VGCC Faculty, Staff Establish Scholarship To Honor Dr. Currin

The generous contributions of VGCC’s faculty and staff over recent years have led to the establishment of a Presidential Merit Award in honor of retiring president Dr. Ben F. Currin.

Donations to the Endowment Fund from the faculty and staff this year were a new record of $11,747, bringing total contributions to the fund to more than $100,000. As a fitting tribute to Dr. Currin, who will retire Dec. 31 after 18 years as president, it was recommended to the Professional Advisory Committee that a Presidential Merit Award be established in his honor.

The PAC unanimously endorsed the proposal and sent it to the Endowment Fund board, which also gave its approval. Button Brady, a co-chairman of the faculty and staff drive along with Diane Finch and Mary McMannen, presented a plaque to Dr. Currin at a retirement reception on Dec. 1. A plaque will hang in the Board Room along with the others that represent the various scholarships established over the years.

About 200 faculty, staff, Board of trustees and Endowment Fund board members, retirees, family and friends attended the reception in the Civic Center. Along with speeches of praise for Dr. Currin’s contributions to VGCC, a portrait of Dr. Currin to hang at the school was unveiled. A second portrait was given to the president for hanging in his home.

In the photo above, Dr. Currin stands in front of granddaughter Catherine, while John T. Church Sr., chairman of the Board of Trustees, sits at left during the retirement reception on Dec. 1.