CPCC seeks applications for Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation scholarships

 Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) is accepting applications for its Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation New Careers Initiative. The Foundation recently gave CPCC a $250,000 grant to help displaced professional and paraprofessional workers receive free career coaching through the College’s new Career Professionals Center, and tuition for selected Corporate and Continuing Education classes. 

Corporate and Continuing Education has created a website at http://www.cpcc.edu/changingcareers/cpcc-and-the-wachovia-wells-fargo-foundation to facilitate the application process. Individuals may view a list of approved courses, and apply for career coaching and tuition for any of the 135 scholarships available. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis subject to scholarship availability through July 2011.

CPCC launched its new Career Professional Center earlier this year to better serve as a career and job search resource for dislocated, unemployed and underemployed professional and paraprofessional workers. The Center provides an assessment and competency-based approach to job search and career services. Counselors provide customized competency self-assessments designed to help individuals identify and understand their current skills and competencies; career/job search workshops to help individuals use their assessment data to identify transferable skills for jobs in growth industries; and one-on-one sessions with CPCC’s professional staff to discuss employment needs and assessment results.

“According to the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, unemployment levels in Charlotte remain around 11 percent,” said Dr. Dana McDonald, executive director of the Career Professionals Center. “As a result, residents are searching for resources that will help them connect to the jobs of today and tomorrow at a nominal cost. Thanks to the Foundation’s grant, CPCC can be the community’s resource for workforce development.”

The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation is a private foundation that provides grants to eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations to support four primary focus areas: Education, Community Development, Health and Human Services and Arts and Culture. The mission of The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation is to build strong and vibrant communities, improve the quality of life, and make a positive difference.

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.
                                                         
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This release prepared by Mallory Benz, 704.330.6613. An archive of CPCC news releases is at http://www.cpcc.edu/college-news.