NEW BERN, N.C. — Craven Community College will recognize the generosity of Dr. Tim and Linda Hinkin by naming the Volt Center Kitchen and a new patio behind the Corporate Training Center in their honor.
Announced in February 2026, the Hinkin family’s $2.4 million gift is the largest individual private donation in the college’s history. Bequeathed following the Hinkins’ passing in 2024, it provides a lasting investment in the college and the community it serves.
“Tim and Linda Hinkin entrusted us with a gift that will benefit the College for generations,” said Dr. Ray Staats, Craven CC president. “Naming these spaces in their honor recognizes their generosity and their belief in education.”
The Timothy and Linda Hinkin Memorial Patio is located behind the Corporate Training Center, the college’s newest building on its New Bern Campus. The outdoor space will feature benches, pavers, shrubs, ornamental grasses and red maple, dogwood and cherry trees, creating a gathering place for students, employees and visitors.
At the center of the garden will be a 10-foot marble fountain sculpture by American artist Horace Farlowe (1933–2006). Donated by Dr. Jim Congleton, the sculpture will become the latest addition to the college’s Congleton Sculpture Collection.
The Volt Center Kitchen will be named the Timothy and Linda Hinkin Kitchen in recognition of the Hinkins’ generosity.
Located at 205 First Street in New Bern, the Volt Center serves as Craven CC’s primary workforce training center. Its kitchen combines classroom instruction with hands-on training to prepare students for local hospitality jobs. The facility features commercial restaurant equipment, including prep stations, ovens, fryers, refrigerators, stoves and a dishwasher, along with dry food storage, a dining area and classroom space.
The kitchen supports short-term courses that help students develop skills in food preparation and food service, as well as cooking classes for personal enrichment.
“These spaces connect the Hinkin family’s legacy to the people we serve every day,” said Charles Wethington, Craven CC Foundation executive director. “We are grateful for their generosity and the opportunities their gift creates to strengthen the college for future students.”
Dr. Hinkin taught organizational behavior and leadership at Cornell University for 27 years. He and Linda later made New Bern their part-time home and remained engaged in the community. Their gift extends that connection through a lasting investment in local education.
The Hinkin gift will continue to support future capital projects, helping the college respond to evolving educational and workforce needs.
For more information about the Craven CC Foundation or opportunities to support the college, visit cravencc.edu/foundation.