PCC Holds President's Reception to thank supporters

David Vaughn, left, and his wife Gail, right, were honored by the PCC Foundation this month as Distinguished Alumni during the college's President's Reception at Rock Springs Center. Presenting the award were Susan Nobles, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Pitt, and PCC President G. Dennis Massey.

By: Press Release: Rob Goldberg, Communications Specialist | WNCT
Published: November 29, 2008

WINTERVILLE—The Pitt Community College Foundation held the President’s Reception this month to express its appreciation to everyone who has contributed time and money in support of the college’s educational mission.

Held Thursday evening at Rock Springs Center, the reception featured special presentations to several alumni and remarks from PCC President G. Dennis Massey, PCC Foundation Chairman Billy Dunn and PCC Student Ambassadors President Rachel Barnum.

The event took place just hours after the college broke ground on the Herman Simon Building, a 34,000-sqaure-foot addition to the school’s health sciences facilities. The PCC Foundation has been raising funds to pay for the building’s construction, and many of those who have contributed to the project attended Thursday’s reception.

According to Susan Nobles, executive director of the PCC Foundation, Pitt’s chief fundraising organization provided nearly $400,000 for student scholarships, faculty mini-grants, educational programs and campus construction projects in 2007-2008. Approximately $170,000 in scholarships was awarded to 250 students during that time, she said.

One of those students, Barnum, is attending PCC on a Student Ambassador Scholarship. The D.H. Conley graduate is taking University Transfer courses at Pitt and plans to transfer to a four-year institution in order to become a religion professor.

During her speech, Barnum thanked everyone for their contributions to the PCC Foundation and for their support of the Student Ambassadors group.

“Being a student ambassador at PCC has been a wonderful experience, she said. “It has opened many doors and has enabled me to develop teamwork and leaderships skills. It has also given me the opportunity to give back to the community by helping to raise funds in support of the Little Willie Center.”

In addition to thanking college supporters, the President’s Reception was also an opportunity for the college to recognize distinguished graduates and outstanding alumni.

During the program, David and Gail Vaughn were recognized as Distinguished Alumni while Outstanding Alumni Awards were presented to Rita Mirando, Brian Moffitt, Darrell Robinson, Tim Strickland, Wayne Trainor and Kelly Turner.

Mirando, a barber, represented PCC’s Continuing Education Division while Moffitt, who is Vice President of Marketing for NASCAR’s Petty Enterprises, graduated from the school’s Business Division.

Robinson is an attorney who was enrolled in the Legal Science and Public Service Division at Pitt while Strickland, the director of facilities management at Wilson Community College, represented PCC’s Construction and Industrial Technology Division.

Representing the college’s Health Sciences Division, Trainor is a respiratory therapy supervisor at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Turner, an Arts and Sciences Division graduate, is currently a course developer for the N.C. Community College System’s BioNetwork Bioprocessing Center, which is hosted by PCC.

The Vaughns, who own and operate Greenville’s David Vaughn Construction Company, first met at PCC while majoring in business. Over the years, they have supported the college in a number of ways, including financial contributions, professional construction services, and sponsorship of the Foundation’s annual golf tournament fundraiser.

In addition to coaching PCC softball for a season, David Vaughn was a leader in developing a handicap-accessible baseball field in Greenville in 2006 and a fully accessible playground two years later.