BCCC Dedicates Lecture Hall to Honor The Chapin Foundation

The Beaufort County Community College Foundation dedicated a lecture hall in honor of The Chapin Foundation on February 24 in acknowledgment of a generous donation from the foundation. The Chapin Foundation Lecture Hall is Room 127 in the Arts & Sciences Building (3).

In attendance were Mary Alice Chapin; her son, Michael Chapin, with his wife, Diane Chapin; her granddaughter, Jill Chapin, with her partner, Gavin Norris; and her granddaughter, Lexi Stanfield, with her husband, Charles Stanfield. Also in attendance were fellow members of the Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international association of women educators.

The Howard Chapin Family has been recognized for its contributions to education in North Carolina’s public schools. Most of their professional work has been in Beaufort County. Their son, Michael Chapin, has continued this tradition by providing workshops or “schools” for law enforcement officers. The Chapin Foundation helps students pursue higher education, leading to better career opportunities, living conditions, and community engagement. Above all, the foundation emphasizes the personal fulfillment that comes with education.

During the event, Mary Alice Chapin reflected on the differences between her upbringing and that of her husband. She spent 45 years as an educator, while her husband, the Honorable Howard Chapin, served nine terms in the North Carolina General Assembly, beginning in 1975. Before his political career, he was also a teacher. The two met after he returned from military service during World War II.

Reflecting on her life, Mary Alice Chapin shared, "With all of the sadness and with all the wonders of life, it’s been a good life for me. I have served on many committees, boards, and commissions. I reared two children. I have had dinner with governors and lunch with a princess. I've lost my spouse, a child, a granddaughter, parents, five sisters, and one brother. But with all of that, I would not change many things about it."

In her remarks about community colleges, she praised their responsiveness to local needs, particularly in developing industry-specific programs and helping students avoid excessive debt.

"With universities and colleges, tuition has gone up so much that young people need a place to start that doesn't cost them so much," she said. "When they have to start out borrowing money, that's dangerous. You don't ever get rid of that debt, and it grows every year. So if they can start at a level they can afford, work part-time if need be, and pay off as they go, they come out a lot better."

Donations and scholarships from The Chapin Foundation help keep Beaufort County Community College accessible and affordable to students from Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties.

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.