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HCC Founders Day celebration held,
awards bestowed
WELDON, N.C. – Halifax Community College
held a Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 8 in
The Centre. North Carolina Community College System
President, Dr. Scott Ralls was the keynote speaker. The
event was a celebration of HCC’s 42nd
anniversary.
“I’m just proud to be associated with the
community colleges right now because from what I can see,
the road to recovery in our state is running right through
the middle of the community college system,” said Ralls, who
highlighted this fall’s enrollment numbers. “It’s amazing to
watch what you all are doing to keep this college and this
system open. …We take great pride in saying that there’s a
place for everyone at the community college,” he added.
Ralls’ talk focused on the work of those
who have contributed to the history of the college and how
we are “standing on the shoulders of giants.” He talked
about first-generation college students and gave examples
from his own family of those who valued education. The
story, according to Ralls, is not about the wonderful things
happening today, but “it’s about all the people who came
before us that made these things possible. …We all stand on
someone’s shoulders. …It’s our obligation to carry on and
stand on the shoulders of these giants and celebrate the
giants who, without them and the grace of God, we wouldn’t
be here,” he said.
HCC President, Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr.
talked about the college’s 42 years of service, and added
that HCC is a place where everybody wins. He also
spotlighted the founding trustees and previous presidents of
HCC. “We realize that we are competing with the world in the
arena of economic development. I am pleased to follow the
aforementioned predecessors in keeping the light of hope,
opportunity and success burning brightly in the Roanoke
Valley,” he added. Griffin also highlighted the enrollment
report for this year. Some 1,703 curriculum students and
5,883 continuing education students enrolled for this fall,
resulting in the third highest enrollment in the school’s
history.
This was also the first year that faculty
emeritus, staff emeritus, distinguished alumni and community
service awards were presented. Honorees included:
• 2009 Faculty Emeritus honorees included
Delores H. Amason, Alex C. Thannikkary, Dr. Wendell Perry,
and Terry P. Wheeler.
• 2009 Staff Emeritus honorees included
Dr. Joy Cooley, Grace M. Edwards, Jeanette R. Alston, and
Glenda S. Vassor.
The 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award went
to Doris Garner, HCC associate bookstore manager. Garner
graduated from HCC in 2007 with an Associate in Applied
Science degree in the Office System Technology program.
The 2009 Community Service Award went to:
Fannie P. Mayo-Greene, who serves on several boards
including Smart Start, Halifax-Northampton Airport Authority
and Upper Coastal Plains; Patricia J. Peele, a health
education coordinator with the Rural Health Group, Inc.;
and, Judge Brenda Branch, a chief district judge who serves
in several community advisory roles and is a 1984 graduate
of HCC.
During the program, faculty members
Gloria Tysinger, Jason Bone, Lateef Balogun and Shaun Stokes
highlighted the history of the college from 1967 to the
present. HCC student Princess Plum, a criminal justice
major, won a laptop donated by the HCC Bookstore in a
drawing for students.
To view the photo slideshow from Founder's Day click
here
Halifax Community College
held a Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 8 in The Centre. North
Carolina Community College System President, Dr. Scott Ralls
was the keynote speaker. Pictured are Dr. Scott Ralls, left
and Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr., right with award honorees
from left, Terry Wheeler, Dr. Wendell Perry, Alex
Thannikkary, Patricia Peele, Grace Edwards, Doris Garner,
Fannie Mayo-Greene and Glenda Vassor.
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