NRCC History Book

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M y association with New River Community College has been one of the great privileges and joys of my life. New River Community College is special! The college’s positive work has become an integral and beloved part of the New River Valley community. The college’s very identity is highlighted by its commitment and devotion to its students and the community itself. New River Community College’s culture is one of integrity and professionalism, but embodies an environment of caring, compassion, and dedication to service. The administration, staff and students of New River Community College genuinely care about each other. Having had the opportunity to serve on the Virginia State Board of Community Colleges for eight years and to visit all 23 of Virginia’s community colleges, I can say with assurance that New River Community College is one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the Commonwealth. We are justly proud of New River Community College, but, most importantly, we can take pride in the opportunities New River Community College has provided to the thousands of students who have passed through its doors and been provided with an affordable and outstanding education. Thank you, New River Community College, for your many years of leadership, dedication and service. Here’s to many more years of opportunity. GARY C. HANCOCK Member of the State Board for Community Colleges, 2004-2012 (Chair 2009-2010) NRCC Educational Foundation Board (Board membership and leadership roles spanning several decades)

personnel. In addition, the New River Valley Health Foundation gave $20,000 to support the college’s nursing program. Donations from private foundations continued in 2006 with book fund donations from the Landmark Communications Foundation for $1,000, Richardson Foundation for $5,000, and Claude Moore Charitable Foundation for $5,000. A $1,750 grant from the New River Valley Health Foundation to support nursing faculty’s awareness of the latest advances in technology was received as well. Another grant awarded in 2006 was the Race to GED grant from the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Adult Education and Literacy. This grant allowed NRCC to pay a stipend to Pulaski Area Transit to transport students to campus to prepare for and obtain their GED. In July 2006, the college was awarded a $95,000 Tech Prep grant to cover summer technology camps for middle school students, Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual enrollment courses, curriculum materials and supplies, professional

development opportunities for faculty and staff, and the career coach initiative. Also, in 2006 the college received a wind energy grant with which two wind turbines and solar panels were purchased and erected on campus. The wind turbines and solar panels provided training opportunities for students in NRCC’s alternative energy classes and supplied a small amount of electricity to the college. In August 2007, the National Automobile Dealer’s Charitable Foundation (NADCF) presented NRCC’s automotive program with a grant of $1,500 made on behalf of George Harvey, Sr., of Radford, Virginia. The NRCC Educational Foundation received a $20,000 gift from the VFCCE to support the college’s CTE project which began in August 2007. The pilot program provided opportunities for CTE high school students to travel to the campus to take classes in several career and technical areas, such as automotive, business management, early childhood development, electronics, electricity, and instrumentation. Students

Chapter 1