November 23, 2009
For Immediate Release

RCCC Program and Leader Honored by Arc of Cabarrus County

                 SALISBURY, N.C. — The Arc of Cabarrus County chose Rowan-Cabarrus Community College's Compensatory Education Program and Cheryl Marsh, RCCC associate vice president of continuing education and dean of pre-college studies, to receive awards at the organization's recently held 40th Anniversary Awards Banquet.

                  The Compensatory Education Program received the ARC award for Distinguished Community Service. Cheryl Marsh was honored with Arc's Professional of the Year Award.

                  The Arc presents its Distinguished Community Service Award annually to an organization which performs "outstanding service" on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities. Barbara Gainey, director of RCCC's Compensatory Education Program, and JoAnn Hawthorn, a lead instructor in the program, accepted the award on behalf of the college.

                  RCCC's Compensatory Education Program works with adults who have developmental disabilities or have experienced a brain injury. The program's goal is to help individuals acquire basic and life skills needed to function successfully in daily living and achieve greater independence.

                  The Arc presents it Professional of the Year Award to a person employed in community services or has demonstrated sensitivity and support for increased independence for people with developmental disabilities. Marsh was honored for her efforts to establish a compensatory education class at RCCC's South Campus in Concord.

                  The Arc of Cabarrus County provides opportunities for individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, their families and communities to enhance the individuals' quality of life through advocacy, support and education.

               RCCC is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina. RCCC is one of 58 colleges in the state-supported North Carolina Community College System.

                RCCC offers fully-accredited associate-degree programs in more than 40 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies. RCCC also offers accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career training, continuing education and basic skills education. RCCC provides a strong foundation and transferable credits for students moving on to four-year colleges and universities and helps adults get the additional training they need to start new careers.

               RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an overall enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus being developed in Kannapolis. For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.