NEW BERN – Craven Community College (Craven CC) has received a $2.4 million gift from Dr. Tim and Linda Hinken, marking one of the largest private donations in the College’s history. The gift, which was bequeathed after the Hinkens’ death in 2024, will support major capital projects, expand workforce development opportunities in the healthcare field, and establish the Tim and Linda Hinken Memorial Scholarship Endowment to benefit future students.
A significant portion of the funding will be directed toward capital projects, including the proposed acquisition and renovation of a new building to expand the Volt Center’s workforce development programs. This new Health Sciences building will directly support workforce programs such as Nurse Aide, Surgical Technology, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, and Cardiographic & EKG Technician, all of which play a critical role in meeting regional healthcare workforce needs.
The additional space is particularly important for Craven’s Associate in Applied Science in Nursing and Practical Nursing programs. Students pursuing these pathways are required to complete a Nurse Aide certificate before applying to the nursing program, creating increased demand for instructional and lab space. The proposed building will help remove capacity barriers and better support students progressing through these high-demand programs.
In addition to health sciences, the gift will support expanding engineering and aviation workforce opportunities for students at the college’s Havelock campus, strengthening partnerships with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and further aligning pathways with regional employer needs in advanced manufacturing, aviation, and engineering.
“Tim Hinken was someone I admired deeply as a scholar and a professional,” said Charles Cushman, Craven CC Foundation board member, Chief Executive Officer of Heron Hospitality, and neighbor of the Hinkens. “He was a respected author and professor who believed in education as a force for good. This gift truly reflects how committed they were to making a meaningful difference.”
Dr. Hinken was a longtime professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University, where he taught for 27 years, and was a published author in his field. His academic career spanned decades and included teaching at the University of Virginia prior to his tenure at Cornell. He and Linda later made New Bern their part-time home, where they remained actively engaged in the community.
The gift also establishes the Tim and Linda Hinken Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which will be overseen by the Craven CC Foundation. The scholarship will provide financial support for students that are having trouble meeting the financial needs to achieve their educational goals.
“Through this scholarship and these investments in our facilities and programs, Tim and Linda’s impact will continue well into the future,” said Dr. Ray Staats, Craven CC President. “We are profoundly grateful for their trust in the college as faithful stewards of their educational legacy.”
For more information about the Craven CC Foundation or opportunities to support the college, visit cravencc.edu/foundation.