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By Erin Smith
Excitement could felt all around the Bladen Community College campus on Monday morning. The prospect of a groundbreaking for a new STEM facility on the campus brightened an otherwise grey morning.
BCC President Dr. William Findt welcomed everyone to the groundbreaking and introduced the dignitaries in attendance.
“We could not have done this without the partnerships you see here,” said Dr. Findt.
The new facility, which will cost about $2 million, will house the college’s science and technology programs. STEM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The building will house a manufacturing technology lab, industrial/chemistry lab, a computer lab, office space and classroom space. The new building will be located beside the Industrial Sciences building and will be completed in 2019.
Dr. Findt recognized those who made the project possible. The building was made possible through grant funding from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, Golden Leaf Foundation, the Cannon Foundation, the Bladen County Committee of 100, Camp Clearwater, Four County Electric Membership Corporation and Clark Brothers, Inc.
Other partners in constructing the facility included HH Architecture, L & R Associates, Atlantic
Engineers, and CSI Construction Systems, Inc.
Bladen County Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson spoke on behalf of Chairman Ray Britt, who was unable to attend the event.
Commissioner Peterson said, “Bladen Community College serves a vital role in Bladen county in the lives of its citizens. The College is an important partner in economic development efforts through its critical role in providing an education in the workforce skills necessary for business and industry.”
Peterson said the groundbreaking ceremony for a new STEM facility represents progress in providing the necessary tools to help equip students and citizens with the skills necessary for today’s workforce.
Bladen Community College Chairman, Dr. Dennis Troy, said, “At Bladen Community College we are successful. On behalf of Bladen Community College Trustees, I would like to thank God for giving us this historical moment.”
He remarked there have been two groundbreaking ceremonies held at the College in the past several months. The other groundbreaking was held earlier in the summer for a Continuing Education Building. The Continuing Education building was funded through the Connect NC Bond referendum.
Jeff Kornegay, Executive Vice-President and Chief Academic Officer, said Edward Dent, who serves as the Dean of Engineering and Business Programs, had said he wanted to achieve two things for the school. The first is to win the Skills USA competition which was won this year by Bladen Community College’s Savannah Schmidt.
The second was to see the construction of a STEM facility.
Kornegay remarked, that with the groundbreaking Monday, both goals have been now been accomplished.
The dignitaries, special guests and several department heads of Bladen Community College, grabbed golden shovels and broke ground for the new building.
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