SANFORD - Central Carolina SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is creating a legacy for the chapter and advancing the HR profession through education with a sponsored endowment to the Central Carolina Community College Foundation. The executive team of this chapter is a driving force committed to HR professionals and the future of HR and the community.

Through the years, Central Carolina SHRM has supported the CCCC Student Chapter activities and national SHRM student memberships but was unable to offer a college scholarship. As a small chapter with limited financial resources, a plan was made to participate in the planning of a state conference in order to gain enough funds to make the money to create the desired scholarship. The state council -- NCSHRM -- offered opportunities for chapters to sponsor the state conference in partnership and then receive a portion of the proceeds for the chapter. Central Carolina SHRM came together with a vision and strategy to make the 2018 conference a great success in Pinehurst. This allowed for leadership growth and service to other HR professionals in order to create a pathway to advancing the HR profession.

The CCSHRM chapter also benefits by meeting these students where they are and helping them to have the means to finish their goals in the HR profession.

Shirley Rijkse, Lead Instructor of Human Resources and Workforce Readiness at CCCC, is the past president of the local chapter. The chapter has supported her other initiatives with students whenever possible. The chapter members support the community through many events throughout the year.

"The Foundation is grateful that CCSHRM believes in the mission of CCCC and the Foundation by endowing this scholarship for our HR students," said Dr. Emily Hare, CCCC Foundation Executive Director. "CCSHRM truly believes in the power of education ... We cannot say thank you enough for their generosity!"

CCSHRM's next big event is Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center in Sanford. The Step Up to Stand Out program, which includes workshops designed for all leaders or aspiring leaders, will be held from 8 a.m.-noon. For more information about the CCSHRM chapter, visit https://centralcarolina.shrm.org.

The CCCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, Central Carolina Community College. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of CCCC and uses them to promote the educational mission of the college and assist students through scholarships and grants.

For information on giving to the Foundation, contact Dr. Emily Hare, Executive Director of the CCCC Foundation, 919-718-7230 or ehare@cccc.edu.