News and Features

  • Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Automotive Group make gift of land to Central Piedmont for new training center

    Hendrick Automotive Group and local business leader Rick Hendrick has given Central Piedmont Community College approximately 23 acres of land adjacent to the college’s Levine Campus in Matthews. Central Piedmont will use the donated property to build a new first responder training facility. 

    The gift is the latest milestone in a long-time relationship between Central Piedmont, the Hendrick family, and Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. The college opened the Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology in 2006 at the Levine Campus. Each year, the center, named for…

  • Central Piedmont’s Truist Honors Scholars Prepared for Beyond What’s Next

    Central Piedmont Community College’s Truist Honors Program understands the importance of preparing scholars for the next step in their life journey.

    Central Piedmont’s first research subcommittee of Truist Honors Scholars developed dissertation-like proposals and research-based academic presentations to present at academic conferences followed by an Honors Program Expo, where scholars presented to a group of students, faculty, staff, and college leaders…

  • Central Piedmont receives $1 million gift from Coca-Cola Consolidated for scholarships, program support

    CHARLOTTE, NC – Central Piedmont Community College has received a $1 million gift from Coca-Cola Consolidated to support U.S. military veterans and first responder scholarships, provide program support, and assist with other critical needs at the college.

    Central Piedmont provides its military veteran students a range of services in a purposeful and caring way aimed at helping them transition from military service to civilian success in the classroom and the community while accessing all available veterans benefits. The college’s first responder or public…

  • Recent Central Piedmont graduate wins Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

    The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has announced the selection of 60 community college students from across the United States as recipients of the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This highly competitive award allows students to complete their undergraduate degrees at four-year institutions with minimal financial burden. 

    Monisha “Mo” Pirela, who graduated from Central Piedmont Community College on May 9, is one of the scholarship recipients. Pirela earned an…

  • Central Piedmont holds spring 2024 commencement ceremony

    Central Piedmont Community College held its 2024 spring commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 9, at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. More than 1,025 students “marched” and received their college credentials during the morning and afternoon ceremonies. 

    Central Piedmont’s tradition is to have graduating students serve as commencement keynote speakers. During the morning festivities, Ndianor Gbandala, a 2024 graduate, addressed her peers by delivering the commencement address. Brianna Duncan, also a 2024 graduate, spoke at the…

  • Plant Sale Puts Spotlight on Horticulture Technology Program

    Featuring an array of vegetables, flowers, trees, and ferns, Central Piedmont’s Horticulture Technology students held their semi-annual plant sale on Cato Campus April 19-20. 

    The plant sales draw not just employees and students from the Central Piedmont community, but plenty from the public as well. 

    Jacquelyn Sumrell, a first-year student who is making a career change and eventually would like to be a horticulture instructor, said the plant sale…

  • Central Piedmont to offer degree program in artificial intelligence

    Central Piedmont Community College will open a new associate-degree program in artificial intelligence (AI) in August, starting the fall semester of 2024. It is only the second North Carolina community college to offer such a program.

    Central Piedmont’s artificial intelligence program will equip students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in the rapidly growing field of AI. The curriculum will cover machine learning, chatbots and generative AI, chatbot programming, artificial intelligence programming…

  • NursingProcess.org Ranks Central Piedmont’s ADN Program Best in North Carolina

    The online resource NursingProcess.org has ranked Central Piedmont’s Associate Degree in Nursing program as the top ADN program in North Carolina.

    According to its website, NursingProcess.org is a comprehensive resource to navigate information about nursing education and careers. Nursingprocess.org is staffed by an independent group of educators and nursing professionals committed to providing expert-driven information. The site has no affiliations with any college, university, or organization…

  • Central Piedmont Students Launch Meal Service Business

    With menus inspired by their heritage, Central Piedmont’s Baking and Pastry Arts students have enjoyed a successful launch to Tasty Traditions Bakehouse & Takeout, a capstone project that doubles as a business venture for the students. 

    Entering its second week, the students on Harris Campus sold out all their meals during their opening week of business and expect similar results moving forward. …

  • Central Piedmont and Lees-McRae College establish ‘Guaranteed Admission Program’

    Agreement will help Central Piedmont students take direct transfer path to Lees-McRae

    Leaders of Central Piedmont Community College and Lees-McRae College signed an agreement today to establish a Guaranteed Admission Program, providing Central Piedmont students a new transfer pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

    The Lees-McRae Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) will automatically admit Central Piedmont students who have earned an Associate of Arts…