A Celebration Of Thanksgiving

NWACC administrators, supporters gather for holidays

— Becky Paneitz, president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, and the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Foundation hosted a holiday reception Dec. 6.

The reception with more than 250 guests at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers was held to recognize and honor NWACC supporters, according to Meredith Brunen, executive director of the Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization which operates exclusively to encourage support and aid in the continual development of NWACC and to solicit, accept, hold, invest and administer any gifts, bequests of property of any sort for this educational purpose, according to its website.

Paneitz said at the event that this would be her last NWACC holiday party. Her last day as president will be June 30, and Evelyn Jorgenson will start as president July 1, Brunen said.

Paneitz thanked members of the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board who served during her time as president, and many legislators who have advocated for the college were also recognized, according to an NWACC Foundation press release.

During the event, Paneitz presented State Sen.-elect Jon Woods with an associate degree, which was the firstto be presented under the new reverse transfer agreement between NWACC and the University of Arkansas. Woods had attended NWACC and then went to the University of Arkansas to receive his degree.

Music was provided by NWACC Jazz Band and Guitar Ensemble, and food was served by the NWACC Culinary and Hospitality students. The buffet included grapes rolled in cream cheese and ground pistachios; fresh fruit and cheese display; brie cheese wrapped in puff pastry with brandied apricots and almonds and served with sliced apples; smoked salmon display with herbed cream cheese, hard-boiled egg, red onion and capers; a Greek platter with assorted hummus, feta cheese, olives, pepperoncini, baba ganoush and flat bread; canapes;

toasted walnut and gorgonzola stuffed mushroom caps; and savory sausages on skewers.

Dessert items were also provided by baking students as their final exam.

AT A GLANCE

Holiday Reception Who: Hosted by Becky Paneitz and the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Foundation When: Dec. 6 Where: Center for Nonprofits in Rogers Information: 619-4176 or nwaccfoundation.org

Northwest Profile, Pages 44 on 12/16/2012

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