SANFORD - Donors and scholarship recipients were recognized during the Central Carolina Community College Foundation Scholarship Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center.

The Emcee for the event was Margaret Murchison, WWGP Radio News Director and CCCC Foundation Board Member.

Murchison spoke of the challenges of the last several years, noting in the midst of it all there has been light. "Light in the darkness that shone bright through student achievement and conquering the odds," she said. "I want you to listen over the next little bit as you are going to hear those stories of achievement from those who are excelling at CCCC. All of that success could not have been possible without the generosity and grateful spirit of you -- our endowment and scholarship donors. In the words of William James, 'Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.'"

Guest speakers were scholarship recipients Diamond Williams, Olympia Brooks, Zorayma Estrada, and Thomas Beck.

Williams noted that she receives motivation from her 8-year-old daughter, Ava. "Like many others, I am a single parent trying to obtain my education so I can show my daughter she herself can do it, too," said Williams, who is studying Criminal Justice. "Going to school and being a single parent has not been easy at all, but it has been obtainable with the help of the Dreamkeepers Fund, my scholarship from the CCCC Foundation, and the TRiO Program. The number of resources and encouragement with open arms at CCCC is there and they are there to help those in need."

Brooks, a CCCC Bioprocess Technology program student, spoke about her journey in noting, "Thank you to all of the scholarship donors that provided me the opportunity to move forward in my academic journey. ... I want to thank the CCCC Foundation and all donors that assisted with providing me scholarships. Not only have I found success at CCCC, I've found a support system that feels like a family! Thank you."

Estrada, who is working toward an Associate in Arts degree, said, "I want y'all to know that I'm immensely grateful with what the Dreamkeepers scholarship and the donors have done for my family and myself as well as other students. ... I admire the work y'all do and hope to one day be able to do the same for others because I now know what it's like to receive the support needed. ... Again, thank you for everything."

"First and foremost, I want to say thank you for believing in us," said Beck, a Welding Technology student, who noted that he has a family built with warriors. "I became one when I finally realized that the world doesn't revolve around me. It revolves around teams of people. ... You're on my team now. Every one of you. ... To the people who have helped me on my path - God loves you and I can't thank you enough. I won't let you down - ever."

Lynda Turbeville, CCCC Foundation Board Chair, provided welcoming remarks. Invocation was by the Rev. Gary Moore.

The meal was provided by CCCC's Central Carolina Culinary Institute.

The CCCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, Central Carolina Community College. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of CCCC and uses them to promote the educational mission of the college and assist students through scholarships and grants.

"To each of you, our beloved donors, we are forever grateful for your investment in the lives of each and every one of the students here today," said Dr. Emily C. Hare, Executive Director of the CCCC Foundation.

For information on giving to the Foundation or its fund-raising events, contact Dr. Emily C. Hare, Executive Director of the CCCC Foundation, 919-718-7230 or ehare@cccc.edu. To apply for a scholarship, contact the CCCC Financial Aid Office, 919-718-7229.