MECC Foundation to Host Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers in Clintwood

Clintwood, VA — The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation is pleased to host Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at Clintwood’s Jettie Baker Center.

Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the Clintwood Town Hall or the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood (cash or check purchases) as well as online at www.meccfoundation.org/dcevent.  All proceeds will benefit the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation’s Dickenson County Endowed Scholarship.

The Dickenson County Endowed Scholarship Committee is currently seeking sponsorships to support event costs. Sponsorships range from $250 to $1000 and include tickets, branding, and special recognition. For more information on becoming an event sponsor, visit www.meccfoundation.org/dcfund.

Larry Sparks

Larry Spark

Larry Sparks is a dedicated leader for bluegrass music and is among the most widely known and respected touring musicians in bluegrass and gospel music today. Larry began his career in the mid-1960s as a guitarist with the Stanley Brothers and later became lead vocalist for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Larry went on to form his own band in 1969, The Lonesome Ramblers. He has recorded and toured with his band for nearly 50 years, releasing over 60 albums and delighting countless fans with his soulful vocals and unparalleled musicianship.

Larry’s hits include John Deere Tractor, A Face in the Crowd, Tennessee 1949, Blue Virginia Blues, I Just Want to Thank You Lord. Love of the Mountains, Goodbye Little Darlin, You Could Have Called, Tribute to Hank Williams, Green Pastures in the Sky and more. He has performed on such world famous venues as the Grand Ole Opry, Austin City Limits television show on PBS. Song of the Mountains on PBS. He has toured the United States, Canada, and Japan.

Larry has been recognized as the International Bluegrass Music Associations Male Vocalist of the Year. He was awarded Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year with his album Larry Sparks 40 featuring several artists such as Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. Hall and many more.

Larry has been inducted into The International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and the George D. Hays Hall of Fame, Founder of The Grand Ole Opry.

For more information on the MECC Foundation and the Dickenson County Scholarship, visit www.meccfoundation.org.

 

-MECC Foundation-

MECC Announces New Vice President, Executive Director of Mountain Empire Community College Foundation

Amy Greear

Amy Greear, Executive Director

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College is pleased to announce that Amy Greear has been appointed as Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation.

Ms. Greear has served as MECC’s Coordinator of Community Relations since 2012 and as the college’s Interim Director of the Foundation since January of 2018. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Clinch Valley College (UVA-Wise), a Master’s degree in Educational Communications and Technology from East Tennessee State University, and is a doctoral candidate in the Leadership and Learning program at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga.

Ms. Greear has served as an adjunct communication instructor at MECC for the last four years. She is a member of the college’s student success committee, SACS committee, and formerly served as the college liaison for the Virginia Community College System’s Professional Development Committee. She has directed the college’s international travel program, leading students to Costa Rica and Japan, with plans to lead a trip to Italy/Greece in 2019. She has served as a volunteer for multiple organizations and events on campus and in the community.

“Amy has a history of strong performance and service at MECC, serving students in multiple roles,” said MECC President Kristen Westover. “As a native of Southwest Virginia, Amy not only understands the unique strengths and challenges of our region, but she also constructs and implements creative strategies to move the Foundation, the College, and the region forward.  We are excited to be working with Amy in her new role.”

Prior to joining Mountain Empire Community College, Ms. Greear served as the Director of Community Impact for the United Way of Greater Kingsport and as the Director of Communications for Kingsport City Schools. She is a former journalist, having worked for the Kingsport-Times News, Bristol Herald Courier and the Coalfield Progress/Dickenson Star. A native of Appalachia, Ms. Greear and her husband Burke, reside in Kingsport with their daughter Maggie.

The MECC Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit organization that supports the mission of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Foundation projects include scholarships, faculty and staff development and recognition programs, cultural programs and events, campus improvements, educational programs, and other projects.

The MECC Foundation holds the largest endowment of any community college in Virginia at $26.6M, distributing more than $300,000 in scholarships in 2018 as well as supporting the college’s career navigator, tutoring, and emergency assistance programs. For more information on the MECC Foundation, visit www.meccfoundation.org.

-MECC Foundation-

Turner Establishes New Clinical Health Sciences Scholarship at MECC

Wiley Turner gift

MECC RN Instructor Deborah Wright, Wiley Turner, and Dean of Health Science Kim Dorton

Big Stone Gap – Wiley A. “Ike” Turner was so inspired by a relative’s personal struggles and triumphs in obtaining her Registered Nursing degree at Mountain Empire Community College that he decided to make a difference for future clinical healthcare students attending MECC.

Turner, of Castlewood, recently donated $50,000 to establish a scholarship fund honoring 2018 MECC Graduate Kara Kennedy along with his late wife, Dr. Lorraine C. Turner, the former Superintendent of the Russell County School System.

The Kara Kennedy/Dr. Lorraine C. Turner Endowed Scholarship will benefit students enrolled in clinical health science programs at Mountain Empire Community College. Turner said he wanted to do something that would assist students who will eventually go to work caring for the residents of this region. “The Lord has blessed me and I just want to pass it forward,” said Turner.

Turner’s cousin, Kara Kennedy, was a student in MECC’s Registered Nursing Program, when she was seriously injured in a hiking accident. Although Kennedy lost her leg, she recuperated and re-enrolled in the nursing program. Through the support of her family and friends, along with MECC students and staff, she graduated with her Registered Nursing degree in May 2018. Kennedy was one of two featured student speakers at the graduation ceremony. She currently works as an emergency room nurse at Norton Community Hospital.

Turner’s wife, Lorraine C. Turner, served as the Superintendent of Russell County Schools. She devoted her entire professional career to the Russell County School System as a teacher, supervisor and
superintendent. She worked tirelessly to promote the Special Olympics and expand educational opportunities for children and young adults in Southwest Virginia. Her love of teaching, faithfulness to God, and compassion for others was apparent in her church involvement and dedication to improving her community. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Clinch Valley College, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Appalachian State University, and a Doctorate of Education from East Tennessee State University.

“We are grateful for Mr. Turner’s generosity and for his extraordinary commitment to our students and the community. The Kara Kennedy/Dr. Lorraine C. Turner Endowed Scholarship will benefit generations to come who will enter health care careers in Southwest Virginia, touching thousands of lives with their skills,” said MECC President Dr. Kristen Westover.

MECC’s offers a variety of clinical health science programs, including registered nursing, licensed practical nursing, respiratory therapy, emergency medical technician, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant, phlebotomy, radiography, and more. The college offers a state-of-the-art health care simulation laboratory, allowing clinical health science students to train for real-world situations in a controlled learning environment.

The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation supports the mission of Mountain Empire Community College by providing scholarships and funding for student success programs, professional development for faculty, and cultural programs for the community.

For more information regarding scholarships or to establish a scholarship, please contact the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation at 276.523.7466 or visit www.meccfoundation.org.

 

-MECC FOUNDATION-

 

 

MECC Foundation Raises More Than $50,000 during Scott County Endowed Scholarship Event

Hiltons, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation recently raised more than $50,000 at a special event to assist Scott County students attending MECC.

The Scott County Endowed Scholarship Event was held Saturday, August 25, at Crooked River Farm in Hiltons, Va. The event featured Grammy nominated bluegrass artists Blue Highway, with catering provided by North Fork Catering in Weber City. A silent auction was also held.

Major sponsors for the event included David & Annette Templeton, owners of Crooked River Farm, and Courtesy Chevrolet. Additional sponsors include Mark & Judy Musick, Humphreys Enterprises, Campus Drive-In, Jack & Martha Rhoton, New Peoples Bank, R-Mac Realty, Eastman Credit Union, Powell Valley National Bank, Komatsu, Scott County Telephone Cooperative, the Town of Nickelsville, Thermocopy, Otis Rhoton & Food City.

Silent auction items were provided by Belk, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bruno Bikes, David J. Clapp Photography, Made by Hands Floral, Meadowview Conference, Resort & Convention Center, Paul Mitchell Systems, Roberts & Jones, Jennifer Fletcher Meade & Danny Meade, TempurPedic and Quillin Hardware.

During the event, MECC Foundation Board Member and Scott County native Mark Musick announced a major gift to the college. Joyce Tallman, 91 of Atlanta, served as assistant to the president at the Southern Regional Education Board in Atlanta for more than 30 years of her 50 years with the organization. She was born in Knoxville and was a former employee of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She was the longest serving member of the SREB staff.

Ms. Tallman named the MECC Foundation as a recipient of a $25,000 matching gift as part of the Joyce Cutshaw Tallman Trust. She passed away on Saturday, September 1.

“It’s inspiring to me that a person that has never been on the campus or in the community wants to help this region’s residents receive an education. She was quite a person,” said Musick, a longtime friend and co-worker of Ms. Tallman.

Amy Greear, MECC Vice President for Institutional Advancement at MECC and Executive Director of the MECC Foundation, stated that the August 25 event doubled the amount held in the Scott County Endowed Scholarship Fund.

“We are incredibly grateful that so many rallied around this cause,” said Greear. “This scholarship will benefit Scott County students now and in the years to come. Our single purpose is to remove any financial barrier for a student to attend MECC. We want all students to be able to reach their career and educational goals in order to live and work in our region. We are closer to doing that now thanks to the generosity of this community.”

For more information on the Scott County Endowed Scholarship or to donate to this fund, call the MECC Foundation office at 276.523.7480 or visit www.meccfoundation.org.

-MECC FOUNDATION-

MECC Foundation to Host “Diamonds and Denim” Event Supporting Scott County Scholarships

Blue Highway

Blue Highway

Crooked River Farm

Crooked River Farm

The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation is pleased to present “Diamonds and Denim,” an evening of elegance and entertainment featuring the music of Grammy-nominated artists, Blue Highway, at the beautiful Crooked River Farms in Hiltons, Va., Saturday, August 25.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Scott County Endowed Scholarship Fund, supporting Scott County students who wish to further their education and skill level at Mountain Empire Community College. MECC served more than 615 Scott County students in 2017-18 and awarded more than $502,000 in scholarships to Scott County residents. Continued financial support is needed to assist students with tuition, book, and attendance costs.

The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, wine & beer, a silent auction, concert entertainment and guest photography. Guests are encouraged to wear their diamonds and denim for this relaxed, semi-formal evening event. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $65 or $125 per couple and may be purchased online at www.meccfoundation.org/scevent or at the Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance located at 1378 W. Jackson Street, Gate City.

The Scott County Endowed Scholarship Committee is currently seeking sponsorships to support event costs. Sponsorships range from $500 to $5000 and include tickets, branding, and special recognition. For more information on becoming an event sponsor, visit www.meccfoundation.org/scfund.

Blue Highway has earned 27 collective IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three Grammy nominations as a band, plus two Grammy Awards among its current members. Blue Highway’s #1 album “Original Traditional” was nominated for a 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album. The band was voted the Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time by the readers of Bluegrass Today in April 2016. The newest album “Original Traditional” was released Sept 2016 and to date has topped multiple National Charts at # 1.

Crooked River Farm is a 200-acre estate along the Holston River close to Seven Shoals in Hiltons, Virginia. This enchanted estate includes rolling hay fields, over a mile of river frontage, oak forests and open glades.  The view is spectacular down an open valley with Clinch Mountain on one side, rocky cliffs along the river on the other side and beautiful meadows and hay fields between. A restored 1823 timber frame lodge towers above the valley below. The power and magnetism of the river delight the eye and pull you in while the forest and glades make the outside world fall away. The heart of Crooked River is the circa-1823 Ohio Grist Mill that serves as the concert venue, featuring 12×12 oak beams and majestic lighting.

For more information, call the MECC Foundation Office at 276.523.7466.

2018 John Fox Jr. Festival Contest Winners Announced

Big Stone Gap — The MECC Foundation conducted its 42nd annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival on Monday, April 16, featuring a presentation by author Sharyn McCrumb. The winners of the annual writing contests were also announced and recognized at the event.

Short Story winners (L to R) Noah Smith, Reece Mullins, Ben Adams, Benjamin Vicars, Amanda Bailey, Chloe Collins, McKenzie Templeton, Anthony Swindall

The 31st annual Lonesome Pine Short Story Contest winners middle school category winners include third place, Benjamin Vicars, who attends L.F. Addington Middle School; second place, Reece Mullins, who attends Coeburn Middle School; and first place, Noah Smith, who attends Smith Homeschool Academy. Winners in the high school category included third place, Ben Adams, who attends Central High School; second place, McKenzie Templeton, who attends Gate City High School; and first place, Chloe Collins, who attends Central High School. Winners in the adult category included third place, Anthony Swindall of Ben Hur, VA; second place, Jennifer Mullins of Big Stone Gap; and first place, Amanda Bailey of Mount Carmel, TN. Cash prizes awarded to the winners of the short story contest were sponsored by Lonesome Pine Arts and Crafts.

poetry winners

Poetry winners (L to R) Brittany Gentry, Morgan Graham, Kiarah Hamilton, Lauren McCoy and Alex Lon

The 14th annual Lonesome Pine Poetry Contest middle school category winners are third place, Kirsten Dixon, who attends Union Middle School; second place, Morgan Graham, who attends Flatwoods Elementary School; and first place, Kiarah Hamilton, who is a homeschool student in Big Stone Gap. Winners in the high school category included third place, Kayla Boyd, who attends A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School; second place, Lauren McCoy, who attends A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School and first place, Brittany Gentry, who attends Central High School. Winners in the adult category included third place, Stephanie Cassell of Norton, VA; second place, Donita Ratliff Kennedy of Kingsport, TN; and first place, Alexander Long of Pennington Gap, VA. Cash prizes awarded to the winners of the poetry contest were sponsored by the MECC Foundation.

To obtain information about the next John Fox, Jr. Festival and writing contests, to be held in the spring of 2019, contact the MECC Foundation at 276.523.7493.  

Caption for Pictures of contest winners (from left to right): Short Story winners (L to R) Noah Smith, Reece Mullins, Ben Adams, Benjamin Vicars, Amanda Bailey, Chloe Collins, McKenzie Templeton, Anthony Swindall

Poetry winners (L to R) Brittany Gentry, Morgan Graham, Kiarah Hamilton, Lauren McCoy and Alex Long

-MECC Foundation-

John Fox Jr. Rescheduled For Monday, April 16

The John Fox Jr. Festival, originally scheduled for March 21 at MECC, has been rescheduled for Monday, April 16 at 10 a.m. Those with luncheon tickets should contact 276.523.7466 if they cannot attend the rescheduled luncheon.

Ken and Thelma Gilley To Be Honored at 2018 Hall of Honor Gala

Ken and Thelma Gilley

Ken and Thelma Gilley

Big Stone Gap, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation will honor the late Mr. Ken Gilley and Mrs. Thelma Sorah Gilley at the annual Hall of Honor Gala on Saturday evening, April 21, 2018.

The gala theme is “Music of the Mountains,” and proceeds from the event will benefit the Gilley-Sorah Hall of Honor Mountain Music School Endowed Scholarship at MECC. Mountain Music School, held annually during the summer, draws many local and out-of-state students to the one-week program that carries on the rich musical heritage of our region.

The Gilleys will be recognized for their support of Mountain Empire Community College and their service to the region. They have been strong proponents of higher education in southwest Virginia, providing financial support to MECC. The Gilleys have created two scholarships, the William Kenneth Gilley Memorial Scholarship for Mountain Music School, and the Gilley-Sorah Endowed Scholarship, which was created along with their son, Michael, and Thelma’s sister, Shirley Walborn. Additionally, Mrs. Gilley was involved in establishing the East Stone Gap Tigers Scholarship at MECC.

The Gilleys were also active in civic organizations and volunteered in the community. Mr. Gilley worked for Norfolk Southern Railway for 41 years, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners. Mrs. Gilley worked for the Virginia Division of Mines in Big Stone Gap, the Social Security Office in Norton, and retired from the Department of Labor as supervisor of the Black Lung Office in Norton. She also served as a negotiator for the local AFL-CIO. After their retirement, the Gilleys enjoyed taking classes at MECC and especially enjoyed participating in Mountain Music School.

The evening will begin with a reception in the Slemp Commons of Phillips-Taylor Hall at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner in the Goodloe Center at 6:45 p.m. A short recognition program will follow dinner, and musical entertainment by mountain music artists and bands will follow. Musicians will include Mountain Music School instructors, Chris Rose, Richard Phillips, Steve Souther, Joey O’Quinn, Sarah Kate Morgan, and Larry Mullins.  The evening will also feature some Mountain Music School students.

Event sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit www.meccfoundation.org for more information.

Tickets to the April 21 Gala event are $75 each and may be purchased by calling the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-7466 or by visiting the MECC Foundation website at https://www.meccfoundation.org/mecc-foundation-gala/.

Tickets may also be purchased by mail by sending a check to MECC Foundation, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219, Please make checks payable to MECC Foundation and indicate in the memo section of your check “Gilley-Sorah Hall of Honor Mountain Music School Scholarship.”

If you have questions, or need additional information about the event, please contact the MECC Foundation Office at 276-523-7466, or e-mail Jeri Bledsoe at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.

MECC Foundation to Host 42nd Annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival & Lonesome Pine Short-Story and Poetry Contests

Big Stone Gap, VA — The MECC Foundation is pleased to announce the 42nd annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival, featuring a presentation by guest author Sharyn McCrumb, on Wednesday, March 21 at 10 a.m. in the Goodloe Center of Phillips-Taylor Hall.

In coordination with the festival event, the MECC Foundation will host the 31st Annual Lonesome Pine Short Story Contest and the 14th Annual Lonesome Pine Poetry Contest. Individuals interested in obtaining guidelines for submitting short story and poetry contest entries should contact Brandi McAfee in the MECC Foundation Office at (276) 523-7466.  The deadline for submitting entries is Wednesday, February 28 at 4:30 p.m. Entry categories include adult, high school (grades 9 through 12), and middle school (grades 5 through 8) categories.  Contest rules are available by clicking hereWinners of the contest will be announced during the Literary Festival Event.

Sharyn McCrumb is an award-winning Southern writer, best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, set in the North Carolina/Tennessee mountains, including the New York Times Best Sellers: The Ballad of Tom Dooley, She Walks These Hills and The Rosewood Casket. Her current novel The Unquiet Grave is a well-researched history of West Virginia’s Greenbrier Ghost.

In 2014, Sharyn McCrumb was awarded the Mary Frances Hobson Prize for Southern Literature by North Carolina’s Chowan University. Named a “Virginia Woman of History” in 2008 for Achievement in Literature, she was a guest author at the National Festival of the Book in Washington, D.C. in 2006. In April 2017, the national DAR named her a “Woman in the Arts” for literary achievement. In November 2017, the West Virginia Library Association presented Sharyn McCrumb with their Award of Merit for Contributions to Appalachian Literature.

McCrumb’s other honors include: AWA Outstanding Contribution to Appalachian Literature Award; the Chaffin Award for Southern Literature; the Plattner Award for Short Story; and AWA’s Best Appalachian Novel. She was named “Best Mountain Writer 2013” by Blue Ridge Country Magazine. A graduate of UNC- Chapel Hill, with an M.A. in English from Virginia Tech, McCrumb was the first writer-in-residence at King College in Tennessee. In 2005, she was honored as the Writer of the Year at Emory & Henry College.

Books will be available to purchase and for author signing.  The John Fox, Jr. Festival will be followed by a reservation-only luncheon with the featured speaker at the John Fox, Jr. Museum in Big Stone Gap.  Tickets for the luncheon are $23 per person and reservations can be made by calling the MECC Foundation office at 276.523.7466.

For more information, please call 276.523.7466.