The public is invited to a reception honoring Dr. LaVern Franzen, who retired as president of Central Community College on June 30.

The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 21 at the Interstate Holiday Inn in Grand Island.

Individuals interested in attending the reception are asked to RSVP by Aug. 6. Reservations may be made by contacting Sandy Burris at (308) 398-7301; toll-free at 1-877-222-0780, ext. 7301; or by e-mail at sburris@cccneb.edu.

Franzen began his 41-year career with CCC in 1967 as an accounting instructor at CCC-Hastings. He was chairman of the campus’ business programs from 1969 until 1977, when he took on the task of establishing CCC’s Lexington Center. He served as its associate dean until 1987 when he became dean of instruction at CCC-Grand Island. He was appointed as a college vice president and president of CCC-Hastings in 1996.

In 2002, Franzen was named college president, with overall responsibility for CCC’s campuses, centers and operations throughout the college’s 25-county service area.

A graduate of Gothenburg High School, Franzen earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in vocational education from Kearney State College and a doctor of education degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He is a member of the Mary Lanning Health Care Foundation Board, Good Samaritan Village Advisory Board, Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce Board, First Presbyterian Church, Hastings Rotary Club, Phi Delta Kappa and the Association for Career and Technical Education.

Franzen is a past chairman of the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, past secretary of Phi Delta Kappa, past state board member and state president of the Nebraska Vocational Association (NVA) and past executive committee member of the Nebraska Council on Vocational Education. He also has held all the offices in the Association for Retarded Citizens, including state president.

Franzen and his wife, Connie, have four children: Eric of Kansas City, Mo.; Andrea of Hastings; Amy Donadio of Narragansett, R.I.; and Allison of Lincoln. They also have three grandchildren.