SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College hosted a Veteran College Fair on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford.
The Central Carolina Community College Veterans Upward Bound program sponsored the event, which included a veteran memorial event. Bojangles of Pittsboro, a sponsor of the event, provided lunch.
"We are very proud to host this event here at Central Carolina Community College," said CCCC President Dr. Bud Marchant, who added that the college is proud to be designated as a Military Friendly College.
"We're also very proud to host the only Veterans Upward Bound program in the state of North Carolina," said Marchant. "We're very proud of the job that we do for our veterans, and we are especially proud of our veterans for the jobs that they do for us."
Veterans Upward Bound is a federal grant program designed to motivate and assist veterans in the development of academic and other requisite skills necessary for acceptance and success in a program of postsecondary education.
Guest speaker for the event was Spring Lake Mayor Chris V. Rey, who served seven and a half years in the U.S. Army - including command of the Third Special Forces (Airborne) Signal Detachment. His military accolades include the Bronze Star.
"Veterans have played and continue to play a huge role in our nation and what we're going to be doing as we continue to move forward," said Rey.
"For all veterans who are here today, I can tell you that the skills you all have acquired during your time in the service is going to be very critical for you as you move forward," said Rey. "They're going to be definitely critical for you as you transition to the university and then also when you transition to the work space - and bringing those skills that are going to be needed to help us continue to transform not only North Carolina but transform our nation."
Rey went on to say that now more than ever we need veterans who are prepared to take on the challenges that our nation faces.
Members of the Lee County High School Junior ROTC served as Color Guard for the event.
The Veteran College Fair provided veterans with information from various public, private, and community colleges in North Carolina.
"We really wanted to provide an event for our local veterans to be able to increase the awareness of the college opportunities that are available to them," said Ashley Tittemore, CCCC's Veterans Upward Bound Director. "They have given so much to us, so I think we owe it to them to provide opportunities like this."
"Everyday and every hour there is a man or woman somewhere protecting our nation, some making the ultimate sacrifice," said CCCC's Wilson Lester, Outreach Coordinator, Veterans Upward Bound. "Our tribute to them is helping our brothers and sisters at arms achieve an education that they can use to prosper their families, and providing a veteran focused college fair in our community is just one way we can do that."
Among the colleges and universities represented was North Carolina A&T State University. "They have given us so much," Beryl McEwen, Dean of the A&T School of Business and Economics, said of the veterans. "And it's our opportunity and our privilege to serve them and to help them to get the education they need to reenter our community and to develop meaningful careers that will allow them to be able to enjoy what they fought for."
For more information on the CCCC Veterans Upward Bound program, call 919-718-7463, email veteransub@cccc.edu, or visit the program's website www.cccc.edu/vub.
Wrenn L. Crowe, Central Carolina Community College Student Outreach and Recruiting Specialist, Division of Student Learning, stands ready to greet veterans during the Veterans College Fair on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. For more information on the CCCC Veterans Upward Bound program, call 919-718-7463, email veteransub@cccc.edu, or visit the program's website www.cccc.edu/vub/.
Spring Lake Mayor Chris V. Rey, pictured with his daughter, was guest speaker for the Veterans College Fair on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. For more information on the CCCC Veterans Upward Bound program, call 919-718-7463, email veteransub@cccc.edu, or visit the program's website www.cccc.edu/vub/.
Central Carolina Community College hosted a Veteran College Fair on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. For more information on the CCCC Veterans Upward Bound program, call 919-718-7463, email veteransub@cccc.edu, or visit the program's website www.cccc.edu/vub/.
Central Carolina Community College Veterans Upward Bound officials visit with Spring Lake Mayor Chris V. Rey and his daughter during the Veterans College Fair on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. For more information on the CCCC Veterans Upward Bound program, call 919-718-7463, email veteransub@cccc.edu, or visit the program's website www.cccc.edu/vub/.