Black & white photographs

The things that make BCC faculty and administrators most proud are the accomplishments of the students, and there have been many students to be proud of in the college's 40-plus years. A 1987 edition of CHOICES, a college newsletter, featured 10 students who had gone on to achieve distinction in a variety of fields. From left to right they are (front row) journalist Linda Billeter, Urban League administrative assistant Barbara McDuffie-Edwards, music teacher Janice Wilkes, art director Sheila Trank, Broward General Medical Center administrator Wil Trower, Plantation High principal William Milano, and state representative Debby Sanderson; (back row) attorney Stephen McDonald, child-care worker Sheila Jenkins, and Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Jim Naugle. Naugle has since gone on to become the mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Sanderson now serves in the Florida Senate, Milano is principal at Taravella High, and Trower is the CEO of the North Broward Hospital District.

Evelyn Hardy, born in poverty in rural Alabama, used BCC as a stepping stone to higher education. After bearing 10 children and then becoming a widow, she decided her life needed a new direction. She got her General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and went to BCC, where she attained honors. She went on to receive her bachelor's and master's degrees and was named recipient of a LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990. Hardy returned to BCC to work as a counselor on North Campus. She is shown meeting former governor Collins at the first Collins Award ceremony. Collins was the guiding force behind community colleges in Florida.

Willis Holcombe became the fourth president of BCC on January 1, 1987. A native of Iron Mountain, Michigan, he earned his undergraduate degree at Baldwin-Wallace College where he was an all-America sprinter. He earned his graduate degrees at the University of Florida.

Under Dr. Holcombe's leadership, the campuses resumed growing to meet current and future needs.

The transition from Dr. Adams to Dr. Holcombe was smooth and orderly because of Holcombe's history at the college. He had served as an English professor, Dr. Adams's assistant, academic dean, and Central Campus provost before leaving for Brevard Community College.

Dr. Holcombe expanded the college's participation in international education. In this picture, he joins with Ellen Cangi and trustee Joyce Cross at the Center for American Education in Singapore.

The rapid growth of the South Campus necessitated installation of modular classroom buildings. The modular buildings help give South Campus a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Rain canceled some of the outdoor activities at the opening of the Aviation Institute in February 1993, but the hangar, the spacious new complex, and the airplanes kept participants sheltered from the elements.

The Aviation Institute, seen here during construction, provides a large hangar area and four wings for classes. The tarmac allows students to taxi up to their classrooms.

South Campus Provost Dr. Carl Crawford and Dr. Holcombe look on as trustees Joyce Cross and Katharine Barry cut the ribbon to open the South Campus bookstore.