There is another reason Carrie has chosen to return to college after so many years.

 
"If Tracy hadn't been interested in finishing her degree, I might not have gone on myself," Carrie confided.  "The motivation for me has been to encourage her to finish her studies knowing how important a bachelor's degree is to someone in their twenties.  Also, on a more selfish note, I like to spend time with my daughter whenever possible."
 

So, in the spring of 2008 Carrie and Tracy enrolled in the Management and Organizational Development (MOD) program at Mount Olive College. 

 

"We chose the MOD program because, although my mother is already in management, it is something that I have a strong interest in pursuing," Tracy stated.
 

Both Carrie and Tracy are employed with AdminUSA, a third-party administration firm in Wilson.  Carrie has been at the company for over eight years and serves as vice president of administration.  Tracy started working at the organization in August of 2008 as an account administrator.

How do these full time employees, fit college into an already busy schedule?

 

"At Mount Olive College, our course schedules are fully lined up in advance and textbooks are presented to us the week before each new class begins," Carrie commented.  "There is no standing in registration lines and no waiting in the bookstore to buy books.  This program is such a perfect fit for me as I try to manage a full-time job, a family, and all my other responsibilities."
 

Although their educational experience has been positive, it hasn't all been a bed of roses.  During the past year, the Fedoriws have experienced some personal challenges that threatened their ability to continue.  Carrie's son and Tracy's brother, Timothy, a 22 year old member of the United States Navy was deployed to the Persian Gulf.  And most recently, Russell Fedoriw, husband to Carrie and father to Tracy, had a heart attack.

 

"In notifying the College of our family emergency, we received full support from not only our professors, but also from our fellow students," Carrie said.  "We are a tight group and having their support has been so encouraging to us."
 

Russell is now on the road to recovery, allowing the Fedoriw ladies to once again focus on their studies.  With only a year to go, they are closer than they have ever been to the finish line.  As they have done in each of their classes, the mother and daughter hope to sit by one another on graduation day.

 

"Having the support of going to school side-by-side with my mother has been amazing," Tracy shared.  "This experience has given me a better sense of what I can accomplish and a closer bond with my mother.  I don't know how I could have done it without her.  We lift each other up, help each other understand the subjects and encourage each other to push through, even when it's tough." 
 
 

The 23rd Annual Handy Mart Golf Tournament is just around the corner.  Scheduled for May 1-3, the event brings in over $100,000 in scholarship support for Mount Olive College every year.  In fact, the tournament has brought in over $1.9 million dollars in scholarship support since its inception in 1987, and over 478 students have benefited from the Handy Mart Scholarship Fund.

 

As part of the golf tournament, volunteer workers are given t-shirts promoting the event.  This year, students in the Mount Olive College Department of Visual Communications were asked to submit original artwork as part of a T-shirt Design Competition.  Over 20 students answered the call.  Entries ranged from whimsical designs to sketches with a modern twist.

 

"We were very pleased with the quantity and quality of the submissions," stated Judson Pope, president of E. J. Pope and Son, Inc.  "Since this event is all about providing scholarship support to the students at Mount Olive College, we like to involve them in the process as much as we can.  However, having so many excellent designs, made our tasks as judges very difficult."
 

The winner of the T-shirt Design Competition was Matt Stevens, a sophomore visual communications major.  Matt is the son of David and Janie Stevens of Mount Olive.  For his efforts Stevens received a $50 cash prize and complementary shirts featuring his artistic creation.

 

"It's great that organizations like E.J. Pope and Son, Inc. offer opportunities like this for college students," Stevens stated. "As a visual communications major, it's especially helpful to experience working with a client, and designing a piece to reflect their specific needs. These practical approaches to learning really go a long way in preparing students for the working world."
 

Putting even more emphasis on Mount Olive College, coordinators of this year's tournament have planned the Sponsorship Dinner to be held at the College on Friday night, May 1.  Dr. Murphy Osborne will be the guest speaker. 
"We really want the sponsors of this event to be able to see where their money is going," Pope stated.  "We want them to visit the campus and meet the students to gain a better understanding of how their financial support is providing quality educational experiences and facilities for students throughout eastern North Carolina and beyond."

 

Tournament players will tee off on Saturday, May 2, at Southern Wayne Golf Course, and enjoy a buffet and dance on Saturday evening.  On Sunday, May 3, golfers will be treated to lunch served by Handy Mart volunteers.   

 

For more information about the event, or to register a team, contact Jennifer Robbins at 919-658-6566 Extension 145.
 

 

 

Student Art Exhibit at MOC

 

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