SANFORD - Four students in the Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) Motorcycle Mechanics program have received scholarships thanks to The Antique Motorcycle Foundation (AMF).

The student recipients are Robert Clayton of Spring Lake, Sierra Rathbun of Bear Creek, Michael Regenhardt of Fayetteville, and Stacey Suit of Elizabethtown.

"We have great students in the Motorcycle Mechanics program and we are pleased and proud that the Antique Motorcycle Foundation has chosen to recognize and support these four students," said CCCC Transportation Technology Chair Craig Ciliberto. "The Antique Motorcycle Foundation support will help these students to follow their dreams with motorcycles, which is exactly what we aim to do in the program."

John Fiorino, Treasurer of The Antique Motorcycle Foundation, recently visited CCCC to get a first-hand look at the CCCC Motorcycle Mechanics program and to present the scholarships to the four students.

Fiorino said he was extremely impressed with the CCCC program. "The motorcycle labs, machine shop, welding shop, computer resources, Dyno lab, and the array of motorcycles that the students get to work with and on was impressive," he said. "Also, the breadth of knowledge that the instructors have, and their desire to pass their knowledge and experience onto the students, is very evident."

How did the AMF scholarships for CCCC students come about?

"Just prior to COVID, we began working on a program to encourage and support a new generation of students to pursue/continue an education in motorcycle repair/restoration," said Fiorino. "To accomplish this, the AMF wanted to offer scholarships to qualified students in community colleges with motorcycle repair/restoration certificate/degree programs. I spent considerable time discussing the AMF Scholarship program with Craig Ciliberto. Craig was very supportive of our desire to provide scholarships directly to the students in the Motorcycle Mechanics program."

Fiorino said the mission of the AMF "is to immerse the public, the media and the industry into the captivating world of vintage motorcycles and to establish appreciation, inspire active engagement, and promote support of the AMF and of the vintage motorcycle community."

Drew Goodson, CCCC Dean of Business and Applied Technologies, said, "CCCC really appreciates The Antique Motorcycle Foundation recognizing and supporting our students. We value our students and their unique talents and skills. That The Antique Motorcycle Foundation is able to support and recognize our students and help them pursue their dreams is truly wonderful. That Mr. Fiorino was willing to represent the organization in person, visit our campus, and spend time with these students to recognize their accomplishments and encourage their dreams was extra special."

Central Carolina was the first college in North Carolina to offer the motorcycle curriculum. The program was developed with the assistance of industry leaders. Learn more about the program at www.cccc.edu/curriculum/majors/motorcycle.

"With everything that Central Carolina Community College has to offer the students in the Motorcycle Mechanics program, I would say the students have a great career ahead of them," said Fiorino.