Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1257515
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 14 UCW JUNE 10-16, 2020 Dear Cumberland County Schools graduates, Congratulations on this important milestone! High School graduation is the capstone of years of hard work and achievement and it marks your entry into the next phase of your life. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be a different world than what you had anticipated. Take heart and move forward with hope and determination and courage. You will help shape the world to come and we at FTCC are ready to help you achieve your dreams. Many of you have been to classes at FTCC through High School Connections and Cape Fear Polytechnic High School, earning college credits, certificates, diplomas or even Associate Degrees. We expect to welcome many more of you in the future as you pursue your dreams through our online, remote-learning and on-campus programs. FTCC is an affordable, excellent and local option, whether you want to earn college credits that will transfer to a four-year institution or want training to move directly into a good- paying job. As you move forward, we offer you our best wishes for a bright future. As always, FTCC will be here for you. Dr. J. Larry Keen President, Fayetteville Technical Community College To the Cumberland County class of 2020, e Cumberland County Board of Commissioners offers congratulations to each of you on achieving this milestone. We are proud of your hard work and commitment to learning. Your senior year has included unique challenges brought on by a pandemic no one could have imagined a few short months ago. Many of you have navigated challeng - ing situations and achieved success with hard work and determination. is expe- rience has helped prepare you for future curveballs life will throw your way. Graduation signals the beginning of a new phase in your life. Our world will change significantly after this threat passes; you must decide how you will be part of that change. You are among Cumberland County's best and brightest. We hope you take the tools your education has provided you and use them to help mold our community into a better place for future generations. ese unprecedented times have tested your resilience and creativity and shown you just how much you are capable of withstanding. Use this experience to fuel your dreams and strive to reach new heights. You will be tested in every phase of life, so remember that chasing your dreams requires passion and hard work. We challenge you to remain steadfast. e education you attained, the relation - ships you made, the learning you gained and the experiences you had during your high school years — including this final semester — will serve you well in the years to come. Good luck, Cumberland County class of 2020! Sincerely, W. Marshall Faircloth, Chairman Cumberland County Board of Commissioners To class of 2020 graduates throughout Cumberland County, On behalf of the entire Fayetteville City Council, I congratulate you on this mo - mentous achievement. You're doing some- thing different, and I want to encourage you to keep going. e health crisis we face is a reality but you can embrace this chal- lenge. Maybe you had plans for this year and those plans were canceled, or your sports season was interrupted. You may miss friends or maybe you just don't feel the same. It's OK to take time and reflect, and then remember you've made it this far. Our community needs you now, and we'll need you in the future, so don't give up. is is the year you earned a high school diploma. No one can take that accomplish - ment from you. ank you for persevering and completing the educational requirements. As you consider the next steps, please apply what you learned. Show us your talents and perfect them. Draw a picture to encourage others, make music, practice your individual sports drills, call someone on the phone, practice social and professional skills in virtual meetings, read, tutor, study. e world is still going and you can do this. You may have to do it differently and it may take longer than anticipated, but you can do it. One day, possibly today, someone will call on you and it will be your turn to lead. When that moment comes, will you be prepared? You're already navigating many new rules. Create and innovate. Figure out ways to safely do what you enjoy. Your idea could help someone else through this tough time. ere's no better time than now. Continue to do what you can with what you have. Find your place in this community, in this world. Again, congratulations. Please be safe and remember you are here, in this time and in this space for a reason. So, thanks for your unique contributions. Mitch Colvin, mayor of Fayetteville