Lamm Building Named at Edgecombe Community College
The health sciences building on the Rocky Mount campus has been named to honor Dr. Deborah L. Lamm, president of the College from 2004 until her retirement in May 2018.
Visitors to the Rocky Mount campus of Edgecombe Community College will see a familiar name on the front of the health sciences building: Deborah L. Lamm.
The name of the College’s former president, who retired in May 2018, was installed recently on the front exterior of the building, which has been known as the Biotechnology and Medical Simulation Center since it opened three years ago.
The ECC Board of Trustees voted to name the building in her honor shortly before her retirement.
“There are no words,” said Dr. Lamm when she saw her name on the building. “The health sciences building is one of my proudest achievements as president of the College, but I never dreamed of such a tribute. It is both humbling and overwhelming to the fullest extent possible.”
The Lamm Building opened on the Rocky Mount campus in January 2016. The three-story, 45,000-square-foot structure cost more than $9.7 million to build and over $2.5 million to furnish. The facility houses 18 programs of study in health sciences, including curriculum and continuing education programs.
The facility maximizes the use of current patient simulation technology and mimics a hospital setting. In 2018, nearly 1,500 students used the Lamm Building.
From left, ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod, ECC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Jerry Price, and Dr. Deborah Lamm are shown in front of two dedication plaques recently installed inside the Lamm Building. One of the plaques recognizes the ECC Board of Trustees, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners, and development and funding partners. The other plaque recognizes major donors to the facility.
“This is a tribute to the steady hand Dr. Lamm provided in her vision for health care education at Edgecombe Community College,” says Dr. Jerry Price, chair of the ECC Board of Trustees. “The state-of-the-art training provided in this facility will prepare our students for successful careers in health care.”
“Dr. Lamm raised the bar in education and training and worked tirelessly to ensure that Edgecombe Community College strengthened its tradition of outstanding service to its students and the Edgecombe community,” notes ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod. “Nowhere on our campuses is this more evident than in the health sciences facility named in her honor. She was its driving force, from concept to completion.”
The Lamm Building is a shining example of the capacity of broad-based community support. At a ceremony in March 2016 to celebrate the building’s opening, then-Rocky Mount City Manager Charles Penny said, “This facility exemplifies the heart and will of Edgecombe County and reflects the can-do attitude of its citizens.”
Edgecombe County citizens passed a quarter cent sales tax in 2012, providing a funding stream for the facility.
The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners fully supported the project and recognized the training needs of the county and region. The Rocky Mount City Council also backed the initiative and understood its role as a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Rocky Mount.
Golden LEAF Foundation, Horizon Health Partners, PNC Bank, and Urban Research Park were funding partners who invested in workforce training and an enhanced quality of life.
Also, private donors created a legacy while investing in the education of area citizens.
Dr. Deborah Lamm is shown with a dedication plaque that honors her service to the College and community. The plaque reads: “In recognition of her distinguished service as President of Edgecombe Community College from 2004 to 2018, and for her dedication to educational advancement for all citizens of Edgecombe County and Eastern North Carolina.”
Inside the building are several dedication plaques, including a tribute to Dr. Lamm. The inscription on this tribute plaque reads: “In recognition of her distinguished service as President of Edgecombe Community College from 2004 to 2018, and for her dedication to educational advancement for all citizens of Edgecombe County and Eastern North Carolina.”
A second plaque pays homage to major donors to the facility. They are:
Naming Partners, $10,000 – $500,000
Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Boswell
Ms. Kathryn L. Boswell
Dr. Kristen B. and Mr. G. Myers Coggin
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Day
Mr. Ronald G. Ellis Jr.
Mrs. Ruth Fleetwood
Integrated Family Services
Mr. and Mrs. Pender R. Lewis
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lewis
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy C. Lewis
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew C. Martin
Ms. Meagan L. Martin
Mr. Tyler L. Martin
Mrs. Gracie G. McBryde
Dr. Lauren B. and Mr. R. Trent McGee
Mr. and Mrs. Rick McGee
Vidant Health
Investor’s Society, $1,000 – $9,999
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Omega Chapter
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Cooper
Mr. Mahlon DeLoatch
Dr. Deborah L. and Mr. Carnell Lamm