Holly Sears enrolled in the Industrial Systems Technology program at Central Carolina Community College.
SANFORD - Holly Sears was like many young adults who graduate from high school, not knowing what to do next.
Originally she planned on going to hair school but once her father, who is employed by Duke Energy at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant in New Hill, helped her get a contract position for an outage, her plans quickly changed.
Sears, 24, enrolled in the Industrial Systems Technology program at Central Carolina Community College due to the numerous referrals she had gotten from current employees at the plant.
She remembers being terrified when she came into the program. "I was really overwhelmed," Sears said, noting that the program starts with the basics.
Sears is grateful for her experiences at CCCC, including her time as a member of the Ambassador program. And, through CCCC, she did receive an internship at the Harris Plant.
A May 2014 graduate of CCCC, her internship extended past her graduation and led to a full-time position on the Electrical crew.
Sears is currently involved in a Duke Energy training program. "Every single thing that I'm going over right now is exactly what I learned at CCCC," she said.
Sears has praise for her CCCC instructors. "They've been in the industry. They know what they're talking about," she said.
Allen Howington, CCCC's Industrial Systems Technology Department Chair, said Sears excelled in her work, and always took the time to do everything right and help her classmates.
Sears also talks glowingly of the college's support personnel. "The people who work at CCCC want you to succeed," Sears said. "They will do everything in their power to help you to succeed."
For more information on CCCC's Industrial Systems Technology program, contact Department Chair Allen Howington at ahowington@cccc.edu or call 919-718-7305.
Holly Sears enrolled in the Industrial Systems Technology program at Central Carolina Community College.