by Wendy Harrison

RICHMOND
June Fleming of Franklin joined others in Richmond this week to be honored with the 13th annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.

Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), the annual luncheon ceremony thanks leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges, as well as the statewide foundation. This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has contributed a combined total of $6 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.

“Receiving this recognition is a humbling experience,” said Fleming. “It is an honor to be given an award for simply committing yourself and your energies for a cause in which you deeply believe. Paul D. Camp Community College is a jewel in our community. It is my wish that others will join me in helping to move this institution forward.”

For nearly 20 years, Fleming has demonstrated her dedication to Paul D. Camp Community College and her commitment to education. She has been an active member of the PDCCC Foundation Board from 2000-2007, serving as its vice president and president. This public service contributed to the reason she was selected to receive the J. Paul Councill Jr. Community Service Award in 2009 at the college’s graduation.

In addition, she has served on the PDCCC Local College Board since 2012, where she currently remains. She has also held the position as its chair since 2016. Fleming took on the responsibility of the Local College Board liaison from 2013-2017 as well. She has supported numerous opportunities leading to students’ success and has an innate desire to help others.

“We are so grateful to have someone as engaged in the college as Mrs. Fleming,” said PDCCC President Dr. Dan Lufkin. “She personifies generosity.”

Paul Koonce, executive vice president, and president and chief executive officer with the Power Generation Group, Dominion Energy, served as keynote speaker. He called the community college system “one of Virginia’s greatest inventions.” Koonce also borrowed a passage from a 1903 Theodore Roosevelt speech to underscore the invaluable connection between higher education and opportunity.

“‘Far and away, the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. Our purpose (as donors) is to make sure that prize – meaningful work – the best prize that life offers, remains within reach of every Virginian.’”

Each community college’s Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship, awarded in fall, will be named after the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.

WENDY HARRISON is the public relations specialist for Paul D. Camp Community College. She can be reached at wharrison@pdc.edu.