Dr. Jim Tschechtelin was the center of attention at the U.S. Custom House -- just as planned. Almost 450 friends and supporters gathered to wish him well as he retires after serving 12 years as president of Baltimore City Community College.

"It's nice to hear good things about someone you love," remarked Susan Tschechtelin, as she watched her husband greet many of the guests.

Among those adding warmth to the room: Dr. Ellestine J. Grant, BCCC board chair; James E. Harris Sr., Dr. Francine Schaffer and Winston Smith, BCCC board members; Gino J. Gemignani Jr., BCCC Foundation board chair; Katrina R. Riddick, Deborah Knight-Kerr, Larry Bur, Dr. Bonnie S. Copeland, John Pipitone, Keith Vander Kolk, J.C. Weiss and Gary Konetzni, BCCC Foundation board members; Mark Tschechtelin, Becky and Perry Dillon, Carol and Mark Halstead, Tschechtelin family members; Charles Simmons, Sojourner-Douglass College president; Dr. Stuart Steiner, Genesee Community College president; Marion Pines, Johns Hopkins University Institute for Policy Studies senior fellow; Terry Laster, Educational Technology Inc. president; Elayne Hettleman, Leadership Baltimore County executive director; Alice Smith, Greater Baltimore Committee member services director; Michele Whelley, Downtown Partnership president; and Vernon Thompson, Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development assistant secretary. The event helped raise about $200,000 for the James D. Tschechtelin Workforce Scholarship Endowment.

And what about the future for the retiring pres?

"I'll be teaching, writing, consulting," said Tschechtelin. "Oh. And playing a little more golf."