| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: May 15, 2001 |
GOVERNOR URGES INCREASE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING
RALEIGH: "We need to increase the funding, not cut the funding for community colleges." That’s what Governor Michael F. Easley told a group of 600 gathered for the Academic Excellence Awards (AEA) Luncheon hosted by the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) at the North Raleigh Hilton today, May 15. Governor Easley encouraged legislators in the room to "think about the long term" when considering education budget cuts.
The AEA ceremony honored 118 outstanding students. Two high achievers from each of the 58 community colleges and the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology received special recognition from the NCCCS.
The ceremony was also used as a time to remind the legislators who were present of the importance of community colleges. NCCCS President H. Martin Lancaster told the group that deep budget cuts would adversely affect community colleges. "The opportunity to achieve excellence, as these students have done, is in jeopardy for students now in our colleges…and those yet to come," he said.
Governor Easley took a supportive tone. "This is a great day to celebrate education," Easley said. He added this was also a time to "pay attention to community colleges and stop taking [them] for granted." Easley admitted that this is a tough time for the economy, but noted that a downturn directly affects community colleges. "Every one percent increase in unemployment means a four percent increase in community college enrollment, " he said. He pointed out that community colleges are where the people go when they are looking to move into what he called the "new economy."
Easley reminded the group assembled, which included about 40 legislators, that it was important to invest in the people, "not in good times, but in all times." He suggested that education funding was imperative, especially with 100,000 high school students expected to graduate in North Carolina next year. "We have to prepare for them," the governor said.
The governor suggested to the community college personnel present that those legislators who were in attendance "got it" and then encouraged the lawmakers to create a balanced budget with a "message of progress." The governor closed by reminding the group that the economic shortfall will end. The question, he said, is how the state will come out of it. "North Carolina is going forward," he insisted.
Three students were selected to represent the group by presenting their personal community college stories as part of the ceremony. Each had a very different experience but shared similar feelings about their respective community colleges.
Betty Jo Beals, a 4.0 GPA Information Systems and Computer Programming major at South Piedmont Community College in Polkton almost died from arsenic poisoning. During her speech she credited her SPCC family for sticking by her, encouraging her and giving her the will to continue with her education. She called the community college a renaissance, a place where she was given the time to reflect and refocus. "Discipline builds the muscles necessary for success," she said.
John Henderson, a 4.0 GPA Information Systems major at Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton thanked Western Piedmont for "teaching an old dog new tricks." Henderson, who quit high school 45 years ago, six weeks shy of graduation, also lost a business to near bankruptcy and then survived lymphatic cancer. Once eligible for disability he went back to Western Piedmont to get his GED and then entered the college as a freshman. "The instructors were always helpful, friendly and were never negative." Henderson said he is now "hooked on education" and will return to Western Piedmont in the fall to pursue another degree and plans to start another business.
Steve Davis Wallace, a 4.0 GPA Early Childhood Associate Degree major at Pitt Community College in Greenville lost his job when the plant where he worked closed. Wallace had been out of school for 20 years, but found the situation to be a blessing in disguise. Wallace thanked Pitt CC for giving him "choices for success" and for letting him know he was "capable to do anything."
The North Carolina Community College System is nationally recognized as one of the premiere providers of workforce training. The NCCCS is the third largest community college system in the country.
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