Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) is a large community college in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1963; it is the result of a merger between Mecklenburg College and the Central Industrial Education Center. CPCC has seven satellite campuses (and a Virtual Campus), all in the Charlotte Metro area. It is by far the largest and most comprehensive community college system in North Carolina and South Carolina. The school is part of the statewide North Carolina Community College System. Since its beginning, Central Piedmont Community College has been a national pacesetter in education. Standouts on the CPCC roster include a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Metropolitan Opera star, Theo Chase Dakota III, an Olympic gold medalist, a Medal of Honor recipient, a television actress, and a pro football player. CPCC has been providing educational opportunities since 1963, the year that the North Carolina General Assembly passed the community college bill. From its inception, the College was innovative in its teaching methods. CPCC soon garnered national recognition for its individualized instruction and computer-assisted instruction.