MOC News

A New Record

Mount Olive College Students to Pursue Careers in Pediatric Medicine

MOUNT OLIVE - Two students in the Mount Olive College Department of Science and Mathematics are hoping the research they are working on will not only help future cancer patients, but also themselves as they pursue careers in the medical field. Jack Pate of Newton Grove and Michelle Cobb of Princeton are both completing their senior research projects with Dr. Mickael Cariveau, assistant professor of biology at Mount Olive College.

Both projects are incorporating the use of human tumor cells and zebrafish embryos to explore mechanisms of radiation and chemosensitization, while concomitantly reducing normal tissue damage. In her research Cobb is breeding Zebra fish and using their embryos to study the effects on chemotherapy agents on the liver and gastrointestinal system. Zebrafish embryos are easy to manipulate and express many of the same genes involved in the development of human cancer, this makes them an ideal model organism for studying cancer.

“Our goal is to develop an understanding of the genes and proteins that cause these changes, and how we can manipulate these events to improve treatment outcome and quality of life for the patient,” Cobb said.

After graduating from Mount Olive College in May Cobb plans to continue her education at East Carolina University. She would like to become a pediatric oncology nurse.

“I have always had a fascination with cancer,” Cobb said. “I originally wanted to become a pediatric oncology doctor, but I like more patient interaction, so I decided that nursing would be a better fit for me.”

Pate also wants to pursue a career in medicine as a pediatric neurologist. “I have always wanted to be a doctor,” he said. “I want to go into pediatrics because it is a specialty that a lot of people don’t pursue, and neurology - mainly because the brain fascinates me.”

After graduating from Mount Olive College in May Pate plans to take a year off from his studies as he prepares for medical school. He would like to apply to work with the National Institutes of Health in Raleigh, Maryland or Montana.

Pate’s research at Mount Olive College will definitely be a plus on his resume. He is studying the effects of compliment protein on the cellular response to DNA damage. According to Pate, complement proteins play an important role in the body’s defense against foreign substances by initiating an inflammatory response. However, the role of these proteins in the cellular response to DNA damage have not been elucidated.

“We are studying the role of complement proteins in the tumor cell’s response to the anti-cancer agent Bleomycin,” Pate said. “Bleomycin is a bacterial-produced antibiotic commonly used in cancer therapy that causes the development of fibrotic lesions in the lungs long after treatment. These fibrotic lesions decrease the quality of life for cancer patients receiving this chemotherapy agent. Therefore, understanding the molecular effects that cause the development of these lesions will lend valuable insight into how the complement system can be manipulated to improve treatment outcome and patient prognosis.” Both Cobb and Jack will present the findings from their research at the North Carolina Academy of Science next semester.

“The research that these students are conducting will provide a stepping stone for their future careers, whether it’s employment or the pursuit of professional degrees,” said Dr. Cariveau. “It is a culmination of our dedication to the college experience and our commitment to preparing our students for life after graduation.”

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Jacksonville, and Washington. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

Cystic Fibrosis 5K to be held at Mount Olive College

MOUNT OLIVE – The 8th annual Great Strides 5k walk will be held at 8:00 AM on Saturday, November 21st on the Mount Olive College campus. Participates of the race will include Mount Olive College students and members of the community. The purpose of the event is to raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. The race is free to walk/ run in, but donations will be accepted. For more information, contact Tahara Epps at tje0313@moc.edu or Jill Mills at jmills@moc.edu.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

FWB Churches in Craven County Contribute to Mount Olive College

MOUNT OLIVE - Members representing Free Will Baptist churches in Craven County generated $25,058 in gifts to Mount Olive College, the denomination’s private, Christian liberal arts institution.

One hundred thirty-two people attended the Annual College Dinner at Juniper Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Churches presented their gifts to the College at the dinner. Of those giving, 108 were designated as Bridge Builders for contributing a gift of $100 or more.

Mrs. Susan Broggi of New Bern, chair, Mrs. Laural Smith of New Bern, and the Reverend Mike Scott of Vanceboro formed the steering committee for the dinner.

Three churches received special recognition at the dinner. Juniper Chapel FWB Church was recognized for giving the largest contribution at the 2009 Dinner, Moseley’s Creek FWB Church was recognized for giving the most per capita, and Wintergreen FWB Church was recognized for having the most high school students in attendance.

Jean F. Ackiss, director of church support, coordinated the event and presided over the program. “Every time you give to Mount Olive College, you are making an investment in the lives of the students we serve,” she said.

The Convention of Original Free Will Baptists established Mount Olive College in 1951 as one of its ministries and has given strong support throughout its 58-year history.

“As I visit with the members of the Original Free Will Baptist congregations, I am overwhelmed by the love, pride, and commitments that the College receives from the Church,” said Dr. Philip P. Kerstetter, president of the College. Dr. Kerstetter became the fourth president of Mount Olive College on July 1, 2009.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park and Washington. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

Mount Olive College to Celebrate Founders Day

MOUNT OLIVE- Mount Olive College will celebrate 58 years of Christian higher education at its annual Founders Day event on Tuesday, November 24, at 11:00 a.m. in Southern Bank Auditorium. Dr. Michael R. Pelt, professor emeritus of Religion at Mount Olive College, will deliver the keynote address.

Dr. Pelt is a native of Jackson County, Florida. Pelt has earned degrees from Chipola Junior College, Troy State College, Duke Divinity School, and Duke University Graduate School. Pelt has done additional studies at Appalachian State University and England’s Cambridge University.

Dr. Pelt joined the Mount Olive College faculty in 1957. He served the College in many capacities including academic dean, campus minister, and department chair. However, his greatest contribution was in the classroom, where he modeled academic excellence and honest Christian scholarship. Dr. Pelt retired from Mount Olive College in 1994.

Dr. Pelt has been an ordained minister in the Free Will Baptist denomination since 1950. He has served as pastor to the La Grange, White Oak Grove, Hull Road, and St. Paul Free Will Baptist Churches. Dr. Pelt has held several convention and conference offices including, serving on the Original Free Will Baptist Convention Executive Committee and on the Central Conference Board of Ordination. He has also served on the Chaplain’s Commission, the Board of Publications and Literature, and the Historical Commission. In 1996 Dr. Pelt published a book entitled A History of Original Free Will Baptists.

Dr. Pelt is married to Betty Ethridge Pelt, a retired public school teacher. They are the parents of four children: Cary, the late Teresa, Sharon, and Julia. The Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery at Mount Olive College is named in memory of their daughter.

Dr. Pelt’s Founders Day message will be entitled “Mount Olive College the Early Years.”

The Founders Leadership Award, sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. W. Burkette Raper, will be presented during the Founders Day service. Employees celebrating continued years of service to the College will also be recognized during the celebration.

Mount Olive College was chartered in 1951 and opened the following year with six students at Cragmont Assembly near Black Mountain. The institution was originally named Mount Allen Junior College. In 1953, the College moved to Mount Olive and the name was changed to Mount Olive College. Twenty-two students enrolled during the first collegiate year after the relocation. The College currently has over 3,600 students.

The public is invited to attend this historic event in the life of the College.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

Golf Tournament to Benefit Students

MOUNT OLIVE- Alumni Homecoming Weekend at Mount Olive College will swing into action on Friday, November 20th with the College’s 13th Annual Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament at Southern Wayne Country Club. According to tournament coordinator, Tim Woodard, “We are anticipating a great tournament and would like to invite all Mount Olive College alumni to join in the fun.”

Check in time will be at 11:30 a.m. The Superball tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 12:15 p.m. There will be plenty of Jesse Jones Hot Dogs and snacks throughout the afternoon. Pizza will be available for participants at the close of the tournament. The cost of the tournament is $60 and $40 if a Class A Professional has an active PGA card. The cost includes meals. Proceeds from this event go into the Mount Olive College Alumni Scholarship Fund.

“We began the golf tournament in 1997 and we made it into a scholarship tournament about seven years ago,” stated Dianne B. Riley, director of Alumni Relations. “Since that point our alumni golfers have contributed over $4,000 into the Alumni Scholarship Fund. This year we anticipate breaking the $5,000 mark.”

Alumni are invited to organize their own teams with former classmates and friends or they can simply call to be placed on a team.

“The Alumni Golf Tournament brings a broad group of alumni back together,” Riley said. “A favorite part of the tournament is watching friends, former roommates, and teammates who make this an annual reunion time”

For more information or to register, contact Tim Woodard, director of Admissions at Mount Olive College at (919) 658-2502.

Mount Olive College Students Participate in NC Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet

MOUNT OLIVE - Four Mount Olive College (MOC) students recently participated in the NC Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet. Farm Bureau’s strength depends on its members analyzing agricultural issues and successfully developing solutions. The Collegiate Discussion Meet is an activity designed to build these critical skills in young, active leaders in agriculture.

“This is a unique opportunity for our students to build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how to reach a consensual solution,” stated Dr. Sandy Maddox, advisor for the Mount Olive College team.

Mount Olive College, NC State University, and NC A&T State University were the sites for the semifinal rounds of the discussion meet held on Friday, November 6. Edward Olive of Benson; H. D. Grady of Pink Hill; Joshua Singleton of Goldsboro; and Larry Edwards of Roseboro, all sophomores at MOC participated in the semifinal round from which two contenders were selected to move to the State level final round.

“All the students participating did extremely well, it was very difficult for the judges to select the two that moved on to the final round,” stated Maddox who accompanied Ed Olive and H. D. Grady as they moved to the final round on Saturday at the Farm Bureau State Office in Raleigh.

The final discussion meet round consisted of six students, the top two participants from each campus, discussing two pertinent questions related to agricultural issues. While the State winner was Andrew Cagle, a junior at NC State, both Olive and Grady received runner-up positions and were provided $100 cash awards.

“The discussion meet afforded all of the participants an unprecedented opportunity to discuss topics that will directly impact our chosen careers in agriculture,” explained Olive. “It was a great experience and I look forward to competing again next year.”

“I would encourage any students at MOC involved in agriculture to pursue this opportunity,” reiterated Grady. “Through preparation and participation in the event I have vastly broadened my knowledge of the critical issues in agriculture. The discussion meet forced us to step out of our comfort zone and served as an educational growth experience for all of us.”

NC Farm Bureau field representative and Mount Olive College graduate Audrey Brown was instrumental in offering the opportunity for participation to MOC students. All participants will be invited to Raleigh in January to attend the Young Farmer and Rancher Conference conducted by NC Farm Bureau.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Research Triangle Park and Washington. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

FWB Churches in Washington, Martin, Tyrrell and Pasquotank Counties Contribute to Mount Olive College

MOUNT OLIVE - Members representing Free Will Baptist churches in Washington, Martin, Tyrrell, and Pasquotank Counties generated $17,479 in gifts to Mount Olive College, the denomination’s private, Christian liberal arts institution.

One hundred eight people attended the Annual College Dinner at Rose of Sharon FWB Church in Martin County. Churches presented their gifts to the College at the dinner. Of those giving, 74 were designated as Bridge Builders for contributing a gift of $100 or more.

Mr. Lloyd W. Jones, Jr. of Roper, chair, and Mrs. Nellie Harrison of Williamston formed the steering committee for the dinner.

Three churches received special recognition at the dinner. Rose of Sharon FWB Church was recognized for giving the largest contribution at the 2009 Dinner, and Mount Zion FWB Church was recognized for giving the most per capita. Sound Side FWB Church and Rose of Sharon FWB Church were both recognized for having the most high school students in attendance.

The Convention of Original Free Will Baptists established Mount Olive College in 1951 as one of its ministries and has given strong support throughout its 58-year history.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park and Washington. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

Mount Olive College to Host Criminal Justice Seminar

MOUNT OLIVE- Mark Ketchum, a patrol sergeant with the Jacksonville Police Department, will be the guest lecturer for the 10th Annual Criminal Justice Seminar at Mount Olive College held in conjunction with Alumni Weekend. The event is scheduled for November 21 at 1:15 PM in Rodgers Chapel.

Sergeant Ketchum specializes in traffic reconstruction and DWI detection and enforcement. He is a 2008 graduate of Mount Olive College where he earned his BS degree in criminal justice administration. He also received his AS degree in criminal justice from Coastal Carolina Community College in 2001.

Sergeant Ketchum currently supervises a platoon of eight officers who perform patrol officer duties in the City of Jacksonville and serves as an on-call investigator for traffic reconstruction. He is one of three drug recognition experts serving in Onslow County. Additionally Sergeant Ketchum is an Instructor Certified with the State of North Carolina. He instructs law enforcement officers in Basic RADAR Operation and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing as well as various in-service training topics. He also teaches Motor Vehicle Law in the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at Coastal Carolina Community College.

Mount Olive College offers bachelor degrees in criminal justice and criminal justice/criminology. Both offer a variety of knowledge about the criminal justice system, including law enforcement and correctional services. The criminal justice/criminology program offers working professionals an opportunity to earn their degree while continuing their careers. For more information about the programs, contact Dr. Wesley Fox at 919-658-2502.

The annual criminal justice seminar is a means for continuing education for current students as well as alumni and other area professionals. The seminar is also a networking opportunity for professionals in the field. The seminar is free and open to the public. For more information or to make reservations, contact Dianne Riley at driley@moc.edu or (919) 658-2502.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

Mount Olive College Presents a Candlelight Christmas Celebration

MOUNT OLIVE - On Thursday, December 3, Mount Olive College will celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. Scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM in the Southern Bank Auditorium, the Christ-centered service will be patterned after the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a traditional English evening service, which began in Cambridge in 1918.

The service will include nine Scripture lessons, tracing salvation history from Genesis through the Gospels; each reading will be followed by a carol. The Mount Olive College Chamber Choir, Free Spirit, Mount Olive College Concert Choir, and the Mount Olive College Symphonic Band will provide music for the Christmas celebration.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public however, space is limited and tickets are required. Free tickets are available at the following locations: Mount Olive College Poole Administration Building, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Arts Council of Wayne County.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.