SANFORD - Virginia Hester has lived in the Central Carolina area for many years. She has seen Central Carolina Community College from its beginnings.

Hester is now helping students at the college through the L.B. and Virginia Hester Scholarship. "I'm so glad to help out something that is doing this much for young people, and particularly for our area."

Hester joined other donors and scholarship recipients during the college's Scholarship Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

Hester had the opportunity to visit with Janet Ramirez, recipient of the Hester scholarship during the event.

"I can't think of anything that has meant more to me and I feel that it has meant so much to the students," said Hester.

Dr. James B. Holt, of Chatham County, had the opportunity to speak with the recipient of the scholarship named in his honor, Lisa Janson.

"It gave me the ability to do this," said Janson of the scholarship. "It gave me the chance to pursue a dream I've had and the ability to do it because we're just a large family and this was a huge blessing to me to be able to accomplish it."

Holt said that a family for whom he had cared for their mother and father gave the scholarship in his honor. "This is a wonderful way to enrich the community in so many ways," said Holt, who has been in Chatham County for about 34 years. He noted that there's no better way to give back than investing in the education of students.

Hazel Byrd, of Lillington, attended the luncheon as a scholarship is named in memory of her husband, Troy Byrd. "My husband had his own garage for 52 years. He always believed in giving something back," she said, adding that when young people would get a car, they would go to her husband's garage to talk about cars.

Byrd noted that her husband had been active with a statewide automotive service association, which established the scholarship funding. With she considered where the money might go, she chose CCCC thanks to the assistance of Harnett County Provost Bill Tyson. "It's to help young men who can't afford to go to school," she said.

CCCC President Dr. Bud Marchant expressed his appreciation to the donors. "What you do for these students is absolutely remarkable," he said. "Many of the people that you're sitting at tables with would not be here if it were not for your generosity."

The student speaker for the event was Gail Brown, who is one of the college's student ambassadors. She is working on an Associate in Applied Science degree in Accounting.

Brown said that those who donate scholarships care about the students. "They don't just care about what we do. They also care about how we do it and how we succeed," she said.

"On behalf of myself, my fellow ambassadors, the Foundation, all the scholarship recipients, I'd like to thank you, the donors, the college, the committees that selected us who are here in the room, and the faculty and staff for giving us the support, the mentoring, and the opportunity to fulfill our goals as better students and better people."

George Lucier, president of the CCCC Foundation, said that he hears many good things about the college. "I hear that people love having it in their community. They feel it's an integral and important part of the community," he said.

"Central Carolina Community College is one of the finest community colleges in the land. This does not happen by accident," said Lucier.

"It takes enthusiastic students who want to learn and are committed to learning. It takes faculty who are dedicated to teaching. It takes leadership who understands that it's about the students and not about them, and it takes donors like you who provide scholarships for students that need it. Thank you so much for your generosity - and you're much of the reason why Central Carolina Community College is such an outstanding institution."

For the 2014-15 school year, the Foundation thus far has awarded $156,375 in scholarships to 171 students.

Julian Philpott, chairman of the CCCC Board of Trustees, thanked those in attendance who helped in the passage of the recent college bonds. "The passage of those bonds are really going to help continue to have CCCC at the forefront of education."

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.

For information on giving to the Foundation or its fund-raising events, contact Emily 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.