College President John Dempsey congratulated the volunteers for being “the backbone of many of the programs at the college” and for contributing to the success of the Ball Visitor Center, the Continuing Education Department, the Horticulture Department, the Boyd Library, the tutoring program, the Early Childhood Program, the Center for Creative Retirement and the Computer Club.
Dempsey also thanked the many volunteers who give of their time to the Board of Trustees, the Horticulture Board, the Pauley Lecture Series and the Foundation.
“Without your help, many of the programs here at Sandhills would not be as vital or continuous,” Dempsey said.
Students in the college’s culinary arts program under the direction of Ted Oelfe and Curt Shelvey prepared the dinner. Hotel and restaurant management students served the meal. Similar meals will be offered weekly at the convention center and are open to the public.
SCC has greatly benefited from the efforts of volunteers, said Nancy Heilman, coordinator of volunteer services.
“Over the last 4½ years, the volunteers have put in at least 2,000 hours worth of tutoring,” Heilman said. “They tutor more than 100 students each semester.”
A majority of SCC’s volunteers are retirees, many of whom have extensive business knowledge and experience.
Seventy-five-year-old Mike Zihal of Pinehurst, a retired engineer, has been a volunteer for SCC’s Generations Program since its outset in 1998. He and Carlene Dennison, a math instructor, have collaborated for the last three years in individualizing math instruction for one of her classes.
“I go to class every morning at 8:00,” Zihal said. “We divide the students based on ability, and I tutor those that are self-paced.”
Although Zihal could set an early tee-time and spend all morning golfing, he would rather spend his time helping others.
“The reason I do it is because I think I can be helpful,” he said. “I like to think there are some things, besides golf, that I can teach these young people.”
Zig Zeigler of Whispering Pines is a retired master gardener. He dedicates about half a day each week to the development of the SCC’s gardens. When asked why he does it, he said, “Because I love gardening!”
Zeigler moved to Moore County from Pennsylvania in 1981 and soon after became a founder of the Horticultural Society.
“I’m basically a fundraiser for the gardens,” Zeigler said. “I give tours and talk with people in the community about visiting the gardens and getting involved financially. I’ve been doing this for at least 15 years.”
According to Heilman, volunteers can commit a minimum of two hours per week.
“Volunteers aren’t just tutors,” she said. “They’re also mentors and friends to the students. They teach by sharing their own real-life experiences.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at SCC can contact Heilman at 695-3942.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have such wonderful people volunteer here,” Heilman said. “They are a terrific asset. We couldn’t live without them.”
