Quick hits: L-R gets gift and new destroyer to be commissioned in Wilmington

Lenoir-Rhyne gets $2.5 million gift

"Former Hickory resident Thomas Mott Jr. has left an estate gift of about $2.5million to Lenoir-Rhyne University, it was announced Tuesday," according to the Charlotte Observer.

"The gift will provide approximately $112,000 each year in scholarship aid to Lenoir-Rhyne students.

"The scholarships will be awarded to students of any academic major who have demonstrated outstanding academic and leadership skills.

"A member of one of Hickory's most prominent families, Mott attended Lenoir-Rhyne and earned a master's degree in textile chemistry from N.C. State University in 1929. He was a captain in the Marine Corps Reserves and served in the Pacific during World War II. ..."

Destroyer USS Gravely to be commissioned in Wilmington

"Another U.S. Navy ship will be commissioned in the fall in Wilmington, city spokeswoman Malissa Talbert announced late Tuesday," says the Star-News.

"The 509-foot-long guided-missile destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) is part of the Navy's only active class of destroyers, which are among the largest and most powerful destroyers ever built, Talbert said.

"The Gravely is named after Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, who was the Navy's first African-American vice admiral, Talbert said. ..."

Quick hits: Western North Carolina news and notes

State plans four-lane highway through national forest
"A four-lane highway that would cut through a portion of the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina would have little impact on the ecosystem, according to a new draft environmental impact study by the North Carolina Department of Transportation," according to Environmental News Service.

"Area conservation groups say that conclusion is wrong.

"The 10 mile section of the proposed Corridor K highway would run from Stecoah to Robbinsville in Graham County. NCDOT has not yet released specific dates and deadlines for a public comment period on the draft environmental impact study.

"The groups say the project is 'exorbitantly expensive, would pose a threat to local water quality, wildlife habitat and other natural resources, and would not be the boon to economic development it was conceived to be 40 years ago.' ..."

It's official: It's now Lenoir-Rhyne UNIVERSITY
"Red and black balloons lined Stasavich Place and pop music played over loudspeakers as crowds of students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members gathered to celebrate Lenoir-Rhyne's transformation from a college to a university Saturday morning," according to the Hickory Daily Record.

"The celebration recognized Lenoir-Rhyne's 117-year journey as young people lounged on grassy hills under shade trees to listen to university and community leaders who spoke in praise of the school's journey. ..."

Poverty rates up in Appalachian region
"The share of Appalachians living in poverty last year increased by 114,000 to 13.3 million, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday.

"But there was good news in the numbers," said the Associated Press. "Median incomes were up in all the 13 states that make up Appalachia except Kentucky, where the median income was $39,678. However, with the exception of Maryland and Virginia, those incomes across Appalachia still were below the national median of $50,233. ...

"Appalachia includes all of West Virginia and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. ..."

Another 'C' becoming a 'U'

Wouldn't you just know: I go and buy my dad a Lenoir-Rhyne College sweatshirt, and lo and behold, LRC is changing to LRU.

"The board of Lenoir-Rhyne College has voted to change the school's name to Lenoir-Rhyne University," says the Charlotte Observer. "The new name, which was approved Saturday, 'better reflects the expanded offerings the college is planning to pursue,' said Margaret Allen, associate director of marketing and communications."

The move was recommended by a commission created to examine the possible expansion of the 117-year-old college, she said. The change will take time to implement; officials hope to put it into effect in late August.

Among other initiatives, the school is planning to add academic programs and degrees, launching some major construction and renovation projects and is adding a residential neighborhood with houses for sororities, fraternities and other groups.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Granted, I attended a large state university, but I've always romanticized the thought of the small colleges. To me, Elon University just doesn't carry the same cache as Elon College. Same goes for LRC, my father's alma mater. And I've never gotten over Elon changing its mascot ...