Cleveland Community College to host largest graduation in school's history

President Jason Hurst will preside over the 2024 commencement ceremony at Cleveland Community College on Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in the James B. Petty Amphitheater. This year’s graduating class will be the largest in school history, exceeding last year’s record-breaking numbers.

This year, more than 831 students are graduating with 1,070 credentials being awarded. That exceeds last year’s 619 graduates and 894 credentials.

“We are excited to announce that we will once again host the largest graduating class in Cleveland Community College’s history,” said Hurst. “What really excites us, however, is what those numbers mean. We are helping more citizens create brighter futures for themselves and their children. We are building a stronger community and workforce that will attract more businesses and jobs.”

Among the graduates are about 169 high school students who are earning credentials through the Career and College Promise program, and 36 Early College High School students.

Making this year’s ceremony more special, is the commencement speaker. Charlotte Smith graduated from Shelby High School and went on to play basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was one of the most decorated women’s players in Tar Heel history.

In 1994, she made the game winning basket at the buzzer in the NCAA National Championship game, and she still holds the record for rebounds (23) in a National Championship game. ESPN named her National Player of the Year in 1995, and she received two ESPY awards.

After college, Smith played professional basketball for 11 years in Italy, the American Basketball League, and the WNBA. She was inducted into the NC Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2023, she was the recipient of the K-LOVE Sports Impact Award.

Smith is currently the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Elon University. She is also an author, singer and songwriter.

In addition to Smith, graduates will hear brief remarks from the Board of Trustees Chair William J. Turpish, the CCC Foundation’s Board of Directors Chair Stephen Padgett, and the Student Government Association President Maria Rivera-Guerrero.

During the ceremony, Hurst will recognize all graduates with a 4.0 GPA and introduce the 2024 Academic Excellence Award recipient. This year’s recipient is Brooke Porter, who is graduating with a 4.0 GPA and will receive her Associate in Arts. Porter wants to be a neurologist, so she plans to transfer to Gardner-Webb University to earn her bachelor’s degree and then attend medical school.

"I want to be a light and an inspiration to others, and I look forward to the challenges and rewards that lie ahead," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: What to know about Cleveland Community College's 2024 graduation