Central Piedmont Returns for Year Five of 'All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative
August 22, 2023For the fifth-consecutive year, Central Piedmont Community College will participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative and receive $5,000 in funding to support its career and technical education programs.
Funded by Metallica's All Within My Hands foundation (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was created in 2018 to fundamentally improve the earning potential for students who become Metallica Scholars.
Central Piedmont will continue to use the generous grant funds to provide direct support for students enrolled in healthcare career programs who need financial assistance to complete their studies and become licensed healthcare professionals. Central Piedmont seeks to ensure all graduating healthcare students have funding to pay for their licensure/certification exams so they can quickly enter the workforce fully licensed/certified.
The MSI workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of 2023, it will have helped more than 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and AWMH have invested more than $6 million in the American workforce.
"The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative assemblage of the nation's best community colleges, creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices," said Peter Degrosso, AWMH executive director. "As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately, the impact is felt locally and nationally as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill in-demand technical positions."
Learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative at Central Piedmont.
Learn more about Central Piedmont's healthcare career programs.
Read more
Shawn Abney Named 2023 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar
August 16, 2023Central Piedmont Community College proudly announces that Shawn Abney has been named one of the 213 Phi Theta Kappa members to become a 2023 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. Abney, a distinguished student at the community college, will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program is designed to help new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while they pursue their associate degrees. This year's scholars were selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential from nearly 1,100 applications.
$213,000 will be awarded this year through the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is providing $200,000 in funding, with an additional $25,000 set aside specifically for members who are veterans or active members of the United States military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, earmarked for international students through the Global Leaders of Promise Scholarships.
Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, said, "The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges. We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow's leaders of the global community."
The funds aid in college completion and allow students to engage in Society programs, enabling them to develop vital leadership skills for future roles in their communities.
Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, noted, "Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers. The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn't an obstacle to achieving their academic goals."
Central Piedmont Community College congratulates Shawn Abney and all other Leaders of Promise Scholars on this exceptional achievement and wishes them continued success in their educational pursuits.
For more information, visit the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program.
Read moreNursing Student Awarded Hurst Review NCLEX® Scholarship
August 8, 2023Mariam Idris, a dedicated Nursing student and active Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) member at Central Piedmont Community College has been announced as a recipient of the prestigious Hurst Review NCLEX® Scholarship. Idris is among the twelve exceptional students from across the nation who have been honored with this scholarship.
The Hurst Review NCLEX® Scholarship, generously funded by Hurst Review Services, a prominent exam preparation company, is designed to support nursing majors affiliated with Phi Theta Kappa preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®). As part of this scholarship, recipients will receive comprehensive NCLEX® study materials and a cash award that covers the expenses associated with the NCLEX® exam fees.
Central Piedmont Community College takes immense pride in its Nursing program, which boasts a history dating back to 1965, making it the oldest nursing program in the North Carolina Community College System. Over the last five decades, the program has continually evolved and expanded to the evolving needs of the healthcare industry and the college student community.
The program's consistent success is exemplified by the outstanding achievements of its nursing graduates. In 2022, Central Piedmont nursing graduates who earned The Christa A. Overcash Associate Degree in nursing exhibited an impressive 92% employment rate and an exceptional 98% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN certification exam.
The Central Piedmont nursing program holds full approval from the NC Board of Nursing and accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Mariam Idris' selection as a recipient of the Hurst Review NCLEX® Scholarship is a testament to her exceptional dedication and academic prowess. The scholarship recognizes her hard work and commitment and acknowledges the outstanding quality of Central Piedmont's Nursing program.
Students Honored as Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars
March 16, 2023Two Central Piedmont Community College students have been named 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars, in partnership with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Each will receive a scholarship.
Ashton Leswing has been named a Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Letrell Grady has been named Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars across the nation with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.
"The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges," said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca- Cola Scholars Foundation. "We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow's leaders of the global community."
Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service, and this year winners were chosen from more than 2,400 applicants.
Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa's annual convention, PTK Catalyst, to be held in Columbus, Ohio, April 20-22.
Central Piedmont to Establish Honors Program
March 6, 2023Through 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.
Coca-Cola Consolidated and College Launching Career Pipeline
November 4, 2022Nation's Largest Coca-Cola Bottler, Central Piedmont Community College, and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Collaborate to Foster Economic Mobility
Coke Consolidated is funding up to 30 apprenticeships at Central Piedmont Community College to spur interest in high-demand positions in manufacturing, equipment repair and logistics at its Charlotte-area facilities.
Qualified applicants will receive financial support for career certificates in fields such as HVAC repair and manufacturing, while gaining experience through part-time positions at Coke Consolidated. The application process will begin in early 2023.
"These scholarships exemplify our commitment to empowering the next generation of diverse servant leaders," said Dave Katz, President and Chief Operating Officer at Coke Consolidated. "We're looking for talented candidates who want to grow their skillsets and their careers."
"Coke Consolidated is dedicated to providing opportunities for new and existing teammates to continuously learn and grow," said Brent Tollison, a Senior Vice President at Coke Consolidated and member of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Board of Trustees.
"We want to invest in people and to provide the resources and encouragement they need to achieve their goals," he said. "These aren't job opportunities. These are career opportunities."
Coke Consolidated is committed to workforce development and economic opportunity in the communities it serves. Applicants selected for an apprenticeship will have ongoing training and leadership development opportunities as part of their employment experience.
Central Piedmont's credentialing programs are flexible and designed to meet the needs of students who also are working part-time. Coke Consolidated's apprenticeship program targets the more than 65% of adults in the region who don't have a bachelor's degree.
"Central Piedmont is pleased and proud to partner with Coke Consolidated to offer students a pathway to invaluable work experience and rewarding, high-demand careers in manufacturing," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont President. "We are eager to open the program, and we thank Coke Consolidated for their support and collaboration."
Coke Consolidated is working with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CLT Alliance) to highlight opportunities in the manufacturing sector and to promote scholarships for interested applicants. Charlotte is home to more than 3,600 manufacturing companies, which together employ over 145,000 people. 7,500 new manufacturing jobs have been announced in the region since 2020, according to CLT Alliance.
"Manufacturing is integral in the Charlotte Region, and the industry and next generation of talent are poised to shape our future economy," said CLT Alliance President and CEO Janet LaBar. "We applaud Coke Consolidated's commitment to strengthening our workforce and believe collaborations like this will strengthen our pipeline, enrich our economy, and provide a pathway to opportunity for our region's residents."
Coca-Cola Consolidated currently has open positions in the Charlotte area, including many technical jobs. Learn more by visiting Careers.CokeConsolidated.com.
About Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.
Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is To Honor God in all we do, To Serve Others, To Pursue Excellence, and To Grow Profitably. For over 120 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers, and communities we serve and are passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell, and distribute beverages of The CocaCola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia to approximately 60 million consumers. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "COKE." More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com.
Central Piedmont's RN Program Among Best in NC
October 18, 2022RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization, has released its annual lists of "Best RN Programs." Central Piedmont Community College's RN program is ranked number two among the 20 that were evaluated in North Carolina. The number-two ranking is the highest among N.C. community college programs.
The complete "2023 Best RN Programs in North Carolina" ranking can be found at https://www.registerednursing.org/state/north-carolina/#rankings. RegisteredNursing.org assessed nursing programs using several factors which represent how well a program supports students toward licensure and beyond. Details about the methodology used can be reviewed at https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/.
Central Piedmont's nursing program is the oldest program in the N.C. Community College System and has graduated more than 3,000 students since its inception in 1965. Interested students can apply to enter three different nursing tracks:
- The Christa A. Overcash Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) Program
- The one-year Dickson Practical Nursing Program
- Nurse Aide Program.
To learn more about Central Piedmont's more than 20 healthcare career programs, visit the college website.
For information on financial assistance available through Central Piedmont Foundation scholarships for nursing students, visit our scholarship portal.
Alumni Spotlight: Christina Clothier '15
October 8, 2019
As an unemployed adult exploring her career options, Christina Clothier drew inspiration from the things in her life that she enjoyed. A positive experience with a high school laboratory internship led her to the field of Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT). She chose to attend Central Piedmont because it was affordable, convenient, and accessible. She summarizes her decision, "MLT seemed like a good fit that I could be satisfied doing, and Central Piedmont had such an approachable path that I could get there in two years."
Christina graduated with an AAS in MLT in May 2015 and has been working in her degree field since. Regarding the quality of her education at Central Piedmont, she says, "I am amazed by the peers I meet with BA degrees in my field whose education does not hold a candle to mine. I am so grateful and shocked by the quality of the education I received in my MLT classes and how well-prepared it made me for my career." This is not unusual for the MLT program at Central Piedmont, which has been in operation for over twenty years. In fact, graduates of the program have a 100% pass rate on the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board Certification exam.
In addition to the outstanding education Christina received at Central Piedmont, she was also able to take advantage of enrichment and social activities through campus clubs and organizations. One particularly memorable experience was the medical service learning trip to Peru. Not only has she benefitted personally and professionally from her involvement in campus activities, she has also received a scholarship at her current university through her involvement with Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for students of two-year colleges.
Christina is currently working towards her BA in Allied Health and is on track to graduate this fall. As a first generation college student, she will be the first person in her family to reach this milestone accomplishment. Her long-term career goal is to work in a public health laboratory.
Christina encourages others to pursue a higher education at Central Piedmont as well. She says, "My education prepared me very well for real life situations. You will be so glad you did this. The work may be hard, but it is so worth it to build your career and find your place."
Share your own Central Piedmont journey and successes to be considered for a future spotlight.
Read more
Alumni Spotlight: Ricky Brown Jr. '09
September 11, 2019
When describing Ricky Brown Jr.'s educational journey, the word "traditional" doesn't immediately come to mind.
Raised by his grandparents, he didn't attend college directly after high school graduation. Instead, he began a full-time career at Goodyear where he slowly but surely climbed the corporate ladder.
Even though he was making strides at Goodyear and building a successful career with the company, Ricky wanted more, for both himself and his family. He no longer wanted to live paycheck to paycheck or be embarrassed to have to say "no" when asked about his education status on applications, forms, etc. He decided it was time to earn a college degree.
Unfortunately, before he could take that next step in his life plan, he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. To make matters worse, doctors discovered a congenital heart disorder during recovery that would require him to undergo countless surgeries, therapy sessions, and more.
Despite this setback, he enrolled in college, choosing Central Piedmont because its multi-campus footprint was convenient for his lifestyle and its robust Comprehensive Articulation Agreement with surrounding four-year colleges would ensure all of the credits he earned would 100 percent transfer to East Carolina University, where he planned to complete his B.S. in Communications (ECU).
Upon enrolling in 2007, he was awarded a Levine Scholarship, which to Ricky, was the largest blessing of all. "The Levine Scholarship was extremely beneficial," he says. "It helped partially offset the medical expenses I incurred during college, allowing me to focus more on obtaining my Associate in Science degree and less on my finances."
Thanks to Central Piedmont's flexible learning schedule, Ricky started back to school slowly, choosing to take online courses because they could easily fit in-between his physical therapy sessions. Focusing on his studies helped him keep his mind engaged while his body recovered.
During his time at Central Piedmont, Ricky fostered a variety of relationships with peers and faculty alike, and generated a number of professional connections as well. "I still communicate with Dr. Anne McIntosh, one of my instructors from Central Piedmont. In fact, she continues to support my professional and academic endeavors to this day."
Since graduating from Central Piedmont in 2009, Ricky earned his bachelor's degree from ECU, continues to work at Goodyear in Internal Audit, was accepted into the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and is attending graduate school at East Carolina University, pursuing an MBA, which he is projected to complete in spring 2020. After graduate school, he's considering earning a Ph.D.
"My goal is to continue to grow and develop into the best version of myself," he says. "I would love to one day give back to Central Piedmont -- the institution that gave me the foothold I needed to succeed in all areas of my life."
--
Share your own Central Piedmont journey and successes to be considered for a future spotlight. Read more
Alumni Spotlight: Jamal Moss '12
August 14, 2019
Thanks to the Anthony Foxx Scholarship, Jamal Moss was able to attend Central Piedmont Community College a place where he says he "found everyone."
"There were days when I wasn't even on my own side," explains Jamal. "But thanks to Central Piedmont's staff members, I was able to overcome life's obstacles, stay grounded and know that I was going to succeed. The Central Piedmont team was not only my greatest source of support, but also my biggest cheerleader."
With this support system on his side, Jamal was able to focus on his studies; enjoy the resources at his disposal, including SGA, MAN UP, and Service Club; and graduate from Central Piedmont in 2012 with an associate degree.
Jamal used his Central Piedmont degree as the launch pad for what has become an impressive educational journey. Since graduating, he's earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from N.C. State, a master's degree in bioethics and science policy from Duke University, and is currently a first year medical student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.
During that time, he became affiliated with multiple causes and initiatives that he continues to be involved with today, including the Racial Equity Task Force for the City of Durham and the N.C. State College of Sciences Alumni Advisory Board, among others.
And while Jamal's sights are clearly set on the road that lies ahead, he's quick to remember the many people and places that got him where he is today.
"I use the values of community, accountability, trust, and integrity that I learned at Central Piedmont to guide my current work in the healthcare field," says Jamal. "Attending Central Piedmont allowed me to explore new opportunities and take new adventures experiences that will help me create a diverse portfolio of work that will not only enhance my résumé, but also my pursuit of one day becoming a physician and community advocate in the medical field."
--
Share your own Central Piedmont journey and successes to be considered for a future spotlight. Read more
| Older Posts » |
