Lakyndra is presently in Grade 6 at Bluffton Middle School.  She has been coming to NOC’s Program Centers in Bluffton over the past three years. She currently attends the Simmons Cay Program Center.  Lakyndra earns all As and Bs in school and she attributes her success to hard work and the help she gets at NOC’s Program Center.  She says “teachers are helpful and I get my homework done successfully and on time.”  Lakyndra loves science and wants to be a police officer when she grows up.

But Lakyndra’s story does not stop there. After spending an hour on her own homework, Lakyndra stays back to help the elementary school children at NOC’s Simmons Cay Program Center.

Lakyndra is an NOC Star.

The very first “student of the week” at the Cordillo Program Center is Alfonso Jimenez, Jr.  He is a second grade student at IB Elementary School in Hilton Head, and he embodies all of the characteristics that NOC strives for. In addition to working diligently, remaining quiet, and being respectful, Alfonso is extremely conscientious and considerate. Last week during the time in which students are able to use their incentive tickets to “buy” prizes, one of the students became very upset because he did not have enough tickets to buy the prize he wanted. Alfonso saw how upset the student was and gave up all of his own tickets so the student could have the prize he wanted.  It is this kind of caring and generous spirit that we hope to see in all of our students.  Alfonso was excited to receive a backpack filled with school supplies as his reward for being “student of the week”.

Alfonso’s photo is now posted on the Cordillo “Hall of Fame.” A “student of the week” will be announced each Monday. 

 

To encourage positive student performance and participation, Cordillo Program Manage Kaci Hollingsworth has created a system of incentive prizes. Throughout the week, students receive tickets for exceptional behavior and performance while doing their homework. Then on Thursdays, they have an opportunity to “buy” prizes, such as small games, with their tickets. The program has been a HUGE success, and all of the students are excited to do well and receive more tickets so that they can “go shopping” the following week!

 

 

 

Alice Page, a native of Northern Virginia, retired to Hilton Head Island in early 2014 after a long career in human resources management and administrative operations. Her career spans more than 30 years in non-profit organizations, including the American Institute for Cancer Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the Reston Association, where she held senior management positions. Alice was a volunteer trainer at the Loudoun County Workforce Development Center for five years and also volunteered as an Information Specialist for The Smithsonian Institution for a number of years. Alice earned a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in Washington, DC and a Master’s in Organizational Development and Human Resources Management from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She is an avid runner and bicyclist and enjoys reading Victorian novels.

Alice’s management and organizational skills are a valuable asset at the Oaks Program Center.

Kaci Hollingsworth is the new Program Manager at NOC’s Cordillo location.   

Born and raised in Southern California, Kaci made her way to North Carolina in 2008 to join the ranks of the Tar Heels as a springboard and platform diver. While at UNC, she traveled to Kenya for an internship with “Carolina for Amani,” and spent the summer working in various adoption homes throughout the country. This trip solidified her interest in non-profit work, and led her to her next adventure in downtown Raleigh, NC where she spent time interning for StepUp Ministry. Kaci graduated from UNC-CH in 2012 with a degree in Sociology, a minor in Social Entrepreneurship, a heart for non-profits, and a yearning to be involved in the local community. After moving to Savannah, GA in 2012, she accepted a position as non-profit coordinator for MJF Publishing, a local, not-for-profit publishing organization that she is still happily involved with. She was absolutely thrilled to accept the position as Program Manager for NOC, and is looking forward to putting her passion and experience to use at the Cordillo location!

Recently, some of Kaci’s friends collected food items to donate to NOC-Cordillo for the after-school program snack time. In addition to all kinds of wonderful snacks, they also donated $100 to NOC.