Catching Up with Alumni

Former Michelin Scholar Now Oversees Technical Scholars/Maintenance Youth Apprentice Programs

Alumnus Jacob Bouchillon, Technical Scholars/Youth

Apprenticeship manager for all of the Michelin plants in the U.S., was on campus recently to conduct student testing for the program. At age 27, Bouchillon was one of the manufacturer’s youngest instructors for its internal technical training school. There are 98 technical scholars, from 16 technical colleges participating in Michelin Technical Scholars programs across the U.S. Bouchillon, 34, talked about his time at Tri-County and his career pathway at Michelin which began 15 years ago following graduation in 2008 from the College’s Industrial Electronics Technology (IET) program.

He originally thought he wanted to major in engineering at Clemson and was accepted into the first Bridge to Clemson class in 2006 but quickly got interested in the electronics classes at Tri-County and decided not to transfer. He enrolled in IET (now Mechatronics) classes. “Once I found IET, I was on the right road.”

In his second year at Tri-County, he began working at Michelin’s Sandy Springs plant and was chosen as a prestigious Michelin Technical Scholar, a cooperative education program where students work while in college. The program offers tuition reimbursement and employee health benefits and competitive wages. He also qualified for lottery tuition assistance.

Bouchillon earned a spot on the President’s List every semester and graduated debt free.

He began as a maintenance tech at Michelin in Sandy Springs and later became a teacher/trainer for Michelin AP Technical Training.

He took on his current role in Technical Recruiting and overseeing the Michelin Technical Scholars and Maintenance Youth Apprentice programs on December 1, 2021.

“Tri-County opened up a world of opportunities for me and the opportunities continue at Michelin, who makes the world go around,” he said. “None of this would have been possible without the Michelin Technical Scholars Program and the partnership with TCTC.”

For more information about Michelin careers, go to facebook.com/MichelinCareers.

Nursing Alumni Serve as Adjunct Instructors

Several TCTC Nursing alumni are serving as adjunct instructors this semester in the Nursing Department. Jackie Rutledge, nursing department head, third from left, reunited with former students at the College’s Adjunct Expo recently. From left are Crystal Gaines, R.N. at Oconee Memorial Hospital; Kelly Liles, R.N., assistant nurse manager at Prisma; ConnieAnn Johnson, R.N. at AnMed Medicus Surgery Center; and Georgeanne Hardin, RN, Care Coordination, at AnMed.

Celebrating Black History Month

Courtney McKenzie and Christina Tang, both Bridge to Clemson students, were among those who visited The True Black History Museum on display February 9 in the Student Success Center. The display features a collection of more than 1,000 rare and authentic artifacts that date from the late 1700’s to the 21st century. This museum was established to preserve the history of African American people and to educate others of the many great contributions that African Americans have made to mankind.