Special to IFN
Mitchell Community College recently celebrated the dedication of the former Vocational Building on its Statesville Campus in honor of Dr. Ralph Bentley, a beloved community member and long-time supporter of the college.
Serving the college with knowledge, experience and insight for nearly 45 years, Bentley’s unwavering dedication to Mitchell is driven by his commitment to education.
“Dr. Bentley’s work has always been driven by the belief that education is the key to unlocking the full potential of every individual and should be available to all,” said Tim Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College. “As a visionary leader and advocate for the community, his efforts and support have helped to transform the way we think about learning and the opportunities available to our students. With his leadership, we have seen countless initiatives come to life, programs flourish, and, most importantly, students succeed.”
Bentley has served as a member of the Mitchell Community College Board of Trustees since 1981. He has also served as board chair from 1994-1995, 2000-2001, and, from 2005 through the present.
Most notably, with his efforts to establish, develop, and lead an initiative to secure the financial future of the college, Bentley has had a significant impact on Mitchell’s Foundation and Endowment for Excellence, increasing funds from $4.5 million to over $29 million.
“Education was always important to me,” Bentley told family, friends, colleagues and community members who attended the dedication ceremony. “And I’ve had a wonderful time. It’s been tremendous to watch the development of Mitchell. I owe a lot of gratitude to a lot of people for what they’ve done for the community and the college. I am so proud of how far we’ve come.”
Over 50 individuals attended the ceremony, some offering words of gratitude for Bentley’s exemplary leadership, describing him as a steady force for positive change and progress, and always advocating for the best interests of students, faculty, and staff.
Others described Bentley’s leadership as a constant in the community, stating that they always learn from their interactions with him.
Laurel Eason, wife of the late Doug Eason, former president of Mitchell, acknowledged that Bentley’s wife Caroline completed the package with her support, devotion, friendship and advice. The room applauded the pair.
As a tribute to Bentley’s dedication to education, the Bentley Building is home to multiple classroom spaces used for general education courses in addition to the early college program, Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership.
“The Bentley Building, which now bears his name, stands as a testament to the tireless work that Dr. Bentley has done to help this institution grow and thrive,” Brewer said. “This building serves as a place where current and future generations of students will come to learn, collaborate, and build the foundation for their own futures, just as Dr. Bentley has helped so many others do.”
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