Service Totals 385 Years
Wilmington College honored more than two-dozen employees — whose service to the institution totals 385 years — during the Opening Year Meeting of faculty and staff Aug. 15.
PICTURED: President Jim Reynolds congratulates and thanks Becky Haines for her 45 years of service to the College.
“It’s important we have a chance to recognize these milestones,” President Jim Reynolds said. “I greatly appreciate the people who work here every day toward changing the lives of our students.”
The president hearkened the year 1973 when Secretariat won horse racing’s Triple Crown, Spiro Agnew resigned as vice president and the Watergate investigation began. It was the year the bar code was introduced, a gallon of gasoline was 40 cents, milk cost 98 cents and The Sting won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” won the Grammy for Best Song and the Miami Dolphins won the Super Bowl.
At WC some 45 years ago, Becky Haines joined the staff at Wilmington College as fine arts secretary and theatre technician.
Fast forward to 1988, the year a terrorist’s bomb took down Pam Am Flight 103 over Scotland, the first successful Lasik eye surgery took place and Prozac was introduced into the American market. Also, gas was 91 cents, a first-class stamp 24 cents, milk $1.89 and Rain Man and its star, Dustin Hoffman, won Oscars. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” won the Best Song Grammy and the San Francisco 49ers captured the Super Bowl trophy.
Also, Wilmington College hired Robert Metcalf as a carpenter and Hal Shunk as a member of the art faculty.
Twenty-five years ago, in 1993, scientists cloned the first human embryo, the first bombing at the World Trade Center occurred and gas was $1.11, a stamp cost 29 cents, milk was $2.88, Schindler’ List earned Best Picture, Tom Hanks received the Oscar for his work in Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys won the Lombardi Trophy.
Also, Lori Watts, associate director of Student One Stop Center, joined the WC staff.
In 1998, 20 years ago, the Euro made its debut, Google was founded, the Good Friday Peace Accords were signed in Northern Ireland and the Clinton impeachment trial began. Gas was $1.15, milk $3.16 and a stamp 32 cents. Shakespeare in Love won the Oscar while its starring actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, won for Best Actress, Roberto Benigni won the Best Actor Oscar for Life Is Beautiful and the Denver Broncos captured the Super Bowl title.
In addition in 1998, the College hired Carl Coatney, athletic equipment manager; Trip Breen III, swimming coach and director of aquatics; and Ron Combs, track and field coach.
Others recognized for service milestones were:
15 years — D. William Newland, instructor in sport management; Dr. Sylvia Stevens, vice president for external programs; Dr. Michael Goldcamp, associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Stephen Potthoff, associate professor of religion and philosophy; Jennifer Walker, associate professor of athletic training; and Randy Gerber, Barrett Farm manager.
10 years — Leslie Nichols, assistant to the president; Dr. Corey Cockerill, associate professor of communication arts and agriculture; Dr. Ursula McTaggart, associate professor of English; Dr. Charles Dick, associate professor of accounting; Dr. Marlaina Leppert-Wahl, associate professor of political science; and Heath Whittamore, network administrator.
5 years — Sonia Thompson, assistant director of Student One Stop; Dr. Bonnie Erwin, assistant professor of English; Dr. Elizabeth Haynes, assistant professor of mathematics; Deborah Triance, Student One Stop Center representative; Danny Harp, assistant director of admission; Paula Stewart, assistant swim coach and Quaker Fit director; Christonia Fouch, Admission Office administrative assistant; Sandra Pierson, Enrollment Management administrative assistant; and Jena Frommeyer, Title III Team student success coach.
