news-record.com

WENTWORTH — Rockingham Community College’s first classes were held in 1966.

Now, 45 years later, a new and fourth president, Michael S. Helmick, has been inaugurated.

In preparations for the Oct. 14 installation ceremonies, Helmick suggested that adding a presidential medallion, worn for official college celebrations, and a college mace, used for official processionals, would be “a special reminder to everyone of the enduring quality of Rockingham Community College.”

Medallions and maces are available from companies that make expensive, custom-made items.

Members of the Installation Committee loved the idea of the mace and medallion, but the expense wasn’t feasible, so they decided that both items would be made on campus.

The mace and medallion, made in the Industrial Arts Department, will be used in all graduations and academic ceremonies at the college.

Helmick said he was pleased so many people at the college had a hand in producing the mace and medallion.

“Those individuals involved should be especially proud of the part they played in designing and creating these works of functional art,” he said.

Indeed, they are proud.

As chief marshal, Keith Elliott — head electronics instructor and president of the faculty and senate of the college — carried the mace as he led the procession of academics, trustees and other dignitaries at the installation ceremony.

Elliott was the first to carry the mace, which was finished just in time for the ceremony.

Patricia Hardin, professor of fine arts at the college, made the three clay bands around the long wooden pole holding the head of the mace.

Two of the bands are earth-colored, made from natural clay in the county. Hardin said the clay is to remind us of Rockingham County’s heritage of farming and tobacco, “the land on which we live and the land from which we came.”

The rings also represent the college. The green ring in the middle of the two earth-tone rings reflects one of RCC’s colors.

Everything about the mace and medallion relates to something at the college.

Mike Quinn, who teaches furniture making and woodworking in the Continuing Education Department, came to the college from New York to study woodworking with David Kenealy. Most of the mace is made from cherry wood, which grows in the county. The wood is light colored now, but in time, will turn the burnished red of cherry furniture.

Mary Gomez and Kris Brooks were instrumental in redesigning and making the official seal of the college for the mace and medallion. Gomez is RCC’s technical services librarian. She won a contest for the college and community to redesign the seal. Brooks, RCC machining instructor, began making the medallion and engraving the seal on it.

The circle represents unity and life; the laurel leaves symbolize encouragement to take inspiration from past achievements and to conquer a fresh task.

The college’s motto, “Learning, Service, Leadership” was part of the design.

The installation ceremony’s program explains the official seal’s importance and includes information on the eagle, the college mascot, which symbolizes strength, wisdom and honor, at the center of the seal.

Brooks, who also got his associate degree in machining at RCC and is a journeyman mold maker for Carolina Mold and Machinery in Greensboro, said he is glad to be back at RCC and thrilled to have been an important part of making the medallion and seal.

Brooks spent 150 to 160 hours making prototypes of the seal — most of the time on his computer. His machines cut the brass medallion hung on a velvet cloth chain that would be placed over Helmick’s head on the day of his inauguration as the new president.

Elliot, Brooks and Quinn, along with librarian Kim Shireman, said the mace and medallion demonstrate what they teach students at RCC. Their work adds to the distinctive history of the college and becomes part of them. They too, become part of the history.

“As we usher in a new era of learning, service and leadership at the college, the medallion and mace will continue to be a source of pride for faculty, staff and students for years to come,” Helmick said.

An Eden native, Rachel Wright is retired as a teacher at Morehead High School and an instructor at Rockingham Community College.