History
Gaston College traces its origins to the Gaston Technical Institute, founded in 1952 under the School of Engineering at North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University). The modern institution was chartered by the State of North Carolina on February 8, 1963, and began offering classes on September 23, 1964, with 19 faculty members and 445 students in temporary quarters, including the First United Methodist Church in Gastonia. [4]
On November 27, 1964, the College moved to its permanent campus along Highway 321 in Dallas, North Carolina, although construction was still underway. The first commencement was held in May 1965, and shortly thereafter, Gaston College consolidated with Gaston Technical Institute and the Gastonia Industrial Education Center on July 1, 1965. [5]
The College earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 1967, and in 1981, governance shifted to the newly formed North Carolina Board of Community Colleges. [6] Over the following decades, Gaston College expanded beyond its original Dallas campus, adding the Lincoln Campus and the Kimbrell Campus and Textile Technology Center in Belmont. In 2005, the College absorbed the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology, a state training center originally established in 1943 as the North Carolina Vocational Textile School.
Today, Gaston College serves approximately 20,000 students annually through over 100 degree, diploma, and certificate programs across three campuses and multiple specialized centers. [7]
Athletics
Gaston College originally launched its athletic program in the mid-1960s, fielding teams in sports like basketball and baseball. The early basketball squads—nicknamed the Raiders (1964–65), Rebels (1965–69), and Warriors (1969–72)—quickly became a force in the North Carolina Community College Conference, advancing to the NJCAA Region X tournament in three consecutive seasons before the program was discontinued in 1972 due to financial constraints. [10]
Nearly five decades later, the college revived intercollegiate sports under the leadership of President Dr. John Hauser. In late 2020, Guton College announced plans to launch programs in men’s baseball and basketball, women’s softball and beach volleyball, and e-sports, aiming to begin competition by 2022. The Board of Trustees gave unanimous approval, and Dr. Hauser submitted a letter of intent to the NJCAA, with hopes of varsity eligibility soon thereafter. [11] [12]
Since the relaunch, Gaston College Rhinos have competed in multiple NJCAA Division I sports. In the 2022–23 academic year, both the softball and baseball teams won regional titles, marking a successful return to competition. The school has also invested in improving athletic facilities, including plans for an on-campus gymnasium to support its growing programs. [13] [14]
Notably, Gaston College alumnus and legendary basketball coach Leonard Hamilton has been a vocal supporter. A star player during Gaston’s original basketball era (1966–68), Hamilton now offers insight and encouragement as the college rebuilds its athletic identity. [15] [16]
Mascot
The official mascot of Gaston College is Mo the Rhino, introduced in August 2021 during a campus Block Party hosted by President John Hauser. [17] Chosen following mascot preference focus groups, the rhino symbolizes the strength, stamina, and resilience of the Gaston College community. [18] Mo appears at campus events—including the opening of the Rhino Shop—and is used in college-wide branding and marketing materials with the rallying cry “#FearTheHorn.” [19]
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