The evening will include a look back at the accomplishments of the NCCCS and a look forward to new and exciting opportunities. There will be a major announcement from the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation.

While serving on the State Board of Education, Herring was asked by Governor Luther Hodges to develop a plan for industrial education. In 1957, the General Assembly adopted Herring's plan and initiated a statewide system of industrial education centers. In 1963, those centers served as the foundation for what would become a network of community colleges across the state.

Dr. Herring has devoted his life to opening the doors of opportunity and learning for all North Carolinians. On Friday he will hear from four students whose lives were changed because they attended a community college. There will be one speaker representing each of the four decades of the NCCCS: Ted Hall, a graduate of Isothermal Community College; Wayne C. "Chip" George, Durham Technical Community College; Susan Scarboro, Davidson County Community College; and Sharon Wright Watson, Piedmont Community College.

The evening will also include entertainment provided by Celina Gray, accompanied by Naoko Yoshizumi, both from the Musical Theatre Program at College of The Albemarle in Elizabeth City. Philip Evancho, a Former Visiting Artist and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Craven Community College in New Bern will also perform. Pat Rivett, a Craven CC instructor, will accompany him.

The NCCCS serves nearly 800,000 students and is one of the largest community college systems in the country. The System is an open door to opportunity for enhanced job skills, literacy services, and adult education in North Carolina.

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