News and Features

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

  • Congratulations to our Spring 2021 ACA Scholarship Winners

    Congratulations to our spring 2021 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.

    The spring 2021 scholarship recipients are Alfa Kpa, Shaheedah Martin, Ian McKiddy, Jennifer Colindres Miranda, Noah Parker, Katherine Sosa, and Rodolfo Tandazo. Read their winning essays:

    Learn more about the ACA Scholarship.

  • The Hammer Student Art and Literature Magazine Spring 2021

    The spring 2021 issue of "The Hammer" magazine is now available.

  • CoARC Recognizes College's Respiratory Therapy Program

    The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) has recognized Central Piedmont with its Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award. The award is presented as part of the CoARC's continued efforts to value the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential as a standard of professional achievement.

    To qualify for the award, Central Piedmont's respiratory therapy program had to meet the following criteria:

    • have three or more years of outcome data
    • hold accreditation without a progress report
    • document RRT credentialing success of 90% or above
    • meet or exceed CoARC thresholds for TMB high cut score and retention

    Congratulations to the program's faculty, students, and alumni on this accomplishment!

  • Announcing the Spring 2021 Central Piedmont Dean's and President's Lists

    Congratulations to our spring 2021 Central Piedmont Dean's and President's List students!

    These lists recognize students enrolled in for-college-credit programs who achieved a high grade point average (GPA) with no Incomplete ("I") or Withdraw ("W") grades and who have completed at least 12 hours of credit in courses numbered 100 through 299. Dean's List students earned a 3.50 or higher GPA; President's List students earned a 4.00 or higher GPA.

    These students have worked very hard over the semester and have well earned this accomplishment.

  • College hosts 2021 commencement ceremonies

    Central Piedmont Community College hosted multiple commencement ceremonies outdoors on its Overcash Lawn, located in front of Overcash Center on Central Campus, on May 12 and 13, to ensure the celebration of its 2021 graduates was conducted safely and in accordance with NCDHHS and CDC guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    The following outdoor commencement ceremonies were held:

    • Wednesday, May 12, 2021

      • 11 a.m.: Health Science programs
      • 2 p.m.:  Skilled Trades, College and Career Readiness
         
    • Thursday, May 13, 2021
      • 9 a.m.:  Business, Engineering, and Technology
      • 11 a.m.: Transfer Degree Programs
      • 2 p.m.: Transfer Degree Programs

    More than 800 students from the 2021 spring semester, as well as the 2020 summer and fall semesters, “marched” and received their college degrees during the first outdoor commencement ceremony the college has hosted in 35 years. (The last outdoor ceremony was held in 1986, on the Central Campus Quad.) More than 2,430 students were eligible to graduate this year.

    During the May 12 festivities, Mr. Marco Gallardo Cuervo, who graduated from Central Piedmont with an Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology degree, addressed his fellow graduates. Ms. Emma Hoff, an Associate in Arts student delivered the May 13 commencement address to her peers.This is the fourth consecutive year Central Piedmont has had student keynote speakers at graduation. 

  • College adds SALUTE Chapter

    Central Piedmont’s Military Family and Veterans Services is proud to announce that it has added a SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society to its already impressive list of student clubs and organizations. The Chapter of SALUTE at Central Piedmont will provide veteran students with a rewarding community of resources, opportunities, and support.

    “SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society is pleased to be the first and only academic honor society to recognize students who serve their country and community, and who demonstrate outstanding academic performance,” said Karla Schwartz, national director for the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society. “A Central Piedmont student’s designation into SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society will help distinguish them to employers and educational institutions by signifying their military honorable service, academic excellence, and a commitment to superior success, which can all lead to achieving meaningful employment and educational opportunities in the future.”

    The benefits of membership include:

    • A certificate and military-style challenge coin commemorating membership
    • Access to unique scholarship opportunities
    • Assistance with resumes and engagement in local leadership positions
    • Opportunities to network, as well as receive and give assistance to fellow student veteran members
    • Wear SALUTE Honors regalia to demonstrate academic achievements as a veteran at graduation
    • Participate in local and national SALUTE programs

    “The Chapter of SALUTE at Central Piedmont will help our student veterans persist and complete,” said Richard Bartell, director of Military Families and Veterans Services at Central Piedmont. “In addition to providing additional scholarships to fund students’ education, the chapter will help them engage and connect with their peers, providing them with the support network they need to achieve their academic goals.”

    The honor society application window opens May 2021. For more information on the Chapter of SALUTE at Central Piedmont and how to join, visit Military Families and Veterans Services.

  • Student awarded Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship

    Liliane Kouam Kengne, a pharmacy technology student at Central Piedmont, has been selected as one of only 30 students to receive Phi Theta Kappa’s Fall Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship.

    The Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship recognizes students who are enrolled in allied health or pharmacy technician programs who intend to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.

    As this year’s recipient, Liliane will receive a $130 scholarship award to cover the cost of her exam fees.

    To be eligible, students:

    • must be currently enrolled in allied health or pharmacy technician programs through December 2021
    • must be eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam in the semester following the award
    • should know financial need, demonstration of career goals, academic rigor and community service may be considered during the selection process

    “Liliane is a perceptive, sharp, and quick individual who possesses a high aptitude for pharmacy-related material,” said Karen Garner, pharmacy technology program chair and instructor at Central Piedmont. “She is an excellent recipient for this scholarship. She’s always learning and growing as a learner, an impressive strength that will continue to serve her well in college and beyond.”

    Learn more about Phi Theta Kappa’s Fall Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship.

    See details about Central Piedmont’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter or pharmacy technology program

  • Students succeed at NY National Model UN Conference

    Eleven Central Piedmont students joined thousands of university students, more than half of which matriculated from outside the United States, in the National Model United Nations (MUN) New York 2021 Conference.

    Participating in this year’s conference were Central Piedmont students Aakriti Lakshmanan, Aiden Keith, Anthony Kabala, Ashley Braswell, Barbara Batista, Christelle Valentin, Davidson Valmyr, Gwen Thompson, Otisia Bryan, Richard Dougherty and Skyler McNeely.

    The MUN Club represented the delegation of The Republic of El Salvador and discussed current global issues in a real-world context. The team performed well,  receiving the “Distinguished Delegation” Award for its great committee participation, remaining in character, and proper use of rules of procedure. In addition to receiving team honors, Aakriti Lakshmanan received the “Outstanding Position Paper in a Committee” award, as well as the “Outstanding Delegate in a Committee” award.

    Central Piedmont’s Model UN Club is overseen by faculty advisors Teresa Hall and Camelia Taheri.

  • Student named a 2021 New Century Workforce Scholar

    John “Dylan” Whitley, a turfgrass management student at Central Piedmont Community College, has been named a 2021 New Century Workforce Scholar. The Salisbury, N.C., native will receive a $1,250 scholarship in recognition of this accomplishment. More than 2,000 students were nominated for the scholarship from more than 1,200 college campuses across the country. Only one New Century Workforce Scholar is selected from each state; and Whitley was chosen as the North Carolina recipient.

    New Century Workforce Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. Whitley matched the award’s criteria well. As a Central Piedmont student, he is involved in the college’s Student Life activities as a member of the Turfgrass Club and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, while excelling inside the classroom with a 3.8 grade point average.

    “Dylan is an exemplary student, and he is motivated to reach his academic goals by his desire to provide a good life for his family, and as a new dad,” said Jen Conway, a Phi Theta Kappa All-USA nominator and Student Life coordinator at Central Piedmont.

    “Phi Theta Kappa recognizes leadership as one of our hallmarks, so Dylan’s application stood out as he discussed his approach to leadership and the care that should be given to employees. Leadership can come from anywhere, no matter your title, and Dylan reflected on that sentiment as he detailed the importance of being a leader, not just a boss. We were excited to nominate him, and thrilled he represents Central Piedmont and our chapter, as the winner from North Carolina,” Conway added.

    The New Century Workforce scholarship, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, is the first of its kind to support students at associate degree-granting institutions on a national scale as they plan to enter the workforce upon the completion of a degree or certificate. Whitley is currently finishing up his associate degree in turfgrass management at Central Piedmont, and plans to secure employment in the industry after graduating in December 2021.

    “We congratulate Dylan for receiving this prestigious scholarship, and we are honored to partner with The Coca Cola Foundation to recognize his outstanding achievements,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for students to succeed as they prepare to enter the workforce and for putting college completion within reach.”

    Whitley, and his fellow New Century Workforce Scholars, will be recognized in the fall.

  • Congratulations Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Fall 2020 Inductees

    Congratulations to the newest members of the Phi Lambda chapter of the Central Piedmont Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Induction into Phi Theta Kappa is an honor and an accomplishment, with eligible students who have a 3.5 or higher GPA invited to apply to join.

    Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society, recognizing excellence, hard work, good grades, leadership, and commitment. It is America's most prestigious scholarly organization for two-year colleges and the largest student organization at Central Piedmont. The Central Piedmont Phi Lambda chapter is dedicated to local community service and service to our college community through education and hands-on activities.

    The Phi Theta Kappa fall 2020 induction class set a record for the largest ever at Central Piedmont, with 340 students joining our chapter as new members. Our Phi Lambda chapter also celebrated its 50th birthday in 2020. We continue to be proud of the legacy of thousands of students who have succeeded in their educational journey through Central Piedmont and Phi Theta Kappa.

    Visit the Phi Theta Kappa honor society page to learn more about the fall 2020 inductees and how to join.