Carol Grotnes Belk, for whom Presbyterian College’s Carol International House is named, died August 25, days before her 87^th birthday.

She and her husband, Irwin Belk, were supporters of many higher education and collegiate athletics projects across the southeast, and have made donations to more than 30 colleges and universities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Irwin Belk served as a Presbyterian College trustee and is a longtime benefactor of the college.

According to Don Raber, Provost at PC, “Carol Grotnes Belk was a longtime friend to Presbyterian College. The Belk family has consistently supported international programs, living-learning opportunities, and recruiting a top-notch faculty for our students.”

Part of the support Carol provided to the College allowed Presbyterian to recruit and fund new faculty across departments on campus. The Carol Grotnes Belk Fellowship Fund provides support for faculty salaries, and given her contributions to campus Presbyterian College has been able to assist new and visiting faculty with moving and interview expenses, acquisition of new technology, funds for travel to conferences, and other faculty development opportunities.

In addition to support for faculty, the Carol International House (CIH), located on the east plaza behind the Grotnes and Barron residence halls, was established in 2000 as a result of a major gift by Irwin Belk in honor of his wife Carol. The CIH is a $1.82 million facility that houses 33 students and features a kitchen, classroom, computer lab, and spacious lobby area. Special programming connected with global issues and cultural understanding provides a unique “living-learning” experience for Presbyterian College students and international exchange students.