Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 16, 1995                   TAG: 9505160079
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                 LENGTH: Short

NRCC CALLED JEWEL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

Dana Hamel spoke to a crowd gathered outside Godbey Hall at the spring commencement. He recalled the political beginnings of the system in the early '60s, and the introduction and statewide acceptance of a sales tax to launch the community colleges.

Hamel saluted the local college's faculty, administration and students, and said a North Carolina industry executive told him that New River had one of the best instrumentation programs in the country.

He did not forget the workers.

"We need to return dignity and worth to labor. We honor the professions, the doctors, lawyers and the managers of industry, and that is fine - but without the technicians, skilled artisans and craftsmen, we as a nation would not be able to function," he said.

"The people who make things work, who keep the engines humming - the plumber, the auto technician, the electrician, the nurse, the medical technician, all those who desired more than a high school education but less than a baccalaureate degree - are keeping this country running," he said. "They are the glue for the nation."