NCC Welding Alumnus Honored for Leadership

Nash Community College Class of 2009 alumnus Rusty Pace of Franklinton was recently honored with the President’s Leadership Award at Vance-Granville Community College. He serves as head of Vance-Granville’s Welding Technology program. VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams praised Pace as an innovative faculty leader, for increasing retention, and for his commitment to professional development.

Pace is a graduate of Franklinton High School. He earned a Welding diploma from VGCC in 1978 and quickly became certified through the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory. Pace worked as a welder for many years in Wake Forest and Franklin County, eventually opening his own business. He returned to college and completed an Associate in Applied Science degree in Welding with honors at Nash Community College.

Rusty Pace began teaching Welding at VGCC on a part-time basis in 1998 and became a full-time instructor in 2004. He was promoted to the role of program head in 2007. He has served on the VGCC Professional Advisory Committee, the Judicial Committee and the Student Success Committee, and completed the VGCC Leadership Institute in 2006.

Students in Nash Community College’s Welding program are known nationally for their performance in SkillsUSA competitions, and regionally for their career preparedness. For more information about Nash Community College’s Welding program, call 252-451-8270.