THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

Staff reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College’s Small Business Center is proud to announce that local entrepreneur Stacie Norris-Humphries of Boiling Springs has been selected as a finalist in the inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown, a statewide competition hosted by the North Carolina Community College System. Norris-Humphries earned her place among the statewide finalists after working closely with CCC Small Business Center Director Stephen Lancaster,

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 Because construction of the Beam Student Center is fully funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, these private donations will be used to support student scholarships. | Courtesy photo. Cleveland Community College – CCC marked a historic milestone on Friday, May 1, with a ceremonial groundbreaking for its long-awaited student center, a transformative project designed to centralize and enhance services for students across camp

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

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Coaches Wilson, left, and Buyers. | Courtesy photo Cleveland Community College — CCC has announced that Head Volleyball Coach Jamie Wilson is stepping down from her position with the Yetis to accept a new opportunity as Assistant Coach at Presbyterian College, an NCAA Division I program competing in the Big South Conference. Assistant Coach Aaliyah Byers will serve as Interim Head Coach as the Yetis prepare for the upcoming 2026

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

By Jasa West | Cleveland Community College | Press Release file photo | The Shelby Independent Cleveland Community College has secured its place in the sixth cohort of NC Reconnect, a statewide initiative to engage more adult learners and provide them with fast, flexible, and in many cases tuition-free education and job training programs. NC Reconnect is a collaborative effort first launched in 2021 by the John M. Belk Endowment to address the state’s critical workforce

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 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 Political Smackdown logo on C19TV, recorded in the John O. Harris Jr. studio Cleveland Community College C19TV’s Political Smackdown, hosted by Mike Philbeck -R, Betsy Wells -D, Wes Westmoreland -R, and Andy Dedmon -D, had their last regular episode of the year on the last Friday before Christmas. Former Shelby Mayor Mike Philbeck began the show by mentioning former North Carolina Governor James B. (Jim) Hunt, who recently passed aw

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