AWARD RECIPIENTS

Catawba Valley Medical Center

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) is an invaluable partner and supporter of Catawba Valley Community College, significantly impacting all the Health Education programs and beyond. CVMC’s partnership with CVCC’s ValleySim Hospital continues to assist in providing a state-of-the-art resource for CVCC and the healthcare community. CVMC provides operational management, healthcare expertise, educational resources, financial support, and supplies to the spectacular simulation facility. CVMC also provides a connection to prospective CVCC students through a wide variety of outreach programs such as Camp Meds, information sessions, and ValleySim tours. In addition, CVMC is a huge provider of clinical rotations for CVCC students in various Health Education programs and of athletics training services for Red Hawk Athletics.

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Mr. Sam Hunt, Class of 1969

Mr. Sam Hunt’s long-standing service to the greater Hickory area includes acting as a member of the Hickory Community Relation Council, joining the Hickory City Appearance Commission, and becoming the first African American Secretary and Chairman of the Hickory Regional Planning Commission. Currently, Mr. Hunt is a member of the Greater Hickory Ministerial Alliance, the Catawba Valley Interfaith Council, Veterans-Helping-Veterans, and the Carolina Caring (Hospice) Veteran’s Program, on which he has served for 25 years. Mr. Hunt also teaches the adult Sunday School class and sings in the choir at St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church. Other accomplishments include receiving the Hickory Landmark Society Volunteer of the Year Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit of King Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mr. Hunt graduated from CVCC (CVTI) in 1969 with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Data Processing. While at CVCC, he served as the first vice-president of CVTI’s student body and assisted with the Chess Club in which he held the office of secretary. At his graduation, he received the Outstanding Student Award. In February, Mr. Hunt was awarded CVCC’s Black History award for contributing to CVCC Black history as the first African American SGA member at CVCC.

Through the concerted efforts of concerned and united Catawba County citizens and North Carolina educational leaders, on April 3, 1958, Catawba Valley Community College was established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the ninth school of its kind in the state. Construction of the original facilities began in 1959. The 40,000 square foot building, costing approximately $500,000, was completed in August 1960. An initial enrollment of seventy-seven (77) students began classes in September of the same year. From 1960 to 1963, the College operated under the jurisdiction of the Catawba County Board of Education. During this time, the College was known as the Catawba County Industrial Education Center.

In July 1963, the General Assembly of North Carolina enacted G.S. 115A into law, which provided for the establishment of the present North Carolina Community College System. On January 9, 1964, Catawba Valley Technical Institute was among the original seven institutes chartered by the System. At that time, CVTI established its own Board of Trustees and began operation as a member of the Department of Community Colleges. Thus, it was in August 1964 that the College awarded its first Associate Degree in Applied Science.

During the transition from an Industrial Education Center to a Technical Institute, great strides began in expanding educational programs, increasing student enrollment, developing quality instruction, adding facilities, and increasing community acceptance and service. On September 1, 1979, the name of the institution was changed to Catawba Valley Technical College by the college trustees and commissioners of Catawba County. On December 1, 1987, the State Board of Community Colleges officially approved CVTC to become Catawba Valley Community College, and the college transfer program was approved.

The addition of the CVCC Alexander Center for Education was approved by the State Board in November 2000, and programs and services were again expaned to better serve our community. The Alexander Center has been moved twice to meet growing community needs. The most recent move was into a facility purchased by the Alexander County Commissioners. In addition to the 15,000 square foot facility on 4.72 acres located at 345 Industrial Boulevard in Taylorsville, the Alexander County Commissioners purchased a second facility adjacent to the original purchase. In October 2016, the Alexander Center for Education was expanded to include the Alexander Technologies Center. The Technology Center offers skilled programs in furniture and welding and will continue to offer additional workforce programming based on the needs of the county.

As of January 2023, the campus now covers approximately 162 acres and includes 18 buildings for an approximate 841,424 square feet of floor space. In addition to main campus, the CVCC Cosmetology Center is located across Startown road (adjacent to the main campus), the CVCC Corporate Development Center is located on U.S. Highway 70, the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy is also located on U.S. Highway 70, and the Manufacturing Solutions Center is located in Conover. In December 2019, classes began at the CVCC Workforce Solutions Complex (located on main campus). The expanded programming opportunities and academy style training are growth opportunities for local economic development and our community workforce. The college also opened the Public Safety Training Center located on 36 acres off of Sweetwater Road in October 2019. Our public service areas have been offering training at the new facility on a regular basis. We are proud to serve our community and region.

Catawba Valley Community College celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2023. Over the years, faculty and staff have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Recently, the college has had a growing role in workforce development and community leadership. Our business continues to focus on changing lives, and still today, we are about empowering people to achieve their dreams. During this time span, we have had only three presidents: founding president Mr. Robert E. Paap, his successor Dr. Cuyler A. Dunbar, and the current president Dr. Garrett D. Hinshaw, who began his tenure on August 1, 2006. Catawba Valley Community College continues as a publicly supported coeducational institution.

Graduates who have earned High Honors (3.80 to 4.00 GPA) or Honors (3.50 to 3.79 GPA) wear a gold medallion on a gold ribbon and a gold tassel on their mortarboards. High Honors and/or Honors for commencement are based on the cumulative GPA at the conclusion of the Fall semester. Actual High Honors and/or Honors will be based upon final grades and the final cumulative GPA calculated after all Spring/Summer grades have been verified. This final High Honors and/or Honors distinction will be noted on the official transcript and on the diploma.

Catawba Apprenticeship Network graduates wear a blue, white, and green cord with a blue medallion that reads “The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina: Apprentice.” These graduates have completed an 8000-hour apprenticeship and have earned their Journeyman’s Certificate in addition to earning their AAS degree.

Red and black cords are worn by graduates who are dually enrolled in high school and CVCC through the Career and College Promise (CCP) program. Cord wearers have completed a CVCC credential with a minimum 2.0 GPA or have completed 18 or more semester credit hours with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Dental Hygiene graduates wear purple cords and white stoles embroidered with the dental hygiene seal. The cords and stoles represent the core values of individual autonomy and respect, confidentiality, trust, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice and fairness, and veracity of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Nursing graduates who are members of the National Student Nurses Association wear gold, teal, and purple cords. The cords represent the core values of leadership and autonomy, quality education, advocacy, professionalism, and care and diversity in nursing practice.

Phi Theta Kappa graduates wear a gold stole, blue and gold cords, a gold key, and a gold tassel on their mortarboards. Officers wear gold medallions. Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society that recognizes and encourages scholarship among two-year college students.

Graduates in the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) program are recognized with a single burgundy cord. These graduates have been concurrently enrolled at Lenoir-Rhyne University working on their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Respiratory Therapy graduates wearing the blue and green ribbons are members of Lambda Beta, the National Honor Society for Respiratory Care. The name was chosen to represent sustaining “life and breath.” Lambda is the Greek letter “L” and Beta is the Greek letter “B.” The mission is to promote, recognize, and honor scholarship, scholarly achievement, service, and character of respiratory students. The Motto is “Life and Breath.”

SkillsUSA graduates wear red and white cords in honor of their school, community service, hard work, and achievements.

Student Government Officer graduates wear a navy and gold cord for their leadership role in student life activities and for being the voice of the CVCC student population. They also serve in the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association as representatives of CVCC and the state of North Carolina Community College System, and they help to create an establishment of excellence in all aspects of student government and student life by working collectively to present students’ common needs and goals.

Student Leadership Academy graduates wear a light blue cord symbolizing the core values inherent in effective leadership: professionalism, integrity, wisdom, courage, intelligence, compassion, respect, and the ability to transform oneself and one’s society for the betterment of all. The Academy is a year-long leadership training program for students who are nominated by faculty or staff and who meet specified criteria.

In recognition of their military service, CVCC honors graduating Student Veterans with a red, white, and blue honor cord.