DUBLIN — Significant accomplishment in the face of the country’s worst pandemic in more than 100 years brought a lot of smiles to Bladen Community College trustees Tuesday evening.

“The Foundation had the best end of year appeal in Linda’s tenure, in at least 10 years,” Dr. Amanda Lee said in beginning her president’s report. “We closed two construction programs. We finished IT infrastructure worth over $700,000. We’ve named a lobby.

“And even better, we’ve heard from Ashley and Hannah — two of our students — who are the benefactors of all we’re doing.”

And, the trustees chairman has been honored nationally.

On a campus that continues to operate with in-person instruction in some areas, internet learning in others where possible, the coronavirus is having an impact. But the college is rising to the challenge, and in most cases overcoming obstacles.

All of Lee’s comments were generated as a summary to a 66-minute meeting conducted with trustees and campus staff leaders split between attending in person and connecting by telephone or the internet application Zoom.

Linda Burney, director of resource development and the Bladen Community College Foundation, shared praise for the donors who created an “extremely successful last quarter”; Bo and Kelly Barefoot at Barefoot Sandwich Shoppe; and Samantha Benson, the director of financial aid.

Donations exceeded $4,000 in the final three months through a targeted appeal, an amount Burney said was “a real shot in the arm.”

Her team is also moving into the final stages of the Gala to Go, a fundraiser on March 13. Tickets are $50 and Barefoot Sandwich Shoppe is the presenting sponsor. The pick-up meal is likely to include three entree choices: ribeyes, pork chops or salmon steaks. Burney said the Foundation is still booking event sponsorships.

The Foundation’s plan at the outset of COVID-19’s spread last year was to go “light” as it issued scholarships. The conservative approach, Burney said, resulted in “an extremely healthy” status months later.

“We met with our council a couple of weeks ago, and I’m happy to report wonderful news,” she said. “When we issued scholarships in spring for fall, we went light. We had a chance to award approximately 100 scholarships. We are extremely healthy. We are looking toward adding 25 to 30 more scholarships for our spring.

“We were so pleased last winter to assist with 50 percent off for the first 10 students who registered in one of five programs. We were able to help 30 students.”

She hailed the work of Benson and her staff, and read an uplifting thank-you note from a student scholarship recipient.

Ashley Norris and Hannah Wheeless were the students who spoke to the trustees. Norris is the secretary of the Student Government Association and Wheeless is one of the college’s student ambassadors working toward a degree in the Career and College Promise program. She has dual enrollment at the college and East Bladen High School.

“Bladen Community College offers numerous academic programs for students, young and old,” Wheeless said. “BCC has done a great job of reaching out during this emergency.

“This position has given me the opportunity to give back and thank the faculty at BCC, as well as participate in leadership training. I want to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity.”

Jay Stanley, the calming voice as vice president for Finance and Administration during two major construction projects, finally reached the evening he had no doubt been looking forward to since 2018. Trustees formally approved closure to the projects that resulted in building and now operating the Findt Workforce Development Center and the STEM and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Facility.

Particularly pleasing was the transfer of $508,909.75 to the college bond account, money that was the balance of project costs from the Findt Building and allowable for transfer by government rules. The final cost of each project, respectively, was $6,509,000 and $2,019,125.

The transfer, plus more than $720,000 for rural broadband, are part of roughly $1.5 million that has helped the college since the pandemic began. COVID-19 relief, primarily flowing from the federal government through the state, is the bulk of the funds and carry restrictive allowances and timelines for how the money can be spent.

Stanley said the areas getting fiscal assistance include not only the rural broadband but also internet learning; allocations for counselors and advisors; virtual student tutoring; protective equipment and COVID-19 testing; academic testing through the internet; Governor’s Emergency Education Relief scholarship allocation; and allocations connected to first responder programs.

“The federal money we’ve received has been very restricted by purpose,” Stanley said.

In reviewing the six-month standing for the college’s budget sources, he said planning ahead earlier is being rewarded.

“Earlier this year, we held back about 5 percent of the budget in case of budget callback,” he said of funds provided by the state. “It turns out, it’s 1.1 percent. We held state money this whole time, and now it’s time to spend those state dollars. We have a chance to do some things for the college.”

In her presentation, Lee added, “We are working on spending this is in the most appropriate way.”

She also shared thank-you notes from trustee Pam Benton and former President Dr. Darrell Page, for whom the Student Resources Center was named.

And she lauded the work of Chairman Dennis Troy and his recognition by the Association of Community College Trustees. The national organization’s Board of Directors recently honored him with a plaque for his service and leadership on the board.

“Community colleges play a major role in educating and training the workforce and that role will only grow in the coming years,” Troy said. “Serving on the national ACCT Board of Directors gave me an opportunity on a broader scale to know the needs of students and opportunities available to them to get on the right track to earn an education and gain employment afterward.”

Troy is a graduate of East Arcadia High School, Cape Fear Community College and Fayetteville State University. He’s a retired postmaster with the U.S. Postal Service.

He served the ACCT board for three years, ending in 2020. He had previously served on the organization’s board for the Southern Region.

Alan Wooten can be reached at 910-247-9132 or awooten@bladenjournal.com. Twitter: @alanwooten19.