North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University paid tribute to 30 employees at its annual retirement celebration, Monday, June 2, in the Memorial Student Union Stallings Ballroom. The faculty and staff members being honored had a total of 647 combined years of service.

Celebrating 30 or more years of service were: Dr. Wilda F. Wade, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, food and nutrition specialist/coordinator, 38; Dr. Lelia Vickers, School of Education, dean, 35; Dr. Dong-Kuen Jeong, School of Business and Economics, associate professor of economics, 34; Vanessa S. Lawson, Division of Business and Finance, interim director of human resources, 32; Joseph B. Wise, Division of Information Technology, business & technical/application analyst, 31; and, John K. Akonful, Division of Academic Affairs, librarian and assistant professor, 30.

Celebrating 20-29 years of service were: Dr. Ward J. Collis, College of Engineering, associate professor, 29; Richetta G. Slade, Division of Student Affairs, interim chief, Police and Public Safety, 29; Loleta Chavis, Division of Business and Finance, assistant director of human resources, 29; Phyllis D. Boone, School of Business and Economics, administrative support associate, 27; Elvenor Botwe, Division of Business and Finance, assistant director of purchasing, 27; Paul A. Cathcart, Division of Business and Finance, building environment services technician, 27; Perry A. Holt, Division of Business and Finance, building environment services technician, 27; Claude C. Deyton, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, agricultural technician, 27; Brenda P. Woodland, School of Nursing, administrative support associate, 25; Robert D. Williamson, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, natural resources coordinator, 23; Dr. Ida R. Backmon, School of Business and Economics, chair/associate professor, accounting department, 22; and Shirldine B. Davis, Division of Business and Finance, associate director of human resources, 21. Others celebrating 5-19 years of service were: Dr. Arjun D. Kapur, School of Technology, associate professor, graphic communications and systems and technical studies, 18; Bobby L. Foxx, Division of Business and Finance, locksmith, 18; Billy E. Adams, Division of Academic Affairs, library assistant, 15; Dr. Margaret L. Barrett, College of Arts and Sciences, associate professor, history department, 13; Barbara B. Jones, Division of Academic Affairs, administrative support associate, registration and records, 13; Dr. Lillie A. Robinson, School of Business and Economics, associate professor, business education, 12; Walter Perkins, Division of Business and Finance, building environment services technician, 10; Joyce P. Elliott, Division of Academic Affairs, administrative support associate, library services, 10; Gladys M. Black, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Human Environment and Family Sciences, 7; Gail Favors, Division of Academic Affairs, archivist, library services, 7; Mamie Johnson, Division of Student Affairs, office manager, WNAA 90.1 FM, 6; and Dr. Melvyn Levy, College of Arts and Sciences, professor of physics, 5.

Chancellor Stanley F. Battle presided and recognized the retirees in attendance for their years of dedicated service. Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Velma Speight-Buford also read a resolution in honor of the retirees.