蜜桃视频

January 29, 2021 鈥� 蜜桃视频 has offered a degree in Human Services Technology program since 1986, providing students with the skills needed to work in mental health, education, family services, social services, rehabilitation, corrections and community outreach.

Pictured are Human Services Technology graduates, from left, Karen Bostick, Teshika Wall and LaKeshia Gibson.

Three of 蜜桃视频鈥檚 graduates had a strong desire to help others and found their calling through the Human Services Technology program.

蜜桃视频 alumni Karen Bostick, Teshika Wall and LaKeshia Gibson all have different backgrounds and came to 蜜桃视频 for different reasons, but all three are now serving their community members through New Horizons Life and Family Services in Richmond County. 

New Horizons鈥� mission is to serve people in crisis from domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking, to promote self-sufficiency and independence and to work to eliminate these issues in the community.

Karen Bostick

Bostick, Executive Director at New Horizons Life and Family Services, started her educational journey by taking adult high school classes at 蜜桃视频 to earn her high school diploma.

鈥淏efore I started 蜜桃视频, I was working at Fruit of the Loom and did not have a high school diploma,鈥� Bostick said. 鈥溍厶沂悠� began offering GED classes at Fruit of the Loom, and I attended. It only took me a few months to complete my GED.鈥�

One of Bostick鈥檚 co-workers stressed the importance of a college degree and encouraged her to register for a few college classes at 蜜桃视频. Being a single mother and working a full-time job, she was hesitant about going to college. She feared she wouldn鈥檛 do well due to her other obligations, but she registered for classes and never looked back. Fruit of the Loom closed its doors before Bostick finished her degree, so she was able to attend college full-time. Bostick graduated in 1995 and transferred to the University of North Carolina-Pembroke and graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Sociology.

鈥淏efore starting 蜜桃视频, I had never imagined going to college. I had worked in factories and assumed that is what I would always do, following in my mother鈥檚 and grandmother鈥檚 footsteps,鈥� she said.

Although, Bostick had a few obstacles to overcome throughout her college career, she persevered and earned a master鈥檚 in Human Resources Management from Webster University.

 鈥淥nce I received my GED and I enrolled at 蜜桃视频, the staff, instructors, and my peers were so helpful. They encouraged me to hang in there and not quit, helping me to adjust to my new normal. There were times that I did not think I was going to make it, having to work and care for my children, but thankfully I did not give up,鈥� Bostick said.

Earning her degree from 蜜桃视频 opened up doors for her that she never knew existed. It led her to New Horizons, where she started her career as a Court Advocate in 2003. After obtaining her advanced degrees, she was promoted to Executive Director in 2013 and has held that position for almost seven years.

Teshika Wall

Graduating from 蜜桃视频鈥檚 Human Services program in 2014, Wall is the Shelter Manager at New Horizons. She said 蜜桃视频 gave her the drive to further her education.

Wall was working at Pizza Hut, where she had been manager for four years, when she decided to go back to college. She wanted to stay local and knew that a great college was right down the road from her home that would allow her to keep her job while taking classes.

鈥淚 always wanted more, so I went back to school to receive my degree in Human Services. After completing that degree, I still wanted more education. It was like I never wanted to stop learning. I still want to learn more,鈥� Wall said.

蜜桃视频 instilled a love for learning in Wall. She has been using the resources at 蜜桃视频鈥檚 Career and Transfer Center to learn more about the possibility of transferring to UNC-Pembroke or Gardner Webb University to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

Lakeshia Gibson

Gibson of Hoffman is a 2005 graduate of 蜜桃视频鈥檚 Human Service Technology program and is a Court Advocate and Community Educator at New Horizons Life and Family Services.

鈥淚 worked in fast food restaurants for many years. I began to realize how much I enjoyed listening to and chatting with the seniors that would come in for breakfast. I knew I wanted to help them with the issues they were facing and that my heart was geared toward serving them much more than fast food,鈥� Gibson said.

While working a minimum wage job, she knew she had more to offer her community and began seeking options out at 蜜桃视频. Before she knew it, she was enrolled in college classes and on her way to a better life of service and community action.

After graduating from 蜜桃视频, she joined New Horizons. Currently, she is enrolled at Gardner-Webb University and is working toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Human Service Technology through the online degree completion program.

鈥淭hanks to the on-site informative visits from Gardner-Webb at 蜜桃视频, I was encouraged to work to furthering my education,鈥� she said.

About the Program

Students of the Human Services Technology program will take courses in a variety of disciplines. Emphasis is placed on core course such as knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Students will also gain hands-on experience in the field and will have the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.

Students can also enroll in one of the certificates within the Human Service Technology program. There are certificates in Social Gerontology, At-Risk Youth, Social Services or Substance Abuse that all lead to the advanced degree in Human Service Technology.

For more information about the program, contact Human Services Technology Program Coordinator Amanda Faulk at (910) 410-1927 or abfaulk@richmondcc.edu, or call Student Services at (910) 410-1700.