The Young Alumni Award of Excellence was created in 2019 to acknowledge recent graduates and the contributions they have made to the community in their short time away from Central Piedmont. Nominations are accepted for alumni of outstanding character who have excelled in their professions and significantly impacted the lives of others. A full list of criteria is available on the Alumni Awards page.
2021 Honoree: James "Dan" Bailey '12
As a U.S. Army military veteran who served as a construction engineer and paratrooper, Dan Bailey has acquired skills that would last him a lifetime. He considers Central Piedmont his home and the place where he gained invaluable leadership skills not to only lead, but also to follow. Dan completed his Associate in Arts in 2012 and today he serves as president and CEO of Steele's Mechanical where he has grown the 49-year old HVAC company from a local business to one of the fastest-growing mechanical contractors in the region. He's accomplished this all while continuing to serve the community as a tutor, coach and supporter of organizations throughout the Carolinas.
Watch Dan's acceptance speech.
2019 Honoree: Brandy R. Garrett '09
Since graduating from Central Piedmont in 2009 with an associate in arts, Garrett has earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from UNC Charlotte, and a master's degree in education from Francis Marion University. Today, she is married, a mom to five children by adoption, and a proud middle school teacher, who works to ensure the in-need children she teaches are well loved. She routinely raises money for her students, to guarantee they have the supplies they need to learn, and was among the first to raise her hand to help those impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael in fall 2018. Her commitment extends well beyond her classroom; in fact, each year she returns to Central Piedmont to volunteer at the college's annual Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony, an event that honors the academic achievements of current Central Piedmont students.
