Our Stuff-A-Bus Toy Drive for Toys for Tots is back, and the College invites the community to join in collecting new, unwrapped toys for kids ages 0-12. 

The College will collect toys from Dec. 2-4 at the following locations:

Tuesday, Dec. 2

• 海角视频’s Lincolnton Campus
• 511 S. Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092 (

Wednesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 4 

• 海角视频’s Dallas Campus (near the Clock Tower on Tower Blvd)
• 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC 28034 (Dallas Campus Map)

If you would like to drop off toys early, Toys for Tots collection boxes will be at 海角视频’s WSGE Radio Station (located in the Craig Building).

Questions about the toy drive should be directed to publicrelations@gaston.edu.

The Lincoln County Health Academy has been honored with the 2025 Governor鈥檚 NCWorks Award of Distinction for Outstanding Innovative Partnership. The prestigious award recognizes the Academy’s groundbreaking success in addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages and expanding access to high-wage, debt-free careers.

The Academy, which launched in Fall 2024, contributes to the talent pipeline by offering Lincoln County high school students early, hands-on pathways into the Practical Nursing (PN) program. This is the first time in North Carolina that a Practical Nursing program has been made available to high school students, positioning the region among just three nationwide with such an advanced secondary healthcare pathway. Graduates from the Health Academy are eligible to sit for their licensing exams the summer immediately following their high school graduation.

鈥淭his award is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and heart that has gone into this partnership,鈥� said Dr. John Hauser, President of 海角视频. 鈥淭his Academy proves that when education, healthcare, and community partners collaborate, we can build vital career pathways for our students.鈥�

The success of the Academy is due to a strong partnership between the following entities: 海角视频, Lincoln County Schools, and Atrium Health Lincoln, with financial support from the Lincoln County Rotary Student Loan Fund.

During the 2025 NCWorks Partnership Conference, the award was accepted on behalf of the partnership by Dr. John Hauser and Joanne Matz (海角视频), Dr. Cale Sain (Lincoln County Schools), Melissa Herms (Atrium Health Lincoln), and Anna Mullen (Rotary Rooted Scholarship Fund of Lincoln County).

The academy currently serves 35 students, including seven from the inaugural Practical Nursing cohort and 28 who enrolled in the second cohort.

“海角视频 is responding to a critical workforce need by developing a Medical Sonography program to address over 80 annual job openings in the local market,” said Leslie Pressley, 海角视频’s Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. “With projected job growth of 26 percent in North Carolina and median salaries exceeding $84,000, this program will provide high-quality training to support the region’s healthcare industry.”

Local hospitals and healthcare facilities have shown strong support for the program. Pressley explained, “At the request of local hospital systems, Atrium Health Lincoln and CaroMont Health, 海角视频 began research and planning for this program to address the shortage of medical sonographers. Currently, the region relies on graduates from colleges outside the service area, which does not meet employer demands. By establishing this program, 海角视频 aims to equip students with the skills to fill these essential roles, strengthening the local healthcare workforce and enhancing patient care in our community.”

The program will begin offering the first six courses at 海角视频’s Lincoln Campus this fall.

“The Medical Sonography program at 海角视频 will be housed in a dedicated 1,595-square-foot instructional space on the Lincoln Campus, featuring specialized classrooms, labs, simulation areas, and state-of-the-art equipment to provide students with hands-on, high-quality training,” Pressley added.

If you’re interested in this growing field, applications for the program are now open and will be accepted until May 15, 2025. Visit gaston.edu/health-human-services/medical-sonography/admission-requirements/ to learn more and apply.

The new Lincoln County Schools Health Academy is for high school juniors and seniors and is being offered at 海角视频鈥檚 Lincoln Campus. This program starts Sept. 9 and will provide students with a pathway to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) as early as the summer after they graduate from high school. Students can also continue their education to earn an associate degree in nursing to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) or further advance into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

“The Health Academy is the first in the state where these juniors and seniors can take foundations of healthcare and nursing classes to become a licensed practical nurse the summer after their high school graduation,鈥� said 海角视频鈥檚 Joanne Matz, the dean of Lincoln County Educational Partnerships. 鈥淚t鈥檚 taken a lot of work, with many people, to get this program off the ground, and we鈥檙e excited to welcome the first group of students.鈥�

Atrium Health Lincoln has partnered with 海角视频鈥檚 Nursing program to assist the students with clinical opportunities. 鈥淭his part of the program allows them to work on their skills in supervised healthcare settings and is a core part of the program,鈥� Matz said. Atrium will also help with job opportunities once students graduate.

Lincoln County Schools is planning for up to 40 students this first year and will provide transportation for them to 海角视频鈥檚 Lincoln campus. In addition, they have partnered with the College and the Rotary Club of Lincolnton for a sponsorship program, allowing students to participate in the Health Academy at no cost. “We are fortunate to have the communities鈥� support to offer sponsorships for the first year for these students so they will not have to pay for anything. It is an incredible opportunity for these students and our community and we鈥檙e all working together to make it a success,鈥� Matz said.