Jan. 27, 2009
Pellissippi State Technical Community College strengthened its commitment to Blount County in 2008 to the tune of $22 million with groundbreaking for the new Blount County Campus, to be located on Highway 321/West Lamar Alexander Parkway in the Friendsville community.
And it was only one of a series of positive developments that reaffirmed that Pellissippi State’s expanded presence is good for the county.
In fall 2008, nearly 850 students attended the Blount County Center, which is housed in the former Bungalow Elementary School in Alcoa, yet close to 1,500 Pellissippi State students live in Blount County. That means an additional 600 students could possibly benefit from the move to the new campus.
The new facility, set on 39.5 acres, is slated for completion in time for the start of fall 2010 classes. The College has been offering courses in Blount County since 1985.
“Our enrollment continues to expand there,” said Allen Edwards, Pellissippi State president. “We want to add new programs that will help meet the expectations of our students and the needs of local business and industry. The new campus will move us toward that goal.”
According to Edwards, the project is being funded by three sources: $17.2 million is coming from the state, $2.9 million from the sale of the Blount County Center property and $2 million in private money raised by the Pellissippi State Foundation.
In 2008 the Foundation received major gifts from the Clayton Family Foundation, the Tennessee Community Enhancement Grant Program and the Alcoa Foundation. The Pellissippi State Foundation will complete its two-year “Connecting Communities, Changing Lives” fundraising campaign this year and is hoping total gifts will surpass the original $6 million goal.
In April State Rep. Joe McCord presented the Pellissippi State Foundation with a check for $50,000 for the new Blount County Campus. The funds are part of an allocation to the local representative from the state’s Community Enhancement Grant Program.
“Pellissippi State is a tremendous asset to Blount and surrounding counties,” said McCord, “and will provide students with an affordable opportunity to continue their education.”
In November the Pellissippi State Foundation received one of the largest gifts in the College’s 35-year history. At the time, the Clayton Family Foundation announced a gift of $1 million, half of which will be directed to funding the Blount County Campus.
“Educational institutions,” said Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes, “are the single greatest way to improve a community from all aspects: economic development, quality of life and opportunities for individuals to pursue their dreams.”
Another 2008 highlight of Pellissippi State’s presence in Blount County was the naming of Maryville native Holly L. Burkett to assistant dean of the Blount County Campus last summer. An alumna of Maryville High School and the University of Tennessee, Burkett was previously director of admissions and also alumni relations coordinator for the College.
She is the daughter of Shirley and Clifford H. “Bo” Henry of Maryville. Bo Henry is a former member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, Pellissippi State’s governing body.
Other milestones in 2008:
The remaining $500,000 from the Clayton Family Foundation was designated for the newly named Clayton Performing Arts Center on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road.
Rounding out the year’s top gifts was an $88,000 grant over two years from the Alcoa Foundation. The contribution will be used to purchase and upgrade equipment and technology for the Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology degree programs.
The College experienced another year of growth in the student population. In fact, the College hit a record fall enrollment of 8,742. Several students excelled beyond the classroom:
Video Production Technology student Jason Richards won a national award, Photographer of Tomorrow, from Olympus Imaging America, Inc.
A team of six Electrical Engineering Technology students made the top eight in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers SoutheastCon Robot Competition.
Pellissippi State began a $2 million upgrade on the Pellissippi Campus’ J.L. Goins Administration Building, the first in the building’s 22-year history. The project, which includes relocation of the Safety and Security Office to the main entrance, will be completed this May.
In 2008 the College–in partnership with the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies, an organization based at Pellissippi State that consists of 19 Tennessee Board of Regents colleges and universities–offered study-abroad opportunities to nine countries. The number increases to 11 in 2009.
Closer to home, Pellissippi State continues to be a major partner in the economic vitality of the community.
“Our direct economic impact on Knox and Blount counties over the past five years was more than $711 million, or about $142 million per year,” said President Edwards. “In addition, 24,641 local full-time jobs were created from 2003 to 2008 as a result of the College’s presence.”
