Employees Receive Awards at Fall Semester Kickoff

Warren Lynch (right), welding instructor at Edgecombe Community College, received the 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award. With him is ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod.

An Edgecombe Community College instructor, staff member, and department received special awards from the ECC Foundation at the college’s fall semester kickoff held August 15.

Employees met for an in-person kickoff for the first time since 2019 due to pandemic restrictions.

Warren Lynch, welding instructor, received the 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award.

In announcing the award, Lynwood Roberson, executive director of the ECC Foundation, said, “As a colleague states, ‘All he was given when he started was a shop with outdated equipment and a white board in the classroom. I was amazed at the quality of education I saw the students receiving, and I knew he was special.’”

Lynch joined the ECC faculty in 2004 as the welding instructor in Continuing Education. “He has almost single-handedly grown the program to include a Curriculum degree, diploma, and certificate, and he still teaches Continuing Education welding classes,” Roberson said.

In addition, Lynch was instrumental in developing the new welding lab at SouthWest Edgecombe High School.

An ECC alumnus, he graduated from the college in 2011 with a degree in business administration.

Kathy Webb (left), director of lifelong learning at Edgecombe Community College, received the 2022 Staff Award. With her is ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod.

Kathy Webb, director of lifelong learning in the Division of Continuing Education, received the 2022 Staff Award.

Following a successful teaching and coaching career with Edgecombe County Public Schools, Webb joined ECC in 1995, first as a biology instructor and later as the college liaison at the Edgecombe Early College High School.

In 2016, she retired briefly. In January 2017, she returned to ECC in her current role as director of lifelong learning. According to Roberson, “She has strengthened this division immeasurably, starting monthly forklift training classes, our popular construction academy, HVAC classes, and many other programs that teach essential workforce skills.”

Webb also coordinates the popular Camp College each summer, which introduces young students to ECC.

The Computer Services Department at Edgecombe Community College received the first Department of Excellence Award. From left are Dr. Greg McLeod, president of ECC; Brad Hill, chief information officer and director of computer services; and computer services staff Anthony Lovitt, Seth Webster, Vanessa Pierce, Kevin Smith, and Aric Kipp.

The ECC Foundation presented a new award, the Department of Excellence Award, to the Computer Services Department. The award is based on continued delivery of responsive, respectful, collaborative, competent, and inclusive service and support to the students, faculty, and staff of Edgecombe Community College.

In announcing the recipient, Roberson said, “No department is more critical to the smooth operation of our college. They protect us from threats like hackers and viruses. They connect us to students and to each other. Because of them, we can go about our business of serving students.”

Led by Brad Hill, chief information officer and director of computer services, the department includes Aric Kipp, PC LAN technician II; Anthony Lovitt, network administrator; Vanessa Pierce, administrative computer systems support manager; Kevin Smith, client-server support specialist; and Seth Webster, PC LAN technician.