calls as part of the annual Sampson Community College Phonathon.

All proceeds from the phonathon help fund grants, scholarships, programs and support services through Sampson Community College. Due to inclement weather, last year’s phonathon was cancelled, but SCC Foundation executive director Lisa Turlington is excited about getting the fundraiser going again.

According to Turlington, this year’s phonathon, which will be aired live on Star Communications channel 16 from 6-8 p.m., is taking a different approach to raising the funds to help support the Foundation. The actual phonathon will focus more on faculty and students showcasing their talents.

As in years past, the live broadcast will feature various talent segments presented by residents of Sampson County. However, new to this year are segments featuring a three-minute highlight of the different areas of the college.

“One of the best things about the phonathon is the ability to bring educators from the college together with industry professionals to discuss topics relevant to both the school and Sampson County as a whole,” Brandon Wiggins, Foundation assistant, said. “It gives you a greater appreciation for how interconnect the county really is.”

The phonathon will work just as it has in years past, as community members will have the opportunity to call in and pledge to support the Sampson Community College Foundation with the purpose to raise money for scholarships and academic programs and to share success stories of SCC with the community, or mail in their donations. Starting in 1987, after Foundation was established in 1986, this event was held on campus for many years before partnering with Star Telephone and its predecessors in the late 90s. In 2010, the event was filmed and aired later, but since 2011 it has been a live television event.

“The annual phonathon sets aside a night each year where Foundation representatives and the college’s faculty, staff and students thank our community partners for the special relationship they enjoy with our students,” Dr. Bill Starling, SCC vice president of academic affairs, said. “It’s one of the best grassroots events where a cross section of the community turns out to perform, to call, and to celebrate this special relationship. As we often say, we are a ‘community’ college.”

Volunteers, to include Foundation directors, students and faculty, will still be making phone calls during the live two-hour broadcast, but the primary focus of the televised event is to tell the college and its students’ stories. The last phonathon raised just over $28,000, which was slightly down from years before. Turlington said she is hoping this year’s event will raise even more money.

“We hope the community will tune in and see what we are all about here at the college,” Turlington said. “As the stories from the college are being shared, hopefully those watching will want to donate so we can continue offering these services to our students.”

Turlington says the phonathon event is made possible through the help of Star Communications, in addition to the hundred of volunteers who come out the night of the event.

“The phonathon would not be possible without the overwhelming commitment of Lyman Horne and Star Communications and the entire production is orchestrated by Chris Heuer and his amazing team of Jason Miller, Craig Bell and Billy Brewington,” Turlington added.

Foundation vice president Bill Fulton and Foundation president Lyman Horne encourage everyone to tune into the phonathon and make a pledge that will help support the local college.

“Our annual phonathon is an excellent vehicle to share the work of our local community college, showcase local talent, as well as provide a vehicle for all in the community to participate in the success of this great institution, Sampson Community College,” Horne added.

For anyone interested in donating, during the live event, you can call 910-564-3601 or donate online at www.sampsoncc.edu/foundation.

Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.

By Kristy D. Carter

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Sampson Community College student Kayla Shatley, donning the newly designed T-shirt, is preparing for next week’s phonathon, which raises money to help SCC students and services.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_phonathon.jpgSampson Community College student Kayla Shatley, donning the newly designed T-shirt, is preparing for next week’s phonathon, which raises money to help SCC students and services.