by Judi Sciple
Delaware Technical Community College
Dover, DE
Opening night for the District 5 Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was a night of camaraderie, delicacies and awards!
I started my evening getting to know Margaret Pennock and Roxanna McKenna from Southeast Technical Institute, the chairs of this year’s conference. They are a friendly, hardworking, professional duo that could not do enough to host the attendees on behalf of their college. Welcome bags included chocolate, which was very much appreciated by all!
The chocolate theme extended into dinner as guests were greeted with a plate of chocolate covered bacon at their dinner tables. Yes … I said chocolate covered bacon (photo above). I have to say, I would have been dumbstruck had it not been for a District 1 colleague and foodie, Geoff Pettifer from Atlantic Cape Community College, who just a few weeks earlier had posted photos of his homemade chocolate bacon delicacy. Most of us were not quite sure if it was an appetizer or our dessert, and our table chose to save it until the end of the meal. My personal opinion? It must be an acquired taste, but I commend the conference committee on helping us broaden our horizons. In fact, we later learned that the entire meal was comprised of award-winning recipes from the area.
After dinner we had the award presentations, and I congratulate Erin Larsen from Dakota County Technical College and all those who helped coordinate judging for the Medallion Awards. There were nearly 200 entries, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed perusing.
We sang “Happy Birthday” to Robin Anctil from Iowa Valley Community College District, who chose to spend her special day with NCMPR and we ended the evening with gaming fun (for bragging rights only!)
A great opening night – more to come soon about Monday’s conference program, speakers and nuggets of knowledge.
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