FRANKLIN—To the sound of a drum roll, Paul D. Camp Community College ended its first Major Gifts Campaign on Friday at $7,089,935.46; the original $3 million target was set in 2008. The big reveal took place at the victory celebration in the Regional Workforce Development Center.

The event was also a recognition of contributors in gifts, pledges, foundations and grants.

“You are not merely donors,” said Herb DeGroft, vice president of the college foundation’s board of directors, “but truly investors in the future of our region and young people who will take our places.”

Before the announcement, Dr. Paul Wm. Conco, president, honored Dr. Douglas Boyce as president emeritus of PDCCC.

“I’m speechless, and that doesn’t happen often,” said Boyce, who was the sixth person to lead the college. “But I did bring some notes.

“I’ll wear the title proudly and with honor,” he continued. “I’m very grateful to work with so many people. Dr. [Patsy] Joyner was always by my side.”

Boyce added that he had been very concerned about the success of the campaign a few years ago.

“But I didn’t need to fear at all. You pulled it off beautifully,” he said.

Conco called Joyner and Felicia Blow, vice president of the college foundation’s board of directors, to pull back the curtain over the board of figures. Before they did, he praised Joyner for her high energy and inspiration to other people. Conco added that Blow “hit the ground running” when she came to the college, and the campaign continued to flourish to “an exhilarating close.”