From practicing hair and makeup alongside her sisters to standing on stage as Central Piedmont’s fall 2025 commencement speaker, Kristen Alvarado Sorto’s journey is one of resilience, ambition, and honoring her cultural roots. It all began in the cosmetology program, where Kristen turned her passion into a career and found the confidence to lead. Ready to start your own journey? Learn more about our cosmetology program and how it can open doors for you: https://www.cpcc.edu/programs/cosmetology

We award more than $4 million in scholarships, so you can focus on your education, instead of how to pay for it. | Central Piedmont Community College