Local, state officials attend CEEC ribbon-cutting ceremony

UNC Charlotte recently hosted a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Charlotte Engineering Early College (CEEC); the event coincided with on-campus meetings by the N.C. State Board of Education.

University, local and state leaders talked about how the CEEC was an example of innovative, educational concepts that have increased in popularity across North Carolina.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, who spoke at the ribbon cutting, noted, “Like most things in Charlotte, great ideas come about as the result of collaboration and teamwork. The idea for a high school with a focus on engineering and energy came to us from Jeff Corbett of Duke Energy. He brought the folks from North Carolina New Schools into the picture, and, soon, we were on our way with an exciting collaborative concept, coupled with commitment, enthusiasm and energy.”

Bill Cobey, chairman of the State Board of Educations, and Heath Morrison, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent, also gave remarks at the ceremony.

The N.C. State Board of Education held its fall planning retreat Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at UNC Charlotte, along with monthly meeting Thursday, Oct. 2; the Office of University Communications provide a streaming webcast of the meeting.

The board holds monthly meetings in various settings across the state in order to engage and interact with the communities and projects it supports and oversees, according to officials. After its Thursday meeting, education board members toured CEEC.

CEEC’s first class is comprised of 100 ninth-graders, and as Dubois noted, “We want these students to benefit from the school’s proximity to and engagement with UNC Charlotte. Namely the students in the William States Lee College of Engineering, our teacher education candidates in the College of Education, our Center from STEM Education, as well as faculty, research centers and industry partners.”