Campus expands in Davie

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

From Davidson County Community College
With a quick snip by a pair of oversized scissors, the shiny blue ribbon was cut Dec. 15, signifying the completion of a year-long, $3 million facility expansion of the Davie Campus of Davidson County Community College.
About 125 guests attended the ribbon cutting, which was followed by a reception in the new 100-seat classroom. Davie Campus student ambassadors led tours of the campus.
The expansion project features 11,000 square feet of new and renovated space financed by a $3 million appropriation from the Davie County Commission.
Students will begin classes there in January. A new administration building features a new bookstore and a one-stop shop for admissions, career guidance and financial aid counseling.
The facility adjoining the new administration building has been renamed the Health Technology Building, and the entire first floor of the Davie Community Building is transformed into a new, modern library.
A focal point inside the library is a history wall detailing in words, photos and graphics the evolution of the Davie Campus since it was built in 1994.
The library and the adjoining Internet lounge feature free wireless Internet capabilities and are open to the public.
DCCC President Dr. Mary Rittling thanked guests for their vision of what the Davie Campus could mean to the citizens of Davie County and for the support that led to the plans and the funding.
“When I came here six years ago, I told Rep. Julia Howard we needed a way to connect the Davie and the Davidson campuses,” Rittling stated in a press release. “Without her support and that of the Davie County commissioners and countless others, we would not have this beautiful new facility for our community.”
Howard greeted the crowd and explained that she took classes at the Davie campus prior to graduating from Salem College.
“The Davie campus has really grown and flourished,” she stated in the press release. “Without this campus, I would never have received my college degree.”
Howard said she was proud to be a partner in the campus development. “It is such a great day for Davie County and our people. We don’t need to drive across the Yadkin River to attend college.”
Howard explained her reaction to meeting Rittling six years ago, when discussions of improving the Davie Campus first began.
“I was very impressed with Mary Rittling. She is one of us. She is a tenacious, strong lady. To be in partnership with Mary Rittling, well, there is nothing like it. You’re in for a real ride.”
Davie County Manager Beth Dirks told the crowd how beneficial it is for the county to have such a collaborative relationship with DCCC.
“This is the product of our good relationship. They have made this facillity an asset, and they are a part of the community and a wonderful partner. This is a wonderful day,” Dirks stated in the release.
In addition to Howard and Dirks, special guests at the ribbon cutting were N.C. Senator Andrew Brock; Davie County Commissioners Ken White, Richard Poindexter and Chris Anderson; Mocksville Mayor Dr. Francis Slate; Davie County Sheriff Andy Stokes; and DCCC Trustees Thom Hege, Lee Rollins, Neal Foster, and Beth Parrott.
Prior to the latest construction, a commissioners’ allocation made it possible for DCCC to renovate a welding lab, histotechnology lab and nursing lab.
The additions allow the college to offer many new academic programs, including a new practical nursing program. The first practical nursing graduating class held its pinning ceremony on Thursday.
Enrollment at the Davie Campus has steadily grown, and it was designated as a multi-campus site two years ago. As the only institution of higher learning in Davie County, more and more people have turned to DCCC for a variety of credit and non-credit courses.
The new addition and the renovation project were designed by MBAJ Architecture, and the general contractor was Davie Construction Company.
Rittling thanked Davie Construction for donations toward a brick patio project for which the public may purchase engraved bricks to raise money for the DCCC Foundation.
She also thanked Unilin Flooring of Thomasville for donating laminate flooring for the construction project.