CPCC Culinary Arts instructor named to ACF Culinary Team USA

Chef Robert Marilla, CEC, a culinary arts instructor at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), earned one of onlyChef Marilla eight spots on the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions. Fourteen chefs from across the country competed for a place on the eight-member team during a July 10-13 conference in Orlando, Fla.

During the four-day event, Marilla, together with Sam Hart, a CPCC culinary student intern and Charlotte resident, participated in two competitions, expertly executing the menu Marilla had perfected in the months leading up to the event: a fish course featuring Brunswick County Strawberry Grouper, a Frisee and Brussels Sprouts salad and a Pork Loin and Sausage Crepinette entrée.
"I cannot thank the CPCC community enough for its support," Marilla, a Denver, N.C., resident, said. "I am extremely excited about this opportunity and representing CPCC on the world stage." Continued




 

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Foundation News.

From WCNC: CPCC students make, donate wigs to...


CHARLOTTE, N.C. There is a special room at the American Cancer Society in Charlotte.
Inside the health organization's building is a wig room where cosmetology students from Central Piedmont Community College donated 32 wigs.
"I love making wigs so to be able to do it for a good cause and for the American Cancer society was a really good experience," said CPCC student Courtney Lebby.
What started out as a school assignment ultimately became a rewarding experience for a group of cosmetology students at CPCC.
"I think this was a great opportunity for the school and the students," said CPCC student Roni Odugbesan.
People battling cancer can swing by and pick out a wig free of charge once a year.
"Wigs are expensive if they're not given to you for free," Lebby said. "Especially human hair wigs, they can range anywhere from $300 to $400."
Some of the wigs are made of all synthetic hair, others are completely made of human hair. There are even some made of a combination of both. 
Students told NBC Charlotte it can take anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day to make a wig.
"We didn't cut the bangs just because we don't know how people's facial when they put a wig on," Lebby said. "They can either have a stylist cut it to shape their face or if it's curly hair, they can stay it, they can braid it down."
The students say they're just happy to have a chance to share their talents.
"We really are glad to help the community," Odugbesan said.
© 2017 WCNC.COM

Posted in Alumni, Community, Foundation News.

Dr. D, CPCC Students and Employees Help Make Sandwiches for Urban Ministries

In honor of Dr. Deitemeyer's inauguration on November 3, 2017, CPCC's Service-Learning and Student Life teams coordinated a number of community outreach initiatives focused on feeding Charlotte's hungry during the week of Oct. 30, 2017.
As a result, CPCC students, faculty and staff, together with CPCC President, Dr. Deitemeyer, helped make sandwiches for Urban Ministries at the Levine Campus on Oct. 30. The college's goal was to help make 2,500 sandwiches for Urban Ministries during this special week of service. 
 

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Community.

CPCC breaks ground for its largest-ever building

Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) officials broke ground today for the new North Classroom Building, at the college's Central Campus. The 154,100 square-foot facility will be the largest building ever constructed by the college.

"With this new space, the college will be better able to equip students with the skills required to pursue family-sustaining careers and transform their lives," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, CPCC president. "I firmly believe we at the college are in the life-transformation businesses, and this new building will be an important element in this process.

North Classroom Building Project Summary:
  • Construction/Project Manager:  Rodger Builders
  • Architect:  Bergmann Associates
  • 154,100-square-foot project
  • Total project cost:  $56.1 million
  • Source of funding:  2013 Mecklenburg County bonds
  • Scheduled completion date:  Open for classes January 2020
The North Classroom Building will include:
  • 23 classrooms
  • 29 computer classrooms
  • 200-seat auditorium
  • Four biology labs
  • Two chemistry labs
  • Faculty/staff offices

The six-floor North Classroom Building will be larger than the Overcash Building, also located on the Central Campus. The Overcash Building, completed in 2005, currently is CPCC's biggest facility, standing at 128,304 square feet.

"This new building will provide much-needed classroom space to address student demand on this campus," Deitemeyer added. The new building will sit on the Central Campus main quad.
The groundbreaking ceremony was one of several inauguration week events taking place at the college. On Friday, Nov. 3, at 10:30 a.m., in Halton Theater of the Overcash Building, Deitemeyer will be inaugurated as CPCC's fourth president.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Community, Foundation News.

CPCC inaugurates Deitemeyer as college’s fourth president

CPCC inaugurated Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer as the college's fourth president today at a ceremony held on the Central Campus. Featuring the pageantry of an academic procession down Elizabeth Avenue, it was first presidential inauguration at the college in 30 years.

Deitemeyer became the fourth president of CPCC on Jan. 2, 2017. It's an academic tradition that an institution hold aninauguration or installment event at some point during a new president's first year. Deitemeyer's predecessor, Dr. Tony Zeiss, chose to not have an inauguration when he joined CPCC in 1992. His predecessor, Dr. Ruth Shaw, was inaugurated on Jan. 30, 1987.
Deitemeyer came to CPCC with an extensive and diverse background in community college administration. Her career has spanned 25 years in higher education, with 23 of those serving in community college systems in North Carolina, Kentucky and Florida. Just prior to CPCC, she served six years as the president of the College of the Albemarle, based in Elizabeth City, N.C.

During the inauguration ceremony, Deitemeyer took the oath of office, received the college medallion and gave an address in which she spoke on the social and economic necessity of education.
"Education is the answer that will bring us together in our differences and bridge the economic divide both in Charlotte and in our country," Deitemeyer said. "This is a community with global aspirations. We seek a larger presence on the global economic stage. We must connect these aspirations with efforts across the community to enhance the economic mobility of our citizens by preparing a globally competitive workforce," Deitemeyer added. "So as we make the name of Charlotte more respected across the globe and see our prosperity multiply, we leave no one behind and lift everyone up."
Dr. D takes the oath of presidentAn academic procession of about 200 college trustees, faculty members and administrators and visiting delegates from other institutions of higher education, all in caps and gowns, signaled the start of the event. The procession began at the Worrell Building and moved down Elizabeth Avenue to the Overcash Building and its Halton Theater, were the inauguration ceremony was held.
Participating in the ceremony were CPCC trustees Edwin Dalrymple and Judith Allison; Ella Scarborough, chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners; Rev. Clint Pressley of Hickory Grove Baptist Church; student Spencer Jones; alumna Lynne Tatum Little; faculty member Carolyn Jacobs; staff member Heather Napier; CPCC Foundation board member Gary LaBrosse; acting president of the North Carolina Community College System Jennifer Haygood; and Dr. David Johnson, president of the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents. The Carolina Brass Quintet and the CPCC Chorus performed during the ceremony.

Deitemeyer's pathway to success began at Polk Community College in Florida, where she graduated with an associate of arts degree. From there, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in mass communications and public relations, a master's degree in counselor education and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.

She serves on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Board of Trustees and is an active member of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents. She is a Rotarian and serves on many community and philanthropic boards, including the Charlotte Chamber, Charlotte Regional Collaborative for a Global Economy, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Charlotte Will, Leading on Opportunity Council, and the League for Innovation.

The inauguration and college-wide luncheon that followed culminated a week of activities, which included events and drives to support Project Life, Urban Ministries and Loaves and Fishes. The college also broke ground at a Nov. 1, ceremony for the new North Classroom Building on Central Campus. The 154,100 square-foot facility will be the largest building ever constructed by the college. It will be open for classes in January 2020.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Events, Foundation News.