Although she grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, Grace Melvin is a big New York Yankees fan. She inherited her baseball fandom from her father, who originally hails from southwest Connecticut. In a way, that shared love led her to study Broadcasting and Production Technology at Central Piedmont.

"I started making videos for him for his birthday every year; they were short films," Grace said of the projects, which featured many Yankees references. "Every year I kept realizing, maybe I do like filmmaking, and maybe I could do this as a career."

Her dad also studied journalism in college, furthering Grace's interest in communications and related industries. Her parents' jobs brought her to the Charlotte area around 10 years ago, and Grace is on a steady path toward making a living in the communications world. As part of her journey, she served as one of the commencement speakers during the college's spring 2026 ceremonies. 

"Central Piedmont does something incredibly special," she said during the morning commencement. "It takes students who feel uncertain, overlooked or behind, and it gives them the space to lead and prove that they are capable of so much more than a GPA or a past mistake. I am standing here today as proof of that."

Grace was unsure of herself and her grades after high school, and struggled at a previous institution, but found her voice and direction at Central Piedmont.

She was a marshal for the December 2025 commencement event and was inspired by speaker Kristen Alvarado Sorto's speech. As a result, Grace wanted to represent her graduating class, area of study and the student groups she's been part of.

Grace has been part of a lot at Central Piedmont, but it was the grounds of Central Campus itself that made the first impression.

"Central Piedmont had the major that I was looking for, and I took a tour of it, and I was just so surprised at how beautiful the campus was," she said.

Knowing she wanted to transfer to a four-year school, Grace enrolled at Central Piedmont to earn a solid foundation while taking advantage of the college's affordable costs. She learned from faculty and staff who took a personal interest in her development, goals and ambitions. Plus, she was involved in numerous clubs and organizations.

Among her roles was serving as the vice president of communications for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society where she recapped meetings, sent out reminder communications, helped with induction ceremonies and made flyers. Wanting to give back to the community, she was also part of Rotaract Club at Central Piedmont and participated in wide-ranging community-service events. 

One of Grace's proudest achievements at the college was founding the Central Campus Film Society. In fact, she had the opportunity to graduate the previous semester but chose not to because she wanted to get the film society up and running. It was the first time she had ever built something from the ground up.

"It's been amazing being able to see so many people come together and see friendships form because of a shared love for film," she said.

Grace will transfer to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she plans to double major in film and communications. She would like to get a master's degree in communications at some point as well.

She's not yet sure what path she would like to take; it could be working for an outlet like ESPN, or working behind the camera as a cinematographer on a film set.

"I just know that I want to be successful," she said.

Central Piedmont helped plant those seeds of success for Grace, who was also a Merancas Scholar.

Her advice to others is simple: Utilize everything the college has to offer.

"Take advantage of the resources that are available to you on campus and get involved in student groups, student life," she said. "It'll really change your college experience."

It was an experience that all started with a simple birthday gift.

Central Piedmont Community College earned the 20262027 Military Friendly® School designation, recognizing the college's strong commitment to serving veterans, transitioning service members and military-connected students.

Since 2013, the college has proudly supported military-connected students through its Military Families and Veterans Services centers, which operate as a comprehensive one-stop support model across multiple campuses. 

Services include: 

• Academic advising
• Counseling
• Career coaching
• Goal setting and mentoring
• Assistance with education benefits
• Scholarship support
• Connections to community resources

These dedicated veteran spaces and support staff help ensure accessible, consistent support throughout a student's academic journey. 

"This recognition reflects Central Piedmont's commitment to meeting military-connected students where they are and helping them succeed," said Dr. Amy Bruining, vice president of student affairs. "Through dedicated support services and clear academic and career pathways, we ensure veterans and their families can achieve their goals and build meaningful futures."

Central Piedmont also offers priority registration for eligible veteran students and serves as an approved institution for Veteran Affairs education benefits. In 2024-25, the college enrolled nearly 1,000 U.S. military veteran students and dependents.

The college's approach is designed to support not only veterans and service members, but also military spouses and families as they navigate the transition from military service to civilian education and careers.

"Choosing a Military Friendly® school like Central Piedmont makes an enormous difference for veterans," said Lawanda Ellison, a Central Piedmont student in the Information Technology program who serves in the U.S. Army Reserve. "You're not treated like a number. From day one, the Military Families and Veterans Services team helped me understand how to maximize my VA benefits, plan my classes and move forward with confidence. They go above and beyond to make sure you're supported -- not just academically, but personally -- and that kind of guidance makes the transition from military service to college life so much easier."

About the Military Friendly® School designation

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® Schools designation are evaluated using a combination of public data sources and responses to a proprietary survey. More than 3,200 organizations participated in the 20262027 Military Friendly® review process. 

Final ratings were determined by combining survey results, public data and an assessment of each institution's ability to meet or exceed benchmarks related to student recruitment, retention, academic progress, graduation rates, career placement and support services for veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.

"Earning the Military Friendly® designation is more than a badge of honor; it is a reflection of an institution's deep-rooted values and strategic commitment to those who served," said Kayla Lopez, Vice President of Memberships at Military Friendly®. "These schools don't just open doors for veterans and military spouses -- they build sustainable pathways for academic success and long-term impact."

Central Piedmont Community College awarded an honorary degree to acclaimed chef and restaurateur Sam Hart during the college's Spring Commencement on May 14 at Bojangles Coliseum, celebrating Hart's leadership in the culinary arts and deep commitment to community impact.

Hart, executive chef and owner of counter‑, is a Charlotte native whose career reflects a nontraditional but purpose‑driven path to national recognition. After working in advertising, Hart made a pivotal decision to pursue a passion for cooking, returning home to enroll at Central Piedmont. In 2017 and 2018, Hart earned two culinary arts certificates from the college, choosing an accessible, community‑focused education as the foundation for a future in fine dining. 

While a student, Hart gained hands‑on experience in several of Charlotte's most respected kitchens before advancing their training in Chicago. There, Hart worked at world‑renowned restaurants, including the three‑Michelin‑starred Alinea, and later explored Japanese cuisine as a sashimi chef -- experiences that would shape a distinctive culinary voice.

In 2019, Hart returned to Charlotte with a clear vision: to create a dining experience that both challenged convention and lifted others along the way. That vision became counter‑, an intimate, full‑sensory restaurant designed as an incubator for emerging chefs. Under Hart's leadership, counter‑ has earned international acclaim, including recognition as a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Southeast, as well as a MICHELIN Star and MICHELIN Green Star, honoring excellence and sustainability.

Beyond accolades, Hart is known for supporting local suppliers and reinvesting in the Charlotte community.

Central Piedmont Community College has been awarded a $250,000 Careers Electric™ grant, positioning the college to strengthen the state's electrical and electrification workforce.

Central Piedmont is honored to be one of only 10 community colleges in the state to receive the grant, highlighting the college's strong track record in electrical training.

Supported by the Siemens Foundation and the North Carolina Community College System Foundation, the grant will enable Central Piedmont to expand enrollment capacity in its Electrical Systems Technology program by at least 20% by October 2028. 

The investment fuels immediate capacity at the Levine Campus upgrading lab infrastructure, adding critical equipment, including appliances, a water heater and other supplies, and hiring additional faculty all to drive student recruitment and deliver hands-on training aligned with industry needs.

The grant represents a strategic investment at a pivotal moment. As the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region accelerates, demand for skilled electrical talent is surging across both traditional and emerging industries and Central Piedmont is continuing to scale to meet the need.

"Central Piedmont's skilled trades programs power the people who power our economy," said Dr. Heather Hill, Central Piedmont's provost and chief academic officer. "Being selected for the Careers Electric™ Training Network allows us to expand access to electrical training that leads directly to stable, well‑paying careers, while helping employers fill urgent talent gaps."

Central Piedmont is doubling down on career and technical education to ensure a strong pipeline of professionals in skilled trades including welding, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, lineworker training, construction management and electrical systems.

More than 1,300 students enrolled in the college's HVAC, Electrical Systems Technology, and Construction Management programs from fall 2025 through spring 2026, with enrollment continuing to grow. The Careers Electric™ grant strengthens that momentum by targeting one of the region's most critical workforce needs: electrical and electrification expertise across traditional and emerging industries.

The initiative aims to prepare 25,000 North Carolinians over the next decade for essential roles in the state's workforce.

Central Piedmont Community College celebrated the academic achievement and perseverance of 1,843 graduates during its commencement on May 14, recognizing students who earned degrees and diplomas and are now prepared to shape their careers and the region's future.

The spring 2026 class represents a 6.2% year-over-year increase, with 107 more graduates completing credentials -- a continued sign of Central Piedmont's momentum and commitment to student success. Collectively, graduates earned an impressive 3.41 average GPA, reflecting their dedication and determination to balance academics with work, family and life's challenges.

"Your collective desire to excel in your studies is nothing short of remarkable," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont, during her commencement address. "Wherever you go, you carry with you the perseverance and success you've demonstrated here and we are confident you will thrive as you take the next step, becoming the future leaders, innovators and professionals who will make a significant difference in the world."

Nearly 500 graduates are entering high-demand career fields in healthcare, information technology, public safety, skilled trades and transportation -- all essential to the Charlotte region's economic vitality and long-term growth.

"Many of us didn't take a standard route to get here, and that's exactly what makes this moment meaningful," said Grace Melvin, a graduate in Broadcasting and Production Technology who served as the commencement speaker for the college's morning ceremony. "At Central Piedmont, I found direction, purpose and the courage to try again. We didn't just earn degrees -- we proved that success doesn't require a perfect timeline, only the persistence to keep going."

The class also included nearly 325 graduates from Central Piedmont's dual enrollment and middle and early college programs, underscoring the college's role in accelerating opportunity for high school students through these early-access pathways.

"We are here because we chose growth over comfort," said Khushi Bhatia, a middle college graduate who completed her associate degree while finishing high school and spoke during the afternoon ceremony. "Central Piedmont gave us the space to believe in ourselves and the confidence to define our own direction forward."