On Thursday, May 11, Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) held graduation ceremonies at Cricket Arena in Charlotte.
More than 450 students walked across the stage as part of the commencement celebration. Martin Lancaster, president of the North Carolina Community College System, spoke at the commencement exercises. During his remarks, President Lancaster encouraged graduates to “live and learn.” He stressed that graduation is just the beginning of a lifetime of learning, and he encouraged the graduates to make learning a priority throughout their life. “It’s important to learn something new every day,” stated Lancaster in his address.
Martin Lancaster took office as president of the North Carolina Community College System in 1997. With 58 institutions and nearly 800,000 students, the system is the largest in the country and serves as the primary agency for the delivery of job training, literacy and adult education.
During the commencement exercises, two awards were presented. Marion and Wayland H. Cato, Jr. received the Distinguished Service Award from the College, and Richard Zollinger, Associate Vice President of Instruction at CPCC, was presented the Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award. Both awards were given at the 7:00 p.m. ceremony.
In addition, nearly 200 Adult High School and GED graduates participated in a graduation ceremony at Cricket Arena at 1:30 p.m. The Adult High School program at CPCC is affiliated with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which awards the diplomas. Parks Helms, chairperson of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, addressed the group and challenged them to make this a “new beginning.” Helms stated that “your job is not your life, but a means to an end.” He encouraged the high school graduates to get in the “game of life” and make the most of what has been given to them. He challenged the graduates to live, work and grow – from this day forward.
Helms is serving his eighth two-year term on the Board and has been a strong supporter of Central Piedmont Community College over the years. Helms, who is an attorney and president of the law firm of Helms, Henderson & Porter, P.A., has served as vice president of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), as well as several NCBA committees, including the Legislative and Law Reform Committee, the Judicial Selection Task Force, and the Task Force on the Quality and Value of Legal Services.
”At CPCC, we take great pride in our outstanding graduates,” states Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College. “Our commencement exercise is reflective of the hard work of our students and celebrates another milestone in their lives.”
CPCC is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering 100 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.
