News

Due to having the largest graduating class in the college’s history, McDowell Technical Community College will hold two graduation ceremonies this year, with students divided between the ceremonies by program area. The keynote speaker and musicians will be the same for both ceremonies. Combined, approximately 430 graduates will receive degrees, diplomas or certificates during the day. Almost 325 of those students will receive curriculum degrees, with another 54 receiving continuing education certificates and 53 receiving an adult high school or high school equivalency credential.

Due to having the largest graduating class in the college’s history, McDowell Technical Community College will hold two graduation ceremonies this year, with students divided between the ceremonies by program area. The keynote speaker and musicians will be the same for both ceremonies. Combined, approximately 430 graduates will receive degrees, diplomas or certificates during the day. Almost 325 of those students will receive curriculum degrees, with another 54 receiving continuing education certificates and 53 receiving an adult high school or high school equivalency credential.

Among the many reasons students have for choosing a college major, few are as personal and intimate as Falon Renee Cornett’s.

Thanks to the generosity of two anonymous donors, the McDowell Technical Community College Foundation has created a new “McDowell Tech Student Emergency Fund,” designed to assist students who are experiencing a crisis situation that impacts their ability to continue with their college education. Startup funds from the anonymous donors total $10,000, but before the fund was announced, members of the McDowell Tech International Club made a generous donation of $125 to encourage students and others to contribute to the fund.

A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is helping McDowell Technical Community College better prepare future nursing graduates to provide high-quality health care and to fill a myriad of vacant nursing positions, both locally and throughout the region.

McDowell Technical Community College Foundation Board has received a donation in the amount of $20,000 from the Rotary Club of Marion to create a permanent endowed scholarship fund at McDowell Tech to benefit students at the college in perpetuity.

Access to college services is getting a little easier at McDowell Technical Community College this spring with the official opening of the college’s much-anticipated “One-Stop Center” in newly-renovated facilities in the Cedar Building. The new center will bring together all of the services that are considered essential to a student’s success in one place, under one roof. Representatives from Student Services, Financial Aid, Student Success, Student Outreach and Engagement and others will all be housed in this location for easy access and efficiency.

McDowell Technical Community College announced today that the college’s photographic technology program will have a gallery exhibit of student work on display at McDowell Arts Council Association (MACA) from March 21st through April 15th as part of the college’s ongoing collaboration with MACA.

The McDowell Technical Community College Board of Trustees announced today that Dr. James “J.W.” Kelley of Wendell, NC has been selected to become the college’s next president, succeeding Dr. Brian S. Merritt who resigned last summer to accept a position as Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at the NC Community College System Office in Raleigh.

– McDowell Technical Community College announced today that nominations are now being accepted for the fourth annual MTCC Alumni Awards Program. Significant changes have been made to the program this year to allow for participation of all alumni of the college, including current MTCC Trustees, MTCC Foundation Board Members, and faculty and staff of the college. Previous rules did not allow for nominations of these individuals. In addition, to avoid confusion, there are no longer categories of nominations based on degree type or age of the nominee.

The 46th annual McDowell Fire, Rescue and EMS College opened earlier this week at McDowell Tech with about 70 participants taking part in week-long classes that preceded this weekend’s main event, many of them participating in a class for Fire Inspectors. As of Tuesday evening, about 830 students had already registered for weekend classes, which is up about 20% from last year’s enrollment. More students will register onsite Friday evening or Saturday morning.

The McDowell Technical Community College Board of Trustees announced today that three (3) finalists have been selected for the vacant position of President at McDowell Tech following the resignation late last summer of former president Dr. Brian S. Merritt who had accepted a position as Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at the NC Community College System Office in Raleigh. Each of the current candidates has received preliminary approval by the NC State Board of Community Colleges to advance to the next stage in the search process.