Wytheville Community College 2025 Annual Report

CREATING A LASTING LEGACY The following are highlights of some of the estate gifts that have been received since 2020.

JANIE HALE GENTRY LEGACY Through an extraordinary estate gift, Janie Hale Gentry has helped ensure the ongoing success of WCC and the students it serves. Gentry’s $1.3 million gift established two scholarships—the “Penick & Janie Hale Gentry Memorial Scholarship” and the “June Piper Hale and Virginia Clyde Reeves Hale Memorial Scholarship,” as well as provide funding that helped the WCC Real Estate Foundation to purchase the Crossroads Institute facility in Galax. “We are most grateful for Mrs. Gentry’s incredible generosity,” said Dr. Dean Sprinkle, WCC President. “She and her late husband understood the value of education, and this estate gift will increase access for students through scholarship awards. Also, enabling the college to own the Crossroads Institute will ensure that WCC has a permanent home in the Twin County region to continue offering educational programs to residents.” CHARLES G. CROCKETT LEGACY

Dr. Dean Sprinkle, Dr. Rhonda Catron-Wood, and the Honorable Thomas M. Jackson, Jr. accept the gift – the largest one-time gift to date in WCC’s history.

Charles G. Crockett was a long-time friend of WCC. Prior to his death, he established three scholarship endowments. Two were in memory of his daughters, Angela Denise Crockett and Valerie Jeanne Crockett, and another was in memory of his wife, Betty Jean Hammack Crockett. He was recognized for his generosity in 2018 when he was named WCC’s recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Over the years, Charles regularly attended and supported WCC events, and through his estate planning, he generously donated to the WCC Educational Foundation to establish a fourth scholarship in his own name. His generosity will indeed ensure that generations of future students will have financial assistance to achieve their educational goals. PHYLIP D. SNAPP & P. BRADLEY SNAPP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT Patricia Snapp and Lauren Snapp Milgrim established this endowment to honor the memory of Phyl and Brad, both of whom were active members of the community and strong supporters of WCC. Phyl served as Chair of the WCC College Board for several years, and Brad served on the WCC Educational Foundation Board for several years and then later on the WCC Scholarship Foundation Board, holding the office of Vice President at the time of his death. The Snapps and their business, S&W Fertilizer & Chemical Company, were recognized as WCC’s 2016 recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Phyl passed away in January 2022, and Brad passed away in December 2022. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students who are residents of Wythe County and plan to pursue a career in business or agriculture. DEREK HALSEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT This year Wytheville Community College (WCC) lost a valued employee and member of the WCC family. Derek Halsey’s presence touched students, faculty, and staff for over 30 years, including his time as a student and as an employee. Derek devoted his entire career to the college’s Information Technology (IT) department, where his expertise, patience, and kindness left a lasting mark on everyone he worked with. Known for his infectious smile, signature plaid shirts, and willingness to help his colleagues, Derek’s warmth, humor, and generous spirit will be deeply missed. In Derek’s memory, friends and family established the Derek Halsey Memorial Scholarship for IT Students. The scholarship aims to honor Derek’s legacy by assisting students who demonstrate academic promise and a passion for technology. HAROLD L. ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT Through a very generous estate gift, Harold L. Andrews established this endowment. He was a proud World War II Veteran of the United States Navy. Following a career in engineering, he returned to Rocky Gap when he retired. He served on the Bland County Economic Development Authority and was also a strong supporter of the Wolf Creek Indian Village. He believed in the value of education, and this scholarship provides financial assistance to deserving WCC students. MORRIS & CAROLYN HAWKS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT The “Morris and Carolyn Hawks Memorial Scholarship Endowment” was established in February 2025 through a gift from the estate of Morris and Carolyn Hawks. Morris and Carolyn met while they were both working at DuPont in Martinsville. After 8 years, Morris was recruited as the 27th employee of the newly established Celanese Corporation, and he spent the remainder of his career with this company, retiring as Executive Vice President. Carolyn was active in numerous community organizations over the years in the various communities where she and her family lived. Morris and Carolyn retired to Fancy Gap. Carolyn passed away in February 2018, and Morris in May 2022. They always encouraged their children, saying “Give 110%--you might just surprise yourself!” It was Morris and Carolyn’s desire through their estate plan to give to WCC to help students achieve their educational goals.

WCC also received estate gifts from the following between 2020-2025: • Jean Cassell—Ralph & Jean Cassell Memorial Scholarship Endowment • R. Cecil & Seawillow Jackson—WCC Drama Department • Faye Kincer—Mr. & Mrs. Lee Hale Memorial Scholarship Endowment • Deborah C. Repass—Unrestricted Funds • Mava Vass—Unrestricted Funds • Veda Hanks Williams—Helen Calfee Hanks Memorial Scholarship Endowment

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