THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Jordan Diggs, has been selected by North Carolina State University as a Goodnight Transfer Scholar. | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College – CCC is proud to announce that Jordan Diggs has been named CCC’s first-ever Goodnight Transfer Scholar. Diggs was selected as part of North Carolina State University’s Goodnight Transfer Scholars Program Class of 2028 and will begin at NC State this fall, majoring in Chemical

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College President Dr. Jason Hurst has announced the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the Spring 2026 semester. To be named to the President’s List, students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours and receive a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average. The following students were named to the President’s List (listed alphabetically) Follow The Shelby Independent on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To contact Chuck about a

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Graduates of Cleveland Community College's largest class at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. | CCC Cleveland Community College – CCC celebrated its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 14, in the Dr. James B. Petty Amphitheater, honoring the largest graduating class in the institution’s history for the fourth consecutive year. This year’s class included 994 graduates, who earned 1,314 credentials. These large numbers are a re

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College A total of 114 students were honored during the ceremonies as they completed programs designed to prepare them for careers in healthcare. Shelby, N.C. — Cleveland Community College celebrated the accomplishments of Health Sciences and Nursing graduates during two pinning ceremonies held May 11-12 on the CCC campus. A total of 114 students were honored during the ceremonies as they completed programs designed to prepare them for care

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College honors 48 students at National Technical Honor Society induction ceremony. | CCC Cleveland Community College — CCC recognized 48 outstanding career and technical education students as the newest inductees into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) during a ceremony held Monday, May 4. The students were selected for membership based on their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to excell

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Now in its fifth year, CCC’s High School Welding Competition continues to play a vital role in preparing students for high-demand careers in skilled trades. | Courtesy photo. Cleveland Community College — CCC welcomed the county’s top young welding talent on Friday, May 1, 2026, for its fifth annual High School Welding Competition. The event kicked off at 9 a.m. and featured 16 student competitors — four each from Burns High Schoo

By Paula Vess | Cleveland Community College Ai generated file photo CLEVELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Three Cleveland Community College cosmetology students are proving that service goes far beyond the salon chair; it reaches into the heart of the community. Kenyatta Eskridge, Kallie McCoid, and Grace Pribble are representing CCC in the SkillsUSA Community Service Project competition, using their platform to support Washington Outreach Ministry, a local organization dedicated t

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College is one of two new regional partners in an initiative led by UNC Charlotte that expands STEM pathways for academically talented, low-income students. UNC Charlotte recently received $2 million as part of a $5 million National Science Foundation grant to grow the successful partnership across the region. The new award builds on the earlier SPARC 4 initiative and launches SPARC 6, a five-institution collabor

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College – On Saturday, March 7, Cleveland Community College’s women’s basketball team captured the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Region 10 Championship with a victory over the Fayetteville Technical Community College Trojans. “This championship is a reflection of the work these players put in when nobody was watching,” said Head Coach Ford “Scooter” Lawrence. “They earned this

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College (CCC) has received a $10,000 community investment from AT&T to expand its Digital Navigator Program, further strengthening digital access and literacy efforts for adult learners and community members throughout Cleveland County. CCC is one of only eight colleges selected to receive this funding. On Tuesday, February 24, Kathleen Evans, Regional Director of External Affairs for AT&T, accompanied by Chrisy

Staff reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College’s Collision Repair and Refinishing Program is proud to announce it has received a $5,000 Honda Benchmark Award grant from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). This competitive award supports program maintenance and additions that enhance student learning and align with industry needs. “We are grateful for the support from CREF and the Honda Benchmark Award,” said

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College CCC Cleveland Community College is proud to announce its participation in Careers Electric, a workforce initiative launched by the Siemens Foundation to expand access to high-quality electrical training and build the next generation of skilled electrical workers. According to a February 17 press release from the Siemens Foundation, Careers Electric aims to train 25,000 individuals over the next 10 years to address the growing demand

Staff Reports Cleveland Community College and East Carolina University have strengthened educational pathways for students in Cleveland County with a new transfer agreement signed January 28 in ECU’s Science and Technology Building. The signing cemented a partnership between the two colleges that guarantees admission to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) program for qualified CCC graduates. That point appealed to Dr. Jason Hurst, president of

Staff reports Cleveland Community College recently announced a new partnership with The Forward Fund (TFF) to help students in the Electrical Lineworker Academy and the Heavy Equipment Operator Academy cover program costs and cost-of-living expenses during training. “Traditional financial aid does not usually cover short-term job training programs,” said Tony Fogleman, CCC’s vice president of workforce development. “Being able to offer this option to our students removes a b

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Political Smackdown logo on C19TV, at Cleveland Community College. This week’s episode of Political Smackdown began with Betsy Wells (D) speaking first, honoring the life and legacy of Dot Roark, who passed away in late December. Roark helped bring C19 to life at Cleveland Community College. The panel discussed the school board, regarding the events following the meeting, “If anyone needs an intervention, it’s the school board,”

Staff Reports | Shelby Independent Cleveland Community College Santa isn't the only one that has made a list and checking it twice. Cleveland Community College President Jason Hurst has announced the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the Fall 2025 semester. To be named to the President’s List, students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours and receive a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average. The following students were named to the President’s List. (listed alphabetically): (Names

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent Cleveland Community College plans to launch a new Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program to help meet the growing need for skilled laboratory professionals in our region. Pending approval by the North Carolina Community College System and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), CCC plans to begin offering courses in fall 2026. The associate degree program will complement CCC’s existing heal

Staff reports | press release Cleveland Community College is expanding access to nursing education with the launch of a new nights and weekends LPN-to-ADN program. It is designed specifically for working Licensed Practical Nurses who want to advance their careers and earn their Associate Degree Nursing. The first cohort will begin classes in January and graduate in December, completing the program in just one year. The enhanced format responds to the needs of today’s healthca