SANFORD - Piedmont Biofuels research director Rachel Burton, Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter, and Central Carolina Community College lead history instructor Dr. Anthony Harrington have been selected as recipients of the college's first Distinguished Alumni Awards.

The selection was announced at the Feb. 1 Men's Basketball game between CCCC and Sandhills Community College at Central Carolina's Lee County Campus. Each awardee was presented a college 50th Anniversary Jerry Miller print of CCCC's historical buildings.

The announcement was a prelude to the official Distinguished Alumni Award recognition ceremony, which will take place June 28 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center during the college's 50th Anniversary Gala. Tickets to that event are now available from the CCCC Foundation by contacting Associate Director Emily Hare at ehare@cccc.edu or (919) 718-7230.

Burton, Carter and Harrington were selected from a field of nominees based on three criteria: demonstrated dedication and support for CCCC and/or the CCCC Foundation; commitment to serving the residents of CCCC's service area of Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties; and outstanding achievements in their profession and/or civic and community affairs.

"We are delighted to honor these outstanding Central Carolina Community College graduates," said CCCC President Bud Marchant. "Our mission as a college is to empower people through education and training so that they can continue to pursue their dreams, excel in their accomplishments, and serve their communities. Rachel Burton, Sheriff Tracy Carter and Dr. Anthony Harrington are excellent examples of that."

Rachel Burton

Rachel Burton, of Moncure, graduated with honors from CCCC in 2000 with an Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Technology and a certificate in Sustainable Agriculture. She also has a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Burton co-founded and is now research director at Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, a company at the forefront of the biofuels industry in North Carolina. In 2011, she was named Biodiesel Researcher of the Year.

She is also a founding board member of The Abundance Foundation, which educates the community about sustainability with the mission of building a local foodshed, modeling renewable energy, and inspiring community.

Sheriff Tracy Carter

Sheriff Tracy Carter, of Sanford, received an Associate of Arts from CCCC in 1987. He then earned a bachelor's degree in Human Services/Criminal Justice at Campbell University.

Carter was first elected as Lee County sheriff in 2006. Previously, he served as a jail officer, deputy sheriff, and DARE officer in Lee County from 1986-1993. He was Chief of Special Police for Lee County Schools from 1993-2006.

Carter gives back to his community through a variety of outreaches from the Sheriff's Department's Elderly Care Program to participation in the annual "Lee County Dances with the Stars."

Dr. Anthony Harrington

Dr. Anthony Harrington, of Broadway, Harnett County, received a diploma in Radio-TV Broadcast from CCCC in 1977 and an Associate in Arts in 1983. He has been teaching at the college for almost 30 years and is highly respected by his students.

Previously, he taught in Harnett County Schools and worked as a radio personality/news director for several radio stations. He has been active in numerous organizations, such as Buffalo Masonic Lodge #172, AMRAN Temple of the Shriners, Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church, and Campbell University National Alumni Board of Trustees.

Harrington has his bachelor's and master's from Campbell University and a Doctorate from N.C. State University.