County and College to Partner in New Facility
Dr. Lew Hunnicutt shares remarks at Nash County Pet Connection Center groundbreaking ceremony
Nash Community College joined Nash County leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony for Nash County’s new animal shelter, the Nash County Pet Connection Center, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The center will be located adjacent to the college campus at 3600 Eastern Avenue.
“We at Nash remain so thankful of our partnership with Nash County,” NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt said. “The Nash County Board of Commissioners, as well as county employees, are fully supportive of the college and maintain a definite interest in our success. After all, we are Nash County’s Community College.”
Students enrolled in the NCC Veterinary Medical Technology program already serve animals through the county shelter, and this partnership will expand once the new facility opens.
NCC’s Vet Tech program is designed to prepare students to assist veterinarians in preparing animals for examination and surgery as vet techs. Some tasks include collecting specimens, performing laboratory, radiographic, anesthetic and dental procedures, assisting in surgery and providing proper care for animals and their environment.
Pictured from left: VP of Instruction Dr. Jay Sullivan; Allied Health Department Chair Andrea Milks; Program Director Gail Harrell; Representative James Gailliard; Senator Lisa Barnes; NCC President Dr. Lew Hunnicutt; VP of Economic Development Wendy Marlowe; Commissioner and NCC Trustee Wayne Outlaw
In addition to working with Nash County Animal Shelter, the Veterinary Tech program works with Purrfect Heart Cat Rescue in Wilson and Wilson County Humane Society.
“I am so excited about what today means for all the animals of Nash County,” NCC Director of Veterinary Medical Technology Gail Harrell said, “as well as the continued collaboration between Nash Community College’s Veterinary Medical Technology Program and the new center.”
On the NCC campus, the program provides spays, neutering, physical exams, laboratory work, vaccinations, heartworm testing, microchipping, diagnostic procedures, bathing and other hygienic support.
Gail Harrell addresses event attendees
“Our students have already benefited in so many ways from this relationship, and in return, our program has been able to help so many of the animals of Nash County by improving their health and thus making them much more attractive to adopt. This health care has also alleviated some of the costs that rescue groups have to spend when pulling animals from the shelter.”
Nash Community College’s Veterinary Medical Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) as a program for educating veterinary technicians. 1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360, 800-248-2862 www.avma.org.
President Hunnicutt also thanked Nash County leaders for their recent gift of approximately 14 acres adjacent to the new facility’s location. “Adding to our campus footprint will allow us to meet a critical need for the region and country with driver training,” he said. “This acreage will very soon become the Nash Community College Driver Training Center and will assist us in training over-the-road truck drivers, basic law enforcement and fire academy cadets, as well as students across other programs including electric line construction, emergency medical services, and those coming to us for motorcycle training.”
