Edgecombe Community College

10/16/2026

Three Edgecombe Community College respiratory therapy students have earned statewide bragging rights after capturing the 2026 North Carolina Society for Respiratory Care (NCSRC) Sputum Bowl Championship and securing a spot at the national competition in New Orleans this November.

The Sputum Bowl is a fast-paced academic competition that tests respiratory care students and practitioners on topics ranging from anatomy and physiology to mechanical ventilation, pharmacology, critical care, as well as neonatal and pediatric respiratory concepts.

ECC’s championship team consisted of Madison Beasley, Marlee Holloman-Proctor and Ulysses Puente. The students competed against teams from six North Carolina community colleges during the NCSRC State Conference, held Sept. 24-25 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. The victory marks ECC’s first Sputum Bowl championship since the early 2000s.

“Our students have really taken the initiative and have been putting in some hard work for this competition and for our tests in class,” said Cecelia Aragon, respiratory therapy instructor.

Participation in the Sputum Bowl is voluntary, and only three students from each respiratory therapy program may form a team. To prepare, the ECC team spent four weeks practicing with instructors, reviewing content areas, working through practice questions, and sharpening their response times using electronic buzzers to simulate the competition environment.

The championship run was particularly memorable because the team battled back after an early loss in the double-elimination tournament.

“Pure disbelief,” said Beasley, a second-year respiratory therapy student and ECC team captain after winning the tournament. “We took a loss very early on and felt defeated. We rallied together, and we were able to come out of the losers’ bracket and bring home the win.”

Beasley said what began as a fun opportunity soon became much more.

“At first, I think we just decided to do it as fun,” said the 25-year-old. “As we began practicing each week for it, we began to see that we actually had a chance and used it as a challenge to help us dive deeper with our learning and understanding of respiratory topics.”

As state champions, the team received a championship trophy and scrub-store gift certificates. More significantly, the students earned the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the American Association for Respiratory Care National Conference in New Orleans, Nov. 14-16.

There, they will face approximately 30 teams from across the United States, including competitors from both community colleges and universities.

“I believe competing at the national level will help build my confidence in my abilities and better prepare me for my future career as a respiratory therapist,” Beasley said. “Being part of this team has already made my experience at ECC more meaningful, and I’m excited to represent our school, make lasting memories, and continue growing in a program that I’m proud to be a part of.”

To help offset travel expenses for the national competition, the respiratory therapy program is hosting a fundraising campaign featuring a barbecue plate sale and raffle. Barbecue plates are $15 and may be ordered now for pickup or delivery from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 23. Raffle tickets are available for $3 with a plate purchase or $5 without a plate purchase.

Donate, order a barbecue plate or purchase raffle tickets to support the team’s trip to nationals ⬇️

10/16/2026

Happening now until 11 AM in the Mobley Atrium on the ECC Tarboro Campus! Students are invited to stop by to connect face-to-face with representatives from over 40 colleges and universities to discover college pathways and transfer options!

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

Two Tarboro Residents Join Edgecombe Community College Board of Trustees

Garland Shepheard has been appointed by the Speaker of the House of the NC General Assembly to a four-year term. A former trustee of the college, Shepheard was originally appointed by Governor James G. Martin and was a member of the ECC board from 1992 to 1996. He also served as sergeant-at-arms for the North Carolina House of Representatives before his retirement. Earlier in his career, he was a partner at Team Ford Sales in Tarboro before the company was sold to the Doug Henry dealership family. He served two terms on the Tarboro Town Council and was a previous member of the Edgecombe County Social Services board.

A Tarboro resident, Shepheard and his wife, Betty Jo, have one son, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Eugene Wilson Muse Jr. has also been appointed to a four-year term. Muse has served with the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office since 2005 and currently holds the rank of major, having worked in every division within the department. He also served as an adjunct instructor at ECC for seven years.

Muse earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Norwich University and East Carolina University. His professional credentials include a certificate in education, advanced law enforcement certification and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy in Leadership. He and his wife, Leigh Ann, have a daughter and a grandson. He also has two stepchildren.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Shepheard and Major Muse to the board,” said Jerry Spruell, chairman of the ECC Board of Trustees. “Both bring valuable professional experience, strong community ties and a commitment to public service. Their perspectives will help guide the college as we continue expanding opportunities for students and supporting the workforce needs of our region.”

10/14/2026

Gain the skills you need to lead healthcare enrichment programs in ECC's Activity Director Class!

💵 $185 (Scholarships available for qualifying applicants)

📩 [email protected]

📞 (252) 618-6648

10/14/2026

De’Andre Thompson explains how the Next NC Scholarship supports students from families earning under $80,000 and strongly encourages students to take full advantage of the opportunity.

10/13/2026

Registration is now open for Conversational Spanish at Edgecombe Community College. Whether for personal enrichment or career growth, this course offers practical, real-world practice to help you speak with confidence.

📩 [email protected]
📞 (252) 618-6648

10/13/2026

Edgecombe Community College’s Social and Human Services program prepares students for careers in counseling, rehabilitation and community‑based support.

The program is highlighted by graduates such as Monasha Howell, who says her path into human services began in childhood while accompanying her mother, a certified nursing assistant, to work.

“I was always with her on weekends when she went to work,” Howell said. “Watching how she interacted with patients and staff, I always knew that’s the kind of environment I wanted to be in.”

Howell initially pursued nursing and worked as a CNA at Vidant Hospital. She said the experience broadened her understanding of how many ways people can be supported through human services.

“There are so many different things you can do to help people in human service,” she said.

At ECC, Howell discovered a passion for working with individuals navigating substance use recovery.

“I see the progress,” she said. “They become totally different people. They’re happier, motivated, and they finally feel heard.”

She credits former instructor Renee Pearson for preparing her for the field through hands‑on communication exercises.

“Ms. Pearson taught us how to communicate, listen, and be empathetic,” Howell said. “Those one‑on‑one exercises, where all eyes were on you, taught me how to hold my composure and do my job effectively.”

ECC’s Social and Human Services program prepares students like Howell to assist in drug and alcohol counseling, prevention‑oriented education, rehabilitation with recovering clients, community program management, residential counseling and more. Coursework includes chemical dependency, psychological and sociological processes, intervention techniques and follow‑up strategies.

Takisha Jones, Social and Human Services instructor at ECC and a graduate of the college, says the program is rewarding, and the skills gained may be used with several different populations.

“The Social and Human Services program at Edgecombe Community College prepares students for meaningful careers serving individuals, families, and communities across North Carolina,” said Jones. “This type of degree gives you a foundation. It opens you up to anywhere you want to go.”

Howell now works for Monarch Behavioral Health in Rocky Mount, assisting patients through the call center.

“You deal with different personalities and walks of life,” she said. “You have to treat everybody the same and be the best version of yourself every day.”

For prospective students considering the program at ECC, Howell said it is normal to be uncertain.

“Life changes you, and you’ll find your passion when the time is right,” she said. “Once you find where you fit–once you’re happy and comfortable–you’ll know this is more than a job. It’s your purpose.”

Graduates of ECC’s Social and Human Services program also qualify for positions such as substance abuse counselors, mental health technicians, DWI counselors, group home workers, residential facility employees and substance education specialists. With additional educational and clinical experience, graduates may pursue certification through the North Carolina Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board.

Jones also notes, “with emerging changes to North Carolina’s Qualified Professional (QP) requirements, graduates of the Associate in Applied Science in Social and Human Services may have an expanded pathway toward QP-level employment.” This means once these graduates gain the necessary experience, they could have more opportunities to be hired in QP-level jobs, gaining a higher level of pay.

For more information about ECC’s Social and Human Services program, visit edgecombe.edu/human-services. Scholarships are available for qualified applicants.