2024_Commencement_Fall_Dec2024_04web by Gayle Arries

The Sixty-First December Nineteenth, Two Thousand Twenty-Four

Guests are asked to silence cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices. Please refrain from talking on cell phones during the ceremony.

TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE . ,

Congratulations

and

Best

Wishes to the Class of 2024

Dear Graduates,

I am pleased to extend sincere congratulations to each of you, the members of the Tri-County Technical College Class of 2024. You have reached a significant milestone toward achieving your career and personal goals. We celebrate your accomplishments and a job well done.

Earning a college degree, diploma or certificate is an outstanding achievement for every student, and, in particular, for those who are the first in their families to graduate from college. Student success is our top priority. This means that, when you succeed, we succeed. We applaud you for the tenacity, hard work and dedication you showed during your time as a student at Tri-County Technical College.

I am certain the education you received at Tri-County will provide the foundation and career preparation you need to succeed in life and work. You are well positioned to meet future challenges and opportunities because of your talents, skills, education and strong work ethic.

I want to thank faculty and staff for helping to prepare our graduates for the future. Our commitment and passion for teaching, learning and student success are the very heart of what makes Tri-County Technical College the top-rated technical college in South Carolina by nearly every measure—student success, graduation, transfer rates and more.

I also would like to offer special thanks to parents, spouses, children and friends for their patience, sacrifices and support of our graduates. You can share in the feeling of pride and excitement in what your graduate has accomplished and the many opportunities that lie ahead.

Graduates, you now join the ranks of thousands of Tri-County Technical College alumni who are making a difference in our communities. We encourage you to stay connected to the College in the coming years. Tri-County is your lifelong partner, and we stand ready to assist you in meeting your career and personal goals.

Sincerely,

Galen DeHay, Ph.D. President

TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE . ,

*Processional

Welcome Hamid R. Mohsseni Chair, Tri-County Technical College Commission

*National Anthem............................................................................................................ Rin Hoyt Associate in Arts Student

*Invocation John Powell Tri-County Technical College Commission

Remarks Sage Briggs President, Student Leadership Council

Recognitions and Awards

Address to the Class of 2024

Conferring of Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates

Dr. D. Galen DeHay President, Tri-County Technical College

Dr. Laneika Musalini

2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner

Dr. D. Galen DeHay

Dr. Jacquelyn C. Blakley, Dean, Business and Public Services Division

Dr. M. Ahmad Chaudhry, Dean, Health Education Division

Dr. Mark R. Dougherty, Dean, Students

Dr. Stacey Frank, Department Head, Arts and Sciences Division

Matthew Woodall, Department Head, Engineering and Industrial Technology Division

*Recessional

*Please stand

TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE . ,

Address to the ClAss of 2024 dr. lAneikA k. MusAlini 2024 distinguished AluMni AwArd winner

Dr. Laneika Musalini’s contributions to her community and to Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) have been countless over the past two decades.

In addition to more than 20 years of experience in research and grants administration, including a decade at TCTC, she is an award-winning leader in her profession and a tireless ambassador for her alma mater.

She has been recognized by local, state and national organizations time and time again for her passion, service, commitment and collaboration with other individuals and organizations to enhance and improve educational opportunities for individuals in her community and beyond.

Currently, Dr. Musalini serves as director of the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs for Metropolitan State University of Denver where she also serves on the provost council and the academic affairs leadership team. She continues to reside in Anderson and works remotely.

This May marked 24 years since she received her first college degree in 2000, an associate degree in Office Systems Technology (now Administrative Office Technology). The plan was to graduate from TCTC, gain a skill, get a job, and begin pursuing a four-year degree. With help from an Abney scholarship and a vocational business school scholarship from the Hanna-Westside Extension Campus, she earned an OST degree and relied on AIM and its Women and Children Succeeding (WACS) program for assistance with eliminating barriers that existed for her as a single mom.

She joined Clemson University in 2000 as an administrative assistant and took TCTC’s University Transfer classes on her lunch hour. She transferred to Anderson University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and Resources. She was promoted to grants manager for Clemson’s College of Business and Behavioral Sciences and earned a master’s degree from Clemson where she graduated with highest honors from the Human Resource Development program.

She joined TCTC as director of grants in 2012. During her 10-year tenure, she raised more than $20 million by writing successful state and federal grant proposals. She also chaired the project charter team for the diversity and inclusion initiative and served as the liaison to the TCTC Board of Visitors.

In 2021, she graduated from Wingate University with a Doctor of Education degree, earning a 4.0 and the outstanding dissertation award.

Earlier this year Dr. Musalini was the recipient of TCTC’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Among her awards are the 2015 ATHENA Young Professional Award from the Anderson Chamber of Commerce and the Anderson County United Way Community Trailblazer award in 2017. She was named by Clemson University to the Roaring Ten for 2014 and was named to the South Carolina Black Pages 20 under 40 African Americans in South Carolina in 2019.

She is a member of Tabernacle of Deliverance and Praise in Anderson and is the founder and president of Women’s Empowerment, Inc. She serves on the Pendleton Foundation for Black History and Culture Board and is a member and former president of the Anderson University Alumni Association Board. She is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) and chaired the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. In 2020, she was honored by NCURA with the Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Musalini and her husband, Wadud, have four children and reside in Anderson.

,

Arts and Sciences Division

AssoCiAte in Arts

Anthony Michael Vincent Conti

Chloe Marie Curnow*

Alana Grace Dickert

Kailyn Jade Dyar

Karasten Farmer-Kinard

Mikayla Marie Gallagher

Gregory Edward Guarna

Kayla Elizabeth Haley

Clarence O’Bryan Hunt

Haley Renae Jerome

Thomas Bryce Kelley

Derek Lane Lazzara

Abbie Faith Lowe

Dakota Gene Maish

Dillon Conner McDowell

Hannah Anwar Qazah

Jaden R. Rector

Hannah Nicole Simmons

Savannah Lynn Stone

Meegan Elizabeth Sweet

Anna Victoria Weeks

Logan Reid Wood-Campbell

Tatiana Michelle Yarbrough

AssoCiAte in sCienCe

Laurin Bailey Ables

Taylor Nicole Alexander

Zoey Lynn Alexander

Carson Leigh Arms

Devin James Ash

Andrew Greer Bennett, Jr.

Christin Leigh Bovender

Jaden Cayce Brock

Bryce Mathyus Brown

Frances Claire Calvert

Carli L. Campbell***

Zachary Brian Cason*

Benjamin Cary Clay

LaToya Celeste Cooley

Michael John Cromer

Marybel Cruz Juarez

Krystiana Angelique Devaux*

Abigail Marie Dodgens

Nathaniel Bryan Duncan

Karasten Farmer-Kinard

Banner Blythe Garren

Elizabeth Jean Gibson

Gregory James Gilliland**

Ryan Marcus Gonzales

Elizabeth Ann Greene

Joseph Gabriel Hallmark

Hunter Scott Hanks

Ashlyn N. Hemelgarn***

Chloe Maddison Hughes

Savannah Marie Humphrey

Katie Elisabeth Hyder

Jamie Johnson

Kailey Elizabeth Kirkwood

Courtney D. Lipe

Anna Jullia Luqueti Werkhauser

Kerrigan Alexis Mahaffey

Katelynn Victoria Morris

Jazmine Leigh Murray*

Jessica Potter Murray

Rebekah Praise Mytko**

Madison Faith Partridge

Jessica Paul Prince

Britney Nichole Read

Anna Christine Reynolds

Ann Lavonne Rice

Spencer Garrison Ross***

Jacob Drake Sale

Abigail Rose Tabor

Mckinley Layne Thames

Madison Nicole Thompson

Sarah Elliott Udouj

Kylee Michaela Whitten

TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE . ,

Arts And sChienCes university studies CertifiCAte

Zoey Lynn Alexander

Carli L. Campbell***

Benjamin Cary Clay

Chloe Marie Curnow*

Alana Grace Dickert

Elizabeth Jean Gibson

Gregory Edward Guarna

Joseph Gabriel Hallmark

Christopher Justin Holliday

Clarence O’Bryan Hunt

Jamie Johnson

Thomas Bryce Kelley

Alexandra Ortiz

Douglas Eugene Phillips

Grace Elizabeth Poole

Chase Keith Ray*

Anna Christine Reynolds

Emily Adelle Stephenson*

Meegan Elizabeth Sweet

Seth Brian Terry

Sarah Elliott Udouj

Logan Reid Wood-Campbell

. ,

Business and Public Services Division

ACCounting

AssoCiAte in Applied sCienCe with A MAjor in ACCounting

Sydney Grace Arnold*

Tylisha Ballentine

Kerry Alexander Rice

Hannah Nicole Sahms

ACCounting Bookkeeping CertifiCAte

Kerry Alexander Rice

Hannah Nicole Sahms