{"id":15698,"date":"2024-12-18T13:33:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T18:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/?p=15698"},"modified":"2024-12-18T13:33:15","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T18:33:15","slug":"governor-cooper-delivers-farewell-address-at-nash-community-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/2024\/12\/governor-cooper-delivers-farewell-address-at-nash-community-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Cooper Delivers Farewell Address at Nash Community College"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-15704 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0184-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Governor Roy Cooper visited Nash Community College today to deliver his official farewell address as he concludes his second term in office. The event, attended by invited guests, community members and NCC staff, was a heartfelt reflection on his time as governor and the future of North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>The day began with a visit to the Science &amp; Technology Building, where Governor Cooper greeted hundreds of students in a lecture hall. Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, President of Nash Community College, welcomed the Governor, who shared key points about his vision and priorities during his time in office. Governor Cooper emphasized his commitment to creating great paying jobs, reflecting on the importance of workforce development and education in achieving that goal.<\/p>\n<p>He also took a moment to acknowledge the impact of teachers, recalling how his mother, \u201cthe best teacher on the planet,\u201d shaped his life and career. Governor Cooper shared that the compliments he still receives about his mother\u2019s teaching are a testament to the power of great educators. \u201cI can remember all of my elementary teachers, and I hear stories from people who still thank me for what my mother did for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Governor Cooper\u2019s address continued with a heartfelt note about Nash County. \u201cNash County will always be and is always my home,\u201d he shared, highlighting the strong connections he has to the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-15701 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0058-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> community that helped shape his journey.<\/p>\n<p>Afterward, Governor Cooper moved to the Brown Auditorium to deliver his official farewell address. The event featured a touching introduction by Kristi Jones, his former Chief of Staff, who has worked alongside the Governor for many years. Kristi fondly recalled the Governor\u2019s frequent reminder that, \u201cIt\u2019s not about me, it\u2019s about the people of North Carolina,\u201d a message he would often share just before public appearances.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-15706 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0107-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>In her remarks, Kristi praised Governor Cooper\u2019s leadership and care for his staff, noting that he had written thousands of handwritten notes and frequently reached out to check on others. \u201cYou wanted a North Carolina where people could live a life of abundance and purpose, and you have done that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Governor Cooper\u2019s farewell speech was filled with humor, reflection and gratitude as he reflected on his eight years in office. \u201cSome of the people here today have been with me for more than 25 years,\u201d he remarked, expressing his deep appreciation for the dedicated public servants he has worked with. \u201cWhat I will miss most is the extraordinary public servants I\u2019ve had the honor of working with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also thanked his family for their unwavering support. \u201cPublic servants don\u2019t do this alone. My family serves too,\u201d he said, giving special recognition to his wife, Kristin, for being a constant source of stability and friendship throughout his career.<\/p>\n<p>Governor Cooper reaffirmed his belief in the power of North Carolinians, stating that the state\u2019s success is driven by its people \u2013 those who can thrive, innovate, and grow. He emphasized the importance of quality public education, underscoring how public schools and teachers have been central to the state\u2019s achievements.<\/p>\n<p>The Governor also took time to commend Nash Community College for its strong role in education and its partnership with the public school system. He thanked Dr. Hunnicutt and the Board of Trustees for hosting the event, highlighting the college as a model of excellence in education.<\/p>\n<p>Concluding his speech, Governor Cooper declared, \u201cEven though I\u2019m leaving office, I\u2019m not done yet and neither are the people of North Carolina.\u201d His final remarks reinforced his commitment to the future of the state, as he called on North Carolinians to continue striving for success and progress in the years ahead.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-15705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0127.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-15707 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241218-DSC_0178.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Governor Roy Cooper visited Nash Community College today to deliver his official farewell address as he concludes his second term in office. The event, attended by invited guests, community members&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/2024\/12\/governor-cooper-delivers-farewell-address-at-nash-community-college\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":15704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[21,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15698"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15698"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15710,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15698\/revisions\/15710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nashccnews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}