College News

SANFORD — A scholarship has been established at Central Carolina Community College in honor of long-time employee Gloria Cheatham, of Sanford.

Cheatham retired from the college in September 2010 after serving 23 years. She was administrative assistant to three presidents: Dr. Marvin Joyner, Dr. Matt Garrett and Dr. Bud Marchant, as well as serving as secretary of the board of trustees.

At the board’s Feb. 9 meeting, trustees Chairman Ed Garrison announced the establishment of the Gloria Cheatham CCCC EOP Scholarship to benefit students at the college. He presented her with a large mock-up of a check for $1,600 made out to the CCCC Foundation. Garrison said they included “EOP” in the name because the trustees knew that the Association of Educational Office Professionals is “near and dear to her heart.” 

“What a wonderful gift, what a great honor,” Cheatham said. “A scholarship is a way of recognizing someone that keeps on giving.”

The trustees also presented Cheatham a tan and blue bowl made by Kenneth Nielsen of D.K. Clay Pottery, in Sanford.

Garrison said the scholarship was in recognition of Cheatham’s years of service to the board of trustees, her hard work, loyalty and dedication to the college.

Cheatham was born in Raleigh, but moved to Sanford at age 14. She graduated from Sanford Central High and then earned a secretarial degree from Sanford Business College. She also holds an Advanced Associate III Certification from the NCAEOP’s Professional Standards Program.

She has been a member of that organization for almost 23 years at the local level and 19 years at the state level. During that time, she served in many positions, including president and vice president at the local level.

Cheatham was honored as the CCCC EOP Professional of the Year in 1997-98 and 2005-06 and District 7 EOP Professional of the Year in 2005-06. For 2006-07, she was selected by the local, regional, and state EOP organizations as their Professional of the Year. Gloria was the first person from Lee County to win the statewide award.