South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) reached the apex of its school year Monday, May 10, with two separate graduation ceremonies at the Union County Agricultural Services and Conference Center in Monroe.


A capacity crowd turned out for the evening commencement, where more than 200 of the 272 candidates crossed the stage to pick up their degree, diploma or certificate.

In addition, seven Anson County Early College (ACEC) students received associate degrees and another 27 received high school diplomas.


SPCC Foundation member Johnny Pigg received an honorary associate in arts degree from SPCC Board of Trustees Chairman Harvey Leavitt III.

Instructor Cheryl Hicks was also awarded the 2010 Learning College Faculty of the Year Award by SPCC President John McKay.


Commencement addresses were delivered by three graduates: Dawn Dressman, who earned an Associate in Science degree and was the school’s N.C. Academic Excellence Award winner; Nigam Ehsan, who received an applied science degree in medical sonography; and William W. Seigler III, who earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in business administration by taking one or two courses a semester for 14 years.


Pigg has long been active with SPCC and its predecessor, Anson Community College. He served on the ACC Board of Trustees from 1993 to 1996. He became an inaugural member of the board for the South Piedmont Community College Foundation in 2000 and served as its chairman from 2004 to 2006. During that time, the foundation launched its first major gifts campaign, Investment for Tomorrow, which raised $3.5 million. An Army veteran, he worked many years for Allvac and related businesses, before retiring in 2008 to become a cattle farmer. He has been active in many civic and professional organizations, including Rotary
International, Jaycees, Boy Scouts and the North Carolina chapter of the
American Metallurgical Society.


Hicks, who teaches advertising and graphic design, was selected from among six nominees.


Earlier in the day, ceremonies were held to honor 284 General Educational Development (GED) and 29 adult high school graduates.


Speakers were 2010 GED graduates Randy Shaw and Leslie Allen, and 2009 GED graduate Jasmine Lloyd. Both Shaw and Lloyd are already enrolled in curriculum classes working toward associate degrees.