Presidential portrait of Dr. J. Larry Keen unveiled

Fayetteville Technical Community College unveiled the presidential portrait of Dr. J. Larry Keen on Nov. 21 in a ceremony in the lobby
of the Thomas R. McLean Administration Building.

The portrait was commissioned by FTCC Foundation in anticipation of Keen’s retirement on Jan. 1.

Brad Hurley, chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said he spent the day with Keen at the Foundation’s annual golf tournament fundraiser earlier this month.

“I got to see his heart in a different way than ever before,” Hurley said. “And I’m just very proud to be a part of this.”

Keen’s portrait joins those of other significant figures in FTCC’s history, including the College’s first three presidents: Howard E. Boudreau, who served from 1964-1983; Dr. R. Craig Allen, 1983-1996; and Dr. Larry B. Norris, 1997-2007. Like his predecessors, Keen is depicted in his academic regalia.

Dr. Mark A. Sorrells, FTCC’s Vice President for Academic and Student Services, will succeed Keen as president next year. Sorrells delivered remarks on behalf of Keen, who was unable to attend the unveiling due to illness.

“This is a special event for Dr. Keen in honor of his service of 15 years at the College but also for the Keen family and what they’ve contributed to our community,” Sorrells said.

The portrait was painted by Wilmington artist Todd Carignan, who has won multiple awards for his art, including an Oil Painters of America Award of Excellence. His art is included in collections throughout the United States and internationally. He received his BFA in Sequential Art and minored in Art History at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

For more about Carignan, please visit www.toddcarignan.com/about.

New mural highlights reopening of Success Closet

Fayetteville Technical Community College celebrated the grand reopening of its Success Closet on Nov. 29 and dedicated a colorful new mural painted on the exterior of the
location.

The FTCC Success Closet is next to the FTCC Food Pantry on the rear side of the Horace Sisk Building at 2220 Hull Road.
The mural, featuring colorful graphical representations of buttons, a zipper and other clothing items, was painted by FTCC alum Britney Deveault and was made possible through a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.

It is a companion mural to one painted last year by Deveault on the exterior of FTCC's Food Pantry. That mural, featuring colorful graphical representations of different foods, was also funded by a grant from the Arts Council.

Deveault is a freelance graphic designer and artist who owns Deveault Design. She is a 2021 graduate of the FTCC Graphic Design and Advertising Program.
The FTCC Success Closet provides free professional attire for students for job interviews and work. The FTCC Food Pantry stocks a healthy variety of food plus personal care items and household cleaning products, all available for free to FTCC students.

The reopening celebration coincided with Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving. Visitors were encouraged to bring food and personal care items for the FTCC Food Pantry.

Foundation receives grant for High School Connections program

Tammy Thurman of Piedmont Natural Gas presented a $10,000 check to FTCC Foundation on Nov. 21, to support the College's High School Connections program.
Thurman is PNG's Community Relations Manager and a member of FTCC's Board of Trustees. She presented the check to Dr. Mark A. Sorrells, who is currently FTCC's Senior Vice President for Academic and

Student Services, and Sandy Ammons, Executive Director of FTCC Foundation.

The High School Connections program is FTCC's branch of North Carolina's Career and College Promise program. The program provides seamless dual enrollment educational opportunities for eligible North Carolina high school students. Students are able to take college classes tuition-free and earn college credits that transfer with them upon graduation from high school, potentially saving them thousands of dollars on the cost of college.

The PNG grant will go into FTCC Foundation's Resource Fund for High School Connections. The fund pays for books and other resources for high school students from low-income families.

FTCC was founded in 1961 as a job-training institution and became a community college in 1963 when the statewide Community College System was created. The College serves more than 28,000 students a year with occupational, technical, general education, college transfer and continuing education programs leading to more than 280 degrees, diplomas and certificates. For more information, please visit www.faytechcc.edu.

FTCC Foundation manages donations for the College, including contributions from private donors, corporations, alumni, employees, retirees and in-kind gifts. These resources provide access for students to attain their educational and career goals. For more information, visit www.faytechcc.edu/giving/.