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Central Carolina Community College’s Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) program graduated seven during a ceremony Dec. 15 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The college offers the 16-week REAL course in partnership with N.C. REAL Enterprises, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of small business entrepreneurs. Those attending included (front, from left) Joni Pavlik, CCCC dean of Business and Media Technologies & Public Services; graduates LaToya Garner and Takina Bristow, both of Lee County, and Lilian Chew, of Chatham County; and Diane Kannarr, CCCC REAL instructor; and (back, from left) graduates Rodney Richardson, of Harnett County; Darren Powers and Stephen Townsend, both of Chatham County; Susan Graham, of Harnett County; and CCCC President Bud Marchant. Bob Joyce (not pictured), president of the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the first place award for a creative business plan to Powers for his Johnny Glaze Artist plan and the second place award to Chew for her HHO Generator Services plan. Speakers for the event were Lisa Chapman, CCCC vice president of Academic Affairs; Malinda Todd, associate director of NC REAL; and Roger Darr, owner of Absolute Computers in Sanford and a 1999 CCCC REAL graduate.

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Central Carolina Community College’s Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) program graduated seven during a ceremony Dec. 15 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The college offers the 16-week REAL course in partnership with N.C. REAL Enterprises, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of small business entrepreneurs. Pictured (from left) are Darren Powers, of Chatham County, who received the first place award for his business plan, Johnny Glaze Artist; REAL instructor Diane Kannarr; and Lilian Chew, of Chatham County, who received the second place award for her business plan, HHO Generator Services. The awards were sponsored by the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Expo. The other graduates and their plans were: Stephen Townsend – Siler City Solar Center, of Chatham County; Susan Graham – Susan Graham Aesthetics, and Rodney Richardson – Any Occasion Outdoor Party Rentals, both of Harnett County; and Takina Bristow – Priceless Family Care Home, and LaToya Garner – Monet Hair Studio and Day Spa, both of Lee County.