The Columbia State Foundation recently hosted a luncheon in the Pryor Art Gallery where board members, alumni and the City of Columbia were recognized for their service to the college and community.

To begin, the luncheon honored board members whose terms ended. This included Foundation board chair Mike Alexander, who was awarded a plaque with the number ‘5776’ to represent the amount of students that graduated during the time he served.

Following this, the City of Columbia received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy was established in March of 2001 as a way of recognizing outstanding fundraising programs that donate their resources and efforts to Tennessee Board of Regents colleges. Honorees are selected through a Donor Recognition Committee comprised of representatives from Tennessee community and technical colleges, donors, Trustees, Regents and employees.

“The City of Columbia's involvement in the work and mission of Columbia State Community College will continue to equip students with opportunities for educational advancement and cultural enrichment,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “It is with great pleasure that I award the 2023 Chancellor’s Award for Philanthropy to the City of Columbia.”

The City's support in the renovation of the John W. Finney Memorial Library resulted in a welcoming space of more than 24,000 square feet. The City continues to show its support by assisting with funding for the construction of the Southern Regional Technology Center—a state-of-the-art facility that will be located on the Columbia Campus.

Chaz Molder, mayor of Columbia, accepted the award on behalf of the City of Columbia.

“We know the importance that this college has and we support it in every way that we possibly can,” Molder said. “It is so nice to receive this honor today because I think it’s a testament to the support that this college has received from the City.”

Sisters Lynda Crunk Potts and Vicki Crunk Cain each received the President’s Award of Honor for Distinguished Alumni.

Potts graduated from Columbia State in 1970 with an Associate of Science degree in English. She went on to become a pillar in the community, holding multiple community service positions and staying involved at Columbia State through the Alumni Board of Directors, the Foundation Board, the Lewisburg Site Steering Committee and by serving as the Alumni Board president and the Capital Campaign Committee Chairman for Annual Giving.

Cain graduated from Columbia State in 1971 with an Associate of Science degree in education. In addition to her various positions in the community, she kept close ties with Columbia State through the Alumni Association and by serving on fundraising committees for the Lewisburg Campus.

Together, the two accomplished businesswomen established the Calloway and Jean Crunk Endowed Scholarship in 2000 to honor their parents through the Columbia State Foundation. Since 2008, scholarships have been awarded to 49 distinct students. Keeping tradition, their children and grandchildren have followed in the sisters’ footsteps by attending Columbia State.

“Today we honor two alums who happen to be sisters and who have been noted for their support and promotion of Columbia State as they worked and contributed to the development of their community,” Smith said. “We are so proud of them as Columbia State graduates and are honored to have the opportunity to recognize them today as Distinguished Alums. Lynda Crunk Potts and Vicki Crunk Cain, both of them, through their own decisions and chosen paths, have demonstrated for students, alumni and community what can be accomplished with a Columbia State degree.”

The Columbia State Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports and partners with the college to positively impact student success and the communities in which it serves. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Foundation.