Central Piedmont Unveils "Synergy": A Sculptural Tribute to the Arts and Humanities

Central Piedmont Community College proudly announced the installation of a new monumental sculpture, "Synergy," created by renowned artists Hanna Jubran and Jodi Hollnagel-Jubran of J&H Studio Inc. Hanna and Jodi, co-owners of J&H Studio Inc., have created many sculptures nationally and internationally.

The contemporary sculpture, spanning 16'6" in height, 12" in width, and 9' in depth and made from stainless steel and bronze, integrates a series of motivational words inspired by Central Piedmont's mission, vision, and values. Complementary benches were installed near the sculpture, featuring academic disciplines within the arts and humanities.

This initiative was made possible by the generosity of anonymous donors passionate about integrating the arts and humanities into students' perspectives. They believe that these branches offer students a chance to understand the past, better analyze the present, and achieve a more informed outlook on the future.

The global selection process for the sculpture began in the fall of 2021 and saw over a dozen submissions from across the US and Canada. After a rigorous process, the college's Public Art Committee, leadership, and donors narrowed the selection. 

The installation of "Synergy" was also facilitated by several in-kind donors and friends of Central Piedmont, including Concrete Supply, Showalter Construction, Black Diamond Crane & Rigging, Metrolina Steel Erectors, Henry Batten, Glenn Sherrill, and Carl Showalter.

Central Piedmont Community College invites community members, students, and visitors to witness the beauty and message of "Synergy," located on the quad of the college's Central Campus.

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Posted in Campus, Foundation News. Tagged as arts and humanities.

Hagemeyer Library included in American Libraries' 2023 Design Showcase

The one-year-old Hagemeyer Library, located on Central Piedmont Community College's Central Campus, has earned the distinction of being included in American Libraries' 2023 Design Showcase. The annual showcase seeks to identify and highlight the most impressive new and renovated libraries in the United States.

"This year's selections," according to American Libraries, "represent a return to pre-pandemic normalcy and demonstrate a firm step into the future, with physical spaces designed to draw in communities, celebrate local history, and acknowledge diverse natural environments. For these overhauls and expansions, form and functionality reign."

The 66,321 square-foot Hagemeyer Library is an anchor of the one-year-old Parr Center, the hub of student life on the Central Campus. A true 21st-century library, the Hagemeyer Library offers an abundance of indoor and outdoor study and collaboration spaces for students and community members. In addition to traditional library services, the three-story Hagemeyer provides students a Makerspace, media studios, event/meeting space, family study room, access to balcony seating, as well as designated quiet rooms, classrooms, and faculty space.

The 183,000-square-foot Parr Center opened in July 2022 and was built with Mecklenburg County bonds and other funds. The visually distinctive facility was designed by Morris Berg and Moody Nolan Architects, with construction management services provided by Rodgers and R.J. Leeper Construction. It is the largest building constructed in the 60-year history of the college.

See the Central Piedmont website for more information about the college's library services.

Read more about the Parr Center.

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Posted in Announcements, Campus, Foundation News. Tagged as parr center.

Gov. Roy Cooper comes to Central Piedmont, touts NC business, workforce

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper came to Central Piedmont Community College today to celebrate CNBC naming North Carolina as the "Top State for Business" in 2023.

Central Piedmont's Central Campus welcomed Gov. Cooper as he kicked off a series of statewide events to highlight North Carolina's strong and diverse workforce and the key role played by community colleges. With business and education leaders and federal, state and local elected officials in attendance, Cooper touted North Carolina's record of being a state known for strong business and industry and a responsive community college system.

"North Carolina is the best state for business for the second year in a row thanks to our well-trained, diverse, and dedicated workforce," Governor Cooper said. "Our community colleges are our not-so-secret weapon when it comes to building a talented workforce, and it's critical that we invest in our public schools, quality childcare, our community colleges and the health of North Carolina working families in order to continue this amazing success."

Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer made welcoming remarks and commented on the distinguished work and history of North Carolina's community colleges.

"Given that a world-class workforce is needed for businesses to thrive, I can't think of a better place for Governor Cooper to tout our state's consistently high business rankings. Central Piedmont and our 57 sister colleges across the state have been preparing individuals to work in high-demand careers for 60 years now," Deitemeyer said. "Through the decades, North Carolina's community colleges have responded to industry and employer needs, developing talent pipelines of well-trained, highly skilled workers who are ready to hit the ground running."

On July 11, CNBC named North Carolina as America's Top State for Business in 2023 for the second year in a row. The CNBC study looks at 86 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. North Carolina ranked number 1 in workforce and scored well in the economy, technology and innovation, and access to capital categories. This is only the second time in the CNBC ranking's history that a state has received the top spot two years in a row. Since 2017, North Carolina has placed in the top five of state rankings four times.

Earlier this year, North Carolina also won Site Selection Magazine's Prosperity Cup for the third year in a row, which recognizes the competitiveness of state-level economic development agencies and their success in landing capital investment projects. This year, North Carolina also won Area Development magazine's 2023 Platinum Shovel Award, which recognizes states that went above and beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation and received Business Facilities magazine's State of the Year award after a historic year of economic development and job growth.

Cooper was joined by N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders, major business leaders from the Charlotte area, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and leaders from North Carolina's community college system and Central Piedmont Community College. Over the coming weeks, Cooper will travel across the state to spotlight North Carolina's strong community colleges and the skilled and diverse workforce they create that has made the state a standout for businesses across the country.

"North Carolina community colleges have long been the difference maker for North Carolinians who want a better job, better pay, or new opportunities. Now, the North Carolina Community College System is proving to be the difference maker in how we recruit new businesses and build talent pipelines that make good on our commitments to prepare graduates for a dynamic workplace," said North Carolina Community College System President Jeff Cox.

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Posted in Campus, Foundation News. Tagged as ncgovernor, workforce development.

Central Piedmont Archives Opens 'Parrallel Lives' Exhibition

The Central Piedmont Community College Archives department has opened an exhibition of local interest: "Parallel Lives Central High School and Second Ward High School."

The exhibition highlights the centennial history of Charlotte's Central High School and Second Ward High School (both opened in 1923), celebrates the memories of their alumni, and seeks to raise awareness of the importance of historical preservation.

Central High and Second Ward High were built to meet the growing secondary education needs of Charlotte in the early 20th century. The schools were segregated; Second Ward serving Black students and Central High serving white students. With Central High located on Elizabeth Avenue and Second Ward High on Alexander Street, the schools were within walking distance, and yet, their students had separate high school experiences. In 1957, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools began integrating high schools.

One hundred years after building and opening the schools, the Central High facility remains standing as part of Central Piedmont's Central Campus. The gymnasium and a historical plaque are all that remain of Second Ward High.

The "Parallel Lives Central High School and Second Ward High School," exhibition is open to the public through May 8, in the Archives section of the Hagemeyer Library, located in the Parr Center, on Central Campus, with nearby visitor parking available in Lot 5, located at 230 N. Kings Drive.

You may also review an online version of the exhibition.

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Posted in Announcements, Campus, Community, Foundation News. Tagged as archives.

Central Piedmont to Establish Honors Program

Through a generous gift from Truist Bank, Central Piedmont Community College will establish an Honors Program, opening with the start of the 2023 fall semester.

The Honors Program will seek to develop excellence in students by providing high quality enrichment experiences that are intellectually challenging and result in deeper learning. The Honors Program will engage students in meaningful academic, personal, and social development experiences to create independent thinkers and life-long learners through the construction of knowledge.

"The Honors Program is an example of how Central Piedmont is committed to elevating student success," said Dr. Deninne Pritchett, Honors Program faculty director. "The Honors Program will create additional opportunities for students who want to attend Central Piedmont while enhancing the experiences of current students. Students in the Honors Program will be challenged and gain transferable skills that add value to the credits or degree earned at Central Piedmont resulting in better marketability."

Students will actively participate in course sections aligned with the Honors Program foundations emphasizing experiential learning, research, civic engagement, global learning, leadership, and reflective thinking. The Honors Program will include a variety of transformational learning experiences for students planning to transfer, earn a degree, or enter the workplace.

Students in the Honors Program will be referred to as Honors Program Scholars. They will be required to complete 15-credit hours in Honors Program course sections, a 30-hour immersive experience, and 10 activities or events including interview and résumé sessions that emphasize the Honors Program foundations.

Students can apply for scholarships that will cover tuition and course materials as well as travel, events, and immersion experiences aligned with at least one of the program foundations. The Honors Program will be open to students from all courses of study offered at the college. The college will provide alternate methods for acceptance into the program outside of GPA requirements to ensure the program is equitable and inclusive.

"Research shows honors program students have increased retention rates, higher graduation rates, and increased pathways to honors programs at four-year institutions," Pritchett added. "As a champion of students and catalyst for opportunity, Central Piedmont continues to be at the forefront of a changing student population and the need to prepare students for the future."

Students and parents who want to learn more about Central Piedmont's new Honors Program can review the program webpage or contact Dr. Deninne Pritchett at honorsprogram@cpcc.edu.

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Posted in Announcements, Campus, Foundation News, Scholarships. Tagged as honors program, scholarships.

Bank of America Gift Enables Atrium Health Meaningful Medicine Opportunity at Central Piedmont

Thanks to a $10 million gift from Bank of America last month, Atrium Health has brought its Meaningful Medicine program to Central Piedmont Community College with the opening of a community-based virtual clinic. The clinic will provide health opportunities for students and staff, in addition to providing career pathways for students at Central Piedmont.

"Atrium Health's belief that care should be 'for all' is taking place at Central Piedmont Community College with the opening of this new, community-based virtual clinic," said Dr. Scott Rissmiller, enterprise executive vice president and chief physician executive for Atrium Health. "With the generous gift from Bank of America, Atrium Health's Meaningful Medicine supports improved access to health care and expands health equity and helps grow our next generation of health care workers in our community."

The new virtual care clinic at Central Piedmont aims to unite the best innovations within health care, social impact and workforce development to directly target health equity and economic mobility goals within Charlotte. With improved access to health care, the clinic will help mitigate disease progression, reduce missed class days due to illness and optimize access to primary care and a medical home.

Utilizing innovative technologies and digital diagnostics, the clinic will offer a variety of services, including: evaluation and treatment of common medical concerns; point of care testing and sample collection, such as strep throat testing, COVID testing, etc.; electronically prescribe medications to a pharmacy that's convenient to the patient; care coordination and support for patients to establish or reconnect with a medical home; coordinating follow-up appointments with primary care providers; and, connecting students and families to a host of community resources through Atrium Health's Community Resource Hub from food pantries to housing and financial assistance needs.

"Atrium Health's Meaningful Medicine program is a wonderful partnership that will create accessible, community-based virtual-care sites at Central Piedmont Community College and YMCA locations," said Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. "We are excited the community-based virtual clinic at Central Piedmont will be available to students, their family members, college employees and our community neighbors. We believe the clinic will provide a much needed and appreciated service."

Meaningful Medicine is a highly collaborative program uniting the best innovations within health care, social impact and workforce development all with the objective of directly targeting health inequality in Charlotte. The Atrium Health, Bank of America and Central Piedmont partnership will allow for the evaluation and development of a replicable, scalable and successful model for other cities across the United States. This investment will serve two valuable purposes: providing health care access to our most vulnerable communities and offering a pathway to a health care career for students and, for many, providing the opportunity to end the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

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Posted in Announcements, Campus, Foundation News.

College Dedicates Pauline Dove Gallery

Central Piedmont dedicated the Pauline Dove Gallery, located in the college's new Parr Center, on September 8.

Pauline, affectionately known as "Polly," taught art at the college for 30 years, before retiring in 2000.

A world-renowned artist, her work has been exhibited across the globe, including in Canada, India, Germany, Finland, Kenya, and Peru. Today, her paintings can be viewed on billboards across the Queen City, promoting ARTPop, an Arts & Science Council initiative that showcases local artists' work in public places to make art accessible to all people in the Charlotte community.

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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Foundation News.

Central Piedmont Dedicates $113.4 Million Parr Center

College leaders, local elected officials and the benefactors for whom the building is named all took part in Central Piedmont Community College's dedication of the 184,000 square-foot Parr Center today.

The Parr Center is the largest building constructed in the college's 59-year history and serves as its first-ever student union. With its prominent location on Elizabeth Avenue, the Parr Center is the new front door to the college's Central Campus and its signature building. Named for college benefactors Wilton L. and Mary W. Parr and their generous support of Central Piedmont over many years, the Parr Center is located on the footprint of two previous college structures the Terrell Building and the Hagemeyer Learning Resource Center. The Parr Center's positioning allowed the college to expand the size of the main quad and provides striking new architecture along Elizabeth Avenue, the main street through Central Campus. The center opened to students and the public on July 5.

"We believe this building will help students be successful," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. "The services they receive here, and the space provided where they can study, collaborate, mediate and, yes, rest, will help them persist and stay on the path to completion."

The Parr Center was constructed with Mecklenburg County bonds funds. George Dunlap, chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, remarked those funds were well spent. "The Parr Center is a wonderful example of the county using its resources to help those institutions that serve this community," Dunlap said. "Working together the county and the college we have achieved this, and we all have a reason to be proud."

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said she was pleased the college designed the facility with students as the focus. "When I look at this magnificent new facility, knowing that it was conceived and built to serve students and enhance the student experience at Central Piedmont, I know it is another example of the college staying true to its mission," Lyles said.

Approximately 200 people attended the outdoor ceremony, which paid tribute to Dr. Richard Hagemeyer, Central Piedmont's first president and the namesake of the new Hagemeyer Library, located in the Parr Center. Also honored were Wilton and Mary Parr for their decades-long support of the college.

"I am proud of my association with Central Piedmont Community College. I truly enjoyed taking classes here; they were fantastic," Wilton Parr said. "It's my hope that current students and those to come all have a great experience as I did. I'm truly honored to have the Parr name on this wonderful building."

Other speakers at the ceremony included Linda Lockman-Brooks, chair of the Central Piedmont Board of Trustees; Matthew Hart, principal architect with Morris-Berg; Pat Rodgers, president and CEO of Rodgers Builders; and Kay Mahoney, Central Piedmont Student Government Association president.

Parr Center Details:

Square Footage: 184,000

Project Cost:  $113.4 million

Source of funding: Mecklenburg County bonds and other county funds
Project Managers: Rodgers and R.J. Leeper Construction
Architects: Morris Berg and Moody Nolan Architects

Parr Center Features:

  • the Hagemeyer Library, a 21st-century library with an outdoor reading room, and abundant study spaces;
  • a Student Union, with Welcome Center, Admissions, Students Services, Testing Center, Advising Services, Student Life, Mentoring & Bridge programs, and International programs;
  • Academic Learning Center;
  • a theater with seating for 450;
  • the Pauline Dove Art Gallery;
  • student commons with a collaborative stair;
  • food services, featuring Catalyst Coffee Bar, grab-n-go items, and a dining area;
  • multiple outdoor/rooftop terraces;
  • six multipurpose rooms;
  • collaboration/group-study rooms available for use by students, faculty, and staff; and
  • enlarged outdoor quad space, designed for outdoor programming.

Learn more about the Parr Center.

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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Foundation News.

Parr Center Opens, Features Library Location and Theater

Central Piedmont is excited to announce that the Parr Center, its new hub of student life on Central Campus, has opened its doors!

The 183,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was built with Mecklenburg County bonds and other funds and was designed by Morris Berg and Moody Nolan Architects, with construction management services provided by Rodgers and R.J. Leeper Construction. It is the largest building constructed in the 59-year history of the college.

The new facility features:

  • the Hagemeyer Library, a 21st-century library including a maker space, podcasting and green screen rooms, and abundant study spaces, both inside and outdoors;
  • a Student Union, with Welcome Center, Admissions, Students Services, Testing Center, Advising Services, Student Engagement, Mentoring & Coaching programs, and International programs; 
  • Academic Learning Center; 
  • a theater with seating for 450; 
  • the Dove Art Gallery; 
  • student commons with a collaborative stair; 
  • food services, featuring Catalyst Coffee Bar, rotating grab-n-go items, and a dining area; 
  • multiple outdoor/rooftop terraces; 
  • six multipurpose rooms; 
  • collaboration/group-study rooms available for use by students, faculty, and staff; and
  • redeveloped quad space, designed for outdoor programming. 

"With its prominent location on Elizabeth Avenue, the Parr Center is destined to become the new front door to Central Campus and its signature building," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president, Central Piedmont. "We can't wait for students to take advantage of this new college resource, designed to transform the way we serve our students and help them achieve their academic and professional goals."

The Parr Center, named for college benefactors Wilton L. and Mary W. Parr and their generous support of Central Piedmont and its students over many years, is located on the footprint of two previous college structures the Terrell Building and the Hagemeyer Learning Resource Center. The Parr Center's positioning allowed the college to expand the size of the main quad and provides striking new architecture along Elizabeth Avenue, the main street through Central Campus.

To see a sneak peek inside the new Parr Center, view our online gallery.

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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Community, Foundation News.

Central Piedmont Selects Artists to Design Mural for New Student Union

Central Piedmont Community College has selected two local artists, Rosalia Torres-Weiner and Felicia Sky Sutton, to create a large-scale mural honoring the past history of the college, documenting the present, and reflecting the aspirations of Central Piedmont students for the future.

Torres-Weiner and Sutton, former Central Piedmont students, were chosen from a highly skilled pool of applicants to work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to create an interactive mural. The art work will be located in the dining area of the college's new student union, a part of Central Piedmont's new Parr Center complex, located on the Central Campus. The Parr Center will serve as the student services hub and include a new campus library, a 430-seat theater, a rooftop terrace, a 1,100- square-foot art gallery, and a maker's space for students to explore careers and creativity. The Parr Center will open to students and the public later this year.

According to the project's request for proposal, the mural's graphic design will span an 8-foot by 30-foot wall on the first floor of the 184,000-square-foot building. Its placement will benefit from the nearby dining space, which is flooded with natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the Charlotte city skyline. The mural will demonstrate the college's commitment to the fine arts and its support for the creative culture of its surrounding community.

Rosalia Torres-Weiner is an artist, activist and community leader in Charlotte. Her art captures the themes, colors and rich symbolism of her native home of Mexico. She took her first steps toward a creative career by taking graphic design courses at Central Piedmont. After operating a successful interior arts business, Torres-Weiner shifted the focus of her work from commercial art to art activism in 2010, by using her art to document social conditions and to raise awareness about issues affecting immigrant communities such as family separation, access to public education, racism, and moving beyond common stereotypes. Her work is featured in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum and has been exhibited in a variety of venues, including the McColl Center for Arts and Innovation, Levine Museum of the New South, the City of Raleigh Museum, the Latin American Center for Arts Gallery, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and the Mexican Cultural Institute at the Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C. Her story "The Magic Kite" was adapted by The Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

Felicia Sky Sutton is an educator, muralist, and multimedia artist who believes art creation and art education are an important pathway to self-empowerment. Working with paint, video, digital illustration, and most recently animation, She captures the essence of her subjects and tells stories through colorful portraiture, symbolism, and visual metaphors. Sutton is passionate about the use of public art to empower, build, and strengthen communities, and to bring new life to forgotten spaces. She attended Central Piedmont's dual enrollment program before transferring to and graduating from Appalachian State University with a bachelor's degree in art and visual culture. Her work has been in a number of group and solo exhibitions in Boone, N.C.; Charlotte and, most recently, in Philadelphia. In addition, she has been published in multiple publications and magazines.

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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Foundation News.

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