College’s Jennifer S. Patton A Beacon for Others
Morganton, NC— A beacon is described by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “someone or something that guides or gives hope to others.” For Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) employee Jennifer S. Patton, that “something” is the College. The daughter of well-educated parents, Jennifer knew the value of higher education. After graduating from East Burke High School in 1982, she took classes at WPCC off and on throughout the next five years, completing her Associate in Fine Arts degree in 1987. And while WPCC had attracted her initially to gain her associate degree, the work world she found afterward left her uninspired and restless.
By the early 1990’s, Jennifer, by then a married mother of two, knew that furthering her education was her way to a more fulfilling career life. She returned to school at Gardner-Webb University, graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services in 1994. At about the same time, Jennifer noticed a newspaper article about WPCC’s Educational Talent Search (ETS), a federally-funded, academic outreach program facilitated by the College. The program works cooperatively with the Burke County Public Schools to provide identified, eligible participants in grades 6-12 with additional academic and career counseling to ensure their success in school and life. WPCC –her beacon–was tugging at her through this article. She applied for an ETS position but no word came back. None-the-less, the article stuck with Jennifer. After six more years and a third child, Jennifer’s dream to work for the College’s ETS program finally came true when the program director called her about a part-time counselor position open in the program. The beacon was shining brightly now.
Jennifer began her ETS work in January 2000, switching to a full-time lead counselor position in 2006. Just when she was completing her Master’s degree from Appalachian State University in 2010, the ETS program director was taking on a new responsibility at WPCC.
“I knew I wanted that ETS director job,” said Jennifer. “That’s when I realized that Western Piedmont had always been a beacon, calling me back.”
As the ETS Director, Jennifer has become the “beacon” for others—she’s that “someone” who guides or gives hope to others.
“When I was a young adult, I had my own doubts about myself,” she explained. “I had a lack of confidence and I was timid. I think this is why I relate so well to my students now. I have a heart for them and feel a deep level of commitment to help them. I can see their future successes, and by helping them fill the knowledge gap they may have about furthering their education, I can help them succeed! To me, my story is about living life. I’m still on my own journey and it is not finished. Education is the goal for me and for my students. Education is a game changer.”
To learn more about WPCC’s Educational Talent Search program, contact Ms. Patton at 828-448-3181 or jpatton@wpcc.edu. To apply for curriculum classes, select Apply Now.
Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Each year, more than 10,700 students pursue personal enrichment, new skills for a job or career, high school diplomas, college degrees, and transfer pathways. Apply online or visit the Western Piedmont Campus to apply in person.