Dr. David Perkins, provost of WV's newest community and technical college; John Barnes, chairman of the Board of Governors of Bluefield State College, and Dr. Albert Walker, president of Bluefield State College were honored for their role in the smooth transition of the establishment of NRCTC from the former campuses of BSC and Glenville State College.

In making the presentations, Roger Griffith, newly appointed director of the Greenbrier Valley Campus, explained the in a time honored naval tradition, the original crew of a ship was called the "plank owners."

"The "plank owners" had a sense of ownership of that vessel which will not be replicated by future crew members," Griffith explained, noting it is felt by the "people associated with the opening, not only of the Greenbrier Valley Campus, but the whole New River Community and Technical College community are truly plank owners."

In present numbered planks to the three leaders, Griffith said, "Not many of us will have the chance to be a part of a brand new identity and be able to leave our mark on the creation and formation of such an exciting endeavor."

He then presented Chairman Barnes, plank 001; Dr. Walker, 002; and Dr. Perkins, 003.

The presentations were part of the ribbon cutting ceremony which introduced the NRCTC's theme of "Building Bridges to a Brighter Future."

Dr. Walker presented the greetings on behalf of BSC which will remain administratively linked to NRCTC and the welcomes were presented by Dr. Perkins on behalf of NRCTC and Griffith on behalf of the Greenbrier Valley Campus.

Members of the state legislature who created NRCTC were invited to make comments and the program concluded with Dr. Perkins inviting the nearly 100 Valley residents and GVC students who packed the Hollowell Auditorium on the first floor of Greenbrier Hall, the main office and classroom building for the GVC to a reception in the Student Activities Center.

Other ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremonies were scheduled for the Beckley and Nicholas County campuses for Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.

The Greenbrier Valley Campus serves the Monroe, Summers, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, eastern Fayette, southern and eastern Nicholas counties as well as the neighboring Alleghany Highlands County of Virginia as the only undergraduate institution of higher education in the Greenbrier Valley.

September 25, 2003

Submitted by Mike Williams