SANFORD - Dr. T.E. "Bud" Marchant, president of Central Carolina Community College since 2008, has been selected as The Sanford Herald's 2013 Citizen of the Year.
In its Jan. 19 announcement of the recognition, The Herald's Editorial Board stated,
"Dr. Marchant ... has been a valued ambassador of the college in spreading the word of its mission to stakeholders in all three counties that the college serves - Lee, Chatham and Harnett.
"Perhaps his greatest accomplishment, however, is that under his leadership the school has flourished as perhaps our area's greatest economic development tool, despite the challenges of the economic times. The Herald salutes Dr. Marchant and thanks him for his service to our community."
During Marchant's more than five years leading CCCC, the college has moved forward with major accomplishments through establishing college-community-industry partnerships and expanding programs and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information described CCCC as a "strong force for educational opportunities, economic progress and cultural enrichment in the communities it serves." Washington Monthly magazine named it one of the Top 50 community colleges in the nation.
"I deeply appreciate the recognition from The Herald, which belongs to all of the CCCC family," Marchant said. "With all that we have done, our greatest accomplishment is turning out people that get good jobs. The other things we've done are great, but most importantly, we're providing job training and helping people find their futures."
The latest initiative he is working to establish is Central Carolina Works, a community-education partnership that will strengthen the academic and workforce training opportunities for all high school students in Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties.
"To bestow Citizen of the Year on someone is a big honor," said Bobby Powell, who has served on the college's board of trustees almost continuously since 1992. "I thoroughly agree with The Herald's choice of Dr. Marchant. The college has done more under his tenure than ever before and it's done it under some very trying conditions. At no time have we received the accolades that we've received and accomplished more than we've accomplished during his tenure. He's done a fantastic job for us. Every trustee would echo the same thing. He is most deserving."
Stewart Owens, Workforce Readiness Center recruitment counselor at Piedmont Technical College, in Greenwood S.C., also said that Marchant is well deserving of the recognition. He has known him since he was a 19-year-old student at Piedmont working part-time for him. Owens was raised well by his grandparents, but meeting Marchant brought a strong influence and direction into his life.
"Bud Marchant is a mentor and the best friend I've got," Owens said. "He's hands-down a great person. When somebody is that good, caring and outgoing as he is, he takes it wherever he goes, whether in his neighborhood or in running the college. He'll find good in somebody or some situation, no matter what. I went on to earn an M.B.A. because he pushed me."
Prior to coming to CCCC, Marchant served as vice president for Educational Affairs at Piedmont Technical College, S.C. A native of Columbia, S.C., he began his career in education as a teacher and, later, junior high school principal.
He also has a strong background and interest in community economic development, working with area economic development boards and chambers of commerce in both North and South Carolina. For his work in Clinton, S.C., he was named the Clinton Chronicle's Citizen of the Year in 2008.
Dr. T.E. 'Bud' Marchant, president of Central Carolina Community College since 2008, has been selected as The Sanford Herald's 2013 Citizen of the Year. In its Jan. 19 announcement of the recognition, The Herald praised Marchant for his work as an ambassador for the college and the college's role as an economic development tool for the region. Prior to coming to CCCC, Marchant served as vice president for Educational Affairs at Piedmont Technical College, Greenwood, S.C.