May 30, 2009
For Immediate Release

Almost 800 Graduate from RCCC
Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Gives Commencement Address

              SALISBURY, N.C. — Almost 800 graduates received associate degrees, diplomas and certificates at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College's 46th graduation ceremony held Saturday, May 30, at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center.

               The 772 graduates ranged in age from 16 to 73 (the average is 31), with 69 percent female and 31 percent male. Forty-seven percent of the graduates live in Rowan County, with 40 percent from Cabarrus County and 13 percent from surrounding counties. Approximately 63 percent of the graduates are currently employed full- or part-time, and 293 have previously graduated from RCCC in other programs.

               During the graduation ceremony, RCCC Board of Trustees member and former Rowan County Commissioner J. Newton Cohen Sr. received the college's 2009 Distinguished Service Award. Newton has served on the RCCC board since 2001. He served as a Rowan County commissioner from 1984 to 2000, leading the commission as chairman for nine years.

               "Newt Cohen has been everything a community college could hope for in a trustee, leader and friend," said RCCC Board Chairman Ray Paradowski during the ward presentation. "He has always recognized and championed RCCC's mission of serving and meeting the needs of the community. In doing so, he has been an effective ambassador of the college, building community support. His steady leadership and unselfish giving of his time and energy have been of inestimable value to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Rowan County."

               N.C. Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Jr. served as commencement speaker. Hartsell encouraged the graduates to "keep moving forward." He urged those in attendance to be proud but not done with learning.

               "The world, your world is changing. It's changing everyday. How will you adapt to change? You'll do so by using the knowledge you've gained to search for more. Never, never, never, never, never stop learning. Know that you can succeed with a thirst for more knowledge," Hartsell said.

               Two graduates received academic excellence awards. Earning the honor were Casey Lingle and Elaine Lawson, both of Salisbury.

               Serving as graduation student marshals were Maria Riveria Bonilla, Danny Center, Sandra Clark, Tiffany Cogan, Courtney Goudes, Melissa Green, Cindy Lee, Darlene McCorkle, Michelle McCrary, Jose Napoles, Rose Pavia, Kimberly Reavis, Mary Rouille, Timothy Q. Shay, Terri Smith, Victoria Witherspoon and Virginia Yost.

               RCCC is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina. RCCC is one of 58 colleges in the state-supported North Carolina Community College System.

                RCCC offers fully-accredited associate-degree programs in more than 40 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies. RCCC also offers accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career training, continuing education and basic skills education. RCCC provides a strong foundation and transferable credits for students moving on to four-year colleges and universities and helps adults get the additional training they need to start new careers.

               RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an overall enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus being developed in Kannapolis. For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.