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The Elizabethtown Rotary Club welcomed UNC-Pembroke Chancellor Robin Cummings to their weekly luncheon meeting Wednesday. Cummings talked to the group about the history of the college and some exciting news about its growth.
Before Cummings spoke, Rotarian Dawn Maynard updated the club about the recent RYLA weekend. Maynard excitedly told the group about transporting Mallory Ketterer and Jacqueline Madden to the event. The club had sponsored the teens for the leadership program weekend.
“When I picked the girls up, they had met so many people They really grew a lot spiritually during this week,” said Maynard.
They are preparing a presentation.
UNC-Pembroke Chancellor Robin G. Cummings was the guest speaker for the day. He spoke the importance of education and building relationships.
In addition to serving as Chancellor at UNCP, he has also worked as a cardiac surgeon and served on many health boards and foundations.
Cummings spoke about how as a heart surgeon, he had held the hearts of numerous individuals in his hands during surgeries he has performed.
He said he has had several people, who were former patients, to walk up to him and thank him for saving their life.
Cummings said that through his experience he understands that education is very important. He said that UNCP is dear to him as he was raised in Pembroke.
He told those in attendance that the school has a relationship with Bladen Community College whereby students can transfer to UNCP to complete a four-year degree without losing any credits they earn at BCC.
“We want your students to come to UNC-Pembroke,” said Cummings.
He discussed briefly the history of the school which is set to 120 years old in March. Cummings said that the school was founded by seven men from Pembroke who traveled to Raleigh and petitioned the General Assembly and cam back with $500. Cummings said the money was given for salary only. Cummings said the men purchased an acre of land and constructed the first building.
Cummings aid that UNC-Pembroke is the only accredited university in the United States started by American Indians for American Indians. he said toady, the student body is very diverse.
Cummings said the school features 41 under graduate programs and 17 graduate programs.
Cummings said when arrived on the campus, there many great things happening. Cummings added that once he arrived at the school, he began asking the faculty a question: what do you do in the community? He said that question has lead to the development of new relationships in the community as well as challenging the way the faculty and staff think.
Cummings aid the school also agreements with BCC, ECU, NC State University and other colleges and universities whereby students can continue their education.
He said that among the student population their is representation from 90 counties within North Carolina and 20 states.
Cummings said the school has 6,500 students and the average SAT scores and grade point averages have increased year. Also, their is an increase in the number of students enrolling in the business school.
Cummings said the UNC Pembroke will potentially receive about $23 million form the proposed Connect NC Bond. If voters approve the bond issue, the school will utilize the funds to construct a new building to house the business school ms aid Cummings.
Also, BCC would receive about $6.5 million which will be used to construct a new building on the campus. The bond, if approved, would also provide funds to Jens Lake State Park and Singletary Lake for improvements as well as funds for public safety.
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