Barry Street, Athletics Director at Wake Technical Community College (WTCC), announces the hiring of the first three coaches for Wake Tech’s brand new sports program. Godfrey Miller, George Tsai, and Andrew Wilkinson have been tapped to coach the Wake Tech Eagles in soccer, volleyball, and golf, respectively. All bring diverse experience to the task.

Godfrey Miller was a member of his native Liberia’s National Team when they qualified for the world cup and Africa cup (2004-2005) and has played soccer in many parts of the globe. He was Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at NC State University and head coach for the NC Youth Soccer Association and the US Soccer Club. In 2003 Miller was named Gold Star Soccer Club Coach of the Year. He is a graduate of St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh.

George Tsai, a native of Taiwan, played varsity men’s volleyball at East LA College and has coached a number of notable players and winning teams; he has more than 500 wins in his coaching career. As head volleyball coach at Green Hope High School (1998-2007), Tsai led his team to 7 consecutive state playoffs. Tsai is a Raleigh real estate broker and for the past eight years has also been a Wake Tech instructor in Web Technology/ Advertising and Graphic Design.

Andrew Wilkinson graduated from Northern High School in Durham and earned degrees from Wake Tech and Campbell University. He has played in numerous local golf tournaments and coached golf as well as middle school and high school baseball. Wilkinson has worked for Duke University Golf Club and helped organize the NCAA Division I national golf championship and tournaments for the Golf Channel and Golf Galaxy. He was runner up in the Herald Sun Golf Classic in both 2006 and 2007.

These newcomers will have to “settle in” quickly. Wake Tech’s new sports program has been gearing up for fall action since Athletics Director Barry Street reported for duty in early June, and fall schedules are now in place.

Women’s volleyball begins August 27. The first home game, against Pitt Community College, is set for Tuesday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. at North Raleigh Christian Academy.

Men’s soccer gets started on Saturday, August 30, at 2:00 p.m., when the Eagles play Spartanburg Methodist, at the WakeMed Soccer Park off Chatham Street in Cary.

Additional information and game schedules are available at http://athletics.waketech.edu.

“It’s exciting to have outstanding coaches in place and our fall games lined up,” Street says. “Wake Tech’s sports program is now a reality, and we can begin in earnest to prepare for the excitement and challenges ahead.”

Wake Tech’s Board of Trustees approved the athletics program last February, with a fall kickoff to include men’s soccer and women’s volleyball. Men’s and women’s golf will begin in the spring. Basketball will be added next fall, while baseball and softball will begin in spring of 2010.

In a move designed to make higher education more accessible and affordable, North Carolina State University and Wake Technical Community College announced today a new partnership that will allow Wake Tech students who want to obtain a bachelor’s degree to move seamlessly into an undergraduate degree path at NC State.

The Partnership for Access to College (PAC) offers a unique opportunity for students in Wake Tech’s College/University Transfer curriculum to receive guaranteed admission to NC State after completing an associate’s degree at Wake Tech as well as NC State program requirements. To be eligible, students must have completed their first semester at Wake Tech with a 3.0 grade-point average and a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 100 or 200 level. New Wake Tech students will have access to a PAC admission application beginning this fall.

Once admitted to the PAC program, each student will complete an individualized plan of work and identify a future program of study at NC State. While at Wake Tech, PAC program participants who meet the eligibility requirements will be able to take one course per semester at NC State during the fall and spring semesters. In addition, they will have access to an NC State PAC advisor, as well as the Wake Tech Advising Center, and full use of NC State's libraries, Virtual Computing Environment, and other necessary student services.

"The program provides a smooth transition to NC State, ensures maximum transferability of student coursework, and allows students to explore four-year degree programs and take advantage of other opportunities at NC State while still enrolled at Wake Tech," says Dr. Larry Nielsen, provost and executive vice chancellor at NC State.

“Wake Tech is extremely pleased to partner with NC State on the PAC program to benefit students,” says Dr. Stephen C. Scott, president of Wake Tech. “As community colleges play an increasingly important role in higher education, agreements like this are critical for ensuring the highest quality educational options for all North Carolinians.”

NC State officials anticipate that the new program will make higher education truly seamless for qualified students. “We hope this inter-institutional arrangement will help meet the burgeoning demand for undergraduate education in our state,” says Dr. Louis Hunt, vice provost of enrollment management and services at NC State. “It will also serve as a model for many other partnerships with community colleges across North Carolina.”

Bryan Ryan, Wake Tech’s vice president for curriculum education, says the partnership agreement is one that students will be eager to embrace. “Wake Tech's mission is to prepare students for their next steps – in the workforce or in the pursuit of additional education,” he said. “The PAC program opens exciting new pathways for those students who have built a strong foundation and are ready to go after a four-year degree.”

Campbell University and Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) today announced a new partnership that will greatly expand educational options for community college students. The Campbell-Wake Tech Transfer Opportunity Program, or TOP, is designed to allow associate's degree graduates from Wake Tech to transfer seamlessly into bachelor's degree programs at Campbell University.

Presidents of the two institutions, Dr. Jerry M. Wallace of Campbell University and Dr. Stephen C. Scott of Wake Technical Community College, formally signed the TOP partnership agreement at Campbell's main campus in Buies Creek today.

Components of the TOP agreement include:

• Upon a Wake Tech student's completion of the Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree program with a GPA of 2.0 or greater, Campbell will guarantee admission and seamless acceptance into the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Business Administration degree programs, in accordance with the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) and the NC Independent Colleges and Universities Articulation Agreement.
• Wake Tech students who complete Associate in Applied Science (AAS) programs will be allowed to transfer up to 64 credit hours (21 hours general education, 30 hours technical, and 13 hours elective) into Campbell's Bachelor of Applied Science degree program; and will, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, be guaranteed admission into the program at Campbell's main campus, RTP campus, or other extended campuses.
• Campbell will waive the application fee for Wake Tech graduates who meet the requirements for admission.
• Wake Tech students will be allowed to take courses at Campbell as appropriate toward the completion of their associate's degree. (Students will be responsible for the tuition and fees for the Campbell courses.)
• Wake Tech graduates will be eligible to participate in the full range of academic programs and honors programs at Campbell University's main campus.

Tom Harris, Associate Dean of Extended Campuses at Campbell, says the partnership will help associate degree graduates stay on track toward a bachelor's degree in their field without losing hard-earned credit hours. "Many of these students are working adults," Harris notes. "They're seeking a program that will allow the most transferable credits toward their bachelor's degree. Campbell can meet their needs."

Bryan K. Ryan, Vice President of Curriculum Education Services at Wake Tech, agrees that today's students need flexibility. "Wake Tech students balance school with work and family responsibilities," Ryan says. "Programs like this help them stay focused and reach their goals."

Dr. Jerry M. Wallace, president of Campbell University, says the partnership should provide a new opportunity for students to attain their educational and professional goals. "As an institution of higher learning, our purpose is to educate students and prepare them for service in their communities. My hope is that this collaboration between Wake Technical Community College and Campbell University will help these scholars achieve the next step in their educational journey and prepare them for the future."

Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen C. Scott is excited about the partnership with Campbell and believes it reinforces both institutions' commitment to students. "With this agreement, we're showing students that they are most important. As educational institutions, we can eliminate barriers and create pathways that make higher education accessible. In so doing, we honor the hard work and sacrifices of our students, who are bettering their lives and the life of our community."

The Campbell-Wake Tech partnership enhances Campbell University's relationship with the North Carolina Community College System, as a participating member of the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement and the NC Independent Colleges and Universities Articulation Agreement.