Chancellor Glenn DuBois recognizes Bill & Lang Wilson as the 2017 DSLCC recipients of the 12th annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Pictured here, from left to right, are: Ben Jones, son-in-law of the Wilsons, Steve Vaughn, Donna Vaughn – DSLCC Educational Foundation President, Chancellor DuBois, Lang Wilson, Bill Wilson, Rachael Thompson – DSLCC Educational Foundation Director, Dr. John Rainone – DSLCC President, and Taylor Wilson Jones, daughter of Bill & Lang Wilson.

Community College Philanthropists Honored with
 2017 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy By Rachael Thompson   Richmond, VA (April 24, 2017) - Bill and Lang Wilson, of Covington, Virginia, have received the 12th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. They were nominated for the award by the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Educational Foundation. The award was given at a luncheon ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, this annual event honors leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation. This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has contributed a combined total of more than $10 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges. Mr. Bill Wilson has been a director of the DSLCC Educational Foundation Board for nearly 25 years, as well as a staunch supporter of the College and avid volunteer. He has been a fearless leader of the Foundation, serving as President for two different terms. During his first term, he successfully led the first major gifts campaign in the history of the Foundation. He and his wife graciously started the Wilson Cup for Scholarship, Character, and Community Service in 2009, which is awarded to an outstanding DSLCC student annually at the Donor Scholar Reception; it has become the highlight of the annual reception. Bill & Lang give most generously to support DSLCC students, investing in their bright futures. Further, they always seek opportunities to tout the accomplishments of DSLCC and ensure that the College remains the cornerstone of the regional community and a significant driver of economic development and vitality. “Bill & Lang Wilson have been passionate and dedicated supporters of DSLCC and our regional community for decades, the highlight of which was their incredibly generous gift during our recent major gifts campaign. The gift not only provided much needed financial support and encouragement to our most deserving Dabney students, but also paved the way for private gifts made by others during the campaign,” said Dr. John Rainone, President, DSLCC.  He continued, “The Wilsons lead by example and care deeply about our DSLCC family, as evidenced by Bill’s nearly 20 year membership on the DSLCC Educational Foundation Board, including his presidency in the early 2000s.  We are truly fortunate to count Bill & Lang Wilson among DSLCC’s dearest friends.” Chancellor Glenn DuBois expressed his gratitude in his address to the crowd. “You are difference-makers. You are opportunity-creators. We thank you, not just for the dollars donated, but for the standard of leadership you represent. Your example motivates and challenges us all to do more to ensure that opportunity is there for those who come next.” Keynote speaker John O. “Dubby” Wynne, chairman of GO Virginia and Reinvent Hampton Roads, said he was honored to be a part of the event and he emphasized the generous donations he and others have made are having a positive impact on the communities Virginia’s Community Colleges serve. “In many instances, your gifts are the difference between average or good and excellent in student performance,” he observed. Wynne also issued an appeal to members of the audience to increase their level of support to help train and educate Virginia’s workforce for economic growth. In addition to the Wilsons, Dr. John J. Rainone, President of DSLCC was in attendance, as were Donna Vaughn (DSLCC Educational Foundation President) and her husband Steve, Taylor Wilson Jones (daughter of Bill & Lang Wilson) and her husband Ben Jones, and Rachael Thompson, Executive Director of the DSLCC Educational Foundation. Recipients of the 2017 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy: Blue Ridge Community College - Zane D. Showker Family Central Virginia Community College - BWX Technologies, Inc. Dabney S. Lancaster Community College - Bill and Lang Wilson Danville Community College - Danville Regional Foundation Eastern Shore Community College - William H. Bannon Germanna Community College - Connie Kincheloe J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College - The Perry Family & VAMAC, Inc. John Tyler Community College - Altria Group Lord Fairfax Community College - PATH Foundation Mountain Empire Community College and - Joe Fuller New River Community College - Tracy and Sarah Wilkins Northern Virginia Community College - Edward and Marilynn Bersoff Patrick Henry Community College - Eastman Chemical Company Paul D. Camp Community College - Herbert W. DeGroft Piedmont Virginia Community College - David Whitcomb Rappahannock Community College - Dorothy Cosby Cooke Southside Virginia Community College - Fluor Southwest Virginia Community College - James R. “Jim” Lindsey Family Thomas Nelson Community College - Jay and Marguerite Brown Tidewater Community College - Hampton Roads Community Foundation Virginia Highlands Community College - Jones and Associates Realty Virginia Western Community College - J. Granger and Anne Macfarlane Wytheville Community College - Anne B. Vaughan Virginia Foundation for Community College Education - Michael and Wendy Smith About the Keynote Speaker: Mr. John O. "Dubby" Wynne currently serves as Chairman of GO Virginia and Reinvent Hampton Roads. Earlier in his career, Wynne served as both president and CEO of Landmark Communications, Inc. About Virginia’s Community Colleges: Created more than 40 years ago, the VCCS is comprised of 23 community colleges located on 40 campuses across the commonwealth. Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve more than a quarter-million credit students each year. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu. About the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education: Working hand in hand with Virginia’s 23 community colleges, the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education seeks to guarantee financial assistance to all students who dream of attending college. The foundation is building an endowment that is already generating interest to provide full scholarships to selected community college students. Donors to the fund are invited to endow a single scholarship in their name and designate it to any of Virginia’s community colleges or regions. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu/Foundation.

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