Southeast Community College
Benefactors of the Year, 2003

The Bank of Harlan, Harlan
Honored by Southeast Community College

To accept the award is Ed Parsons

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Over the years, The Bank of Harlan has been a strong supporter of Southeast Community College. As participant in the Partners in Progress campaign, the Bank purchased a Bosendorfer piano valued at more than $70,000 for the Appalachian Center in Cumberland. As the College launches, the Fulfilling the Promise Campaign, The Bank of Harlan has pledged $75,000 for library books and computer software for use on the Harlan Campus. The Harlan Campus has excelled in providing top-quality technical programs, but until this generous gift, could not maintain a library sufficient to meet the needs of technology-based programming. The College plans to name the area encompassing the library, computer laboratory and GED classroom in Building # 1, The Bank of Harlan Support Services Center.

Whitesburg Education Foundation, Whitesburg
Honored by Southeast Community College.

To accept the award is Mrs. Pauline "Penny" Ritter

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Citizens of Letcher County created the Whitesburg Education Foundation in the late 1980�s. At the time the Whitesburg Education Foundation started, Southeast Community College (SECC) offered a few classes in various Letcher County high schools. In order to provide a centralized location and to be able to expand course offerings, the Foundation, spearheaded by Pauline �Penny� Ritter, secured pledges to renovate the old Coca Cola Plant building in downtown Whitesburg. Initially, SECC leased the building, but in 2001 the Whitesburg Education Foundation donated the Coca Cola Building valued at $2.4 million to SECC. Because of the efforts of dedicated members of the Whitesburg Education Foundation, SECC has a full-functioning campus in Whitesburg today that offers complete degree/certificate programs to over 500 students.