--- title: "HCC Prez News - Halifax Community College" canonicalUrl: "https://halifaxcc.edu/about-hcc/presidents-office/hcc-prez-news/" excerpt: "HCC Prez News Halifax Community College President Patrena Benton Elliott ’01, ’08 delivers keynote remarks at Fall Convocation in Harrison Auditorium at NC A&T University (2024). Photo credit: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.  Header photo: Dr. Elliott at the 2025 NC Community Colleges Awards Dinner & Celebration. Photo credit: North Carolina Community Colleges Dr. Elliott in the News 2025 June 7, 2025: President’s Community Brief: Reflecting on our journey — looking ahead with purpose May 3, 2025: President’s Community Brief: Celebrating community colleges: #BestDecisionEver April 29, 2025: We asked North Carolina why community college is the ‘best decision ever.’ […]" datePublished: "2024-05-28T15:24:54+00:00" dateModified: "2026-06-08T13:08:32+00:00" --- - HCC Prez News - Halifax Community College ** # HCC Prez News * ![Halifax Community College President Patrena Benton Elliott '01, '08 delivers keynote remarks at Fall Convocation in Harrison Auditorium at NC A&T University.](https://halifaxcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-06-162717-1024x507.webp) Halifax Community College President Patrena Benton Elliott ’01, ’08 delivers keynote remarks at Fall Convocation in Harrison Auditorium at NC A&T University (2024). Photo credit: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. * Header photo: Dr. Elliott at the 2025 NC Community Colleges Awards Dinner & Celebration. Photo credit: [North Carolina Community Colleges**](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KFy4K6XnH/) ## Dr. Elliott in the News ## 2025 June 7, 2025: [President’s Community Brief: Reflecting on our journey — looking ahead with purpose](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-reflecting-on-our-journey-looking-ahead-with-purpose/article_00256551-9fe4-561c-a59d-75f14930eee3.html) - May 3, 2025: [President’s Community Brief: Celebrating community colleges: #BestDecisionEver](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-celebrating-community-colleges-bestdecisionever/article_ee9284e2-a2a7-5f51-b7f4-7fc1f3c1c84e.html) - April 29, 2025: [We asked North Carolina why community college is the ‘best decision ever.’ Here is what people said](https://www.ednc.org/we-asked-north-carolina-why-community-college-is-the-best-decision-ever-here-is-what-people-said/) - April 8, 2025: [President’s Community Brief: Rev up and roll out for spring](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-rev-up-and-roll-out-for-spring/article_6e6d1d61-19e6-54a6-9508-2863eb6e4e0e.html) - March 1, 2025: [President’s Community Brief: Empowering futures, strengthening communities](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-empowering-futures-strengthening-communities/article_bb419f5e-e185-5a90-963d-09b51ca9b92e.html) - February 1, 2025: [President’s Community Brief: Laying the Foundation for Student Success](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-laying-the-foundation-for-student-success/article_e74b0f98-1701-521d-8793-7f26588a05e9.html) ## 2024 - November 2, 2024: [President’s Community Brief: HCC community unites in service, leadership and cultural celebration](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-hcc-community-unites-in-service-leadership-and-cultural-celebration/article_5e2b5752-ef7e-57b3-96a7-47304bb63530.html) - October 17, 2024: [A&T Honors 12 Distinguished Alumni at Fall Convocation](https://www.ncat.edu/news/2024/10/fall-convocation.php) - October 5, 2025: [President’s Community Brief: Strength in unity, championing student success, and community engagement](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-strength-in-unity-championing-student-success-and-community-engagement/article_a8d391d6-c73d-5929-9f40-fcdf1bdb5be6.html) - September 7, 2024: [President’s Community Brief: Reflections on a year of progress and purpose](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/news/local/president-s-community-brief-reflections-on-a-year-of-progress-and-purpose/article_05105b9c-1ab6-5067-b4ef-97d19f03e0ce.html) - August 3, 2024: [President’s Community Brief: Two fundraising events planned for HCC Foundation](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-two-fundraising-events-planned-for-hcc-foundation/article_802ac55b-d9bb-5344-8b0c-866b86aaffb1.html) - July 6, 2024:  [President’s Community Brief: Halifax Community College: A year and a half of milestones, achievements](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/columns/president-s-community-brief-halifax-community-college-a-year-and-a-half-of-milestones-achievements/article_4dbb7b36-e764-5a8c-a4fa-0e8b0a87eba6.html) - April 25, 2024: [Elliott to serve as Oak Grove Women’s Day keynote speaker](https://rrspin.com/news/8856-elliott-to-serve-as-oak-grove-women-s-day-keynote-speaker.html) - April 22, 2024: [Halifax Community College offering evening nursing classes with program expansion](https://www.witn.com/2024/04/22/halifax-community-college-offering-evening-nursing-classes-with-program-expansion/) - February 15, 2024: [Trailblazer Profile – Dr. Patrena Benton Elliott, President of Halifax Community College](https://belk-center.ced.ncsu.edu/research-and-insights/trailblazer-profiles-v0/trailblazer-profile-dr-patrena-benton-elliot/) - February 7, 2024: [[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)] [House] [Page H522] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] INVESTING IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2024-02-07/html/CREC-2024-02-07-pt1-PgH522.htm) ## 2023 - October 19, 2023: [HCC’s first female president inauguration: Elliott takes oath](https://www.rrdailyherald.com/news/local/hccs-first-female-president-inauguration-elliott-takes-oath/article_5a35bd40-fd16-5fdf-b82b-b9da65adb554.html) - October 18, 2023: [Perspective | Centering ‘community’ at Halifax Community College](https://www.ednc.org/centering-community-patrena-benton-elliott-halifax-community-college/) - April 17, 2023: [https://www.ednc.org/a-community-college-presidents-return-home-and-her-vision-for-the-future/](https://www.ednc.org/a-community-college-presidents-return-home-and-her-vision-for-the-future/) - January 30, 2023: [Patrena Benton Elliott Is the New President of Halifax Community College](https://jbhe.com/2023/01/patrena-benton-elliott-is-the-new-president-of-halifax-community-college/) ## 2022 - November 22, 2022: [Northampton native selected new president at Halifax Community College](https://www.roanoke-chowannewsherald.com/2022/11/22/northampton-native-selected-new-president-at-halifax-community-college/) ## Monthly Newsletters ## 2026 December**November October September August July [June](https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation_v2?permalink_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fconta.cc%2F49s3WDg&image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com%2F42694eea901%2F907da887-4590-446c-ac97-518e26d5bf86.png&fbclid=IwY2xjawSTneNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFhMGEzaWNFWmYwWGZkd1Vzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqCAPS7P-YuvQP-vcdwTPCgnmiLsfAGIueABS_0qasqEJU2uDYtnuaCGr5Zu_aem_YmoVaB3vwqkiJdk8Y_aaTw) [May](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=lQIiiESSdqM) [April](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=_MWxLSmENrk) [March](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=G2234cHLobI) [February](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=SpdoIO96mls) ## 2025 [#GivingTuesday2025](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/-GivingTuesday2025.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=P_9xmChKJs4) [December](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=Vos9SeOmCnw) [November](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=602Zc8Wk9JQ) [October](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=nYf6EuQ7FUU) [September](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=knFyjb0HRAA) [August](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=0GontBgiMb4) [July](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=MzAL-pmNamo) [June](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=7LTqCT8DQzw) [May](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=fzre9q7p3SU) [April](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=_eufvg7f3XE) [March](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=JybuRtAneVE) [February](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=psAqhhqzNLw) ## 2024 [December](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=TlRN6mUAj54) [November](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HCC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=b5_l_MSfcpA) [October](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Halifax-CC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=7dDtUMe1RwE) [September](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Halifax-CC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=UWCCQ31eAOg) [August](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Halifax-CC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=34XE8IMyLpU) [July](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Halifax-CC-President-s-Newsletter--Friend.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=0hSrQNrJsgg) [May](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Halifax-CC-President-s-Newsletter.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=Bh_Xw4BCkbA) [April](https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Halifax-CC-President-s-Newsletter.html?soid=1141100549668&aid=mcJAk-y0-zo) ![](https://halifaxcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/new-curve-white-gold-transparent-2.svg) ![](https://halifaxcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/new-curve-white-gold-transparent-2.svg) ![17th Annual Golf Tournament: Friday, Sept. 4th at Chockoyotte Country Club in Weldon, NC](https://halifaxcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Golf-tournament-FB-header-1.png) ### Wanna get out on the course? Join us for the 17th Annual Halifax Community College Foundation Golf Tournament on September 4, 2026, at Chockoyotte Country Club! Tee off is at 8:30 am.** [Register for the Golf Tournament!](https://halifaxcc.edu/give/hcc-foundation/foundation-golf-tournament/) ## Out of an abundance of caution, due to the expected severe threat of storms, Halifax Community College will be closed tomorrow, March 16th 2026, for students, faculty, and staff. Please be safe. [](#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aclose%26settings%3DeyJkb19ub3Rfc2hvd19hZ2FpbiI6IiJ9) #### NORMAL ALERT STATUS Halifax Community College has returned to **Normal Alert Status**. We appreciate the cooperation, patience, and responsiveness shown by our students, faculty, staff, and community partners during the brief Enhanced Alert period. Your commitment to safety helps us maintain a secure learning environment for everyone. #HalifaxCC #CampusSafety ## Halifax Community College will operate on a 2-hour delay on Thursday, February 5th, 2026. ## Halifax Community College will operate remotely for Students, Faculty and Staff on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026. Continue to monitor communications for further updates. ## Out of an abundance of caution, HCC will operate in a remote status for all students, faculty, and staff on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Please continue to monitor official HCC communications for updates. Stay safe and warm. ## Halifax Community College will be closed on Monday, February 2, 2026. Updates will continue to be shared via HCC alerts, website, social media, and local news. Stay Safe. ## Halifax Community College will operate on a 2-hour delay, Thursday January 29, 2026 due to inclement weather. ## Due to campus conditions, Halifax Community College will transition to a remote learning and work environment on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Please continue to monitor HCC email, website, and social media for updates and remain safe. ## Due to inclement weather, Halifax Community College will be closed Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Students should check Blackboard for assignments. Please continue to monitor HCC Alerts via text, email, and news updates. Stay safe. ## Halifax Community College will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026 due to inclement weather. ## Due to weather conditions, Halifax Community College will be on Remote Learning for Students, Faculty, and Staff, Tuesday, December 9, 2025. ## Due to expected inclement weather conditions, Halifax Community College will transition to Remote Status for Students, Faculty, and Staff beginning at noon today, Dec. 8, 2025. ## Attention, Students, Faculty, & Staff: ** Due to pending inclement weather, Halifax Community College will operate under a Remote Learning status, December 5, 2025. ![](https://halifaxcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/small_c_popup-150x150.webp) [close menu icon](#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aclose%26settings%3DeyJkb19ub3Rfc2hvd19hZ2FpbiI6IiJ9) ## HCC Has Extended Hours!** ### The Student Affairs team will extend hours from **August 18 to 21, operating 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.** This is to support students with admissions, financial aid, and course registration needs that fall outside regular operating hours. [Contact Admissions](https://halifaxcc.edu/getting-started/) [](https://halifaxcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-Instant-Admission-Day-Flyer-2.png) ## HCC TO CLOSE AT 12 NOON ## MARCH 5, 2025 Due to severe weather expectations: HCC will close at 12:00 noon today 3/5/2025. Please be safe