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(THEME MUSIC)
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IN
OUR NAME, CENTRAL PIEDMONT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, IS COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.
WE'RE A COMMUNITY-BASED, CAREER
COLLEGES.
CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST JEWELS IN QUEEN
CHARLOTTE'S CROWN.
>> THIS INSTITUTION WAS PUT HERE
BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY THE
ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
CREATING THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COMBINING A MECKLENBURG COLLEGE
WHICH WAS A BLACK COLLEGE AND
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION CENTER
WHICH WAS PART OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM WHICH WAS WHITE.
AND OUR JOB WAS TO COMBINE THESE
AND OPERATE THEM AS A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
>> WHEN WE FIRST CAME, THIS WAS
STILL HOUSES.
>> THE DECISION WAS MADE AFTER
ONE YEAR OF OPERATING TWO
CAMPUSES.
THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT WE
WOULD CLOSE ONE AND RELOCATE
EVERYTHING IN A DOWNTOWN CENTER
CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF THE
ENTIRE POPULATION AND SELL OFF
THE CAMPUS OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF 85.
>> WELL, WAS THE INDUSTRIAL
EDUCATION CENTER JOINED FORCES
WITH MECKLENBURG COLLEGE TO
BECOME CENTRAL PIEDMONT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
>> WE BROUGHT OVER SIX EMPLOYEES
FROM THE OTHER COLLEGE, AND HAD
TO DISCONTINUE CONTRACTS ON THE
OTHER FOUR.
>> ONE MAN, MR. ALEXANDER, HE
HAD A SHOVEL, A PICK,
WHEELBARREL AND A HOLE, AND THIS
CAMPUS LAYOUT IS THE SAME
WHETHER THAT ONE MAN LAID IT
OUT.
CEMENT A 64 IS MY FIRST TIME IN
THE CLASSROOM OVER HERE.
>> HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN
THAT EVER TAUGHT AN INTEGRATED
CLASS IN A COLLEGE IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
>> THE STUDENTS HAD A PURPOSE.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
MATHEMATICS.
I HAD A PURPOSE.
I WAS THERE TO TEACH THEM
MATHEMATICS.
THEY ACCEPTED WHAT I HAD TO
OFFER.
THEY ASKED QUESTIONS AND I
RESPONDED TO THEIR QUESTIONS,
AND IT WAS-- THERE WAS NEVER ANY
CONCERN OF MY COLOR, MY
COMPLEXION, WHO I WAS.
I WAS THEN IN THE FRONT.
SO IF ANYTHING HAPPENED, HELP
WAS ON THE WAY.
ABOUT A MONTH LATER WE HAD SOME
PEOPLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAME DOWN FOR
SOME OTHER REASON, BUT THEY HAD
NOT EXPERIENCED A BLACK
INSTRUCTOR IN THIS KIND OF
SETTING.
>> CPCC'S BEEN AN INNOVATOR FROM
THE WORD GO.
*** HAGEMEYER WAS A VISIONARY
WAY BEFORE HIS TIME.
>> DR. HAGEMEYER HAD HIS MIND
MADE UP.
HE A VISION OF WHAT HE WANTED
THIS COLLEGE TO BE, HOW HE
WANTED HIS INSTRUCTORS TO BE
STUDENT-CENTERED.
HE WANTED THEM TO BE FOCUSED.
HE WANTED THEM TO BE IN TUNE TO
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE MISSION.
>> WHAT IS THE REAL MAGIC OF
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE?
AND AND IT WAS HERE BEFORE I GOT
HERE.
*** HAGEMEYER AND THE INITIAL
GROUP OF FACULTY STAFF STARTED
IT AND I THINK THE REAL MAGIC
IS, NUMBER ONE, ALL THE FACULTY
AND STAFF SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND
WE'RE FOCUSED ON STUDENTS IN THE
COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO
OURSELVES.
>> THE PRIMARY THING I'VE
NOTICED FROM CENTRAL PIEDMONT
ALL THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE IS
STUDENTS IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL,
AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THEM,
AND OUR SERVICE IS TO THEM AND
CENTRAL PIEDMONT HAS NEVER
WAIVERRED ON THAT.
THE FACT IS THEY'VE BECOME MORE,
MORE FOCUSED.
>> DR. HAGEMEYER CAME WITH THE
VISION AND HIS PROBLEM WAS TO
KEEP IT GOING.
>> HIT TO BE BROAD-BASED.
IT HAD TO BE EMPHASIS PLACED ON
THINGS THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE
IMPROVE THEIR LOT IN LIFE.
I HAD AN EXTREMELY STRONG BOARD
WELL REPRESENTED IN THE
COMMUNITY, STRONG PEOPLE.
THEY WERE SOLD ON THE IDEA OF
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THEY REPRESENTED BOTH SEGMENTS,
THE BLACK AND THE WHITE SEGMENTS
OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE
LEADERS, AND-- WELL, THAT WAS MY
LUCK.
BECAUSE THEY BACKED ME AND IF IT
HADN'T BEEN FOR THAT WE WOULDN'T
HAVE SUCCEEDED.
>> UNHEALTHY BOARDS RUN
PRESIDENTS OFF FASTER THAN
ANYTHING OFF.
WE'VE BEEN BLESSED.
WE'VE HAD GREAT BOARD MEMBERS
THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY ALMOST 50
YEARS OF THIS COLLEGE, AND IT
ALSO SAYS THAT THEY'VE HIRED
PRETTY GOOD PRESIDENTS BECAUSE
THOSE PRESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT
THE GRASS ISN'T GREENER, YOU
KNOW, SOME PLACE ELSE THE GRASS
IS GREENER WHERE YOU CULTIVATE
IT AND YOU WATER IT AND YOU HAVE
TIME TO GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED
WHICH IS WHAT *** HAGEMEYER AND
RUTH SHAW DID.
>> WE ALL CAME HERE VERY
ENTHUSIASTIC.
NOT KNOWING A WHOLE LOT ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I DIDN'T. I THEN SOON REALIZED
THAT 9 COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS FOR
EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU WERE RICH,
POOR, DIFFERENT CULTURES,
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
WE WERE HERE FOR YOU AND WE WERE
HERE TO HELP YOU ANY WAY WE
COULD.
>> WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT
HOW CAN WE HELP THAT STUDENT BE
MORE SUCCESSFUL?
HOW CAN WE HELP OUR EMPLOYERS BE
MORE SUCCESSFUL?
HOW CAN WE HELP THE CHAMBER BE
MORE SUCCESSFUL?
HOW CAN WE HELP THE COMMUNITY BE
SUCCESSFUL, A GREAT PLACE TO
LIVE?
AS OPPOSED TO THIS IS THIS GOOD
FOR THE COLLEGE?
WE DON'T ASK THAT QUESTION.
WE JUST STAY FOCUSED EXTERNALLY
WHICH IS WHAT, OF COURSE, THE
TAXPAYERS EXPECT FROM US.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAGIC.
WE GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE FUN WITH EACH OTHER, BUT
WE'RE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT OUR
ROLE AS THE PERVASIVE EDUCATOR
OF CHARLOTTE CITIZENS.
>> IT WAS EXCITING, OF COURSE,
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE
CONCEPT OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND WHAT IT MEANS TO A COMMUNITY
AND TO ITS CITIZENS, AND I WAS
JUST HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> BUT WE HAD CLASSES BEING
TAUGHT IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS,
SHOPPING CENTERS, CHURCHES,
SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE
COMMUNITY.
WE SENT THE FACULTY OUT THERE
AND MET THE PEOPLE IN THEIR
AREAS.
>> COMMUNITY COLLEGE MOVED ME,
TAKING STUDENTS WHERE YOU FOUND
THEM AND MOVING THEM AHEAD AND
GIVING THEM A LITTLE TLC AS YOU
MOVE THEM ALONG.
>> CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS HERE FOR
THE STUDENTS, FOR THE PEOPLE.
IT'S-- IT'S CHANGED LIVES.
IT'S-- SOMETIMES YOU CAN EVEN
SAY IT SAVED LIVES BECAUSE WE'VE
HAD SO MANY STUDENTS WHO FELT
HOPELESS AND CENTRAL PIEDMONT
GAVE THEM HOPE THAT YOU CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> IF WE FORGET THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY THEN WE'RE MISSING A
GREAT PORTION OF WHY WE WERE
CREATED.
SO WE WANT TO GIVE BACK.
WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FROM OUR
GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM WHERE
IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND
INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE SPEAK AND
THE PUBLIC'S INVITED TO SENSORIA
TO LITERARY FESTIVALS WE USED TO
HAVE TO THEATER, WHICH IS, I
THINK, OUR SUMMER THEATER IS THE
BEST ON THE EAST COAST, TO
OPERA.
SO WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WE HAVE
5K RUNS.
WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
WE RENT OUR THEATERS SO OTHER
PEOPLE CAN USE IT AND UTILIZE
THE SPACE AND SHARE IT WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T
REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HUGE
IMPACT THAT CENTRAL PIEDMONT HAS
IN THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
STUDENTS HERE.
I THINK WHEN I WAS HERE, THERE
WERE LIKE 60,000 STUDENTS AND
IT'S JUST SERVES SUCH A STRONG
COMMUNITY NEED AND THE WHOLE
AREA OF TRAINING THE WORK FORCE
FOR TODAY IS SO IMPORTANT AND
JOBS ARE CHANGING.
THE NEEDS THAT ARE-- THE
BUSINESS HAVE NEEDS IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT ARE CHANGING AS
WELL SO CENTRAL PIEDMONT REALLY
PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN WORK FORCE
TRAINING FOR OUR AREA.
>> YOU'VE GOT A NEW GROUP OF
STUDENTS EVERY CLASS, EVERY
SEMESTER AND THAT'S VERY, VERY
MOTIVATING FOR ME.
THAT REALLY IS-- THAT LIGHTS MY
FIRE.
I GET TO SEE 25 NEW FACES WHEN I
WALK INTO A CLASSROOM.
WHO ARE THEY?
WHAT DO THEY NEED?
HOW CAN I HELP THEM?
>> THERE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR
THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES THAT WON A
PULITZER PRIZE, AND HIS BASIC
TRAINING STARTED AT CENTRAL
PIEDMONT.
AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT HE
GOT AT CENTRAL PIEDMONT LED HIM
ONTO THAT.
>> COMING BACK, IT'S LIKE THE
FIRST TIME AND I THINK ABOUT
WHAT I GET WHEN I GET HERE WHEN
I COME BACK AND I GET RENEWED OR
REBOOTED, REPLENISHED, RESTORED,
AND EACH TIME I LEAVE, I'M IN
ANOTHER ORBIT, A DIFFERENT
ORBIT.
SO IT'S COMING BACK TO THE
SOURCE OF LOVE, THE ROOTS OF
LOVE AND THE SPRINGBOARD OF MY
CAREER, MY LIFE ACTUALLY.
>> BUT I WAS LUCKY.
I HAD TO WORK WITH THOSE PEOPLE
AND THE STAFF AND YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE WORK LIKE
THEY DID AND I DON'T THINK VERY
MANY PEOPLE WOULD EVER HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
>> WHEN HAGEMEYER RESIGNED, I
TOLD SOME PEOPLE, I SAID, I
DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANOTHER
MAN IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SYSTEM IN AMERICA THAT
CAN SUCCEED HIM.
LITTLE DID I REALIZE IT WOULD BE
A WOMAN AND SHE DID AN
ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR JOB.
>> IT WAS CLEARLY THE
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN
NORTH CAROLINA AND IT WAS A
CHANCE TO COME HOME.
WHETHER WE ARRIVED HERE IN 1986,
OUR YOUNGER SON WAS FOUR YEARS
OLD.
SO HE REALLY BEGAN TO GROW UP AT
CENTRAL PIEDMONT, AND OUR OLDER
SON, WHO WAS A RISING SENIOR IN
HIGH SCHOOL LATER ATTENDED
CENTRAL PIEDMONT.
SO IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR
HEARTS.
THERE'S JUST NO SUBSTITUTE FOR
ONE MAN RUBBING AGAINST ANOTHER
FOR THE REALITY IN WORKING IN A
SCIENCE LAB OR AN AUTOMOTIVE LAB
IN GETTING THAT HANDS-ON
EXPERIENCE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL JOB TO LEAD
THAT COLLEGE AND IT IS MADE
WONDERFUL THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
THAT SUPPORTS THE COLLEGE AND
THROUGH THE FACULTY WHO HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO ITS EXCELLENCE
OVER THE YEARS.
I ARRIVED TO A FABULOUS
FOUNDATION BUILT BY ***
HAGEMEYER AND PUT SOME OF MY OWN
IMPRINT ON IT IN THE PERIOD OF
TIME I WAS HERE.
ONCE TONY ZEISS ARRIVED AND
BEGAN TO BUILD ON THAT TO FLUSH
OUT THAT MULTICAMPUS PLAN TO
TURN THIS CAMPUS INTO THE
PHENOMENAL PLACE THAT IT IS
TODAY, HE CARRIED IT YET ANOTHER
LEVEL.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY MAKES IT
SPECIAL?
IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE'S LIVES
THAT HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE
EDUCATION THEY GOT HERE AT THIS
INSTITUTION.
PROBABLY WOULD EXCEED ANY OTHER
INSTITUTION WE'VE GOT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> HAD A STUDENT A FEW YEARS
AGO, TOOK HIM TEN YEARS TO
FINISH THE PROGRAM.
HE NEVER GAVE UP AND I RESPECTED
HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY HE CAME
DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT WASN'T EASY
FOR HIM, BUT THE DAY HE WALKED
ACROSS THE STAGE, THAT WAS
PROBABLY ONE OF MY PROUDEST
MOMENTS TO SEE HIM DO THAT.
I MEAN, HE NEVER GAVE UP.
>> WE MEASURE SUCCESS OF OUR
STUDENTS DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN WE
DID BEFORE.
IN FACT, 20 YEARS AGO, WE WERE
VERY PROUD WE WERE ACCESSIBLE.
WE WERE OWN AN OPEN-DOOR
COLLEGE.
WE ACCEPTED ALL OF GOD'S
CHILDREN.
WE WERE READY TO GET THEM READY
SO THEY COULD BE SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S A LOT ABOUT ACCESS AND
TODAY, IT'S MORE ABOUT SUCCESS.
ALSO 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS MORE
ABOUT TEACHING AND ACCESS.
TODAY, IT'S MORE ABOUT LEARNERS
AND LEARNING AND SUCCESS, WHICH
MEANS DID THEY GET A CREDENTIAL?
DO THEY HAVE A CERTIFICATE?
DO THEY HAVE A DEGREE?
DO THEY TRANSFER TO ANOTHER
UNIVERSITY IN GOODSTANDING?
ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO MEASURE
SUCCESS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE FOR
US, OUR VISION IS TO BE THE
NATION'S LEADER IN WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
OUR BOTTOM LINE IS DO THEY GET A
JOB?
IF THAT WAS WHAT THEIR INTENT
WAS, DO THEY GET A JOB?
>> WE NEVER STOOD STILL.
WE NEVER STOOD STILL.
AS THERE WAS A NEED, CP WENT IN
TO FILL THAT NEED.
>> BACK THEN, I WAS NEWLY MARID
AND HAVING TO WORK, I WORKED AT
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL,
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, AS I WENT
TO SCHOOL AT CENTRAL PIEDMONT,
BUT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE HOURS
WHERE THE PROGRAMS MET MY
DEMANDS VERY WELL.
I COULD GO TO SCHOOL DURING THE
DAY AND THEN WORK IN THE
EVENINGS AND SOMETIMES WE HAD
SOME EVENING CLASSES SO I COULD
ALTER MY SCHEDULE TO MEET THE
SCHOOL'S SCHEDULE.
IT WAS VERY NICE.
>> IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO
FIND ANYONE IN MECKLENBURG
COUNTY OR SURROUNDING COUNTIES
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY
CENTRAL PIEDMONT BECAUSE THE
COUSINS OR THE FRIENDS OF A
COUSIN OR WHOMEVER, IT'S JUST
TOUCHED LIVES AND IT'S MADE A
DIFFERENCE.
>> WHEN YOU SEE YOUR STUDENTS AT
THE END OF THE DAY SMILING AND
REALIZING WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE
OF, THAT IS SUCCESS AND NOT ONLY
IS IT THEIR SUCCESS, IT IS MY
SUCCESS AS WELL.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I
THINK IS WE'RE VERY DYNAMIC AND
WE'VE LEARNED TO BE VERY
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE JOBS ARE THERE FOR PEOPLE.
WE CAN BUILD THE BRICK AND
MORTAR AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS
AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.
BUT IF THERE'S A LEGACY THAT I
WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER IS WHAT
WE COLLECTIVELY, THE FACULTY,
THE STAFF, THE ADMINISTRATION,
THE BOARDS HAVE DONE AT CREATING
INCREASED SUCCESS FOR OUR
STUDENTS, AND-- AND THOSE WHO
EMPLOY THEM.
>> A MULTICAMPUS APPROACH BEGAN
WHEN I WAS THE PRESIDENT AND TO
SEE THE REALIZATION THAT THAT
HAS NOW IN ALL THE LIVES THAT
CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS ABLE TO
TOUCH, IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL.
>> IT'S REALLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT
WE HAVE HAD 50 YEARS AT CENTRAL
PIEDMONT.
I WISHED IT COULD BE HERE TO
SHARE THIS AND HE WOULD BE SO
PROUD OF ALL THIS.
ALL THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
AT THE COLLEGE.
IT'S TRULY, TRULY REMARKABLE.
>> DR. SHAW, I THINK, HELPED THE
COLLEGE TO ORGANIZE ITSELF
BETTER.
>> CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE EPITOMIZES AN
ORGANIZATION THAT CARES ABOUT
PEOPLE.
WE LIFT PEOPLE UP.
WE GIVE THEM HOPE.
WE HELP EQUIP THEM WITH THE
SKILLS TO GET A GOOD JOB AND A
CAREER AND SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THEY WANTED A NEW PRESIDENT WHO
WOULD COME IN AND DO TWO THINGS.
ONE, MOVE THE COLLEGE BACK TO
ITS ORIGINAL AND STATUTORY
MISSION, WHICH IS WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE A CAREER COLLEGE, AND WE
HAD SLIPPED AWAY FROM THAT A
LITTLE BIT AND THEN NUMBER TWO
IS WE HAD TO BECOME, THEY FELT,
A MULTICAMPUS COLLEGE, AND THEY
WERE RIGHT
>> THE KEY FACT IS WHERE THE
RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, AND YOU
KNOW WHERE THAT IS?
THAT'S WHERE FACULTY AND STAFF
MEET THESE STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
THEY MEET THESE STUDENTS EVERY
DAY IN ALL TYPES OF SITUATIONS
TO DELIVER A PRODUCT THAT THESE
STUDENTS CAN USE TO DEVELOP SO
THEY CAN GO OUT AND BE
PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
>> WE'RE ALL FOCUSED ON STUDENT
SUCCESS AND WE KNOW THIS.
THE RESEARCH SAYS THAT IF
STUDENTS BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY
CARES ABOUT THEM AND THEIR
PROGRESS, THEY'RE GOING TO WORK
HARD AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE'RE ALL ABOUT TRYING TO
REACH THOSE 70,000 STUDENTS AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT
SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT THEM.
>> I'M WILLING TO PUT MY LIFE ON
THE LINE FOR THEM.
I'M WILLING TO LET THEM KNOW THE
THINGS THAT HELP ME.
I LET THEM KNOW THE THINGS THAT
I DID WRONG THAT MIGHT HAVE PUT
ME IN THE POSITION OF WHERE I
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING
ON.
MAYBE I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE STUDY SKILLS
THAT I NEEDED.
I DIDN'T MANAGE MY TIME LIKE I
SHOULD HAVE.
SO AS A PART OF MY LECTURE IN
ADDITION TO TEACHING THE MATH, I
LET THEM KNOW THE THINGS THEY
CAN DO TO IMPROVE THEIR MATH
SKILLS AND OVERALL LIFE SKILLS,
TOO, AND THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO DO
EVERY TIME I GO TO CLASS.
>> WE TRY TO PROJECT A POSITIVE
ATTITUDE TOWARD EACH OF THEM
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS
ARE.
EVERYBODY IS IMPORTANT.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT
ENAMORED US ABOUT CHARLOTTE WAS
THE CARING SPIRIT.
PLUS, A VERY PRO-BUSINESS
SPIRIT.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PRO-BUSINESS, BRING JOBS IN AND
INCREASE PROSPERITY FOR ALL AND
A CARING SPIRIT FOR THOSE WHO
DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS OR DON'T
HAVE THE WITHWITHAL TO HELP
THEMSELVES, THEN YOU'VE GOT AN
EQUATION FOR A WONDERFUL
COMMUNITY, AND THINK ABOUT IT.
IN 21 YEARS, LOOK WHAT'S
HAPPENED TO OUR COMMUNITY NOT
JUST CENTRAL PIEDMONT, AND THEN
YOU ADD CENTRAL PIEDMONT TO THE
MIX, WHAT A WONDERFUL BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
I COULD NOT HAVE WORKED WITH A
BETTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES OVER
THE YEARS THAN I HAVE, AND SO
YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.
PLUS MY CABINET, THE GREAT
PEOPLE, THE FACULTY I'VE HAD TO
WORK WITH.
IT'S JUST A PRESCRIPTION FOR
SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.
>> IN THE EARLY DAYS, THEY
TAUGHT WELDING AND IF IT HADN'T
BEEN FOR CENTRAL PIEDMONT AND
THE ABILITY TO TEACH WELDING,
THE WESTINGHOUSE PLANT WOULD
NEVER HAVE BEEN BROUGHT HERE.
>> A NEW COMPANY COULD BE IN
HERE TOMORROW AND WE COULD FIND
OURSELVES UPGRADING OUR
TRAINING, RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF
TRAINING TEAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE SKILLED WORKERS
THEY NEED.
SIEMENS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE.
IT'S A LARGE, GERMAN-BASED
COMPANY AND THEY NEEDED SKILLED
WORKERS AND THEY WERE AFRAID
THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET THEM
AND WHAT THEY REALLY WANTED WAS
THE ASSURANCE THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO GET THE SAME SKILLS
THAT THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN
GERMANY GOT.
WE SAID FINE.
WE SENT OUR FACULTY TO BERLIN TO
BECOME SIEMEN CERTIFIED AD AT
THEIR TRAINING CENTER SO THEY
KNEW THEY WERE GETTING COMPACTLY
THE SAME COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
HERE AT THE SIEMENS PLANT.
AND IT'S THAT SORT OF NIMBLENESS
AND RESPONSIVENESS, QUICK
RESPONSIVENESS THAT HAS REALLY
HELPED THE COLLEGE CONTINUE TO
GROW AND BE A VALUE TO THE
COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
WHAT YOUR MISSION IS.
YOUR MISSION IS TAKING CARE OF
STUDENTS AND WHAT'S THE METRICS
OF THOSE STUDENTS?
WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS?
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE
THREE, FIVE, TEN YEARS OUT?
IT WILL BE A LOT OF THE SAME BUT
IT WILL BE A CONTINUAL
EXPANSION.
THESE ARE SMART KIDS, TALENTED
KIDS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO REACH TO
THE LEVEL THOSE STUDENTS ARE.
>> WE WANT TO BECOME THE TOP
COLLEGE CERTAINLY ON THE EAST
COAST IF NOT ALL OVER AMERICA IN
EUROPEAN STYLE TRAINING AND THAT
INCLUDES APPRENTICESHIPS.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GERMANY AND
SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA, THAT'S
WHAT THEY'RE ALL USED TO IS
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING AND
THEY'RE ALSO USED TO SOME REAL
SPECIFIC TRADES TRAINING IN
CERTAIN COMPETENCIES, AND WE
WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT
GIVES OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS A
REAL ADVANTAGE WHETHER THEY ARE
RECRUITING INTERNATIONAL
COMPANIES TO
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG.
>> THIS COLLEGE HAS TOUCHED
INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
TODAY, WE HONOR AN INDIVIDUAL
AND A FAMILY THAT CARE ABOUT
THIS PLACE A GREAT DEAL AND THE
IMPORTANT WORK THAT GOES ON HERE
TO KEEP CHARLOTTE ECONOMICALLY
STRONG.
>> IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR CORNELIUS
AND HUNTERSVILLE AND DAVIDSON
AND THIS ENTIRE AREA OF
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, BUT EVEN
MORE THAN THAT, IT'S KIND OF A
MILESTONE DAY FOR CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS WE
CONTINUE OUR MOVEMENT WHERE
WE'RE BECOMING A MULTICAMPUS
FACILITY.
>> THE PRESIDENT OF ANY
ORGANIZATION SHOULD PERSONIFY
THE IMAGE OF THAT ORGANIZATION
AND SHOULD PROTECT THAT
ORGANIZATION AT ALL COSTS, AND
THAT'S BEEN A MAJOR ROLE OF MINE
20 YEARS AGO AND STILL IS THERE
TODAY.
ALSO 20 YEARS AGO, I WAS MORE OF
AN ACADEMIC LEADER.
WHEREAS, TODAY, I HAVE TO BE
MORE OF A FUND-RAISER.
WE NOW RAISE 33% OF OUR $180
MILLION OPERATING BUDGET ON OUR
OWN, AND WE HAVE TO RAISE MORE
BECAUSE WE KEEP FALLING BEHIND
FROM PUBLIC SOURCES.
IN FACT, IF YOU COUNT OUR
TUITION, IF WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP
OUR TUITION AND COUNTED THAT AS
MONEY THAT WE EARNED THAT NUMBER
WOULD BE MORE LIKE 50%.
WHEN WE BEGAN DEVELOPING THE
MULTICAMPUS MASTER PLAN ALONG
WITH THE FACILITIES' MASTER
PLAN, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD
THE RIGHT PROGRAMATIC MIX IN
EACH OF THEM, EACH OF THE
CAMPUSES, BUT WE ALSO WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURE
BECAUSE IF THEY WERE INDEPENDENT
CAMPUSES, VERY QUICKLY THEY
WOULD BE COMPETING WITH EACH
OTHER, AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S
THE TYPICAL MODEL THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
DALLAS, PHOENIX, LOS ANGELES,
YOU NAME IT, MIAMI AND WE
THOUGHT WE DON'T WANT TO GO THAT
WAY.
WE WANT THE CULTURE OF THE
ORIGINAL CAMPUS TO CARRY-- BE
CARRIED OUT IN THE FIVE NEW
CAMPUSES.
THIS IS MATTHEW'S FIELD OF
DREAMS.
THIS IS OUR FIELD OF DREAMS
WHERE DREAMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE
CAN COME TO REALITY.
>> THE BELK FOUNDATION HAS BEEN
VERY GENEROUS TO CENTRAL
PIEDMONT AND THAT'S A GOOD
PARTNERSHIP.
>> WHEN COMPANIES AND INDUSTRIES
WANT TO MOVE OR WANT TO FIND OUT
ABOUT THIS AREA AND THEY TALK TO
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THEIR
FIRST QUESTION IS, WELL, WHO CAN
TRAIN OUR WORK FORCE?
WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THIS AREA?
AND OF COURSE, THE ANSWER IS
CENTRAL PIEDMONT.
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE'RE AT THE TABLE WITH THE
CHARLOTTE CHAMBER OR THE
CHARLOTTE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
WHEN THEY'RE RECRUITING NEW
COMPANIES BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES
THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING
THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OR THE
TRAINING AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOR
THOSE NEW WORKERS TO HAVE BEFORE
THEY TAKE THOSE JOBS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE THE KEY
LEADER IN IT IN MANY, MANY WAYS
PARTICULARLY THROUGH HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING HAS
BECOME LIFE-LONG.
SO WE DON'T JUST TRAIN THE
START-UP LABOR FORCE WITH, SAY,
SIEMENS, OR WHATEVER COMPANY,
AND THEN LEAVE THEM.
IT'S A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP.
WE JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP
RETRAINING THEIR PEOPLE SO THAT
THEY STAY COMPETITIVE AND SO
WHEN THEY EXPAND, THEY'LL EXPAND
IN THE CHARLOTTE AREA.
>> IT'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
PRIDE TO THOSE OF US WHO SERVE
BOTH AS BOARD MEMBERS AND
CHAIRMEN, THE PROGRESS THAT
SCHOOL'S MADE.
>> IT DOES START WITH
LEADERSHIP, BUT THAT BEGINS WITH
THE BOARD.
IF THE BOARD SEES THEMSELVES AS
A POLICY BOARD, THEN THAT'S
LEADERSHIP.
IF THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS
OPERATIONS AND THEY WANT TO
OPERATE THE COLLEGE, AS SOME DO,
THEN THAT'S-- THAT'S SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
IT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.
THESE BOARDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
POLICYMAKING BOARDS, AND THEY
GIVE PEOPLE LIKE ME AND DR. DRUM
AND ALL THE OTHER CABINET
MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP
VISIONS, AND IF IT MAKES SENSE
TO THEM, THEN WE'RE GIVEN THE
GO-AHEAD AND WE FOLLOW THOSE
VISIONS.
ABOUT TEN YEARS AFTER WE ADOPTED
THE VISION OF BEING THE NATIONAL
LEADER IN WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT, WE WERE ALL VERY
GRATIFIED WITH AN OVER-THE-TOP
AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE
OF BUSINESS WHO NAMED US AS THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE YEAR
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH SAID WE'VE
ARRIVED.
AND WE GOT LOTS OF NATIONAL
PUBLICITY AND THEN WE GOT MANY
OTHER AWARDS.
ONE OF WHICH WAS FROM THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
WHO WAS WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE
WAS CHARGED WITH FINDING THE
BEST WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITIES IN THE
COUNTRY, AND THEY CAME BACK AND
THEY SAID THEY SETTLED ON TWO,
AND WE WERE ONE OF THE TWO.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOUR VISION
REAFFIRMED.
>> EVERYWHERE WE PLANTED A
SATELLITE CAMPUS, IT IMMEDIATELY
BECOMES SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE I
THINK THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LOVE
TO BE ABLE TO GROW TO GET AN
EDUCATION CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES.
>> WE WERE PRETTY GOOD AT
ANTICIPATING WHERE THE COMMUNITY
WAS GOING.
PARTICULARLY WITH LOCATING OUR
CAMPUSES WHERE WE KNEW THE
POPULATION CENTERS WERE GOING TO
GROW AND WHERE WE KNEW THERE
WERE INDUSTRIAL CENTERS THAT
WERE PROBABLY GOING TO GROW AND
IT'S ALL PRETTY MUCH BEEN
ACCORDING TO PLAN.
>> THE CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY HAS
BENEFITTED GREATLY BECAUSE OF
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, AND ITS GROWTH AND THE
WAY IT SELFS THE DIFFERENT TYPES
OF POPULATIONS THAT ARE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> WHENEVER WE CAN HELP THE
COMMUNITY IN KEY PROJECTS LIKE
THE LITTLE SUGAR CREEK GREENWAY
THAT RUNS RIGHT BY OUR CAMPUS,
WE'VE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN
THAT.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT AND HOW
THAT HAS DEVELOPED, A 15-MILE
GREENWAY, AND ANOTHER THING I'M
PROUD OF IS THAT AT THE SAME
TIME, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK
WITH THE MAY 20 T H SOCIETY, A
GROUP OF GREAT, WONDERFUL, YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RE-ESTABLISH
AN APPRECIATION FOR CHARLOTTE'S
COLONIAL HISTORY, AND THE
COLLEGE HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED
IN THAT.
>> IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE AND
IT'S PROGRESSING.
IT IS PROGRESSING.
WE'VE HAD WONDERFUL LEADERS.
DR. HAGEMEYER, DR. SHAW AND DR.
ZEISS IS A TREMENDOUS LEADER,
AND CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS SO WELL
KNOWN AROUND THE SOUTHEAST.
YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE AND CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHEN
YOU MENTION THAT, THEY SAY, WOW,
I KNOW THAT SCHOOL.
>> 95% OF THE STUDENTS WILL
REMAIN IN CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG
WHEN THEY FINISH CENTRAL
PIEDMONT CONTRIBUTING TO THE
CULTURE, DIVERSITY AND QUALITY
OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CPCC HAS A PARTICULAR ROLE IN
PREPARING MANY OF THE REGION'S
CITIZENS TO SUCCESSFULLY
PARTICIPATE IN THE FREE
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
WITHOUT A WELL-EDUCATED AND
TRAINED WORK FORCE, BUSINESS CAN
NOT SUCCEED IN OUR INCREASINGLY
SOPHISTICATED AND INCREASINGLY
GLOBAL ECONOMY.
>> IN HONORING PETE SLOAN,
GEORGE MORGAN AND GENE BRYANT
TODAY, WE'RE SAYING IN PUBLIC
WHAT WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG AND
WE'VE KNOWN ALL ALONG AND THAT
IS THAT THOSE THREE REMARKABLE
MEN LEFT INDELIBLE FOOTPRINTS ON
CPCC.
>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING IN
MY LIFETIME THAT'S MADE MORE OF
AN IMPACT ON LIFE, QUALITY OF
LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND
CENTRAL PIEDMONT.
>> ALL HE DID WAS HELP SOME
PERFECTLY WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
STAFF PEOPLE AND KIDS AND YOUNG
PEOPLE AND STUDENTS BECOME THE
BEST THAT THEY COULD BE.
>> BILL, WHO WAS OUR BOARD CHAIR
FOR 11 YEARS, ON THE BOARD FOR
14 AND BECAME MY BEST FRIEND.
WHEN I COUNT MY BLESSINGS AND
THE BLESSINGS FROM THIS COLLEGE,
BILL DISHER IS ALWAYS RIGHT AT
THE TOP.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE BECAUSE
I LOVE ALL YOU FOLKS AND I LOVE
THIS INSTITUTION.
>> WITH THE DEDICATION, WE'RE
HONORED AND APPRECIATE AND
GRATEFUL TO DR. TONY ZEISS FOR
HIS INSPIRATION OVER THE YEARS.
>> I'VE KNOWN CPC FOR A LONG
TIME, BUT I NEVER REALLY KNEW
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME HERE TO
LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS, AND IT'S
SUCH A BIG THING TO THE GENERAL
COMMUNITY, BUT PEOPLE THAT WANT
TO GO FOR NIGHT CLASS OR
TWO-YEAR PROGRAM OR LEARN A
TRADE, IT'S REALLY PROBABLY IS
JUST A WONDERFUL THING FOR
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
AND I'M GLAD-- WE'RE BOTH GLAD
TO BE AFFILIATED WITH YOU ALL.
>> EACH STUDENT HAS HIS OR HER
OWN STORY TO TELL AND THEY COME
WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND
SOME COME WITH A LOT MORE
BAGGAGE THAN OTHERS, AND THAT'S
WHY I REALLY ENJOY THE
COUNSELING.
I'VE GOT SO MUCH RESPECT FOR OUR
COUNSELORS, OUR FACULTY AND OUR
ADVISORS BECAUSE OUR STUDENT
POPULATIONS HAVE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT NEEDS AND IT TAKES A
SPECIAL PERSON TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND THOSE NEEDS AND TO
MEET THOSE NEEDS.
>> I WONDER SOMETIMES WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION OF
CHARLOTTE HAS PARTICIPATED IN AT
LEAST ONE COURSE THERE, AND I
BET YOU IT'S ASTOUNDING THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO AVAIL
THEMSELVES OF THE OPPORTUNITY AT
CENTRAL PIEDMONT OVER THE NUMBER
OF YEARS.
>> SINCE OUR BEGINNING, CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SERVED OVER 1.1 MILLION
STUDENTS.
THAT'S A WONDERFUL LEGACY TO
LEAVE.
AT ONE POINT, WE KNEW OUR
PENETRATION OF ADULTS, THOSE
ADULTS THAT WE'VE COME IN
CONTACT WITH AND ASSISTED IN
SOME WAY WAS 54% OF THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
THIS COMMUNITY KEEPS TURNING
OVER.
NEW PEOPLE COME IN AND SO THE
COLLEGE HAS JUST BECOME A VERY
CRITICAL PIECE OF THE FABRIC OF
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE
PROUD OF THAT AND SO IT IS 50
YEARS OF A WONDERFUL LEGACY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY SIX SIBLINGS AND I ARE
GRATIFIED TO KNOW THAT OUR
FATHER'S NAME WILL BE ALWAYS
LINKED WITH THAT OF CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THE ENTIRE CATO FAMILY IS PROUD
TO KNOW THAT IT WILL ALWAYS BE A
CPCC CATO CAMPUS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IN 1977 WHEN I MOVED TO
CHARLOTTE, WE HAD TECHNICIANS
THAT WERE TRAINED AT CPCC AND
FOR THE LAST 20 SOME YEARS,
WE'VE BEEN RECRUITING OUT OF
THIS SCHOOL, BUT WE'RE HERE
BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST
SCHOOLS IN THE NATION.
AND OUR COMMITMENT TO EVERYONE
HERE IS THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THIS THE BEST SCHOOL IN THE
NATION.
>> THIS MORNING, I'M DELIGHTED
TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE
FAMILY THAT SERVES THIS
COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS OVER
SO MANY YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN
SUCH A STRONG SUPPORTER OF
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FROM WHEN IT STARTED WAY
BACK IN 1963.
FOR YEARS, THE HARRIS FAMILY HAS
RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF
EDUCATION AND THEY SOUGHT WAYS
TO HELP EXPAND AND IMPROVE OUR
OFFERINGS AT CPCC.
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD IT
MAKES US TO SEE MY PARENTS' NAME
ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
GIVEN THEIR BELIEFS AND THE
MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION THEY
ESTABLISHED, IT IS, INDEED,
FITTING THIS WE HONOR-- THAT IS
SUCH AN HONOR FOR THEM TODAY.
>> I'M VERY PROUD TO HONOR MY
GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE PYLE
MAJORS AND HE'S REMARKABLE MAN
AS IS HIS WIFE, DOT.
I WANT TO WELCOME TO YOU THE
CLAUDIA WILKINS BELK CENTER FOR
JUSTICE AND FOR THIS DEDICATION
OF OUR NEW CRIME SCENE
SIMULATION CENTER.
WE'RE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN
TRAINING PEOPLE FOR CYBERCRIME
DETECTION AND PREVENTION.
>> TONY ZEISS AND CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE
TWO GEMS IN QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S
CROWN.
>> THE THEATERS OF THIS CALIBER,
AND THIS IS AS TOP AS YOU CAN
GET.
THEY'RE EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT
DALE HALTEN AND HER GENEROSITY.
DALE HALT ISN'T A WONDERFUL
PERSON AND IT WOULDN'T BE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT HER.
TONIGHT, OUR COLLEGE AND
COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER TO SAY
THANK YOU, DALE, FOR YOUR
GENEROSITY AND THE FACT THAT
YOU'RE A CIVIC-MINDED, WONDERFUL
PERSON.
>> IT'S QUITE A PRIVILEGE TO BE
INVOLVED IN MAKING IT POSSIBLE.
I THINK I GET MORE OUT OF DOING
THAT THAN THOSE RECEIVING.
>> DEDICATING THIS FACILITY
TODAY IS A MONUMENT TO WHAT CPCC
STANDS FOR.
IT'S A MONUMENT TO STUDENTS WHO
PASS THROUGH THESE DOORS IN
SEARCH OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO
ACHIEVE THEIR LIFE-LONG DREAMS.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE ARE SO PROUD AND HAPPY TO BE
ABLE TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND WHILE
THINGS ARE CHANGING, THEY'RE
EVER REMAINING THE SAME.
THIS IS STILL THE POINT FOR
EDUCATION, FOR LEARNING, FOR
PEOPLE TO BEGIN THEIR LIVES AND
BETTER THEIR LIVES AND MOVE
FORWARD AS IT WAS WITH CENTRAL
HIGH AND NOW IT IS WITH CENTRAL
PIEDMONT AND WE THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS OF
PARTICIPATION AND YOUR CONTINUED
WORK TO KEEP THAT LEGACY GOING
FORWARD.
>> THE FIRST THING WAS TO GET
THE NAME CENTRAL HIGH BACK ON
THE BUILDING.
THAT WAS TANTAMOUNT.
SECONDLY WAS TO SOMEHOW CREATE
AN ONGOING FUND THAT WE NOW CALL
THE CENTRAL HIGH LEGACY FUND
THAT COULD ALSO SUPPORT CPCC.
>> AND WE DO SO VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND
YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY,
TO YOUR OWN ORGANIZATION AND THE
FINE LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT YOU
DEMONSTRATE, TO YOUR FAMILY AND
ALSO CERTAINLY TO THIS COLLEGE
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT.
TO CELEBRATE THE COMPANY'S 60TH
ANNIVERSARY, CRIDER CONSTRUCTION
MADE A GENEROUS GIFT TO CPCC TO
BEGIN THE OP&WT CRIDER
CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE ON THIS
CAMPUS.
>> IN OUR FIRST 60 YEARS, WE DO
HAVE A VERY RICH HISTORY OF
EXPERIENCE, OF WORK, MOST OF ALL
OF PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE HEART OF THE STORY IS
MY DAD.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THEM.
>> THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE
CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE
REPRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTNER WITH CPCC TO MAKE A
LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THIS IS A NEW 49,000 SQUARE
FOOT ADDITION.
IT IS DESIGNATED AS CATO TWO.
SO THIS IS THE CATO TWO
BUILDING.
JOE HENDRICK CENTER IS FURTHER
EVIDENCE OF HIS COMMITMENT TO
EXCELLENCE AND CENTRAL PIEDMONT
AND ITS STUDENTS AND THE
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR ARE THE
BENEFICIARIES.
>> YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S INSIDE OF
SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
DREAM THAT MY DAD TWO-- COULD
HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING DONE FOR
HIM THAT WOULD MEAN AS MUCH TO
HIM AS SEEING YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE
A CHANCE.
>> WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE AND THE DEDICATION OF
THE JAMES M HARRIS CAMPUS.
>> YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE AS A FAMILY
AND AS CITIZENS OF THIS
COMMUNITY THAT EDUCATION IS THE
WAY TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT
WE ALL WANT TO ENJOY AND EXPECT
IN A GREAT COMMUNITY LIKE
CHARLOTTE.
WE THINK A STRONG CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS,
IN FACT, A STRONG CHARLOTTE AND
WILL REPRESENT A STRONG
CHARLOTTE IN THE FUTURE.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> IT IS AN HONOR TO SEE THESE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS EVENING AND
HIS DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THAT ALL OF US OF ROGERS
BUILDERS ARE HAPPY TO MAKE A
GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF
THIS SPECIAL FOUNTAIN.
>> IT'S A SPECIAL DAY HERE AT
THE COLLEGE.
WE'RE BOTH HONORED AND WE'RE
HUMBLED TO, AGAIN, BE REMEMBERED
BY THE PHILLIP VAN AVERY
FOUNDATION OF SUCH A WONDERFUL
GIFT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S
ALTOGETHER FITTING THAT OUR NEW
CULINARY ARTS BUILDING IS NAMED
PHILLIP LANCE VAN AVERY CULINARY
ARTS CENTER.
>> 19 YEARS, THE ANONYMOUS DONOR
HAS BEEN SHOWING UP, AND WE
CANNOT THANK THE TWO OF YOU FOR
BEING THAT ANONYMOUS DONOR, BUT
IT'S NO LONGER ANONYMOUS, AND WE
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US TALK
ABOUT YOU, LETTING US NAME THE
CAMPUS AFTER YOU.
>> IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR US
TODAY NOT ONLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THIS WONDERFUL GIFT BUT TO GET A
CHANCE TO PUBLICLY TELL THEM HOW
MUCH WE APPRECIATE AND THANK
THEM FOR THEIR GREAT SUPPORT
OVER THE YEARS.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S MY
DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, GEORGE W. BUSH.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> CENTRAL PIEDMONT SHOULD BE
THE NEXUS FOR NATIONAL FIGURES
THAT COME TO CHARLOTTE AND SO
WHENEVER WE CAN GET SOMEONE LIKE
PRESIDENT CLINTON OR PRESIDENT
BUSH WHO WAS HERE, WE HAD JOHN
KERRY, WHENEVER WE GET SOMEONE
OF THAT CALIBER, IT'S GREAT FOR
THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GREAT FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND
IT'S GOOD FOR THE COLLEGE TO
HAVE THAT SORT OF VISIBILITY.
>> THIS THING CROSSES FROM THE
HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT TO THE BRAIN
SURGEON.
IT TOUCHES EVERYBODY IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> THIS COMMUNITY KEEPS TURNING
OVER NEW PEOPLE COME IN AND SO
THE COLLEGE HAS JUST BECOME A
VERY CRITICAL PIECE OF THE
FABRIC OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY,
AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT, AND SO
IT IS 50 YEARS OF A WONDERFUL
LEGACY.
>> I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO
TRY TO MAKE EVERYONE LITERATE
THAT WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO READ
AND WRITE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY'RE FACED WITH EVERY DAY.
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT CENTRAL
PIEDMONT WILL LOOK LIKE 20 YEARS
FROM NOW OR 40 YEARS FROM NOW.
BUT SOMEBODY AND OTHERS WERE
ABLE TO SEE THAT IT WASN'T GOING
TO STAY THIS ONE LITTLE, SMALL
CAMPUS.
>> I THINK THIS INSTITUTION HAS
SURVIVED THE WAY IT IS NOT
NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF DR.
HAGEMEYER OR&NOT NECESSARILY
BECAUSE OF DR. SHAW OR BECAUSE
OF DR. ZEISS, IT HAS MOVED FROM
WHERE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE
COMMITMENT AND CONDITION OF THE
FACULTY AND STAFF.
>> I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE WORKED AT A COLLEGE OF
THIS CALIBER FOR 20 YEARS.
>> NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS
DID I THINK THAT THIS COLLEGE
WOULD DEVELOP TO THE STATE THAT
IT IS NOW, BUT THANK GOODNESS
FOR DR. HAGEMEYER'S VISION, DR.
SHAW AND CONTINUING WITH DR.
ZEISS.
SINCE I'VE WORKED UNDER ALL
THREE PRESIDENTS.
>> IT'S REALLY AMAZING THAT
WE'RE GETTING READY 0 HAVE OUR
50 T H ANNIVERSARY IN 2013 WHICH
IS NOT FAR AWAY AND WE'VE ONLY
HAD THREE PRESIDENTS.
THAT'S ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN
HIGHER EDUCATION TODAY.
>> CENTRAL PIEDMONT GIVES HOPE
TO THE HOPELESS.
CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS HERE FOR THE
PEOPLE AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
>> CHARLOTTE HAS THAT-- STILL
HAS THAT SPIRIT OF LIBERTY,
SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE BUT THEY
VALUE INNOVATION AND THEY-- WE,
I'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS NOW.
I CAN TALK LIKE THAT.
WE VALUE INNOVATION AND WE VALUE
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK TO
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> TONY, I'M NOT SURE WE'D DONE
THIS IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN
INVOLVED.
YOU'VE CHANGED CENTRAL PIEDMONT
FROM A SMALL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
INTO ONE THIS REALLY MEANS
SOMETHING TO THIS COMMUNITY.
>> THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES REALLY
ARE THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS.
THEY PREPARE PEOPLE FOR JOBS.
THEY FIGURE OUT WHERE THE NEEDS
IN THE COMMUNITY ARE AND CPCC
PARTICULARLY HAS BEEN THE LEADER
IN WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
THAT'S BEEN A HUGE PART OF THE
VISION OF THE COLLEGE FOR THE
LAST AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND I
THINK THEIR IMPACT ON
MECKLENBURG COUNTY HAS BEEN
ENORMOUS.
THE JOBS CREATED.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN
EMPLOYED AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD
OF ABOUT CPCC AND HOW THE
COMMUNITY HAS REALLY BENEFITED
FROM THE COLLEGE.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO
INSTITUTION IN CHARLOTTE THAT IS
AS MUCH ON THE FRONT LINES OF
WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS, WHETHER
IT'S COMPANIES WHO ARE ALREADY
HERE OR COMPANIES THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO RECRUIT IN MEETING THE
WORK FORCE NEEDS OF THOSE
EMPLOYERS.
CENTRAL PIEDMONT DOES THAT AS
WELL AS ANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN
THE COUNTRY AND GIVES US A REAL
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AS WE GO
ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF SELLING
CHARLOTTE BECAUSE DR. ZEISS AND
HIS TEAM ARE UNIQUELY IN TOUCH
WITH EMPLOYERS, KEEPING THE
FINGER ON NOT JUST WHAT ARE THE
NEEDS OF COMPANIES TODAY, BUT
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS COMING IN THE
YEARS AHEAD.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE ALL LEARN AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF
NOT JUST DEALING WITH THIS
ECONOMY BUT DEALING WITH OVERALL
THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THIS
COUNTRY OF HOW THIS COUNTRY
WEAVES TOGETHER THEIR FREE
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
WELL, IT'S GOTTEN VERY COMPLEX
THROUGH THE YEARS AND WHAT'S
REQUIRED IS ALL BASED ON
EDUCATION, ALL BASED ON
RETRAINING, ALL BASED ON GETTING
THE WORK FORCE PREPARED FOR A
VERY DIFFICULT WORLD THAT IS
COMPLEX OR WHATEVER THE ISSUE,
AND TO ME, NOBODY TOUCHES THAT
ANY BETTER THAN THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY
AND NOBODY TOUCHES IT ANY BETTER
THAN CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
>> CPCC IS AN AMAZING
INSTITUTION BECAUSE SO MANY
PEOPLE GET AN OPPORTUNITY THAT
OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SPECIFIED,
SPECIFIC EDUCATION IN A FIELD
WHERE THEY CAN GET A JOB QUICKLY
AND MOVE UP.
>> IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB TO BE
PRESIDENT OF A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
YOU'RE DEALING IN A POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE UPS AND
DOWNS OF THE ECONOMY AND LIMITED
RESOURCES THAT YOU ARE COMPETING
FOR.
THE FACT THAT CENTRAL PIEDMONT
HAS HAD THREE LEADERS, ALL OF
WHOM HAD LEFT THEIR OWN UNIQUE
FINGERPRINT IF YOU WILL ON NOT
JUST CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE BUT AS LEADERS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE THREE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HELPED TO GROW NOT JUST
CENTRAL PIEDMONT AS IT FULFILLS
ITS MISSION BUT THEY HELPED TO
MAKE CHARLOTTE EVERYTHING THAT
IT IS.
>> THIS IS A NEW AREA IN
CHARLOTTE.
A NEW AREA IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY
AND THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO
TRANSFORM AREAS LIKE THIS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
A TRUE PARTNERSHIP, AN INTEREST
IN GREENWAYS, AN INTEREST IN
MAKINGED ENVIRONMENT BETTER, BUT
IT'S NOT JUST WHERE WE'RE
STANDING TODAY.
IT'S THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
LITTLE SUGAR CREEK WHICH WAS THE
MOST POLLUTED STREAM IN NORTH
CAROLINA, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO
MAKE IT ONE OF THE CLEANEST
STREAMS AND ITS COMING BACK,
THAT'S DUE TO A LOT OF WORK AND
EFFORT.
THIS GREEN AREA BEHIND US IS
GOING TO BE KNOWN AS THE TONY
ZEISS GREEN FROM NOW ON.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ONE, TWO, THREE!
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I THINK THE FACT THAT THERE'S
A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM IN
PLACE, THE TRANSITIONS HAVE ALL
BEEN VERY SMOOTH AND I THINK
PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST 20
YEARS, YOU'VE HAD VERY STABLE
LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF THE
PEOPLE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD,
THE STAFF, FACULTY, AND I THINK
THAT STABILITY ALLOWS TO YOU DO
THINGS AND ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE A
VISION AND SEE OVER THE HILL IN
WAYS THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE IF
YOU HAD MORE FREQUENT
TRANSITIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S
ONE OF THE HALLMARKS THAT REALLY
HELPED CPCC CONTINUE ITS
MISSION.
>> IT'S JUST AN AMAZING
ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE IT CAME
FROM TO WHERE IT IS TODAY WITH
70,000 PLUS STUDENTS, AVERAGE
AGE, I THINK, IS ABOUT 34 OR 35.
THAT'S JUST A PHENOMENAL LEGACY,
AND ALL THREE LEADERS HAVE MADE
A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THAT.
>> I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT
THE STAFF OF THE ORGANIZATION.
IT SAYS A HUGE AMOUNT ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT OF THE
ORGANIZATION.
BUT THE BACK BONE IS STILL
LEADERSHIP.
AND WHEN YOU GOT THE VISIONARY
LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THE DRIVE
OF THE THREE LEADERS WE'VE HAD
AND EACH ONE CAME AT A CRITICAL
TIME AND BROUGHT IT TO A NEW
PLATEAU AND WHERE ELSE CAN YOU
FIND IN THE COUNTRY A LEADER
THAT'S BEEN HERE 20 YEARS THAT'S
CONTINUING TO MAKE CHANGES SO
SUCCESSFULLY.
WE'RE ABSOLUTELY INDEBTED TO
EVERY ONE OF THEM AND IT'S A
TREAT TO BE AROUND EACH ONE OF
THEM.
>> TONY ZEISS HAS BEEN A GREAT
LEADER FOR 20 YEARS AND WE'RE
VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM AND
HE'S BEEN A GREAT LEADER FOR THE
COLLEGE AND A GREAT PERSON TO
HAVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
SCHOOL.
>> WELL, TONY'S A UNIQUE GUY.
HE IS A-- PROBABLY ONE OF THE
BEST PRESIDENTS OF A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ANYWHERE.
>> OUR FUTURE IS OUR BEST YEARS
AHEAD.
I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE
NEW CHALLENGES.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO
BE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND I KNOW
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE
CREATIVITY TO FACE THOSE
CHALLENGES AND MEET THEM WELL.
SO I ASK YOU TO LIFT YOUR GLASS
TO OUR FUTURE.
>> CHEERS!
[ THEME MUSIC ]