News and Features

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 704330-6869. Learn more about culinary and hospitality programs on our website.

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, email Dr. Hutchins or call 704-330-2722, ext. 3179.

Central Piedmont’s Global Learning department is proud to announce that two students were selected to participate in the 2019 French Embassy Engineering Program, and two students were awarded the 2019 Gilman International Scholarship.

French Engineering Bootcamp Program

Nayelli Guadarrama of Charlotte, N.C., and Ruth Kandolo of Charlotte, N.C., will join students from 17 other community colleges across the United States to participate in the 2019 French Engineering Bootcamp Program in Paris this summer.

The Bootcamp Program, co-financed by the French Embassy, is a learning experience that brings college students with an interest in engineering and environmental science together to conduct a series of professional and scientific studies on air quality in Paris air quality control, environmental management practices for water distribution, urban transportation, and lighting management.

Guadarrama and Kandolo will study public transportation and waste management practices in Lyon, France, specifically offering suggestions on how France’s second largest city can maintain an environmentally friendly lifestyle while growing exponentially.

Gilman International Scholarship

Ana Micheli of Harrisburg, N.C., and William Cozens of Charlotte, N.C., each received a $2,500 Gilman International Scholarship. Both students will participate in a four-week study abroad experience in Heidelberg, Germany this summer.

The students will study at a German language school, participate in cultural excursions, and immerse themselves in the culture.

The Gilman International Scholarship seeks to increase the number of U.S. students who study or intern abroad by providing scholarships to outstanding undergraduates who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise be able to participate. The program is sponsored by the US. Department of State in an effort to help American students gain the skills considered critical to the country’s national security and prosperity.

Learn more about Central Piedmont’s Global Learning Office and other international education opportunities.

The Tuition Payment Plan is a budget plan offered by Central Piedmont to help students with the cost of attendance. The plan is available April 19 - May 6, 2019. To learn more about tuition payment plan options, the plan features, and how to sign-up, please visit the Tuition Payment Plan website.