SANFORD - "This is a great day. This is a day we've been looking forward to for a long, long time."

Central Carolina Community College President Dr. T. Eston Marchant aptly expressed the joy that was apparent for so many in attendance on Thursday, Oct. 6, as the college held a groundbreaking ceremony for the four Central Carolina Community College bond projects that were approved by Lee County voters in November 2014. The ceremony took place on the CCCC Lee Main Campus, with reception following at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

The four projects include:

• Construction of the Oscar A. Keller Jr. and Elderlene R. Keller Health Sciences Center. Construction is scheduled to begin in Winter 2017 with completion in Summer 2018.
• Expansion and renovation of the Veterinary Medical Technology facility. Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2016 with completion in Fall 2017.
• Renovation and expansion of the Emergency Services Training Center and the Lee Main Campus. ESTC construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2016 with completion in Summer 2017. Renovations on the Lee Main Campus are to be determined on the priority established by the college and the scheduling of other construction work occurring on campus.
• New construction and renovation at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Construction is scheduled to begin in Winter 2017 with completion in Spring 2018.

Julian Philpott, Chairman of the CCCC Board of Trustees, noted that many people in attendance had a role in making CCCC a quality educational institution. "Today, we're excited to participate in this groundbreaking ceremony to begin the ambitious construction process for several new college facilities in Lee County," said Philpott. "We want to thank the Lee County Commissioners for approving the placement of the Central Carolina Community College bonds referendum on the ballot several years ago and for their continued funding support of the college. We also want to thank the Lee County voters for their overwhelming support in approving the funding mechanism for these projects."

Amy Dalrymple, Chair of the Lee County Board of Commissioners, told those in attendance that this is another great day in Lee County. "A few years ago, people, leaders, educators across the road had a vision for where we needed to take CCCC. After many long meetings and lots of planning, they came up with four different areas to improve and to take us to the next level ... and came to the Board of Commissioners and asked for it to be placed on a bond referendum," she said. "The voters of Lee County do what they always do and that's support education. That shows the kind of community that we live in and that I'm proud to be a part of that understands that educating our children and providing a quality workforce is a great thing for this county ... On behalf of the Lee County Board of Commissioners, we are all excited to get this thing going."

Dennis Wicker, former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor for whom the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center was named, called the event a festive occasion. "It's one of joy. One of excitement," he told the audience, as he talked about the history of the civic center. "It really was the community that built this civic center for what it is today. And so it illustrates to me and it really makes me feel like you do, I'm sure, the pride that this community came together and did something big. And the gratitude that I grew up in a community like you did or that you live in a community where people can come together and make big things happen. And that's what we did. And that's what we are. And that's who we are. And that's what we're about. Never let it be said we think small. We think big. ... We do this for the future generations so that they can thrive and they can have a better life than we've had."

Marchant said when the college trustees asked, in a unanimous vote, to put these projects on the ballot that it showed the commitment that the board had and what they thought the community would be willing to do. "We won with close to 70 percent of the vote for each of these four bond referendums -- a true commitment of the people of Lee County to Central Carolina Community College. I will be forever grateful and I know the students who will walk through the doors of these new buildings and these renovated buildings will also be forever grateful," said Marchant.

Philpott told the audience that CCCC's vision is to be a nationally recognized, world-class leader providing learning opportunities that contribute to economic progress and cultural enrichment for the students and communities we serve. "The mission of the college is to serve as a catalyst for individual, community, and economic development by empowerment through accessible lifelong learning.

"Central Carolina Community College has been recognized as one of the top educational institutions in the country. And we're proud of all the people who have worked so hard to help the college achieve this recognition. These facilities that we're about ready to construct will help continue to fulfill the vision and mission of the college and are a testament to the ongoing commitment to excellence demonstrated by everyone who has been connected with or served by Central Carolina Community College," said Philpott. "These facilities will allow CCCC to provide students with additional quality educational experiences and learning opportunities as they pursue certificates and degrees at the college. In addition, those quality facilities help attract quality administrations, faculty members, and staff. We hope you are proud of your community college as we continue CCCC's commitment to excellence."

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