Letter to the Community

Dear Neighbors,

My wife Kathy and I are excited to be moving to an area that is rich with outdoor recreation opportunities, especially hiking trails. One of my fondest childhood memories is of exploring trails. My Dad managed a church camp in West Virginia, and there was a Boy Scout camp across Mud River which had connecting trails to our camp. Especially in the summer, I would explore those trails, enjoying all the wonders of creation. When we later moved to Mississippi, there were more trails, and I began to realize that trails were becoming a lifelong theme for me. During my teenage years, I not only explored those new trails, but worked at another church camp helping to cut out trails. It wasn’t fancy… we used chain saws, push mowers, weed eaters, and my least favorite tool – the sickle. In the Army, we navigated land without trails, although we saw plenty of wildlife trails. When Kathy and I met in Fayetteville, we took our first hike together at Raven Rock State Park, establishing trails as a theme for our new family. Our family enjoys hiking trails at Blowing Rock (NC), Grayson Highlands (VA), Whistler (Canada), and many more. Being so close to the Pisgah National Forest, we look forward to hiking more of the new trails being developed by some of our MTCC partners and trail development students at the college. One of my favorite quotes is, “Not all those who wander are lost” from “The Riddle of Strider” in JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

In education, especially at McDowell Tech, we often use trail-like words and themes. At MTCC, we are the Trekkers, and our mascot is a big, hairy fellow who has beaten many a “path” in the hills and valleys around Western North Carolina. We frequently refer to career “pathways” and our workforce “pipeline.” Regardless of the imagery, college education provides opportunities for economic mobility, career advancement, and personal growth. Just as the elite land navigation soldiers known as the Pathfinders provide navigational aid and advisory services, educators help students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to navigate life’s trails. I am excited to add my talent to the pool of faculty and staff expertise at McDowell Tech as we Learn, Grow, and Dream together.

Kathy and I are excited about moving to McDowell County and becoming active participants in this vibrant community. As we settle in, we anticipate wonderful hiking opportunities in and around the county, and we are excited to explore the area. (If you have recommendations on great hiking opportunities in WNC, feel free to share them at this link!) Being a part of this community promises to be an enriching experience, and we can’t wait to forge lasting connections and create cherished memories in our new hometown.