BSCC dedicates new facility
06-11-2009
Bevill State Community College took time Thursday afternoon to pay tribute to Dr. Harold Wade, a former president of the school.
The college held a ceremony dedicating the newest building on the Jasper campus as the Dr. Harold Wade Math and Science Building. Wade, who served as BSCC president for more than 30 years, was instrumental in bringing together the school’s current four campuses.
“He was a leading innovator in merging colleges,” said Rep. Ken Guin (D-Carbon Hill), who introduced Wade at the ceremony. “He led the effort in merging the school’s campuses. The merger of Bevill State and Walker College was difficult, but Dr. Wade’s background in merging the other campuses put him in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. It worked and we are here (Jasper campus) today.”
Guin, who helped pass the bill naming the building in honor of Wade through the Alabama Legislature, said he couldn’t think of a person who would be more deserving of the honor.
“I think it is fitting on a college campus to name a piece of architecture in honor of an educator,” Guin said. “Few educators in Walker County have had the impact of Dr. Harold Wade.”
Wade said the honor should go to the faculty and staff of Bevill State.
“This goes out to the hundreds of people who have joined forces over the years to make sure we have a place to educate the children of this area,” Wade said. “The faculty and staff of Bevill State let me stand on their shoulders so I could see down the road. I always told them, ‘You take care of the students, and I’ll take care of the funding.’ I still love you guys and I miss interacting with you on a daily basis.”
Wade also thanked his family, members of the local legislative delegation and the community during his speech. He said he was blessed to work at Bevill State.
“I had a rewarding career as president of Bevill State,” Wade said. “I hope Dr. McNutt has just as a rewarding career as I did.”
Thursday’s ceremony also served as a reception to officially welcome Dr. Anne McNutt as the school’s new president. She said her job has been easier because of the work Wade did.
“I would like to thank you (Wade) for making my job here easier,” McNutt said. “We’ve had a painful budget cut this year, but it was less painful because of the work you did before you left the school.”
McNutt said she’s happy to be at Bevill State.
“This is a wonderful college with great community support, and I’m very glad to be here,” McNutt said.
During the ceremony, Wade’s family announced they would be starting the Dr. Harold Wade Presidential Scholarship to be given annually. Wade also announced that he and his wife would be starting a scholarship in memory of his mother.
Thursday’s ceremony was sponsored in a joint effort between the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County and Bevill State. |
