BCCC names lecture hall to honor Rod and Gina Cantrell

The Beaufort County Community College Foundation has dedicated its nursing lecture hall in honor of Rod and Gina Cantrell. The naming acknowledges a new generous donation from the Cantrell family in addition to previous contributions. The Rod and Gina Cantrell Lecture Hall hosts all first-year Associate Degree Nursing students. BCCC will hold a dedication ceremony at a later date.

The family had previously created the Rod Cantrell and Family Endowment in 2017 to fund scholarships for students through 2027. Through Edward Jones Investments, Rod has managed the assets of the BCCC Foundation to provide the greatest return on endowments set up by generous donors. This enables the foundation to give the greatest number of scholarships.

Cantrell has also sponsored the BCCC Foundation’s Legacy Luncheon for the past six years. The luncheon is a time for donors and scholarship recipients to meet.

Rod began his career with Edward Jones in 1984, and today he partners with his daughter Jordan to better serve clients. He has been honored with the Edward Jones Managing Partners Award annually for the past 32 years, an honor reserved for the firm's top 400 financial advisors.

He attended Bradley University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business. Rod and Gina have been married for more than 31 years and have three children: Seth, Jordan and Rachel. Rod is an avid cyclist, a founding member of the Washington Noon Rotary, and a former deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church.

Never one to shy away from a volunteer opportunity, Rod has often helped at events, donated items for auction and helped to further the mission of the college in many other ways. The BCCC Foundation recognizes these contributions as ones that have a catalytic effect, spreading hope and opportunity well beyond the walls of the college.

BCCC updated its naming policy this year to include classrooms and laboratories, whereas previously only buildings were eligible. For questions regarding contributions and naming rights through the BCCC Foundation, contact Serena Sullivan, VP of Institutional Advancement, at [email protected] or 252-940-6326.