Endowment honors memory of BCCC’s longest-serving President

Beaufort County Community College student wills receive financial aid for years to come thanks to an endowment established through the BCCC Foundation that honors the memory of BCCC’s longest-serving President.

The Jim Blanton Endowment has been established with donations from Blanton’s wife, Betty, and contributions from other family members and friends following Mr. Blanton’s death in October.

Blanton served as BCCC’s President from 1971 to 1990 and was the longest-serving leader of the institution to date.

“BCCC owes a debt of gratitude to President Blanton for his faithful service to the college and the community,” said Judy Jennette, Foundation director. “It is an honor to announce the creation of this endowment, that will help students attend the college he loved for generations to come.”

A native of Duplin County, Blanton was a medic in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He taught at Bath High School for two years and Washington High School for 20 years.

After serving in the county’s public schools, Blanton joined the staff of BCCC, serving as a dean before being named President of Beaufort County Technical Institute, now Beaufort County Community College.

Blanton led BCTI and later, BCCC, to full accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and oversaw the construction of four new buildings on campus, the addition of a College Transfer Program to its curriculum and the approval of a bond referendum to fund construction of new projects at the college.

“Beaufort County Community College would not be the vibrant place it is today without the hard work and dedication of Mr. Blanton,” said BCCC President Barbara Tansey. “The BCCC Foundation is delighted to honor this great leader in education with this endowment.”

The first scholarship from the endowment is expected to be awarded to a student in the Fall 2013 Semester.

For more information about establishing an endowment, interested persons may contact Jennette at 252-940-6327 or by email at judyj@beaufortccc.edu.