By Ashlyn Crocker  

Stephen D. Faircloth of Beulaville has devoted much of his time to law enforcement, and now he has chosen to plan for his future with the help of Lenoir Community College’s online curriculum.   

Faircloth has been a captain at the Warsaw Police Department for the past two years. With his father being a state trooper, he was inspired to go into law enforcement from a young age.    

“I’ve always thought that once I retire from law enforcement maybe I’d start a small business to keep me busy. With LCC’s program being online that seemed to be the way for me to go,” says Faircloth.   

Lenoir Community College offers students the flexibility to earn degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, and Finance entirely online. For students like Faircloth, juggling an in-person class schedule with a full-time job would be impractical.   

 “Working during the day and then coming home to do school at night is hard work. Anyone who has ever done it knows it’s tough sometimes,” he says. “I decided that this was what I was going to do, and nobody was going to get it done but me.”  

Faircloth has earned his degree in Business Administration and is currently finalizing his studies in Accounting and Finance. When asked which online class has been his favorite so far, Faircloth said, “Honestly, all of them.” He is grateful to his instructor, Kristy Grady, for her guidance throughout his time at LCC. “She is absolutely awesome. She loves what she does, and it shows.”  

According to Kristy Grady, LCC’s Business Administration Program Chair “Stephen is an exemplary student who, despite being well into his career as police captain at the Warsaw Police Department, is pursuing a second degree with remarkable dedication. His commitment to advancing his education while balancing the demands of his job highlights his exceptional work ethic and passion for continuous learning.”  

In addition to preparing for his future, Faircloth notes that the skills he has acquired through LCC’s curriculum have been incredibly valuable in his current role. “I have no words to describe how much it has helped to have this education in my current job. It’s helped me understand budgets, general operations, and finances.”  

For more information on Business Administration and other business programs, contact Kristy Grady at (252) 527-6223, ext. 610 or kbgrady68@lenoircc.edu.