The Year of Renewal: 2015 Founder's Day

Concord University celebrated 143 years of excellence on Wednesday, February 25 at
their annual Founders’ Day Celebration. The event took place at the Pais Family Fellowship Hall
at University Point on Concord’s campus. The event also featured a keynote speaker and awards
for outstanding members of the university. A reception was held after the ceremony where
additional awards were given.
Concord received its charter from the West Virginia Legislature on February 28, 1872.
Every year students, faculty, staff, and prominent members of the Concord community gather to
celebrate the many years of service and prestige the university has provided to its community.
Each year a new proclamation is chosen to guide Concord throughout the year. This years
proclamation is “The Year of Renewal.” It is customary for the keynote speaker to announce the
proclamation.
Kevin Powell was this years keynote speaker. He is a 1989 Concord graduate, and the
CEO of Kevin Powell’s Automotive and Powersports Group. He graduated from the university,
known as Concord College at the time, with a degree in Business Administration with an
emphasis in Finance. He currently resides in Winston Salem with his wife Rhonda Belcher
Powell, a 1982 Concord graduate, and their 17-year-old son, Spencer.
In his speech, Powell noted the five core principles of his company; character, capacity,
attitude, heart, and desire. He says when searching for new members of his company he looks for
someone with good character who presents strong moral values, the capacity to learn, and a
positive attitude. Powell implores his employees to have heart and desire in creating their own
success, the organization’s success, and in overcoming adversities.
He explained that the core values of his company are rooted in the time he spent at
Concord. “…I couldn’t help but remember how, when I was on campus, coming in contact with
my peers, my fellow students […], faculty members, and staff that helped define my character,
that helped me recognize the capacity that I needed to keep on learning, that helped me develop
such a good attitude, and certainly, certainly helped me find my heart and desire to be successful
[…] as a student, to go on to be a successful businessman, husband, [and] father…”
He also recalled the close relationships he developed with members of Concord, such as
Dr. Kendra Boggess, the current President of Concord University. Powell remembered how well
she lead and taught him during his time at the university and said, “Dr. Boggess has a way of
helping you help yourself find your own way.” He continued to commend Dr. Boggess through
one of his own sayings, “‘An effective leader leads people without them knowing it,’ and that’s
exactly what Dr. Boggess did for me.”
In reference to “The Year of Renewal,” he says to not fear change, and that fearing
change can constrain renewal. He also mentions that renewal can happen at any time, and it takes
great leadership and preparation to achieve. Powell ended his speech by announcing how proud he was to be a Concord Alumnus.
Many awards were given during the ceremony to students, faculty, classified staff, and
non-classified staff. Student awards included the Presidential Service Award given to Ms. Carli
Brewer, the Mountain Lion Spirit Award given to Ms. Ronni Wood, the Outstanding Commuter
Award given to Ms. Katie Ratcliffe, and the Organizational Philanthropy Award given to Sigma
Tau Gamma.
Faculty awards included the Scholarship and Creativity Award given to Dr. Stephen
Kuehn, the Service Award given to Dr. Joan Pendergast, and the Teaching Award given to Mr.
Kevin Bennington.
Even though only a few members of Concord’s community received awards Dr. Boggess
said, “…each of the rewards [given] are meant to be emblematic of the greater communities
[Concord] represents.” Every person awarded for their oustanding service to Concord represents
the collective of individuals who work hard every day to make Concord the best it can be.