LILLINGTON - Central Carolina Community College invites everyone to its Harnett County Campus as it continues the celebration of its 50th Anniversary.

The Saturday, June 2, festivities feature the 12th Annual CCCC Foundation Furniture Auction and a Barbecue Cook-off.

In addition, students from several programs will share their skills and knowledge with visitors. Those in Cosmetology and Barbering are looking forward to giving haircuts, while Healthcare Occupations students will offer free health screenings. A student disc jockey from the college's Broadcasting Production Technology program will provide the music for the event. The college's Ambassadors will be on hand to direct visitors to activity locations.

Learn about the high-tech programs at the Harnett Campus by seeing a high-power laser in action in the Laser & Photonics Technology laboratory. Machining Technology students will demonstrate their skills on the high-tech equipment used in their program.

"Central Carolina Community College has been a community partner and education provider in Harnett County almost since the college's inception," said CCCC President Bud Marchant. "We invite all to come out and enjoy their community college at this anniversary celebration."

Auctioneer Ricky Wicker will call the action as more than 100 pieces of handcrafted indoor and outdoor furniture, metalwork, home decor, yard decorations, outdoor storage facilities, and other items go up for bid in this not-to-missed event.

The Furniture Auction is a great source for those seeking to purchase quality wood and metal work while also making an impact on the future of the students at CCCC. Profits from the event help to provide scholarships for Harnett County students at the college through an endowed scholarship fund managed by the Foundation.

The Auction preview opens at 8 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Samuel R. Miriello Building, with the Auction starting at 10 a.m. Those wanting an earlier look at the pieces can visit the college May 29, 30 or 31 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., or June 1 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

In addition to enjoying the Auction, stroll over to one of the Barbecue Cook-off sites. Five teams will compete to cook up the tastiest pork barbecue: Gary Hughes, representing the Town of Angier; Mark Byrd, representing the Town of Coats; the Nothing Butt Luv'n team of Robert and Kristy Baggett, representing Lillington; the Eddie Who's Barbecue team of Eddie Stanley and Jeff Blackman, representing Benson and Lillington; and Whittenton's Lawn & Care team of David Whittenton, representing Dunn.

The barbecuing takes place at the gazebo in front of the Miriello Building and behind the Etheridge Building. The grills fire up early for the teams to do their tasty magic with the meat; judging takes place at 11:30 a.m.

Following that, sandwiches made with the barbecue from the competition will be served near the Student Center as long as the supply lasts. Tea, lemonade and water will be provided.

Program services and demonstrations run from 9 a.m. to about 11 a.m. Haircuts will be given in Room 400 of Classroom Building 4, where the Cosmetology program is located. The laser demonstrations take place in the Etheridge Building and the machining demonstrations in the Machining Shop at the back of the Continuing Education Building.

Visitors 18 and older are invited to take advantage of offered health care screenings. Pulse oximetry (blood oxygen) checks, adult height/weight, and eye screenings will be done in Room 331 of the Etheridge Building. Blood pressure checks will be available in Room 240 of the Continuing Education Building.

Central Carolina Community College's 50th Anniversary commemorates the offering of its first extension classes in Lee County in 1961. It was then known as the Lee County Industrial Education Center. In 1965, it expanded into Harnett County, offering adult education and vocational classes at various locations.

From that modest beginning, it has grown in Harnett until it now offers curriculum, continuing education, career and college readiness, enrichment, and compensatory education classes at its full-service campus in Lillington, West Harnett Center, Lillington Adult Education Center, Triangle South Enterprise Center, and other community locations.

"At CCCC, we believe in our communities - serving our communities and citizens is our mission, our vision, an important value," said Bill Tyson, Harnett provost since 2003. "To the Harnett community, as you join us to celebrate 50 years, we thank you for your support - and we look forward to working together in our next 50 years."

Maps of the Harnett County Campus showing activity locations will be available at the event. The Harnett County Campus is located at 1075 E. Cornelius Harnett Blvd., in Lillington.

For more information about the event and to see the Foundation Auction items, visit www.cccc.edu/50years/events/20120602.