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Shawn Krest

Trojan Teach Forward gives students a firsthand look at teaching careers

Trojan Teach Forward gives students a firsthand look at teaching careers

MOUNT OLIVE — Last week, the University of Mount Olive welcomed nearly 200 middle and high school students from Duplin, Onslow, Edgecombe, Wayne and Lenoir counties for its inaugural Trojan Teach Forward Conference.

Organized by UMO’s School of Education, the conference highlighted the university’s “grow-your-own” strategy for cultivating future educators in a region where many districts struggle to fill classroom positions.

“In eastern North Carolina especially, many school districts face persistent teacher shortages,” said Amanda Bullard-Maxwell, dean of the School of Education.

Students engaged in workshops, met with current teachers and education majors, and explored a variety of teaching pathways, from elementary classrooms to specialized licensure areas, while gaining an authentic understanding of both the challenges and rewards of the field.

“The challenges are not sugar-coated,” Bullard-Maxwell said. “But we emphasize that the rewards far outweigh them.”

According to Bullard-Maxwell, the goal is to help students see themselves as future educators and leave with clarity and confidence about pursuing teaching.

“Teaching is both a professional and moral commitment to serve children. It is one of the most meaningful jobs there is,” said Felicia Brown, Superintendent of Human Resources with Duplin County Schools.

Assistant Dean Kelly Alves emphasized that exposure to real-world practices and a welcoming campus environment can spark interest in education while allowing students to consider multiple career possibilities.

Bullard-Maxwell and Alves hope Trojan Teach Forward will become an annual event, strengthening the region’s future workforce while encouraging young people to consider teaching as a viable career.

Students shine in Carolina Strawberry Festival Art Contest

Students shine in Carolina Strawberry Festival Art Contest

Last week, the Carolina Strawberry Festival Committee announced the winners of the 2026 art contest which drew strong participation from Duplin County high school students, prompting organizers to recognize three winners this year.

First place went to Presley Brown, a freshman at Wallace-Rose Hill High School. Presley’s colorful design will be featured on the back of the official 2026 festival T-shirt.

“Drawing is my favorite way to express myself and make sense of the world around me,” said Presley. “I take pride in my community and feel inspired by the people and places that have shaped who I am.”

Second place was awarded to Yandel Martinez Mendieta, a senior at James Kenan High School. “I love expressing myself through art,” said Yandel. In a special twist this year, Yandel’s artwork will appear on the front pocket of the festival T-shirt, rather than the traditional logo.

Third place went to Emely Guzman, a sophomore at James Kenan High School, who said she enjoys using art to connect with her community and spend time with family and friends.

Festival organizers praised all participants and said they were proud to celebrate the talent of Duplin County’s young artists. Winning artwork will be displayed during the 2026 Carolina Strawberry Festival on May 1-2 in downtown Wallace.

The second place winner of the Carolina Strawberry Festival art contest is Yandel Martinez Mendieta, a senior at James Kenan High School. Her design will appear on the front pocket of the festival T-shirt. Courtesy Carolina Strawberry Festival Committee
Third place in the Carolina Strawberry Festival art contest went to Emely Guzman, a sophomore at James Kenan High School, whose design also stood out among many talented entries.
Courtesy Carolina Strawberry Festival Committee

NCCEAPA scholarship application open through March 20

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Administrative Professionals Association (NCCEAPA) is offering a $750 scholarship for the 2026 academic year. Applications for the award are being accepted through March 20.

Open to those working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree or a diploma program that leads to a college degree in business or related fields, this scholarship supports students who will be enrolled in college classes during the 2026-27 school year.

For additional information, students may contact the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Duplin County Center, at 910-296-2143 or visit the center at 165C Agriculture Drive in Kenansville. Application packets are available through the financial aid office at local community colleges.

The award honors the contributions of Edith Herter and Frances O’Neal, who co-founded NCCEAPA in 1973 and helped shape the organization’s mission to support professional growth in cooperative extension services.

DCOM helps thousands of Duplin families with food, rent and utilities

DCOM helps thousands of Duplin families with food, rent and utilities

WALLACE — Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries (DCOM) continues to provide emergency assistance to Duplin County residents facing financial and food insecurity, offering help with basic needs such as rent, utilities, gasoline and access to food resources.

Founded to give area churches a centralized way to respond to emergencies, DCOM serves residents across the county through a network of partner food pantries and social service referrals.

Tomme Maier, Executive Director of Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries, reflects on the powerful way the community has come together.

“It has been an amazing experience to watch churches, businesses, civic groups, schools, agencies and individuals come together to not only address food insecurity in our community but to encourage each other in service to our neighbors including our children,” said Maier, adding that the needs in Duplin are significant.

Data from the 2024 Economic Snapshot of the Duplin County Community Foundation, notes that 44% of Duplin County residents are considered low-income and 19.8% are food insecure.

Maier highlighted the painful realities many families face as they try to rebuild their lives amid hardship.

“I hate to think about a child going to bed hungry or sleeping in cars and tents in frigid weather, families torn apart by violence and those trying to restart their lives and hitting hardships while doing it,” Maier told Duplin Journal.

Despite these challenges, she emphasizes the strength and compassion of the community when needs are met through collective action.

“I witness greatness in our Community at large when needs are recognized, resources are identified, and efforts come together to put action to faith and faith into action,” Maier said.

“The services provided cannot solve the great issues of poverty and hunger in Duplin County, but they may make a difference for individual neighbors and families,” said DCOM Board Vice-Chair Phil Gladden.

According to DCOM’s data shared with Duplin Journal, last year DCOM served 8,911 households and 29,068 individuals across Duplin County through its core programs.

The DCOM Crisis Center assisted 1,375 households, a total of 3,782 people, providing $56,130.27 in emergency assistance for rent, utilities and gasoline, helping 1,375 households during difficult times. Five partner pantries served 7,276 households, supporting 25,026 people.

According to Gladden, children remain a key focus of the ministry’s work with Duplin County’s child poverty rate at 31%. Through its Feed Our Hungry Children and Backpack Ministry, DCOM distributed 8,052 weekend backpacks and 750 summer backpacks to students in five Duplin County schools during the 2024–2025 school year.

DCOM also operates Blessings in Store, a thrift shop on West Main Street in Wallace. The store generated $128,183.40 in sales, with proceeds supporting the ministry’s Crisis Center services.

Maier expressed deep gratitude for the volunteers who serve through the Crisis Center, food pantries, Feed Our Hungry Children Backpack Ministry, and Blessings In Store, noting that their dedication makes a meaningful difference every day.

She encourages the broader community to join in these local missions—feeding the hungry, keeping families safely housed, helping children thrive in school, and supporting local agencies like Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries.

“God has blessed many of us and we are reminded to serve where we can and when we can with what we can,”

Residents interested in supporting Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries can contact Maier at 910-285-6000 or visit www.duplinchristian.org.

Bob Johnson receives National Lifetime Achievement Award

Bob Johnson receives National Lifetime Achievement Award

NPFDA honors the poultry executive’s decades of leadership and impact on the protein industry

ROSE HILL — Robert C. “Bob” Johnson, chief executive officer and owner of House of Raeford Farms, was honored with the National Protein and Food Distributors Association’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award during the organization’s annual meeting in Atlanta on Jan. 28.

“I was honored to receive the same award given to my father 19 years ago,” said Johnson. “It was also incredibly special to have my wife Luanne, children, grandchildren, other family members, and so many co-workers present with me during the ceremony.”

For more than five decades, fostering connection, collaboration and long-term business relationships that strengthen the protein industry has been a goal of the NPFDA. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to persons whose leadership have influenced and strengthened the processing, distribution, or marketing segments of the protein industry.

For Johnson, the honor continues a family legacy rooted in the values instilled by his father and grandfather. For the NPFDA, it reflects his decades-long leadership, commitment to community-focused initiatives, and multigenerational impact on the protein industry.

Johnson’s career mirrors the evolution of House of Raeford Farms itself, which began as a family farm in 1955 before becoming House of Raeford Farms. Starting on the processing line of his family’s turkey operation, Johnson gained an understanding of the business from the ground up. Over time, that hands-on experience shaped his approach. Following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather, Johnson helped carry forward the family legacy.

“As a child, I can remember being around my dad, grandfather, and uncle as they slowly grew our business from a few turkey farms to a hatchery, feed mill, and processing facility. Those early experiences shaped my belief that hard work and family values would always guide our company,” wrote Johnson in a public letter as the company celebrated 70 years.

Today as CEO and owner of House of Raeford Farms, he leads one of the nation’s top 10 chicken producers and a top revenue‑generating company in North Carolina. Under Johnson’s leadership, House of Raeford’s impact expanded beyond production numbers and market share. In 2010, the company established FLOCK, a nonprofit organization focused on hunger relief, youth development, and advancing mental health and addiction recovery initiatives in communities where the company operates.

“The real credit for the success of House of Raeford goes to those who came before me and planted the seeds, like my father and grandfather. And the many associates that nurtured those seeds over 70 years through hard work and dedication,” said Johnson. “It takes a committed team to achieve great results, and I am proud to work alongside such outstanding people.”

Mo Green to share insights at UMO’s Braswell Lecture

Mo Green to share insights at UMO’s Braswell Lecture

MOUNT OLIVE — North Carolina’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green, will take the stage at the University of Mount Olive for the 28th annual Braswell Lecture on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Southern Bank Auditorium.

The lecture series brings together educators, students, and community members to explore current issues in education and the impact schools have on their communities. Each year, a guest speaker shares their perspective on teaching, leadership, and educational policy.

The announcement made by UMO earlier this month, highlights Green’s contributions and the notable experience that he will bring to the discussion with more than two decades serving in North Carolina education. He has served as superintendent and deputy superintendent in some of the state’s largest districts, led a major education foundation, and worked as a school board attorney. A double graduate of Duke University, he holds degrees in political science, economics, and law, blending academic knowledge with practical leadership in public education.

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