News and Features

The Central Piedmont design team of Megan Burns, Valeria Ramon Vacas, and Eric Schiavo, won first place in the fifth annual National Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP) Student Design Competition. Led by Architectural Technology Program Chair Travis Smith, Associate AIA, the team’s work was compared against entries from 23 other schools in 14 states.

During the competition, students were asked to design an Ecology Center in Balandra Beach, California. The students were given a specific site and program, and asked to develop a complete building design that included a material proposal and architectural details. This is the second year Central Piedmont has participated in the competition. The students completed the design as part of their ARC 213 Design Project course.

The jurors, comprised of architects Rosa T. Sheng (SmithGroup), Kristen DiStefano (Atelier Ten), and Prescott Reavis (SEED), commended the Central Piedmont team for their “very strong integrated presentation which provided a clean, clear communication of the concept and execution.” The students were commended for their “beautiful diagrams and imagery,” as well as their “cultural and geographical investigations that informed the site analysis.” The first place team received a $300 cash prize and certificates.

For more information on the competition, please contact Melanie Reddrick at melanie.reddrick@cpcc.edu or at 704.330.2722, ext 7473. For more information on the Architectural Technology department, please visit cpcc.edu/programs/architectural-technology.

Beginning this fall, the Levine Campus will offer expanded course offerings of some of its most in-demand classes on weekday evenings, Fridays, and Saturdays to give students more options to complete a two-year, college transfer degree more quickly.

The new course offerings are comprised of more than 40, high-demand courses. The classes will be offered in sequential order and focus on a variety of general education subjects, ranging from biology and public speaking, to psychology and business. 

Offering more courses in the evenings, and on Fridays and Saturdays, will allow the college to better accommodate students’ busy schedules, setting them up for success both inside and outside of the classroom.

To learn more, please call Edith McElroy, dean of the Levine Campus, at ext. 4386.

Central Piedmont is excited to announce that both construction projects at its Levine Campus – the new Levine III classroom building and the Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology expansion – are complete.  

Levine III

The new 88,000 square-foot facility includes the Georgia Tucker Fine Arts Hall, a new campus library, a new campus bookstore, health and science labs, and classrooms.

Levine III includes:

• Georgia Tucker Fine Arts Hall
• Library
• Science Labs
• Health Simulation Labs
• Math Emporium
• Academic Success Center
• Classrooms
• Faculty/Staff Offices

The facility’s 2,300 square-foot fine arts hall is named in memory of Georgia Tucker, an accomplished ballerina and choreographer who performed throughout the U.S. prior to coming home to Charlotte. She attended Central Piedmont and taught at the college as a dance instructor.

The Georgia Tucker Fine Arts Hall is a two-story facility with views of the campus lake. The arts space includes:

• A performance space to accommodate up to 200
• A large instructional classroom, with a seating capacity of nearly 100
• Reception space for functions with a capacity of 160 attendees
• A box office and dressing rooms

Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology

The Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology expansion took a little over a year to complete. The 10,330-square-foot expansion helped the college add the following amenities to its campus:

• a new alignment and suspension shop with seven vehicle bays
• a four-vehicle bay training lab with classroom
• a two-vehicle bay training lab with classroom
• additional faculty offices and storage rooms

“Levine’s new facilities will significantly enhance Central Piedmont’s ability to put students on a pathway to meaningful lives and family-supporting careers and will help prepare the talented workforce needed to support the economic growth of our community,” said Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer. “They will help to advance the mission of the college by offering access to education and career development for additional students. These new buildings will transform lives and transform this community.”

Learn more about the Central Piedmont Levine Campus.

Central Piedmont Community College announces a recent appointment and two re-appointments to its Board of Trustees.

Michael D. Evans of Charlotte has been appointed to the Central Piedmont board by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners to a four-year term that began July 1. Evans is a retired university business professor and department chair, serving both Winthrop and Johnson C. Smith. He also taught at UNC Charlotte. In addition, he was a founding director and board member of Park Sterling Bank.

Evans earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration at Bradley University. He is also a certified financial planner. He currently serves as a board member and treasurer of the Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority. He is a former president of the Financial Planning Association of Charlotte and Leadership Charlotte.

“We are pleased to have Michael Evans join Central Piedmont’s Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, college president. “He brings a unique blend of higher education, business and community service experience to the board. His insights will be welcomed as the college moves forward with its new strategic plan.”

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper re-appointed Edwin A. Dalrymple to another four-year term as a college trustee. He first joined the Central Piedmont board in 2008. He has chaired the board since 2014. He also has assumed national-level community college leadership. In 2018, he became a member of the Association of Community College Trustees Board of Directors, based in Washington, D.C. Professionally, Dalrymple is a managing director-investments of Wells Fargo Advisors. He has worked in the investment and financial services industry for more than three decades.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education re-appointed Cecilia A. Ramirez to a second four-year term on the college board. She first became a Central Piedmont trustee in 2015. Ramirez is retired from Nova Digital Systems Inc., where she served as vice president of administration. From 1980 to 1996, she taught Spanish and led ESL programs at a number of CMS elementary and high schools. She previously chaired the N.C. Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and served on the Governor’s Hispanic Advisory Council Education Committee.

“The college is grateful for the re-appointments of Ed Dalrymple and Cecilia Ramirez,” Deitemeyer said. “They have served with great distinction and engagement. Their continued counsel will be appreciated as the college works to create pathways to economic mobility all of our students can navigate with greater equity and success.”

Central Piedmont is excited to announce that its new Harper IV building, located on its Harper Campus, located at 315 W. Hebron St., is open and ready to welcome students in time for the fall semester.

The new 84,357 square-foot facility features:

• A new campus library with computer classroom
• A Student Commons with lounge areas, bookstore, food service, and student government spaces
• Construction trades classrooms and labs for architectural technology, electrical, plumbing, and welding
• General and computer classrooms
• Science labs
• Developmental reading and math labs
• Student services suite
• Student study areas
• Faculty offices

The new structure expands Central Piedmont’s footprint in southwest Charlotte, helping the college better respond to the educational and workforce training needs of Mecklenburg County’s residents and business community.

As a result of its construction, Harper Campus is now better equipped to help students interested in the following programs, housed on the campus:

• Advertising + Graphic Design
• Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration
• Construction Management
• Electrical Systems Technology
• Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology
• Non-Destructive Examination Technology
• Welding Technology

To learn more about all our Harper Campus has to offer, visit https://www.cpcc.edu/locations/harper-campus.

Central Piedmont Community College today hosted its 2018-2019 commencement ceremony at Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte. Almost 875 students “marched” and received their college degrees. More than 2,500 students were eligible to graduate this year.

Since Central Piedmont holds only spring graduation ceremonies each year, 2018 summer and fall semester graduates participated in the exercises as well.

During the morning festivities, Ms. Desiree Kinker, a 2019 Central Piedmont graduate, addressed this year’s graduates. This is the second time Central Piedmont has had a student keynote speaker at graduation. Desiree, a culinary arts student, shared her personal story with her peers – it was a tale of perseverance; her determination to complete her education, despite a period of homelessness; and overcoming the odds. She stood out as a prime example of a student who valued and leveraged the relationships around her, worked hard to build a better life, and brought light to any space she entered.

In addition to hearing from Desiree, attendees also heard from Adam Brooks, senior manager of learning and development for Charter Communications, who was recognized with this year’s Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award, and Brandy Garrett, science department chair for Blenheim Elementary Middle School, who was honored with the college’s inaugural Young Alumni Award of Excellence.

View photos from the day.

During its spring commencement on May 16 at 10 a.m., at Bojangles’ Coliseum, Central Piedmont Community College will present Adam Brooks, senior manager of learning and development for Charter Communications, with the 2019 Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award, and Brandy Garrett, science department chair for Blenheim Elementary Middle School, in Bennettsville, S.C., with the inaugural Young Alumni Award of Excellence. The awards recognize a former Central Piedmont student who has benefited significantly from experiences at Central Piedmont and whose efforts have helped the community.

Adam Brooks

Brooks graduated from Central Piedmont in 2004 with an associate degree in business administration. Since that time, he has built a successful career, working in a variety of fields, including instructional technologies, training management, new media communications, marketing, and many others. A consummate servant leader, Brooks seeks to place the needs of the local community first. As a result, he can be found volunteering on a number of boards for area nonprofits and economic development teams, including the Matthews Economic Development Advisory Committee, The Red Brick Partnership, and The Armed Forces Museum and Archives of the Carolinas, or helping Charlotte men in need by gifting them a pair of quality, vintage dress shoes that he personally restores through his shoe ministry. A passionate entrepreneur, Brooks is a frequent guest speaker, writer, and contributor who has founded a number of community events in the Queen City that highlight innovation and startups, including THE Geek Fest at Central Piedmont, BarCamp Charlotte and EdCamp Charlotte.

Brandy Garrett

Since graduating from Central Piedmont in 2009 with an associate in arts, Garrett has earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UNC Charlotte, and a master’s degree in education from Francis Marion University. Today, she is married, a mom to five children whom she has adopted, and a proud middle school teacher, who works to ensure the in-need children she teaches are well loved. She routinely raises money for her students, to guarantee they have the supplies they need to learn, and was among the first to raise her hand to help those impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael in fall 2018. Her commitment extends well beyond her classroom; in fact, each year she returns to Central Piedmont to volunteer at the college’s annual Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony, an event that honors the academic achievements of current Central Piedmont students.

To learn more about the Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award and Young Alumni Award of Excellence, please visit the Foundation website.

The Hagemeyer Award takes its name from Dr. Richard H. Hagemeyer, Central Piedmont president for 23 years, who led the college from its beginnings as a trade school with 1,200 students to one of the largest N.C. community colleges. 

This is the first year the college has awarded a Young Alumni Award of Excellence. To be considered for the award, the recipient must not only meet all of the Hagemeyer Award requirements, but also must have graduated from Central Piedmont within the last 10 years. 

What began 15 months ago with the start of a branding and marketing study -- and journeyed through the opinions and ideas of more than 3,000 existing and prospective students, parents, faculty and staff, and community members -- culminated today in a college-wide celebration, on all six campuses, as Central Piedmont Community College launched its new branding, which includes new college colors, logo, and website.

“We hope this brand transformation will excite all of those in our Central Piedmont family, energizing and propelling them forward to do the passionate work needed to help our students not just wonder, ‘what if,’ but set an academic goal and achieve or surpass it,” said Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer. “Central Piedmont calls on all its employees, students, board members, and community supporters to now be brand ambassadors, helping to tell the college’s story to the community.”

The college’s “brand” is the emotional and psychological connection people have with Central Piedmont; its personality. The college’s logo, website, marketing materials, faculty, staff, and students – all are important parts of its brand.

The brand study results also emphasized the need for Central Piedmont to elevate its visual standing in the marketplace to match the caliber of education and services it provides. The “Central Piedmont green” has been replaced with a new color scheme: gold and gray. The old “green box” logo is gone and replaced with a cleaner, more collegiate and modern design. During the logo-design process, multiple students groups expressed their desire for a logo that stands well with the corporate and other institutional marks in Charlotte and conveys the seriousness in which Central Piedmont students approach their programs of study and pursue life-changing credentials.

As the final piece of the branding/marketing process, the college has launched a totally new website to focus more on its visitors – mainly, future Central Piedmont students and their families – inviting them to easily explore and connect with the college.

The college partnered with Pittsburgh-based Barkley REI to create the new website at cpcc.edu. More than putting a new face put on the old website, Central Piedmont teams plowed through the nearly 30,000 pages of content on the old website to create a thoroughly modern, audience-focused way to present the information site visitors need to know. The look and feel, functionality and voice of the new website were created with intense input from hundreds of faculty, staff, students (prospective and current) and community members.

At a celebration event today on Central Campus that was streamed live to all campuses, the college revealed the new branding – including the new logo, college colors, initial advertising campaign concept, and redesigned website – and also had “reveal” parties for students at every campus, as well.

A new scholarship will foster the development of aspiring culinary arts professionals enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College. The Tyler H. Hamm Culinary Scholarship, established to honor the memory of a former Central Piedmont student who died in a snowboarding accident, will be funded with an initial five-year commitment from Wray Ward, a marketing communications firm based in Charlotte. Tyler was the elder son of public relations lead and longtime Wray Ward employee Tracy Hamm.

“On behalf of our culinary arts program and our culinary students, the college thanks Wray Ward for this generous and thoughtful gift,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “This scholarship will honor Tyler’s memory and celebrate his passion for life, joy of cooking and career path in the culinary arts. We are grateful for and humbled by the Hamm family’s decision to have Tyler honored in this way.”

Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year in August, one Central Piedmont culinary student will receive the Tyler H. Hamm Culinary Scholarship. Recipients must have the following qualifications:

• Recent (within five years) high school graduate
• North Carolina resident
• Enrolled in the Central Piedmont Culinary Arts program
• At least a half-time student
• Employed at least part-time.

Tyler, a 2016 Ardrey Kell High School graduate, discovered his love for culinary arts as a Central Piedmont student. Following his spirit of adventure, Tyler began his culinary career at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge in Talkeetna, Alaska. Other positions in Alaska and Aspen, Colorado, followed over the next two years. In fall 2018, Tyler joined the staff of Lynn Britt Cabin in Aspen’s Snowmass Village. On February 10, 2019, the aspiring chef, whose love for gourmet cooking and snowboarding led him to call Aspen home, died in a snowboarding accident on the town’s slopes.

“Tyler shared his father’s kind heart and zest for life,” said Jennifer Appleby, president and chief creative officer of Wray Ward. “His fearlessness on and off the slopes will serve as an inspiration to each of us to think bigger and more boldly, and Wray Ward is proud to be a small part of that legacy by helping other aspiring chefs follow their passion and chase their dream.”

The Hamms will assist with the award selection process by interviewing candidates identified by the Central Piedmont Foundation’s scholarship committee.

“Tyler lived life to the fullest and only knew one direction — forward,” Tracy Hamm said. “By supporting young culinary talent, this scholarship will celebrate our son’s chosen career path, his love for cooking and his passion for life.”

Wray Ward’s commitment will help establish a scholarship endowment and provide expendable annual scholarship funds to be held and administered by the Central Piedmont Foundation. Donations from other individuals and entities will support the scholarship program on a continuing basis.

For more information about the Tyler H. Hamm Culinary Scholarship, contact the Central Piedmont Foundation at 704.330.6869. Learn more about culinary and hospitality programs on our website or by calling 704.330.6723.

About Central Piedmont

Central Piedmont Community College is one of the largest community colleges in the Carolinas, offering nearly 300 degree, diploma and certification programs; customized corporate training; market-focused continuing education; and special interest classes. Central Piedmont is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. Central Piedmont responds to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies. Established in 1963, Central Piedmont has provided more than 50 years of service to Mecklenburg County residents, business and industry. For more information, visit cpcc.edu. Connect with the college on social media at cpcc.edu/social.

Central Piedmont Community College will launch a new associate degree program in polysomnography (sleep study) when the 2019 fall semester begins in August.

The polysomnography curriculum will prepare students, working in conjunction with a physician, to perform sleep studies and provide a comprehensive clinical evaluation and treatment required for sleep-related disorders. Graduates of the program will find employment opportunities in hospitals, freestanding sleep centers, medical equipment companies, medical device sales, education, research, healthcare management, and interdisciplinary patient management roles.

“The field of sleep technology is growing at a rapid pace, with estimated beginning salaries around $52,000 per year,” explained Dr. Auburne Hutchins, chair of the new Central Piedmont program. “This program will be one of only 15 associate degree programs in the country and the only program in the Charlotte area. We plan to open with 10 to 12 students.”

Graduates of accredited polysomnography programs usually apply to take the certification examination offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. Central Piedmont also has an articulation agreement in place with the bachelor’s degree program in sleep medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for students who want to continue their studies.

Central Piedmont students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform sleep studies, including recording and recognizing events observed during sleep. These tests involve recording, monitoring, and analyzing EEG (electroencephalography), EOG (electrooculography), EMG (electromyography), ECG (electrocardiography), and multiple breathing variables during sleep and wakefulness. Students also will receive comprehensive training for the treatment of sleep-related disorders and clinically significant patient education focused on healthy sleep habits. The program includes extensive lab time and more than 400 hours of clinical experience followed by a board exam prep course before graduation.

For more information about the new associate degree program in polysomnography at Central Piedmont, contact Dr. Hutchins at Auburne.Hutchins@cpcc.edu or 704.330.2722, ext. 3179.