News and Features

What's going on in the Central Piedmont community and what Central Piedmont is doing in the community.

  • Duke Energy Employees Donate to the Professional Clothing Closet

    Duke Energy employees made a significant donation to the Central Piedmont Community College Professional Clothing Closet. The generous contribution, comprising thousands of items, including suits, dress shirts, shoes, dresses, blouses, belts, jewelry, and other accessories, substantially enhances student resources.

    The Professional Clothing Closet, operating weekly on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is an initiative by Central Piedmont to assist students in preparing for interviews and their forthcoming professional careers. Located on the Central Campus, in the Worrell Building, Room 1152, the closet allows current students to select up to four outfits to build their professional wardrobe free of charge.

    How to Participate

    Students interested in using the Professional Clothing Closet can sign up for a shopping date. This initiative is part of Central Piedmont's commitment to supporting students academically and in their career readiness.

    Donation Details

    Central Piedmont welcomes ongoing donations to the Professional Clothing Closet. Community members can contribute by dropping off items every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Accepted items include business suits, skirts, ties, professional shoes, blouses, belts, jewelry, blazers, slacks, and dress shirts. Donors are kindly requested to ensure all items are clean and in good condition.

    For More Information

    For additional details about the Professional Clothing Closet or to inquire about donations, please contact Mia Mallory or Dena Shonts.

    Central Piedmont Community College is grateful for the support of Duke Energy employees and the broader community in making this valuable resource a success for students.

  • Central Piedmont students can apply for Next NC Scholarships of at least $3,000

    The new “Next NC Scholarship” is a financial aid program that helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college in the state. The assistance is not a loan, so students will not have to pay the money back. 

    The Next NC Scholarship combines the federal Pell Grant with the state-funded financial aid program to form a simplified and predictable scholarship award that is easier to understand and makes education more affordable so a greater number of North Carolina students can pursue a degree or shorter-term credential. 

    Qualifying students attending Central Piedmont or any other N.C. community college will receive at least $3,000. That means having their tuition and fees 100 percent covered. Students can also use the scholarship award to pay for books, food, and housing. 

    To apply for a Next NC Scholarship, students simply need to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. If students are eligible, they will receive the Next NC Scholarship with no additional forms to fill out. The Next NC Scholarship priority filing date is Aug. 15, 2024, for N.C. community colleges.

    To receive the Next NC Scholarship, students must be: 

    • A North Carolina resident who is eligible for in-state tuition 
    • A high school graduate (high school equivalency completers are eligible) 
    • From a household with an annual adjusted gross income (AGI) of $80,000 or less 
    • Enrolled in an eligible community college curriculum program for the 2024-2025 academic year
    • Taking at least six credit hours per semester (part-time students will receive a partial award) 
    • Meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards of the school, the student attends 
    • A student who has completed the 2024- 2025 FAFSA, with a resulting Student Aid Index (SAI) at or below 7,500 (once complete, Central Piedmont’s financial aid office will determine and confirm eligibility.)

    For more information about the Next NC Scholarship Program and other financial aid opportunities at Central Piedmont Community College, visit the Grants page or contact a financial aid counselor via email.

  • Central Piedmont to expand nursing programs to serve more students

    Central Piedmont Community College will expand its nursing programs to accommodate more students and help meet the need for more registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region.

    Central Piedmont will expand its Associate Degree in Nursing Program from 200 to 300 students beginning May 2024. In turn, Central Piedmont will more than double the size of its Practical Nursing Program from 24 to 64 students. The Dickson Practical Nursing Program will add a second start date, giving students the option of beginning the program in either January or August.

    By expanding its nursing programs, Central Piedmont will offer two new options for students – an accelerated associate degree in nursing track and an LPN-to-associate-degree in nursing bridge program.

    The accelerated associate degree in nursing program will give motivated students who can attend school full-time (up to 37 hours per week) the opportunity to complete their studies in 14-15 months. In addition to the rigorous class schedule, students will need to study outside of class 10-15 hours per week. The program will open with its first class in May 2024.

    The LPN-to-ADN bridge option is designed to give licensed practical nurses a path to earn their associate degree in nursing and become registered nurses. The program will span three semesters and take one year to complete. The program, which will include on-campus and online classes, will open May 2025.

    “Central Piedmont is excited to offer more opportunities for individuals to pursue careers in nursing,” said Karen Summers, Central Piedmont dean of health sciences. “Nursing is a high-demand, high-need health career field, particularly in the Mecklenburg County region. We look forward to welcoming more students into our nursing programs.”

    See the Central Piedmont website for information about the more than 20 healthcare programs offered by the college or contact the college via email.

    For information specifically about the accelerated associate degree in nursing program that will open in May, visit the college website.

  • Central Piedmont Community College Expands Tuition Prepayment Program with the City of Charlotte

    Central Piedmont Community College is proud to announce the successful launch of the first full year of the tuition prepayment program in collaboration with the City of Charlotte. This innovative program began in October 2022 and has welcomed back City of Charlotte employee scholars this fall, marking a significant step towards educational empowerment and career advancement for city employees.

    As of fall 2023, 219 City of Charlotte employees have applied for the tuition prepayment program, with 121 participating in classes. Programs include a diverse range of course delivery methods, with 108 taking online courses, 11 in person, and 2 in hybrid formats.

    The program offers flexibility for the spring 2024 term with 16-week, 12-week, 8-week, and 4-week sessions. Already, 76 City of Charlotte employees are poised to begin classes on January 8th, highlighting the ongoing success and accessibility of the program.

    Central Piedmont remains committed to providing a comprehensive educational experience, offering associate degree programs in business administration, civil engineering, and certification and professional development courses like HR Offerings, Grant Writing, and Cyber Security.

    Marcia Colson, Associate VP of Applied Programs & Workforce Pathways, celebrates this partnership, stating, "The City of Charlotte is our third largest employer sponsorship. We are swiftly approaching the 200-student mark, a testament to the program's efficacy and the city's dedication to its workforce."

    "The personal and professional development of our employees is essential to creating upward mobility within our organization," said Sheila Simpson, City of Charlotte Director of Human Resources. "Our partnership with Central Piedmont removes a financial barrier and provides an opportunity for employees to learn new skills and explore new careers available with the city. I'm happy that our staff are taking advantage of this program as they continue to grow and provide quality service to our community."

    City employees hail the program as a gateway to new career opportunities. One student said, "The Tuition Prepayment Program is a great opportunity for people looking to broaden their career horizons." Another adds, "This kind of opportunity is virtually unheard of...I highly recommend taking advantage of this rare opportunity for a free education."

    The prepayment program is available for all City of Charlotte employees. Employees interested in the tuition prepayment program must complete an internal application with the City of Charlotte human resources department.

    This partnership underscores the shared commitment of the City of Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College to upskill and reskill employees, preparing them for the dynamic challenges of their current and future roles within the City of Charlotte.

  • Congratulations to our Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 ACA Scholarship Winners

    Congratulations to our fall 2022 and spring 2023 ACA Scholarship winners!

    Each fall and spring semester, the college's Academic Related Courses (ACA) area selects seven recipients for the ACA Scholarship for awards of $600 each. To apply, students had to write an essay answering the question “Being resilient (the ability to recover quickly from difficult conditions) is a life skill that we often do not recognize. How have you been resilient in your journey as a community college student, and what does this journey look like?" Applicants are reviewed based on meeting the scholarship eligibility requirements and on their essay's quality of writing.

    Learn more about the ACA Scholarship.

    Scholarship Winners

    Fall 2022

    Fall 2022 Essays (PDF)

    1. Jenifer Bendezu
    2. Stephanie Smith
    3. Isabella Covarrubias
    4. Christopher Weber
    5. Angella Hamilton
    6. Martine Bourgoin
    7. Devin Hewitt

    Spring 2023

    Spring 2023 Essays (PDF)

    1. Tiffany Zamora
    2. Madeline Palka
    3. Eliana Liantonio
    4. Tiffany Kelty
    5. Caitlin Londa
    6. Elena Creason
    7. Helen Alabi

  • Central Piedmont Community College Launches Application Cycle for Coca-Cola Consolidated Apprenticeship Program

    Central Piedmont Community College is thrilled to announce that the application cycle for the Coca-Cola Consolidated Apprenticeship Program is now open. This hands-on learning opportunity is designed to "earn and learn," providing paid apprenticeships to stimulate interest in high-demand positions in the manufacturing, equipment repair, and logistics sectors at Coke Consolidated's facilities in the Charlotte area.

    Application Cycle Now Open:

    Central Piedmont is accepting interest inquiries for the program, which begins in Summer 2024 and spans 12 months. After expressing interest, Coke Consolidated will contact candidates to provide additional information and to complete the application process. During the program, apprentices will work approximately 20 hours weekly while completing three to four college courses each semester. Apprentices will transition to full-time positions upon successful completion of the program.

    Coke Consolidated launched an apprenticeship program at Central Piedmont Community College in spring 2023 to provide formal learning through Central Piedmont and on the job experience in high-demand skilled labor positions in the following business areas at Coke Consolidated: manufacturing, equipment services and fleet maintenance at our Charlotte-area facilities. 

    Program Details

    Eligible applicants will gain paid experience through part-time roles at Coca-Cola Consolidated and its transportation subsidiary Red Classic Transportation, alongside financial support for career certificates, preparing them for positions such as:

    The fundamental requirement for these apprenticeships is a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification.

    Information Sessions:

    Central Piedmont invites prospective candidates to attend an Information Session to engage with representatives from Coke Consolidated and the college. These sessions offer detailed insights into the apprenticeship program and the career certificates that can pave the way for a future at Coke Consolidated.

    Register for Information Sessions:

    In-person and virtual attendance options:

    Virtual only:

    Central Piedmont is proud to work with Coke Consolidated to offer these apprenticeships, reinforcing our dedication to creating career pathways that align with industry needs and student success.

    For complete program information, visit cpcc.edu/coke.

  • Central Piedmont graduates first class in new utility line worker program

    Central Piedmont Community College graduated and celebrated the first class in its new utility line worker program at a Dec. 15 ceremony, held at the Harper Campus, in Charlotte. The graduates will help meet a growing need in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region for well-trained, highly skilled utility line workers.

    The first class of utility line workers from Central Piedmont is comprised of five males and one female – Kendall Brathwaite, Fernando Cediel, Andrele Hilaire, Caleb Malin, Quaron Potts, and Brady Powell. Speakers during the graduation ceremony included Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont President; Stephen Gerhardt, senior program developer, and Powell, who offered student remarks.

    Central Piedmont announced the creation of the program in late 2022 and began conducting classes and training in late-July 2023. Duke Energy provided a start-up boost by giving the college a grant of $500,000. The Pike Corporation also helped by providing much needed equipment to establish the program at the college’s Harper Campus.

    The college is using the Duke Energy grant to provide instructional support and purchase equipment, materials and supplies needed to sustain the program. The Duke Energy Foundation recently announced it was providing the college a grant of $48,000 to further support the effort. As Central Piedmont continues to grow the program, its goal will be to produce more than 100 graduates every 12 months.

    As part of the program, students undertake a rigorous curriculum and achieve a 580-hour academic and field training goal. Students who complete the 16-week program will be able to enter the workforce quickly and will have earned multiple, specialized industry training credentials, including OSHA, CPR, Arc Flash Safety for Utilities, Bucket Truck Rescue, Class A CDL License, Pole Top Rescue, and Work Zone Flagger.

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates about 23,000 openings for line installers and repairers will be available each year, on average, over the next decade. With this trend in mind, the college, Duke Energy and Pike have partnered to develop a pipeline of diverse, skilled, and talented utility line workers by investing in the education and career development of local, Mecklenburg County citizens.

    See the college website for more information about the utility line worker program at Central Piedmont, or call 704-330-4223.

     

  • Central Piedmont Student Receives the Community Impact Award 

    Central Piedmont Community College student Demi Snow was recently honored with the 2023 Community Impact Student Award by NC Campus Engagement for her outstanding commitment and contribution to civic and community engagement. 

    Snow was selected as the award winner by Central Piedmont after carefully considering students who have made a lasting impact while at the college. She was honored for her efforts and achievements at the recent NC Campus Engagement biennial CSNAP Student Conference. 

    Since 2006, the Community Impact Student Award (CISA) recognizes an outstanding, full-time undergraduate student service leader from each NC Campus Engagement member college. Award winners are selected by campus leaders and honored during the biennial CSNAP Student Conference. This year, CSNAP was held at NC State University with the theme, “Rising Together: Students Depolarizing North Carolina.”

    Snow was selected as the Central Piedmont CISA winner for her exceptional commitment to civic engagement and equity advocacy both on and off campus. Her journey began as she matriculated through an intensive summer service program, an adaptation of the Citizen Redefined curriculum, which equipped cohorts of students with essential civic skills through interactive workshops. Following the program, Snow was inspired to partner with local non-profits, engaging in various volunteer services to address pressing community needs.

    Snow's impact is most notable in her work as a multi-campus dialogue facilitator within the Student Engagement department, where she has been instrumental in engaging students in meaningful and crucial dialogues regarding equity issues, specifically focusing on gender and sexuality. Her efforts have fostered inclusive discussions and empowered students to participate actively in conversations vital to a diverse campus environment.

    Beyond her roles within the Student Engagement department, Snow's involvement in various campus clubs and organizations dedicated to intersectional equity and community service has been exemplary. Collaborating with members of her summer cohort, local non-profits, and her peers, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to addressing and amplifying community issues, effectively bringing attention to pertinent matters among the student body.

    Snow graciously accepted the Community Impact Student Award as the Central Piedmont Community College Winner on Nov. 4, alongside 14 other students representing colleges and universities across North Carolina.

  • Central Piedmont Returns for Year Five of ‘All Within My Hands’ Metallica Scholars Initiative

    For the fifth-consecutive year, Central Piedmont Community College will participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative and receive $5,000 in funding to support its career and technical education programs.

    Funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was created in 2018 to fundamentally improve the earning potential for students who become Metallica Scholars.

    Central Piedmont will continue to use the generous grant funds to provide direct support for students enrolled in healthcare career programs who need financial assistance to complete their studies and become licensed healthcare professionals. Central Piedmont seeks to ensure all graduating healthcare students have funding to pay for their licensure/certification exams so they can quickly enter the workforce fully licensed/certified.

    The MSI workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of 2023, it will have helped more than 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and AWMH have invested more than $6 million in the American workforce.

    “The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative assemblage of the nation’s best community colleges, creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices,” said Peter Degrosso, AWMH executive director. “As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately, the impact is felt locally and nationally as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill in-demand technical positions.”

    Learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative at Central Piedmont.

    Learn more about Central Piedmont’s healthcare career programs.

  • Shawn Abney Named 2023 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar

    Central Piedmont Community College proudly announces that Shawn Abney has been named one of the 213 Phi Theta Kappa members to become a 2023 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. Abney, a distinguished student at the community college, will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

    The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program is designed to help new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while they pursue their associate degrees. This year's scholars were selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential from nearly 1,100 applications.

    $213,000 will be awarded this year through the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is providing $200,000 in funding, with an additional $25,000 set aside specifically for members who are veterans or active members of the United States military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, earmarked for international students through the Global Leaders of Promise Scholarships.

    Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, said, "The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges. We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow's leaders of the global community."

    The funds aid in college completion and allow students to engage in Society programs, enabling them to develop vital leadership skills for future roles in their communities.

    Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, noted, "Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers. The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn't an obstacle to achieving their academic goals."

    Central Piedmont Community College congratulates Shawn Abney and all other Leaders of Promise Scholars on this exceptional achievement and wishes them continued success in their educational pursuits.

    For more information, visit the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program.