VGCC honors Retired College Personnel
Vance-Granville Community College held its annual reception to recognize loyal employees who had retired from the college — and particularly the eight who had retired in the last twelve months — on July 26 in the Civic Center on the college’s main campus.
VGCC President Dr. Randy Parker welcomed employees past and present, and noted that this year’s group of retirees represented a combined 194 years of service to the college. “We thank them for helping to build Vance-Granville into the excellent educational institution that it is today,” Parker said. “VGCC would not be one of the state’s top community colleges without the love, dedication, blood, sweat and tears that they contributed.”
Vice President of Instruction Dr. Angela Ballentine paid tribute to several retirees from her division. She lauded Rebecca D. Fuller, who retired as Office Administration Technical Assistant after a 31-year career at VGCC, for her conscientiousness and her “giving spirit.” Ballentine recognized Computer Information Technology instructor Kathy D. Laspina for her 21 years of service and described her as a “mentor for other instructors.” Finally, Ballentine recalled that Ellen H. Wilkinson, who retired as a Child Care Specialist at the Day Care Center on Main Campus, was a “jack of all trades” who took on numerous different roles in her 12 years of full-time service.
President Parker saluted Donna V. Dodson, the longtime Administrative Assistant for VGCC’s Adult Basic Skills department. She had been a VGCC employee since 1989 and previously worked at Northern Vance High School.
VGCC Vice President of Finance and Operations Matt Williams recognized Irma B. Brodie, who retired as the receptionist and switchboard operator on the college’s main campus after nearly 30 years, including several years of part-time service. Williams also paid tribute to Shelia H. McCall, a longtime fixture in the Business Office who retired as Lead Accounting Technician after 29 years. Also recognized were two members of the team who keep VGCC’s campuses in top condition: Head Groundskeeper Edward J. Morgan, who retired after 24 years, and custodian Tony L. Person, who retired after almost 30 years.
VGCC Human Resources Director Katherine Williamson recognized all those who had retired in the past, and asked for a moment of silence in memory of retirees Barbara Davis, Elsie Gray Pernell, William Wagner and Thomas Welch, who had all passed away since last year’s reception.
Above: VGCC President Dr. Randy Parker (standing) poses with retirees (seated, from left) Rebecca Fuller, Shelia McCall, Donna Dodson and Tony Person. Not pictured: retirees Kathy Laspina, Ellen Wilkinson, Irma Brodie and Edward Morgan. (VGCC photo)
