WHAT: In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) are participating in a day of community service called the MLK Challenge. The event, hosted by the Service-Learning Center, will celebrate the life of King and the difference that he made in the world by challenging students to complete service projects by the end of the day.

The event will kick-off with keynote speaker Tracy Moore, who will detail King’s commitment to serving others and give participating students, staff and faculty some inspiration to achieve the goal that is ahead of them. The projects will give students a sense of civic engagement and the agencies in need will receive the benefit of service.

Each team of students will receive a different service project and the challenge is to complete it by the end of the day, using creative means and whatever resources they can find. Students will be given a small sum of money, but the rest is up to them. For example, if the project is to get a new dishwasher installed at the food bank, students may need to raise more money, buy a dishwasher with whatever money they have and find someone to install it on a day where businesses are traditionally closed. The projects are a surprise and the students working together will not know one another, which further adds to the challenge.

King’s life will be highlighted throughout the day as students focus on the impact he had in society. The teams will meet back at CPCC after the challenges for reflection on their service and a pizza party.

WHEN: January 18, 2010; 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: CPCC Central Campus, Student Commons in the Overcash Building

CONTACT: This event is not open to the public. For more information, please contact Dena Shonts at 704.330.6558.
 
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 Dena Shonts, 704.330.6558.. An archive of CPCC news releases is at http://www.cpcc.edu/college-news.