President’s List Recipients Announced

Grant Will Provide MSSC Training to Assist with Companies’ Workforce Needs

The College received a $57,310 grant to award 20 scholarships for industry-based training that can give individuals the skills and certifications that can qualify them to work in local manufacturing within two weeks. The grant was awarded to Tri-County by the SC Department of Employment and Workforce through the SC Technical College System.

Individuals can apply now for the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) classes. Contact Wade Pitts at 646-1718 or visit him at the Industrial and Business Development Center on the Pendleton Campus. This fourweek class will begin in February.

MSSC classes cover four areas of concentration in the Certified Production Technician training curriculum: safety; quality practices and measurement; manufacturing processes; and production and maintenance awareness.

Applicants are referred to WorkLink to verify eligibility for scholarships, followed by a criminal background check and drug screening test. Applicants also must score Silver on the WorkKeys exam. Once accepted, within two weeks of class, individuals can participate in interviews with local manufacturers and be eligible for employment, said Dr. Rick Cothran, dean of our Corporate and Community Education Division.

“MSSC training is the perfect way for qualified folks to get their foot in the door. Successful students will be guaranteed an interview. We have a 95 percent placement rate with our MSSC program,” he added.

Tri-County administers the MSSC Certified Production Technician program to help build a new workforce through skills upgrades and can reduce on-the-job training for new employees so they can be productive their first day on the job, Rick said. “Industry tells us that this type of training cuts on-the-job training by one third.”

Since 2009 Tri-County has taught MSSC classes that assist in providing area companies with a qualified, more productive workforce.

Tri-County Technical College is the third largest awarder of MSSC Certifications nationwide.

President’s List Recipients Announced

“Congratulations! We are proud of you and share in this celebration of your success,” Dr. DeHay, front, center, told the President’s List recipients (who earned all A’s for Fall Semester 2019) at a reception January 16. To be eligible for the President’s List, a student must be classified as a degree, diploma, or

certificate-seeking student; earn at least 12 credit hours in courses numbered 100 or above; attain a GPR of 4.00; cannot earn an “F,” “WF,” or “U” grade for courses numbered 100 or below, or MAT 150 or ENG 150.

Pictured from left to right are (front row) Lauranne Lynch, of Clemson, chapter secretary; Sara Teel, of Pendleton, special events coordinator; Malerie Jenison, of Townville, president; Chasity Cannon, of Williamston, community health director; Stacy Smith, SNA faculty advisor and associate degree nursing instructor; and (back row) Austin Poole, of Clemson; Steve Wiles, of Williamston; Devin Fessette, of Central, and Lexie Dumit, of Clemson, treasurer. Not pictured is Sarah-Katherine Burke, of Clemson, vice president.

Congratulations to our Associate Degree Nursing students, who continue to excel. They received the Community Health Project Award at the 68th Annual Student Nurses Association-SC Convention in Columbia.

This award goes to the SNA-SC constituent school with the greatest number of donations to the Lowcountry Orphan Relief Fund.

The Student Nurses’ Association of South Carolina (SNA-SC) is a pre-professional organization for nursing and pre-nursing students enrolled in South Carolina-accredited associate and baccalaureate degree nursing programs.

SNA-SC is an official constituent of the National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc. (NSNA). SNA-SC offers leadership experiences, educational opportunities, career networking, and information concerning State and national issues that affect the nursing profession.

CCE Division Honored with Award

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Tri-County offered its first Consultative Selling class last fall with 17 individuals enrolled.

Students in Consultative Selling build and hone the fundamental skills necessary for effective sales and customer support conversations. Students learn to build relationships, gain interest, understand needs, present solutions (not pitches), and handle genuine customer objections.

“Our Consultative Selling classes have been tailored to folks in our real estate sales,” said Rick. “They learn to interface with their clients to better determine their needs. They also learn how to communicate better with their clientele,” he said.

Three members of the CCE Division completed the three-day class.

“Consultative Selling is a structured approach to sales,” said Wade Pitts, CCE training and development director, who completed the class. “The number-one open job today is sales, and we are dedicated to meeting that need,” he added. “The skills emphasized in this class give real estate students an edge in today’s job market. This class offers them the tools to be successful,” said Rick.

“This award is indicative of the quality of our team and the heart that each has toward helping people help themselves,” added Rick.

“The importance of the Exemplary Program Awards (EPA) cannot be overstated,” said NCCET Executive Director Ed Harper. “This is not a contest. Far more important than deciding whose program is the best, the EPA selection process subjects the programs to intense evaluation and scrutiny to assure evidencebased achievement. What is really important is the willingness and commitment to share the program benefits with other schools and peer organizations.”

In the near future, EPA winners’ stories will be available via recorded interviews and panel discussions at www.nccet.org.

Annual Job and Resource Fair Connects Participants with Potential Employers

SC Works and Tri-County Technical College’s Corporate and Community Education Division (CCE) reached out to unemployed and underemployed individuals by hosting an annual Job and Resource Fair in January.

Attendees learned about short-term training and certificate programs that can get them into the workforce in as little as five weeks.

The goal is to connect full-and part-time job seekers with potential employers.

Participants were given the opportunity to meet with area employers from a wide range of businesses, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction, transportation, customer service, and office settings.

Among the companies attending were: BASF, Horton Holding, Inc., Glen Raven, Rogers Group, MedShore and various health care agencies.

Tri-County’s CCE staff spotlighted the short-term training

options in the fields of healthcare, business, heavy-equipment operation, industrial/manufacturing, and truck driving—jobs in high demand in our region of S.C. Attendees met the instructors and program managers, reviewed the course offerings and schedules, and talked about short-term certification and skills training to help them to advance in their current careers or to transition into new careers.

Some of these QuickJobs programs can get folks back into the workforce in as little as five weeks. The daytime Commercial Drivers License (CDL A) training is five weeks and the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training is four to six weeks. Pre- Highway Construction classes are one month, Heavy Equipment training is two months and the new Power Line Worker training is three months. Training for the South Carolina Manufacturing Certification (SCMC) is 10 weeks, and the EMT program is six months.

Workforce scholarships, funded by the State, can aid persons who are unable to afford the cost of training.

Kevin Gibson, far left, and Cody Stone, both of Easley, stopped by the Horton, Inc. table and talked with Alicia Kelley, quality engineer for Horton, about job opportunities at Oconee County’s newest manufacturing facility which will open in March. Alicia is an alumna; she earned an A.S. degree in 2003, a SCMC certification in 2014, and an American Society for Quality certification in 2018.

10 • CONNECTION Laura Thompson, human resources manager I for the SC Department of Mental Health, right, talks with Kathleen Van Dusen, of Seneca. Many of you will remember Laura, who worked in our Health Education Division. She is a 2005 alumna of our Associate in Arts program and holds a bachelor’s in Human Resources from Limestone.

Leading Edge App Provides Info About Campus Events

Lori Morrissette, left, talks with Jeremiah Mackey and Kiara Mackey, both of Seneca, about downloading the free Leading Edge app that gives them access to information about campus events where they can earn points and get rewards.