DUBLIN, NC — On Wednesday, Bladen Community College (BCC) held its annual Retirement
Reception to recognize all staff and faculty members who have or who will retire from their roles this academic year. With the Retirement Reception being an annual event, the event is held in May to capture those who have left early in the year and in advance of those leaving towards the end of the year.
Tiina Mundy, the Director of Human Resources, stood in front of a row of beautifully crafted chairs and welcomed the retirees and their families to the college. The college has a tradition of gifting a wooden rocking chair or a straight-back chair as a retirement gift; the chairs include a carved college seal and an engraved nameplate with the retiree’s name. Mundy noted that “the appreciation shared by your colleagues only begins to capture the impact that you have had in your departments, on our campus and beyond, and I am profoundly grateful that you chose to devote this phase of your career to BCC.” Dr. Amanda Lee, BCC President, recognized each retiree and noted that collectively this group of retirees has dedicated over 248 years of service to the college—the same amount of time it takes Pluto to orbit the sun. “We have a great college because we have great employees,” Dr. Lee said. “Part of the fabric of Bladen Community College is our faculty and staff’s long-serving commitment to our students. That is a strength. And that is part of what makes BCC great.”
After several of the retirees took to the lectern, Mr. Dennis Troy, Chairman of the BCC Board of
Trustees, expressed his gratitude and thanked the retirees for their service on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Troy shared that “it is impossible to convey in words the depth of my gratitude for your contributions to our college. Each of you has transformed countless students’ lives through the classes you have taught and the mentorship you have provided.”
This year, 15 faculty and staff members will retire from the college. The retirees honored were:
• Donald Bryan
• Linda Burney
• Twyla Davis
• Diane Evans
• Rupert Lucas
• Christine McDonald
• Cynthia McKoy
• Willerwease McKoy
• Fordie McNeil
• William Mitchell
• Junior Rideout
• John Trogdon
• Faye Turner
• Robert Wells
• Gale West