East Central Community College will celebrate its 100-year anniversary in 2028, and under the leadership of President Dr. Brent Gregory, the college launched its first-ever capital campaign in January. Now, nine months later, they are already well over halfway to reaching the campaign goal of $4,150,000.  

 

The campaign, called Deeply Rooted, Future Focused, specifically seeks funding to renovate Founders Gymnasium, Ovid S. Vickers Fine Arts Center, Newton Hall, and the Bradford J. Tucker Applied Technology Center. Funds raised will meet the need to create an even more sustainable college that serves the students, faculty, staff, and five-county district.    

 

“We are fortunate to receive public funding from a variety of sources,” said Dr. Gregory. “However, to complete several projects, we must add private support to the equation. We are collaborating with alumni, friends, corporate partners and foundations to ensure that we have the resources to be future focused.”  

 

To date, the campaign has raised over $3.5 million. Campaign leadership held a public announcement ceremony celebrating this milestone and the largest fund-raising endeavor in college history. The event took place in Newton Hall on ECCC’s campus in Decatur on Tuesday, October 3. David Byars, the Campaign Chairman, presented a check to East Central Community College Foundation Vice Chairman Aubry Cox in the amount of $3,548,754.  

 

“We are enthusiastic about the financial achievements we have witnessed in the campaign,” stated Byars. “Yet, it’s important to emphasize that this campaign goes beyond simply raising funds to enhance our programs and facilities. Campaigns ignite enthusiasm and enhance awareness. Deeply Rooted, Future Focused provides a chance to convey our present identity and our aspirations for the future. It has enabled us to connect with our alumni, cultivate supporters, and draw talented students to our campus.”  

 

Support for the campaign has been significant and East Central will continue to solicit donations until the campaign goal is reached. Leadership anticipates all enhancements and renovations will be completed in the coming years.  

 

East Central Community College in Decatur, MS, was founded in 1928 and serves the five-county district of Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, and Winston counties. The college offers the two-year pre-baccalaureate Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees in 17 major academic concentrations, as well as 23 terminal degree programs in Healthcare and/or Career and Technical Education, and certificates and training in numerous areas through its workforce development program on the Decatur campus, as well as centers in Carthage, Choctaw, Forest, Louisville, and Philadelphia. Currently, the college’s eight residence facilities offer nearly 600 beds for on-campus living. The college also fields 10 varsity sports teams, including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, men's golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, and men’s and women’s tennis. For more information, visit www.eccc.edu.