Student Story: Ben Wheeler

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Photo of Ben Wheeler with his hand on the brim of his hat and a slight smile on his face.

Ben Wheeler is a self-made, Nondestructive Examination student who is set to graduate this May!

As a member of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Ben works to advance science, engineering, and technology in nondestructive testing to create a safer world. On top of being a member of the ASNT, Ben is a proud Paul Zayicek Memorial Scholarship recipient. The Paul Zayicek Memorial Scholarship was provided by the Charlotte Chapter of the ASNT, it is used exclusively to support the college by providing scholarship assistance to students enrolled in nondestructive examination technology.

Ben chose Central Piedmont because he wanted to earn a lasting career and save money at the same time. Originally, he was studying electrical engineering but soon decided he was not fulfilled with that route. “I spoke with Sarah Wilson at the Central Piedmont Harper Campus, and she informed me of my options. Sarah suggested nondestructive examination because she felt like it would be a perfect fit. I enrolled and never looked back,” says Ben.

The people at Central Piedmont have made Ben feel welcome and supported, giving him a sense of comfort. “With my degree, I hope to have the flexibility to grow across the board for each NDE process and to be the most reliable team member when things get complicated,” Ben explains.

It was Central Piedmont that not only helped me conquer possibility but revealed the possibility to me as well. With the drive, the support, and the recognition, Ben now has the satisfaction of saying, “I am respected as one of the best.”

Advice for future Central Piedmont students: “Make sure to find the right people to back you up and guide you. Build relationships with advisors, teachers, and other students.”

Apply for the Theresa Thompson Library Scholarship

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outside view of Harper IV, a large Central Piedmont building with a brick facade and many windows. The sun shines from behind the building.The Theresa Thompson Library Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance for students pursuing a two-year degree at Central Piedmont and currently enrolled full time. The scholarship is restricted to books and/or tuition assistance. This scholarship award is made possible through library fundraising projects.

  • One $500 scholarship is awarded in the fall and spring semester.
  • Scholarships are awarded for one academic semester and cannot be renewed or transferred to a different semester.
  • If awarded a scholarship, the funds will be deposited directly into your Central Piedmont account once enrollment qualification is verified.

Deadline to apply: Monday, April 10, 2023

Log into the Academic Works scholarship portal for more information and application.

Paralegal Technology Open House March 28

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Paralegal technology students stands in front of law library shelf of booksJoin us for an Open House for Paralegal Technology as we move our program back to Central Campus with the addition of the new law library in the Parr Center.

Drop in, meet & greet, and learn more about us:

  • Tuesday, March 28, 5- 7:30 p.m.
  • Central Campus, Parr Center
  • Library, Second Floor, Room 2160 (Event Space)

The Paralegal Technology program at Central Piedmont is American Bar Association (ABA) Approved*  with both two-year degree and post-baccalaureate diploma program options.

Questions? Contact 704.330.4865.

*Paralegals may not practice law or give legal advice, except where permitted by law.

Phi Theta Kappa students win scholarships

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Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society logo with key

Central Piedmont’s Phi Lambda Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has two students who have been selected as 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars.

  • Ashton Leswing, Gold Scholar, will receive a $1500 scholarship
  • Letrell Grady, Bronze Scholar, will receive a $1000 scholarship

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing nationally 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. More than 2,400 were submitted for this year from the US. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service. This program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

The Phi Lambda chapter has also been named a 2022 REACH Chapter for membership development.

Congratulations to the scholars and the chapter for their success!

$5 student tickets for Sons of Mystro

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Two black violinists with a DJ and another band member at a drum set on stage.Central Piedmont Community College is proud to introduce the Parr Arts & Humanities series featuring Sons of Mystro on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m.

Proteges of Black Violin, this dynamic duo from South Florida uses their violins to interpret reggae classics, American pop songs, and their own creations with the help of a DJ and a drummer. They are winners of the Emerging Artist under 21 years old award at IRAWMA (International Reggae and World Music Awards) and are sure to get you hype!

You can purchase $5 student tickets (plus fees) with a valid student ID.

Sons of Mystro
Tuesday, March 28, 7 p.m.
Central Piedmont’s New Theater, Parr Center, Central Campus

This special preview event will serve as the teaser for the 2023-2024 season of the Parr Arts and Humanities series. Find more information on all Central Piedmont ticketed events at tix.cpcc.edu.

 

Free Health Science Support for English Language Learners

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Nursing student in scrubs and blue gloves with an IV fluids bag.

Is English your second language? Help is available for non-native English speakers enrolled in MED 121 or other related health science courses at the new Health Science Guided Support
Lab at Central Campus.

This lab will support English language learning skills needed for MED 121 Medical Terminology I. The lab is a FREE resource for those looking for extra help and successfully completing their MED 121 Medical Terminology I.

The guided lab will focus on providing opportunities to:

  • practice English in the context of Health Sciences
  • cover mini lessons
  • offer support on class platforms
  • assist with assignments
  • introduce study tips

Interested students must attend an appointment with Uzma Shadid to learn about lab requirements, and to get help signing up for the lab, if you meet eligibility requirements. 
Sign up for your appointment to learn more about Health Sciences Guided Support Lab.

If eligible for the free lab, you will attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. at the Health Sciences Guided Support Lab, located on Central Campus, North Classroom Building, Room 2127.

Attend Tech Week, March 20-25

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Students in a lab work at computers.The Technology Division is hosting “Tech Week” March 20-25! Planned events include in person and virtual presentations by Central Piedmont employees and technology company experts on a variety of technology topics.

In addition to the sessions during the week, please join us for the Technology Job Fair/ Open house on Saturday, March 25 to meet with many different companies.

Sign up to attend Tech Week Events.

To learn more about Tech Week, contact Joe Little, Associate Dean of Technology.

Schedule of planned events:

  • Monday March 20, 3 p.m., What the Tech Is Series – Subnetting

Host and Speaker: Joe Little
Levine Tech Building LT-5132
RSVP through Google Form 

  • Tuesday March 21, 3 p.m., What the Tech Is Series – Cloud/Virtual Data Centers

Host: Joe Little, Speaker: Chuck Renner Levine
Tech Building LT-5121
RSVP through Google Form.

  • Wednesday March 22, 3 p.m., What the Tech Is Series – Topic Cybersecurity

Host: Joe Little, Special Guest: Rick Fogarty
Parr Center – Multipurpose Rooms 0060/0070
RSVP through Google Form.

  • Thursday March 23, 3 p.m., What the Tech Is Series – Topic Python Programming

Host: Joe Little, Speaker: Dr. Carl Arrington
Levine Tech Building, LT-5123
RSVP through Google Form.

  • Friday March 24: Microsoft BAM “Blacks at Microsoft” Event Parr Center for Charlotte Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County High School Students
  • Friday March 24, 3 p.m., What the Tech Is Series – Topic Radio Broadcasting

Host Joe Little, Speaker Dr. Christian Dotson-Pierson, joined by guests from Praise 100.9
Center for Arts Technology – AU-101
RSVP through Google Form.

  • Saturday March 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Advising and Career Day/Open House and Job Fair – Central Campus, Levine IT, 5th floor
    Job Fair Attendees: Ally, Bank of America, Duke Energy, Microsoft, Novant, Vanguard, VMware
    Open to all Current and Prospective Students

Start your Career with Paid Apprenticeships from Coca-Cola

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Photos of Coca-Cola Consolidated employees working on equipment over red background and the Central Piedmont and Coke logos.

Did you know the nation’s largest Coca-Cola Bottler is based right here in Charlotte? It takes all different kinds of workers to make those facilities run and career opportunities are available. Paid apprenticeships let you “earn and learn” skills to be part of that action.

Information sessions can help get your questions answered. Join us for an info session on March 27 or April 19.

Or, apply now! Applications are open now through April 28.

Qualified applicants will get paid experience through part-time positions at Coke Consolidated while receiving financial support to pay for career certificates in fields to prepare you for careers such as:

  • Manufacturing / warehouse mechanic
  • Diesel mechanic (Red Classic Transportation – RCT)
  • Equipment Services Reconditioning Technician (HVAC and electrical skills)
Learn more about the apprenticeships and review Coca-Cola videos about “day in the life” of these careers.

Apply Now to serve on 2023-24 SGA Executive Committee

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Student Government Association logo with gold columnsThe Student Government Association (SGA) is excited to announce the application period for the executive committee is now open!

Apply today to serve on the 2023-24 SGA Executive Committee for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Public Information Officer.

All Central Piedmont students are members of the SGA and are represented by elected student officers. This is your opportunity to become an officer – be involved in the democratic process and create a positive change for yourself and students across the college.

The deadline to apply is Friday, March 24, at 5 p.m. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Students who take on leadership roles in SGA serve as advocates for the student body through various outlets at the College, make budget recommendations, and support student group programming and activity.

Visit the SGA page for additional information or contact cbenson7@email.cpcc.edu Courtney Benson, Public Information Officer, with any questions.

Be a Student Ambassador for 2023-24

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students in auditorium engaged in conversationAttend an interest session to apply to be a 2023-24 Central Piedmont Student Ambassador.

Student ambassadors are student leaders who serve as official liaisons between the college, students and their families, guests, alumni, and friends of the college.

Student ambassador is a highly respected title and a great résumé builder. Other reasons you should become a student ambassador:

  • Get a scholarship of up to $1,700 per semester.
  • Gain real-world job skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills, and grow personally and professionally.
  • Meet other students.
  • Represent the college at recruitment events; attend exclusive college activities and events.
  • Participate in community service activities.
  • Network with community members and potential employers.
  • Make a positive impact on prospective and current students.

Join an upcoming Student Ambassador Information Session to learn more to learn about this leadership opportunity and scholarship program on March 17 (virtual) or March 22 (in person at Central Campus).

Racial Healing Circle event March 29

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The Central Piedmont fellows of the Charlotte Racial Justice Consortium invite you to a Racial Healing Circle at Central Piedmont.

The purpose of Racial Healing Circles are to introduce and practice a process by which we can embrace our common humanity, work from a place of mutual love and respect, learn to see ourselves in one another, and approach difficult issues of race through the lens of empathy rather than the lens of sympathy.

What to expect during the healing circle: A session of both group interactions and smaller, more intimate conversations between two participants. The experience relies on intentional listening. It may be an emotional, even transformational, experience for participants, as conversations can unearth truths and conscious and unconscious biases. It can also raise the awareness, consciousness, compassion, and empathy among those who participate.

Register for the Racial Healing Circle today. 

To create a space of respect, truth, and empathy, you will need to agree to stay for the entire time.

*Space is limited and registration is required. Maximum of 16 students and 10 faculty/staff members will be able to participate. Selection will be based on the time of your registration (register early!)

Light refreshments will be provided by the Student Equity Council, a co-sponsor of the event

Please contact Jesse.Bennett@cpcc.edu with any questions.

‘Parallel Lives’ highlights history of Central High and Second Ward High Schools

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Old photos of the two high schools and various photos of the students playing sports and gathering.

The Central Piedmont Archives is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition: “Parallel Lives – Central High and Second Ward High School.” This exhibition highlights the centennial history of Central High and Second Ward High Schools (both opened in 1923), celebrates the memories of its students and alumni groups, and raises awareness about the importance of historical preservation and landmarks laws in North Carolina.

Central High School and Second Ward High School were built to fulfill the growing educational needs of Charlotte students in the early twentieth century; Second Ward High School serving Black students and Central High School serving White students. It was not until 1957 that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools would integrate Black and White students. With Central High situated along Elizabeth Avenue and Second Ward along Alexander Street, the schools were within walking distance from one another. However, students shared similar, yet separate, experiences due to segregation.

Exactly 100 years after the construction of these buildings, Central High’s facility remains standing as part of the Central Campus of Central Piedmont Community College, while the Second Ward gymnasium and a historical marker plaque are all that remain of Second Ward High School— physical reminders which serve as testaments to the importance of landmarks preservation.

Visitors can see this exhibition in person until May 8, 2023 by visiting the exhibition hallway next to the Central Piedmont Archives (Central Campus, Parr Center, Hagemeyer Library, Third Floor).

Can’t make it in person? Review the exhibition online.

The exhibit was made possible due to partners from Johnson C. Smith University, UNC Charlotte, the Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation, and the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room. Additionally, thank you to Central Piedmont Instructor of Real Estate Education Cynthia White Williams, her mother Vernie Johnson-White, and her father Randolph White for loaning Second Ward yearbooks to this exhibition project.

Apply for Central Piedmont Honors Program

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Central Piedmont is launching an Honors Program beginning in fall 2023.

Honors Program Scholars will be required to complete 15 credit hours in Honors Program course sections, a 30 hour immersive experience, and 10 activities or events–including interview and resume sessions–that emphasize the Honors Program foundations.

Honors Program Scholars will participate in several foundations of learning:

  • experiential learning to “learn by doing”
  • research, scholarship and innovation to develop problem solving skills
  • civic engagement and global learning to create diverse, equitable, and positive change in our community
  • leadership development
  • reflective thinking for increased self-awareness

Priority applications are now being accepted for the Central Piedmont Honors Program through March 24, 2023, with notification by April 28. Students who submit applications between March 25- May 31 will receive a decision notification by July 7.

Learn more about the application and apply today.

The Honors Program is supported through the generosity of Truist Bank.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Deninne Pritchett, faculty director of the Honors Program at honorsprogram@cpcc.edu.

‘In Plain Sight’ art exhibit open at Central Campus

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Painting in pinks and purples basked in sunlight. View is from inside home, with green plants on table and chairs around it. Large windows and door are open to green landscape.Central Piedmont Dove Gallery presents ‘In Plain Sight’ by Joseph Kameen.

WHAT: Memory often replays itself in our minds as snapshots. Sometimes memories occur in our dreams with exaggerated colors and shadows. Perhaps a seemingly benign object with no apparent meaning stands out in a dream or waking memory, imbuing itself with a subjective meaning, unique to each viewer.

Joseph Kameen’s body of work explores a moment in time, either right before or immediately after an event happens. The ordinary becomes the extraordinary as each painting suggests a specific reflection, thought or memory. Simple moments such as squeezing a lemon, pushing a stalled car, or looking into one room while standing in another all impart relatable moments and affect each one individually.

“In my paintings, I am interested in the ways that routine events play a role in my self-awareness and identity. Memories of benign objects, actions, and spaces—devoid of meaning on their own—can become entangled with the larger concerns that dominated my thoughts at that time. In my work, I depict everyday moments seen through this lens; dramatized and amplified as I project my internal experiences onto my surroundings.” – Joseph Kameen

WHEN:  March 13 – May 11, 2023, Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., or by appointment

WHERE: Central Piedmont Central Campus, Parr Center, Dove Gallery, 1201 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204

ARTIST LECTURE: Artist Lecture is March 29, at 1 p.m. in the Parr Center Theater. Reception to immediately follow.

Contact: Senior Art Galleries Coordinator Amelia.Zytka@cpcc.edu

Cosmetology March special- $5 services!

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Central Piedmont Cosmetology at City View is providing all services for only $5 for the month of March. Cosmetology students in uniform pose casually outside of the City View Center

YES, each service is five dollars! 

This offer is extended to all Central Piedmont employees and students.  Your employee or student photo ID is required to secure this price.

Graduating students in the Cosmetology Program are completing their portfolios and would love to showcase images of their work including hair, skin and nail services with the support of the Central Piedmont family.

Walk-ins are welcomed but scheduling an appointment is preferred.  The salon clinic is opened Tuesday – Friday, please call 704.330.5455.

Please visit the Cosmetology webpage for more information on the salon hours and service offerings. 

For the month of March, the salon clinic will be open March 1-3, closed March 7-10, open March 14-17, open March 21-24, and open March 28-31.

Allergies or a cold slowing you down?

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A hands-on virtual visit allows the healthcare provider on the video call to see inside your ears, throat and more to make a diagnosis.

It’s allergy season, did you know that you can get care for minor illnesses from Atrium Health, without leaving campus?

Appointments for the Atrium Health community-based virtual clinic can be made a day in advance and you can often get care the SAME day! The clinic is open at Central Campus, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m.- 4p.m.

More than a standard video visit, in-person support staff use special technology to help the healthcare provider look in your ears or throat, check your temperature, take your blood pressure, and more. The healthcare provider can then give you a diagnosis or send in prescriptions as needed. If your condition isn’t contagious, you can get back to your day with little interruption, without taking time away from school or work.

Kinds of illnesses they treat:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Coughs and colds
  • COVID-19 assessments
  • Ear pain
  • Female urinary tract infection
  • Fever
  • Flu symptoms
  • Headache
  • Pink eye
  • Rash
  • Sinus Concerns
  • Sore throat
  • Sprains and strains
  • Stomach ache

Ready to start a visit? Call 844.563.5268

Or stop by the clinic at Central Campus: Leon Levine Health Sciences Center, Room 104.

“Speed friendshipping” at Cato

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two friends chat comfortably together on campus at a tableEnjoy meeting new people? Do you want to build friendships? Have you always wondered if there were people out there who may have something in common with you? If so, we invite you to come to our Speed Friendshipping event.

This event is being hosted in conjunction with the Central Piedmont Library and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Community Read collaboration.

The selected book is “The People We Keep” by Alison Larkin.

  • March 23
  • 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
  • Cato Campus, Cato III, Library, Room 315

Questions? Call 704.330.4818

Line up your Summer Internship Now

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Use your summer to get paid while building your work experience!   Did you know that students with a paid internship make a higher salary after graduation?  Visit Handshake to see paid internships and other employment opportunities. Transfer students are eligible for internships too.

Use Big Interview to get ready to rock your internship interviews!  This online system builds your interview confidence and expertise.

Other ways to build experience outside of the classroom:

  • Volunteer or get involved in a student club.  Student Engagement is here to help!
  • Workplace Learning – offers co-ops and can document your internship with a certificate
  • Job Shadowing – spend a few hours with someone at their workplace.  See pages 10-11 in the Career Guide for tips.

Career Services is here for you.  Log into Handshake to make an appointment with a career counselor.