Foundations of the program
Here is the content that should be included: The Central Piedmont Community College Honors Program is built upon educational foundations that shape coursework and holistic engagement. By inspiring cognitive challenge and personal investment, these foundations empower students to internalize knowledge, contribute meaningfully and grow as independent, lifelong learners.
Experiential learning
Truist Honors Scholars will “learn by doing” to construct and apply knowledge through real-world application.
Research, scholarship and innovation
Truist Honors Scholars will develop knowledge, experience, and practice interdisciplinary research to identify problems, improve critical thinking and draw conclusions based on facts.
Civic and global engagement
Truist Honors Scholars will actively engage with local and global issues to create positive change, resulting in a community that is welcoming of all people.
Leadership development
Truist Honors Scholars will gain leadership skills that demonstrate effective collaboration within groups and the ability to meet goals by establishing a shared vision despite different perspectives.
Technology literacy
Truist Honors Scholars will expand their knowledge and use of technology for academic, professional, and practical purposes to create, curate, collaborate and communicate in an effective, safe and responsible manner.
Reflective thinking
Truist Honors Scholars will participate in meaningful reflection to display self-awareness, strengths, areas for growth, and a broader understanding of their individual impact on society.
Success stories
History of the program
The Honors Program has grown into a powerful incubator for research, scholarship, innovation, leadership, scholarship, and civic participation impacting not only its scholars but the broader student body through an enriched curriculum and a transformative learning environment.
Empowering academic achievement and transfer opportunities
Since Spring 2024, 91% of scholars have continued their education after graduation, with 82% transferring to four-year universities. Truist Honors Scholars have earned placements at institutions including UNC Charlotte, Winthrop, Western Carolina and Queens University, with articulation agreements under development to support smooth transitions.
One alumna, Tiffany Zamora, was told by a Graduate Program Director that she was an excellent candidate for the early-entry M.A. program in her major, citing her publication record and honors experience as key factors in her success.
Signature events and recognition
Central Piedmont’s scholars also made history by being the first community college participants to win the National Ethics Bowl hosted by the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), competing against undergraduate and graduate students, as well as doctoral candidates.
The annual Truist Honors Program Expo in Spring 2025 highlighted student presentations, with faculty and scholars sharing the value of honors pedagogy for all learners. Several scholars have also taken their talents nationwide, with selections to the prestigious Chautauqua Summer Scholars program and the Summer Global Leadership Institute in New York. Honors scholars presented research at numerous academic conferences and earned accolades including Best Oral Presentation at the North Carolina Honors Association Conference.
Monisha “Mo” Pirela’s receipt of the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship—a $55,000-per-year award—solidified the program’s national relevance.
Elevating scholarship, research and innovation
In alignment with the program’s pillars—research, scholarship, innovation and experiential learning—scholars have contributed to the newly established Central Piedmont Interdisciplinary Studies Journal, set to release its first issue in Summer 2025. The journal fosters undergraduate and graduate research across disciplines.
Other highlights include the Canopy Innovation Award, where honors scholars earned second place and the Realtor’s Choice Award for a housing reuse concept, and numerous published works, including those featured by the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates (NAAAS) and the Journal of Sociology and Christianity.
Scholar Alissa MacEdo emphasized the community within the program. “Being in the program has challenged me, but in the best ways. It’s pushed me to think bigger, work harder and believe more in myself.”