RCC Board of Trustees celebrates dedication and welcomes new leadership
Randolph Community College celebrated continuity and new beginnings at its Aug. 21 Board of Trustees meeting. Longstanding Trustee Andy Sykes was sworn in for another term, marking his 34th year of service to the Board. The oath of office was administered in the Martha Luck Comer Foundation Conference Center, underscoring Sykes’ enduring commitment to the College and the Randolph County community.
RCC President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan praised Sykes’ decades of leadership.
“Andy’s dedication to Randolph Community College is unmatched,” Ardalan said. “His thoughtful guidance has strengthened our institution for more than three decades, and we are especially grateful for his work in representing and supporting our Liberty community. We deeply appreciate his continued service.”
Board Chair Reynolds Lisk noted that Board service demands substantial time and dedication, and few are willing to shoulder that responsibility so consistently.
“Andy has a great wealth of knowledge, and we are proud to have him as part of what we do,” he said.
The meeting also marked the end of Bob Morrison’s two terms as a Trustee. Lisk and Ardalan presented him with his official portrait as a gesture of gratitude for his service.
“The Board is a better Board because of Bob Morrison,” Ardalan said.
New trustees welcomed
Two new members also took oaths of office Thursday — Allen McNeill and Grant Hollowell.
“Allen and Grant bring a wealth of professional experience, a history of servant leadership, and a shared dedication to our community,” Ardalan said. “Their insights will be invaluable as we continue advancing RCC’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education and training for all.”
A lifelong resident of Asheboro, McNeill began his distinguished law enforcement career in 1977 with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks, serving 19 years as Chief Deputy. In that role, McNeill oversaw all aspects of the Sheriff’s Office, including budgets, personnel, facilities, and major projects such as the construction of the Randolph County Jail and the introduction of the School Resource Program to Randolph County Schools and RCC.
In 2012, McNeill was elected to the N.C. House of Representatives, representing District 78 (Randolph/Moore counties), where he served multiple terms until 2022. During his time in the legislature, he held leadership roles on key committees, including Co-Chair of the Community College Committee. He contributed to statewide initiatives on public safety, education, and infrastructure. During his tenure, he sponsored a bill that passed, allowing community colleges to teach universal general education transfer courses during the summer term and receive funding for those courses year‑round.
“I think about all of the people that have labored, sweated, toiled, and sacrificed in 60-plus years to make RCC what it is,” said McNeill, noting he grew up less than a mile from the College’s Asheboro Campus. “It would be a shame not to honor that, and it would be a shame to not try to continue that.”
McNeill is a member of East Side Baptist Church, where he has served as Trustee and Treasurer since 2005, and a member of the Randolph Rotary Club. He and his wife, Patricia, have one son.
Hollowell, a Caldwell native, earned his undergraduate degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University in 2009. Following graduation, he became a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, beginning his career managing a Fayetteville facility for five years.
In 2016, Hollowell and his wife, Danielle — also a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, relocated to Pleasant Garden to manage Clapp’s Nursing Center. Their leadership expanded in 2019 to include Clapp’s Nursing Home and Clapp’s Mountain Top Living in Asheboro. In 2023, they purchased the facilities, solidifying their commitment to high-quality elder care in the region.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how I can help RCC be even more a part of the community, especially in the healthcare space,” Hollowell said. “I like the fact that community colleges focus not just on education, but on careers.”
Hollowell serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association and is a member of its Payments for Services Committee. He is also a member of the Asheboro Rotary Club. The Hollowells have a son and a daughter.
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About Randolph Community College: Randolph Community College (RCC), under the leadership of President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan, is committed to providing relevant career training and educational opportunities. Ranked No. 1 in North Carolina by Niche.com, the College offers affordable degrees and short-term certificate programs that start throughout the year, both in-person and online. To register, visit randolph.edu/register or call 336-633-0200 and expect to engage with the most competent and compassionate team of faculty and staff.