April 16, 2026

R-CCC to Celebrate Class of 2026 and Honor Historic Trustee Emeritus Appointments at 57th Commencement

                                                                       

AHOSKIE, NC–– Roanoke-Chowan Community College (R-CCC) will celebrate student achievement, community leadership and institutional legacy during its 57th Commencement Ceremony, to be held Friday, May 1, at 6 p.m. in the R-CCC Courtyard, weather permitting.

The ceremony will honor the Class of 2026, comprising 186 graduates, with 112 participating in the ceremony, including 10 College & Career Readiness graduates. This year’s class earned a total of 278 academic and workforce credentials, including 120 associate degrees, 128 certificates and 30 diplomas, reflecting R-CCC’s commitment to educational access, workforce training and student success.

“This commencement represents both a celebration of our graduates’ achievements and a reaffirmation of our mission as a community college,” said Dr. Murray J. Williams, president of Roanoke-Chowan Community College. “The Class of 2026 has demonstrated resilience, focus and determination. As they take their next steps, they carry with them the pride of this institution and the support of a community that believes deeply in their potential.”

The ceremony will feature a keynote address by Andre’ M. Lassiter, Sr., an accomplished entrepreneur, public servant and longtime advocate for education and community development in northeastern North Carolina. Lassiter is the founder and chief executive officer of The Alpha Group, Inc., bringing more than 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, executive coaching and governance.

In addition to his role as a business leader, Lassiter currently serves as an elected county commissioner in Hertford County and has served on numerous boards spanning education, health care and local and state government. His service to R-CCC has been extensive, including 14 years on the R-CCC Board of Trustees and current leadership as chairman of the R-CCC Foundation Board of Directors. In 2022, he received the Southern Regional Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees, recognizing outstanding leadership among community college trustees nationwide.
This year’s commencement will also mark a historic milestone for the college. For the first time since R-CCC opened its doors in 1967, the Board of Trustees has conferred the honorary title of Trustee Emeritus. The distinction has been awarded to Andre’ M. Lassiter, Sr. and Ronald J. Gatling, two former trustees whose names have become synonymous with steadfast leadership, advocacy and service to the institution and the communities it serves.

Under Policy 1.11, the title of Trustee Emeritus is reserved for former trustees who have provided outstanding and dedicated service to the college over many years, including service as board chair and as chair of at least one standing committee. The designation is honorary and carries no voting authority but recognizes leadership that has significantly advanced the mission and vision of the college while modeling integrity, commitment and collaboration.

In selecting Lassiter and Gatling as its first Trustee Emeritus honorees, the Board of Trustees is recognizing more than longevity. The honor acknowledges their persistence, vision and courage during moments of profound challenge for the institution. Alongside current Board Chair Jeri Pierce, Lassiter and Gatling were among the trustees who stood before state leaders in Raleigh to advocate for the college’s survival, making the case that R-CCC’s students and rural region deserved continued access to higher education when the college’s future was at risk.

“Without their quiet resolve, moral clarity and willingness to lead under pressure, Roanoke-Chowan Community College might not exist as it does today,” Williams said. “This recognition honors two men who put the institution, its students and its communities above all else.”

The Trustee Emeritus designation for Lassiter and Gatling will be formally conferred during the commencement ceremony, allowing graduates, families and the broader community to join the college in recognizing their exemplary service and enduring legacy.

For more information about Roanoke-Chowan Community College and commencement activities, visit www.roanokechowan.edu.

Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s Mission

Roanoke-Chowan Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System and located in Hertford County, is a public, two-year institution of higher education offering associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, college and career readiness, and customized business and industry training in a variety of delivery modes promoting public service, transfer, and workforce development for a diverse student body, leading them to contribute to the vitality of an increasingly global community. www.roanokechowan.edu #DiscoverRCCC “Where community and careers connect”

Media Contact: Melanie Temple, Director of Marketing & Recruitment/PIO, metemple7181@roanokechowan.edu, 252-862-1243