The region’s best investment: Central Piedmont’s Class of 2025 builds lives and fuels the economy

• Central Piedmont celebrated 1,736 graduates at two May 15 ceremonies, highlighting how education transforms lives and communities.
• Nearly half of the graduates entered high-demand industries, from health care to tech and skilled trades.
• Graduates like Shenise Young, Chloe Mbongo, and others shared powerful stories of resilience and hope.

On May 15, Central Piedmont Community College awarded degrees, diplomas, and credentials to 1,736 students whose personal and academic journeys are shaping the region’s future. The ceremonies, held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Bojangles Coliseum, celebrated a graduating class rich in determination, diversity, and purpose.

Student speaker Shenise Young opened the morning ceremony with a moving message of perseverance. Once a college dropout with a 0.827 GPA, Shenise returned to Central Piedmont as a wife and mother of two and completed her associate degree in arts.

“Central Piedmont didn’t just give us a degree. They loved us, believed in us, and gave us a chance some of us didn’t think we deserved,” said Young. “We’ve been given a solid foundation—and now we are built differently.”

Across both ceremonies:

• 198 graduates completed programs in nursing and allied health
• 106 in information technology
• 119 in hospitality, entrepreneurship, and service industries
• 78 in trades and automotive careers
• 36 in engineering

In addition, the college awarded $723,300 in scholarships to 263 students. Over half of the graduates will transfer to four-year institutions, including UNC Charlotte, Appalachian State, and N.C. State.

“This is how a region builds its future,” said Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer. “We educate the people who care for our families, power our businesses, and shape our communities—and they do it while working, parenting, and overcoming tremendous obstacles.”

Student Spotlights

• Shenise Young – Shared her story of redemption and renewed purpose as student speaker.
• Tyshon Freeman – From high school dropout to logistics leader, earning a degree in Supply Chain Management.
• Kiona White – Survivor of domestic violence and homelessness, now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work.
• Maryann Ingram – A 65-year-old Charlotte native and caregiver earning her high school diploma through the Career and College Readiness program.
• Chloe Mbongo – Delivered a heartfelt speech on starting again after setbacks, now a President’s List student.
• Laura Oviedo-Loyola – A young mother of two graduating from the automotive program with plans to open her own shop.
• Rakia Regan – Overcame homelessness and domestic violence while earning a Medical Office Administration degree; now employed full-time at a hospital.
• Fawad Ataee – Afghan American who raised his GPA from 0.7 to 3.8 while supporting his family; heading to UNC Charlotte to study project management.

These graduates embody Central Piedmont’s mission: providing accessible, life-changing education that fuels economic mobility and community strength.

“We don’t just offer classes, we open doors,” said Deitemeyer. “Every diploma represents new energy and talent flowing into our region.”