Lenoir Community College (LCC) is rich in history and is one of the oldest community colleges in North Carolina. Chartered on April 3, 1958, LCC is one of 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System. The system was established in 1963 under enactment of a general statute by the legislature and it serves nearly 850,000 citizens annually. Located at the intersection of highways US 70 and NC 58, LCC’s primary service area is Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. The College offers both degree and non-degree programs.

Two years after the State Board of Education chartered LCC, it began operations as the Lenoir County Industrial Educational Center (IEC) with Daniel C. Wise as director. Approximately 80 students enrolled, with classes held at Contentnea High School. The following year in 1961, the vocational and technical curricula were initiated with classes held at Stallings Field, a former air base.

In 1963, the center moved to its 18-acre permanent campus and a new facility, later named the Bullock Building, and held its first graduation in June. In the same year, the IEC was separated administratively from the Lenoir County Board of Education, and the first Board of Trustees was organized.

Soon after, the Board secured the status of technical institute for the center, and in November 1964, the institution attained community college status. The Board of Trustees appointed Daniel C. Wise as acting president, and he served until the summer of 1965. At that time, Dr. Benjamin E. Fountain became president and the College expanded to 58 acres, beginning long-range planning of campus development.

LCC first offered its transfer program in 1966 at Stallings Field. Two years later, the program was moved to the new Administration Building on the permanent campus. LCC was initially accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and has maintained accreditation ever since.

The ’70s saw the expansion of the campus to 90 acres as well as a new president, Dr. Jesse L. McDaniel. He served in that capacity for 18 years. Seven new buildings were constructed, and the Jones County and Greene County Centers were opened. Upon Dr. McDaniel’s retirement, Dr. Lonnie H. Blizzard took the reins as president in 1988. The following year, a new building for aviation education was built at the Kinston Regional Jetport, and the Health Sciences Building was completed on the main campus.

The campus continued to grow with the A. Forrest Waller Building completed on the main campus at a cost of $4.5 million in 1998. The building included a 650-seat auditorium. After ten years as president, Dr. Blizzard retired, and in July 1998, Dr. Karin Pettit became president.

New construction at the Greene County Center provided a 15,000-square-foot facility at a cost of $1.6 million. Two more acres were purchased in 1999 on the corner of highways 58 and 70. In 2000, a state community college construction bond referendum was passed with LCC receiving more than $12 million for renovations and new construction.

The following year, Dr. Pettit left and on April 22, 2002, Dr. Stephen Scott, former vice president of the North Carolina Community College System, took over as president. In 2003, Dr. Scott resigned to become president of Wake Technical Community College. On May 10, 2004, Dr. Brantley Briley returned to his hometown and home college to become its sixth president. During that year, significant acquisitions and construction began, again changing the landscape of the campus. Twenty-seven acres of land were purchased on the east boundary and nine acres to the south of the campus. These purchases increased total acreage on the main campus to 128.

In December, a $5.4 million construction project began, including an addition to the Waller Building to house Culinary Arts and a $3.9 million facility to house the Learning Assistance Program, science classrooms, and labs. In 2005, nine acres of land were purchased in Jones County, and plans were initiated to construct a new Jones County Center. The $1.1 million Jones County Center opened in its new location in April 2009. At the Greene County Center, a $2.1 million addition was completed in 2008. In that same year, the College celebrated its 50th anniversary. During the yearlong celebration, LCC experienced record enrollments and a significant increase in its Foundation-endowed scholarships through a special program, “50 for 50″— 50 new endowments to celebrate 50 years.

A new facility was built to house the College’s maintenance operations in 2009. In that same year, the Greene County Center on Harper Street in Snow Hill, which houses a corrections training facility, was remodeled, making it a more versatile community center. The facility would later be renamed the Workforce Development Center.

In 2010, a facility was secured in downtown La Grange to become the new home of the LCC La Grange Center. The Center opened its doors in May 2011. The College also expanded its offerings in Pink Hill by offering classes at the Pink Hill Wellness and Education Center, the former Pink Hill Elementary School. A new south parking lot was built on main campus, providing 175 new parking spaces. Phase two of the Jones County Center was later completed, which included a vocational shop and three additional classrooms, adding an additional 5,100 square feet.

In 2011, several renovation and construction projects were completed. The former Maintenance/Receiving Building was completely remodeled to become the new Construction Trades/Receiving Facility, and the Grounds Maintenance Building was also remodeled. The College Bookstore, located in the Student Center, was completely remodeled in December 2011. Extensive improvements were made to the Lancer baseball facilities, and the Foundation purchased a custom-built bus for athletic and tour events. During the year, a long-range plan was developed to include the construction of a new facility to house Health Sciences and Nursing programs, an estimated $13 to $15 million project.

In 2012, the College completed the construction and remodeling of the former Greene Lamp/Head Start Building, which became home to the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and Early Childhood programs. Administration Auditorium renovations were also completed. To assist in traffic flow, a new driveway from N.C. 58 South was completed in 2012 as well as the completion of a campus-wide exterior signage project featuring a three-panel digital sign with high-resolution color digital displays.

Phase three of the Jones County Center was completed in 2013. The Technical Trades Center was made possible through Golden LEAF Community Assistance funding. The completed project added 6,390 square feet to the Jones County Center for a total of 18,890 square feet. The Center houses Gunsmithing and Welding programs, as well as health-related training and basic skills classes.

On October 3, 2013, the On-Site Reaffirmation Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) completed a visit to LCC. The College received its official letter of reaffirmation in June 2014.

On Oct. 1, 2016, Dr. Rusty Hunt became the seventh president following Dr. Briley’s retirement with 12 years as president and more than 40 years of state service. Under Dr. Hunt’s leadership, the College launched a renewed focus on enhancing the student experience, from the first point of contact with prospective students to program completion and successful transition into the workforce. This commitment to continuous improvement is also reflected in the College’s ongoing facilities master planning efforts, which support a student-centered learning environment.

The landscape of the College continued to change as it acquired the North Carolina Global TransPark Spirit Composite Center of Excellence and began operations as the Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Center (AAMC) in January 2020. The Center is a one-stop, state-of-the art training facility providing work-based learning experiences and space for innovation for students and industry partners. The Center offers a unique experience for high school juniors and seniors for selected enrollment in one of several College programs. The AAMC houses Aviation programs, as well as Industrial Systems Technology, with separate tracks in Computer Integrated-Machining and Industrial Systems.

In 2022, the College received a property donation valued at $1.7 million from the Floyd family. In recognition of the Floyd family’s commitment to LCC and the community, the College renovated the Business Technologies building and renamed it the Floyd Health Sciences Center. The state-of-the-art facility houses the College’s healthcare programs.
In addition to the gift from the Floyd Family, the College was successful in receiving a $2 million Economic Development Administration grant from the US Department of Commerce to support the renovation. The renovation was completed in 2023, providing a modern home for advancing healthcare education at LCC.

In recent years, the College Foundation celebrated a landmark moment in philanthropy, receiving some of the largest gifts in LCC’s history. More than $1 million from the estate of William S. “Bill” and Melda B. Lamm provided a transformative contribution, and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) Building was renamed the Lamm Building in their honor.

That spirit of generosity was echoed by the Leigh and John McNairy family, whose $1 million gift was dedicated to supporting students’ education for generations to come. In recognition of their commitment, the Board of Trustees approved renaming the Learning Resources Center as the Leigh and John McNairy Library.

The Foundation also honored the legacy of William I. Herring, Sr. through a gift from his daughter, long-time supporter Harriet Herring. To commemorate this contribution, the College renamed the Culinary Arts Center, located in the Waller Building, as the William I. Herring, Sr. Culinary Arts Center.

Together, these gifts reshaped the campus, strengthening its facilities and leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit LCC students for decades to come.

In 2021, the North Carolina Legislature allocated $25 million for the construction of the Senator Jim Perry Aviation Center for Excellence, a regional partnership with the Economic Development Region to be located at the NC Global TransPark. The Center is designed to house aviation programs in avionics, aircraft interiors, aviation management, airframe and powerplant, and industrial systems, as well as aerospace research and development and customized training for specific aerospace applications. The Center will also house the Aviation Academy for high school students. This project is scheduled for completion in spring of 2026.

In 2023, the College completed several significant facility improvements. On the Kinston campus, the welding department underwent major renovations that included new lighting, additional booths, and modern welding equipment. The Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center (AAMC) was also retrofitted to accommodate the newly approved Airframe Program.

The Foundation embarked on a $6 million capital campaign with two objectives—to raise funds in support of the LCC Guarantee and Short-Term Workforce Training Scholarships, and to invest in facilities and programs to strengthen the College’s future. The LCC Guarantee Scholarship provides an incentive for high-achieving students to choose LCC as their launching point for college transfer or career opportunities. Eligible students who excelled in high school and who qualify for the scholarship are guaranteed their first two years of college tuition-free.

In addition to its successful capital campaign, the Foundation celebrated two milestones in 2023-24. More than $300,000 was awarded in scholarships to deserving students, expanding opportunities for academic and career success. The Foundation also partnered with the Arts and Sciences Department to bring musical theatre back to Briley Auditorium and launched the Performing Arts Series, bringing back live performances to the College throughout the year.

In October 2023, the College celebrated a successful SACSCOC on-site visit, resulting in SACSCOC’s reaffirmation of LCC’s accreditation with no recommendations. The visiting SACSCOC team had the responsibility to evaluate the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). LCC’s QEP entitled “All Aboard: Destination Success” is a campus-wide collaboration focusing on enhancing the onboarding experience for students. The College received its official letter of reaffirmation in June 2024.

In January 2025, the College rolled out its new 5-year strategic plan—MACH5. The name is a nod to the region’s expanding aviation sector and LCC’s commitment to launching students toward new heights in rapidly evolving industries. In August 2025, the College officially launched LCC Online, a flexible and affordable pathway providing the same quality programs and support services as on campus—completely online.

Lenoir Community College is committed to quality education and student success and offers 38 associate degree programs, 15 diploma programs, and 58 certificate/skills certificate programs. Today, LCC serves more than 3,000 curriculum students and 6,000 continuing education students annually. As a world-class community college, LCC continues to expand its programs and services to meet the needs of the citizens it serves.