SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College's College and Career Readiness Commencement Exercises was a time of celebration. The Feb. 1 event at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center honored the achievements of 65 students.

Mark Hall, CCCC's Chatham County Provost, welcomed the audience.

College and Career Readiness Coordinators Daniel Loges in Chatham County, Melody McGee of Harnett County, and Sandra Thompson in Lee County introduced the commencement student speakers.

Dani Lynn Hearn, a Chatham County graduate, said, "I know this is a room full of dreamers. Everyone in this room had a dream. And, tonight, that dream becomes a reality." In closing, she noted, "And now, as we move forward from this night, if there is a dream you have and you're thinking, 'I'm scared, who am I to do that?', I am here to say, 'Who are you not to have this dream?' Be inspired, step into your life, and let your light shine."

Jordan Graham, a Harnett County graduate, told her fellow graduates, "We're all here today because we were chasing after our goal to further our education, and we had the dedication to accomplish it." She added that she has received her GED and is now a college freshman at CCCC. "If it wasn't for the staff that has helped me along the way, I don't think I would have ever gone to college," she said.

James Dillon Locklear, who is a Lee County graduate, noted, "I know for a lot of us, this is a huge step to better our future, and to some, it's not only for ourselves but for our family's future as well. ... The best advice I can give to you is no matter how hard it gets or how impossible your goals may seem, just keep pushing and never give up. And once you reach that goal, it will seriously be one of the most amazing feelings you could imagine."

Dawn Tucker, CCCC's Dean of College and Career Readiness, recognized the honor graduates.

Three students received CCCC Foundation scholarships, in the amount of $600, to continue their education. The students are Dani Lynn Hearn, Jordan Graham, and James Dillon Locklear. Ataurus Buie received the W.B. Wicker Scholarship in the amount of $500.

In addition, each student who participated in graduation will receive a tuition scholarship voucher for a free three credit hour curriculum course or one continuing education course at the college.

Presentation of Candidates was by CCCC President Dr. T.E. Marchant and Conferring of Diplomas was by CCCC Board of Trustees Member Martha Underwood.

Dr. Pamela Senegal, Vice President of Economic and Community Development, closed graduation by asking graduates to remember, "The stone the builder rejected has now become the cornerstone. You are that cornerstone. No matter what happened before now, we have such high expectations of what you will do and who you will become. This is just the beginning."

Following the commencement exercises, family and friends celebrated with the graduates.

Pictures from the commencement exercises can be downloaded at www.cccc.edu.

For more information about Central Carolina Community College's College and Career Readiness programs, visit www.cccc.edu or contact: in Chatham County - 919-545-8663, in Harnett County - 910-814-8971, or in Lee County - 919-777-7701.

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

GRADUATE LIST

Gisette Marie Acevedo, Marquez Nelson Acosta, Gazal Abdo Alowdi, *Cole John Aslakson, Isley Carithers Baggett, *Sara Gayle Baker-Bucther, *Susan Nicole Barefoot, *Alysa Suguro Bathrick, John Aaron Bennett, Christopher Blue, Amanda Ann Brady, Tomi Carolina Briones, Desiree Amelia Brown, Ataurus Kentrell Buie, *Kayla Steffany Chisenhall, *Jack Nestor Crook, Jasmine Lucy Anne Ariel Crump, Michael Scott Deeter, Manual Herrera Duran, *Kaylee Elmore, Brittany Ki'era Emerson, Daniel Glenn Finch, Beatrice Garcia, Jordan Skye Graham, *Nicole Termeshelia Gray, *Dani Lynn Hearn, Jonathan Andrew Henderson, William Nathan Holmes, Robert Harold Houston, Delmar Jimenez, *Brittany Michelle Lanier, James Dillon Locklear, *Jesus Ramirez Lopez, Cody Daniel Loomis.

*Rebecca Ren Marion Macklin, Avery Mansfield, *Caroline Elizabeth Mattucci, Sophia Denise Militello, Amber Gabrielle Myers, Casey Leigh Nance, Aaliyah Justine Oldham, Jacob David Olive, Robert Orlowski, Haley Elaine Phillips, *Angelica Marie Pineiro, Hannah Elizabeth Poe, Matthew Michael Porra, Yasmine Rammoni, *David R. Ruiz, Samantha Justine Ryan, Jose Maria Salas-Sanchez, David Sanchez, Erick Ivan Sanchez, Jamie Louise Sheffield, Trevor Alan St. Onge, *Christy Stone Strickland, Elizabeth Flores Suchite, Samantha Nicole Summers, *Peyton Elizabeth Thomas, Emel Adeem Tilman, Matthew Alexander Ullom, Jannette Guadalupe Vargas, *Maria Eugenia Villada, Cynthia Denise Womack, *Jacqueline Zagada.

* denotes honor graduates