Luncheon honors retiring EGCC President Laura Meeks

By Denise Dick | June 10, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

BOARDMAN

Compassionate, caring, passionate, gutsy, hard-working and a woman of God – those are just some of the adjectives friends and colleagues used to describe Laura Meeks, president of Eastern Gateway Community College, at her retirement celebration luncheon.

Meeks, president of the college for 16 years, retires at the end of July. Tuesday’s luncheon at The Embassy also was a fundraiser for a scholarship in her name.

“This is going to help the students that you always put first,” Melanie DiCarlo, Meeks’ administrative assistant, said of the more than $13,000 raised.

Meeks, who saw the expansion of Jefferson Community College to include Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties to become EGCC, began her education at a community college before earning her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

When she was 12, her father’s business burned down. She was scared and bicycled to the minister’s house where she, the minister and his wife prayed. Knowing that Meeks was concerned about money, the wife asked Meeks if she knew how to iron. Meeks learned she could earn money by ironing clothes.

“I went home with two things: a prayer and knowing I could work,” Meeks said.

She said those things helped make her the person she is today.

Sister Patricia McNicholas, vice chairwoman of EGCC trustees, lauded Meeks’ professional accomplishments, community involvement and mentorship to other women, all of which played into her receipt of the ATHENA Award in 2013. The award is presented by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and The Vindicator.

“Every time I see Laura, I see a leader,” said Tom Humphries, chamber president and chief executive officer. “Laura always stands out.”

Joking about having only three minutes to talk about Meeks, Dante Zambrini, vice president of Mahoning Valley operations for the college, listed adjectives describing the president, using the college’s letters, EGCC.

Excellent, gutsy, goal-oriented, giant – in her field, her stature and her height, courageous, compassionate and charitable.

Calling the outgoing president a “woman of God,” Stephanie Shaw, executive director of the Eastern Ohio Educational Partnership, said Meeks proudly comes from little means. While others try to hide that aspect of their backgrounds, Meeks talks about the financial roadblocks that could have stopped her from getting an education, Shaw said.

Those same obstacles face students today, Shaw said.