Del. Norman H. Conway, D-38B, and other state and local dignitaries joined Wor-Wic Community College board members, employees, students, alumni and friends for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the college’s new Allied Health Building (AHB) at the college campus on the corner of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury.
Del. Conway told the crowd of more than 200 about how graduates of the college’s health care programs serve a critical need in the community.
“The building being dedicated today is a reflection of the need that was identified in our region for health care personnel,” Conway said. “Due to the aging population of the Lower Shore, the demand for health services is much greater than the supply. Thankfully, approximately 90 percent of the graduates of the nursing program remain in our community. We’re grateful to have a program like Wor-Wic’s and look forward to further expansion into the allied health fields in the future.
“Wor-Wic Community College has become a beacon for educational opportunity for all of us in this region,” he added. “We, as citizens, must make sure that its beam continues to be seen and continues to beckon and encourage all of our citizens to take that step… for greater educational opportunities.”
Conway ended his remarks by saying “What a shining spot. Considering a college without walls in 1975, and coming down Route 50 and looking at this bright sun-shiny brick that’s here, welcoming our citizens for educational opportunity…. May these walls continue to expand.”
Dr. Ray Hoy, president of Wor-Wic, expressed his thanks for the state’s support of the new $23.9 million facility. “This is the seventh building in the past 11 years and that doesn’t come without tremendous state and local support,” Hoy said. “Even though operational funding has been unable to keep up with enrollment growth, money has been made available to support construction projects to allow the college to have facilities to address this growing need and continuing demand for educational services. I want to thank the governor, the legislature and the Wicomico and Worcester County governments for the confidence and support that gave rise to this project.”
Hoy explained that this new building was needed to support the growth in the college’s nursing programs, growth of the radiologic technology program and the addition of the emergency medical services/paramedic program, all of which have taken place since Henson Hall opened in 1999.
Hoy explained that it was the college’s intent to introduce two new allied health programs – physical therapist assistant and occupational therapy assistant – in conjunction with the opening of the AHB.
“Even though we have space and we have equipment, we aren’t able to introduce these programs because of operating funding cuts,” Hoy said. “I do want to note, however, that Worcester County has stepped up and provided a five-year, $100,000-a-year commitment to help us start the physical therapist assistant program. That’s about half of what we need, but we will find the funding for the balance of the program. And, assuming we are successful in hiring a director this fall, it’s our plan to introduce this program next fall.”
AHB RIBBON CUTTING.
Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony for the new Allied Health Building at Wor-Wic Community College are, in the first row, from left, Louise L. Gulyas, a member of the Worcester County Commissioners; Del. Norman H. Conway, D-38B; Dr. Ray Hoy, president of Wor-Wic; Morgan Hazel, chairman of the college board of trustees; and Rick Pollitt, Wicomico County Executive. In the second row, from left, are Del. Michael A. McDermott, R-38B; Del. Charles J. Otto, R-38A; Del. Adelaide C. Eckardt, R-37B; Mark McIver, representing U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-1st-Md.; and Lynda Donaldson, representing Sen. Jim Mathias. In the third row, from left, are Jim Bunting, Merrill Lockfaw and Virgil Shockley, members of the Worcester County Commissioners. In the fourth row, from left, are Russ Blake, Gary Boggs and Andy Booth, Wor-Wic board members. In the fifth row, from left, are Dr. Stephen L. Capelli, vice president for academic and student affairs at Wor-Wic; and board members, Velda Henry, Bill Kerbin and Marty Neat. In the sixth row, from left, are Jim Martini and Brian Hildick, representing the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., and Jonathan Fishman and Todd McEntire, representing the architectural firm of Richter Cornbrooks and Gribble. In the last row, from left, are Paul Mace, director of plant management at Wor-Wic; Don Ashe, associate director of plant management; Mark Rudnick, vice president for administrative services; and Allison Canada, director of purchasing.
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
From left, Dr. Peggy Naleppa, president/CEO of Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Plastic Surgeon Dr. Farouk Sultani, and Dr. Peter Sebastian from the Salisbury Musculoskeletal Clinic, tour the new Allied Health Building on Wor-Wic’s campus.
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
Former Wor-Wic board of trustees member Robert M. Lawrence was recognized during the Allied Health Building grand opening ceremony for his 36 years of dedicated service to Wor-Wic. Bob Lawrence, center, is shown with his children, Rob and Richie, left, and Dixie Penette, right, with her husband, Michael. Bob is holding the proclamation he received from Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt designating Aug. 17 as “Bob Lawrence Day.”
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
From left, Dr. Lisa Seldomridge, chair of the nursing department at Salisbury University (SU), Dr. Robert Joyner, director of the respiratory therapy program at SU, and Marian Kanski, assistant professor of nursing at Wor-Wic Community College, check out one of the computer-controlled simulation manikins in a nursing laboratory in the new Allied Health Building on Wor-Wic’s campus.
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
Wor-Wic board of trustees member Andy Booth, far left, and his wife, Marilyn, far right, visit with Wor-Wic president Dr. Ray Hoy and his wife, Donna, at the grand opening of the new Allied Health Building on Wor-Wic’s campus.
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
From left, Ruth Baker, dean of continuing education and workforce development at Wor-Wic, chats with George Kaloroumakis, director of the Wicomico County Department of Corrections, and Rick Pollitt, Wicomico County Executive, at the grand opening of the new Allied Health Building on Wor-Wic’s campus.
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
Louise L. Gulyas, a member of the Worcester County Commissioners, left, talks with Mark McIver, representing U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-1st-Md., at the grand opening of the new Allied Health Building on Wor-Wic’s campus.
CELEBRATE OPENING OF AHB.
Wor-Wic board of trustees members William H. Kerbin, left, and Russell W. Blake, both from Pocomoke City, talk about the new Allied Health Building on Wor-Wic’s campus.