LILLINGTON -- Twenty-six students are in the inaugural class of the new Harnett Health Science Academy program. The induction ceremony took place June 16 at the Harnett Health Sciences Center in Lillington.

The Academy is made possible through a partnership with Central Carolina Community College and Harnett County Schools.

"This is a special night for Harnett County Schools and for Central Carolina Community College," said Jon Matthews, Associate Provost of the CCCC Harnett Campus. "I'm very proud of our inductees tonight. This will be our inaugural class in the Health Sciences Academy."

The Harnett Health Sciences Academy is a program open to high school freshmen and sophomores that allows participants to earn credits toward a health industry recognized credential, diploma, certification, or other college transfer options.

Eligible high school students will be "fast-tracked" through their general high school courses in order to maximize the community college opportunities in the health care field during their junior and senior years in the program. Successful completion of the Academy will enhance students' eligibility for acceptance into a CCCC Health Sciences Diploma/Degree program.

Guest speaker for the event was Dr. Christopher W. Stewart, M.D. He is Hospitalist Director for Central Harnett Hospital, and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Campbell University PA Program and School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Stewart told the students that the two things he sees are leadership and professionalism.

"If you're a smart student and you excel, then your teachers and your parents and your communities already look upon you to be leaders," said Dr. Stewart, who added that leaders are not necessarily born, they're made. "Leadership is important and you can't escape it."

Stewart noted that he has learned that "how smart you are or how skilled you are probably is not the most important thing to your success. How you do with people, how you conduct yourself, how you enter a room or exit a room, how you treat a patient, how you treat your colleagues, how you dress, if you show up to work on time, or you come to work every day ... those are really, really important things. And I would argue those things are the things that are going to make you successful or not make you successful."

He closed with a quote from Abraham Lincoln, "Whatever you are, be a good one."

The inaugural class of inductees includes students from Harnett Central (HCHS), Overhills (OHS), Triton (THS), and Western Harnett (WHHS) high schools.

The induction of new members was led by Lynn Hartley, Harnett County Schools' Career and Technical Education Director; Lisa Baker, CCCC Dean of Health Sciences; and Audra DeSorbo, Harnett County Schools' School-to-Career Coordinator.

The students are Amber Barefoot (HCHS), Alexis Boggs (HCHS), Jada Booker (HCHS), Jessica Bowles (WHHS), Luke Bryan (HCHS), Kaitlyn Bryant (OHS), Reese Buie (HCHS), Allyson Buzzard (HCHS), Alyssa Cochran-Trull (WHHS), Anna Hall (THS), Rachel Hammersley (THS), Casi Harper (HCHS), Cheyenne Hensley (THS), Aubrey Johnson (OHS), Kirstin McGinty (WHHS), Kaylee Morris (THS), Letitia Ockletree (HCHS), Maggie Patterson (WHHS), Asia Phan-Flocken (WHHS), Alyssa Portes (OHS), Tiffany Ray (OHS), Damica Rodriguez (WHHS), Mariah Sanchez (THS), Grace Watkins (HCHS), Dana Williams (WHHS), and Hunter Woodard (OHS).

Lynn Hartley and Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC's Vice President of Student Learning, presented opening remarks.

"We are very excited. And I think the opportunities that the Academy will afford to the inductees will pay off tremendously in the future," said Ms. Hartley. "My challenge is to encourage you each day, as new opportunities become available that you take these opportunities, and give 110 percent."

Dr. Merritt talked about the excitement of the new program and the fact that the students would be able to explore a lot of different options. "Really take advantage of this opportunity," he said. "We're really excited about this opportunity and really look forward to seeing what it holds in the future."

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.