Connection Newsletter January - February 2024

January/February 2024

Technical Career Pathways Program Celebrates Decade of Success

Address 3

TCTC and its business and education partners on February 2 celebrated 10 years of success of the Technical Career Pathways (TCP) program.

Workforce development is just one of the many advantages of the program that since its inception in the 2013-2014 academic year has provided high school students with a clear path to a debtfree education that prepares them for careers in manufacturing.

The initial goal of the TCP program was to develop a pipeline of individuals who are skilled and ready to fill indemand jobs at manufacturing facilities across the Upstate.

TCP began with seven students from Crescent High School and has grown to hundreds of students each year at all 16 high schools in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

Over the past decade, the program has grown from one pathway—basic electronics—to eight pathways: Business Administration; Computer and Information Technology; CNC Programming and Operations; Emergency Medical Technology; Engineering Systems Technology; Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; Mechatronics; and Welding.

Crystal Lopez, a Pendleton High School senior and TCP Welding student, is proud to say she will receive a college credential before her high school graduation. She plans to enter TCTC and earn an associate degree before joining the U.S. Air Force. “Thank you, faculty and counselors, for introducing me to this wonderful program,” she said.

“TCP is a great success story,” said former Rep. Brian White, who told the group that one of his proudest moments in serving Anderson County’s District 6 for 21 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives was helping to create the pathways project that paved the way for under-resourced individuals to earn college credit that leads to self-sustaining careers. White spearheaded the legislation that paved the way for TCP to be fully funded by the state.

“Many students served through TCP may never have considered attending college, much less beginning college while in high school. But these pathways have broken down barriers and made a college education possible,” said President Galen DeHay. “TCP is effective because—like all of our dual enrollment offerings—it is accessible, affordable, transferable and supportive.”

Women of Color Hosts Events 4

Former Mattel Toy Executive Delivers Fall Commencement

Timken Foundation Supports CDL at Watkins Center 6

Instructor Mark Franks, right, poses with Technical Career Pathways students.

is published six times each year by the Office of the President and the Public Relations Department.

Mailing Address (All Campuses)

P. O. Box 587

Pendleton, SC 29670

Pendleton Campus

7900 Highway 76 Pendleton, SC

Anderson Campus

511 Michelin Blvd.

Anderson, SC

Easley Campus

1774 Powdersville Rd. Easley, SC

Oconee Campus

552 Education Way

Westminster, SC

Main Number (864) 646-TCTC (8282)

Toll-free

1-866-269-5677

tctc.edu

Why TCTC Remains a Good Investment

In January, the TCTC Commission and I hosted a breakfast in Columbia with our elected officials. During the breakfast, I shared the following reasons why TCTC remains a good investment:

1. Population growth in the tri-county region remains strong, providing a steady flow of students to TCTC.

• The tri-county region is expected to grow by 8% over the next decade.

• The manufacturing sector is projected to grow by 6% over the same timeframe.

2. More high school students are choosing to come to TCTC after graduation.

• TCTC enrolls the third most South Carolina high school students one year after graduation—third only to the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

• TCTC fall 2023 enrollment grew by 2.7%.

• Over the past five years, our 30-39-year-old student population grew by almost 15%.

3. TCTC students have better outcomes.

• TCTC has the highest graduation rate, success rate and transfer rate in the S.C. Technical College System.

• Nationally, our performance falls in the 90th percentile for student success and transfer.

• Pell grant recipients who transfer from TCTC to Clemson have the highest bachelor’s degree completion rate in the nation.

• In 10 years of Technical Career Pathways, 894 students have participated and 804 have earned a credential.

4. TCTC graduates remain in their community and thrive when they enter the workforce.

• TCTC is the best performing two-year college in South Carolina for economic mobility after 10 years in the workforce.

Tri-County Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Tri-County Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Tri-County Technical College does not discriminate in admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, qualifying disability, veteran’s status, or national origin.

• 71.6% of TCTC graduates are working in South Carolina 10 years after graduation— second highest for all higher education in the state.

• 93% of TCTC graduates are placed in a job related to their field of study.

There are many more reasons why TCTC remains a good investment, but these four resonated with our elected officials as they clearly demonstrate that we are fulfilling our mission and advancing our vision of transforming lives and building strong communities one student at a time.

In your service,

Galen DeHay, Ph.D. President

Dr. Galen DeHay President

Former Mattel Toy Executive Rita Rao Delivers Fall Commencement Address

Rita Rao, a retired toy executive, was the keynote speaker at TriCounty Technical College’s fall commencement.

The ceremony was held December 18 at Clemson University’s Brooks Center for the Performing Arts. Two hundred and forty-six graduates earned degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Rao’s career began as an entry-level marketing research analyst and concluded as executive vice president for the largest toy company in the world, Mattel, Inc. Responsible for worldwide product design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing, she managed $2 billion in sales with one of the biggest brand names in history, the Barbie doll.

In her address, Rao urged the graduates, “Don’t let roadblocks and setbacks get in the way of meeting your goals.”

Rao began her career when there were few women in the business world. She was the only female business major in her graduating class at Indiana University. Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, few corporate doors were open to women, she said.

“It’s clear that I was quite determined, I’d like to say bold, and maybe even fearless. But, I have to confess, that’s not really the truth. I was naive and oblivious. Oblivious .... not a word that is usually associated with success. But, in hindsight, I realized that it was kind of a gift. It worked for me because I simply never saw obstacles as getting in my way to meeting my goals.”

“Maybe I should have noticed that corporate recruiters who came to the (Indiana University) campus would never interview women; maybe I should have been aware that driving by myself to California alone and without a job might be fraught with risks, and perhaps I should have taken to heart that all the replies to my job-seeking letters were answered with ... ‘I’m sorry but we don’t hire women.’”

Rao views being oblivious as a gift that contributed to her perseverance. “I thought that you just keep going and something good will happen,” she said.

Vivien Felarca graduated from TCTC with a Mechatronics degree and is employed full time at BMW. She returned to TCTC to study Manufacturing Management and Leadership and earned her degree in December. She currently is enrolled at USC Upstate where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in BASc Advanced Manufacturing Management. She is an active member of the Army National Guard where she has served as a Behavior Health Specialist since 2013.

“I finally did get a job in the field of marketing research and was blessed because that job grounded me in reality and a tremendous respect for and a strong desire to understand the consumer. This was a guiding principle my entire career.”

Later, her first job at Mattel Toys was also in marketing research. “I loved my work and I worked hard. I was noticed and started to move up the ladder,” she said.

“After several years, something happened that totally shook me off my oblivious path. I was passed over for a promotion while two other people at my level who managed much less sales and profit were promoted. Reality kicked in and I saw that working hard and well was not enough. I had to show upper management that I was more commanding, more decisive, ready for a powerful position. I could also see that they would never view me that way. I quit my job and jumped off the deep end to start my own company.”

For eight years she designed and manufactured toys for key retailers such as Walmart, Target, and others.

“Then the Mattel folks who had passed me over for that promotion called and offered me the job of senior vice president. I would be running the Barbie business as well as other toy categories. It was glorious, and I was so unbelievably fortunate. I stayed at Mattel another 11 years, rounding out my tenure with international assignments,” she said.

“I’ve said a lot about how I conquered the world, but I couldn’t have done it without the help of a very famous woman—Barbie. Plastic, not much going on under all that blonde hair, obsessed with her clothes, shoes and possessions, living in a world of pink perfection. Talk about oblivious! But she made it work for her, too. Maybe you didn’t know that at the very beginning, none of the toy retailers would put her in their stores. They were sure that Barbie would never sell. That seemingly ditsy blonde was not so oblivious after all. Sixty-four years later, she is still going strong. In fact, Forbes magazine just came out with their list of the 100 most powerful women in the world ... and Barbie was on that list.”

The message from the Barbie movie was “pretty solid,” Rao said. “And that message can work for you. Don’t let roadblocks and setbacks get in your way.”

Rita Rao delivers address.

Women of Color Hosts Events

TCTC’s Women of Color (WOC) and Men of Color (MOC) student organizations co-hosted a panel discussion featuring two published authors on January 26.

Guest speakers were Dr. Sonia Cunningham Leverette, founder of Hadassah’s Crown Publishing, LLC, and author of “Oh, To Be a Bulldog,” a children’s book, and Kevin Norris, who has penned pre-K books about championing diversity and creating inclusive spaces.

Carlos Minor and Jess Link, both senior reactor operators at Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station, were guest speakers at the February 9 Women of Color meeting. They gave a presentation on nuclear energy and careers in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing (STEM). There are a wide range of career opportunities available for TCTC graduates, they said. “We’re always recruiting,” said Minor, who urged students to attend TCTC’s March 4 Career Fair to find out more about careers at Duke Energy.

Men of Color Offers College and Career Resources

The Men of Color (MOC) student advisory board aims to empower men of color at TCTC through education, mentoring, and peer collaboration. The MOC Committee holds monthly outreach events that cover a wide variety of topics, such as important campus resources, like tutoring, money management and wellness programs.

During these sessions, students feel a sense of belonging, and find a community of friends to connect with and a network of community partners to connect with.

At its January 29 meeting, Rodney Estrada, a counselor in the Career and Employability Resources office and a MOC Committee member, talked with students about their college and career goals as well as scholarship opportunities through the TCTC Foundation.

Annual MOC Golf Tournament Set for April 4

TCTC’s third annual Men of Color (MOC) golf tournament is set for April 4 at Southern Oaks Golf Course in Easley.

There are various ways faculty, staff and community members can get involved. You can register your own team, sponsor a team, or make a donation at tctc.edu/MOCgolf.

The inaugural MOC golf tournament was held April 7, 2022. The annual golf tournaments and donations have enabled the College to endow a MOC scholarship that funds several $1,000 scholarships for students each year.

Rodney Estrada (right) talks with Alex Amador-Mata, of Walhalla, a business major about applying for scholarships through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Carlos Minor and Jess Link from Duke Energy, fourth and fifth from left, pose with students and advisors.

Authors Kevin Norris and Dr. Sonia Cunningham Leverette, seated, third and fourth from left, pose with participants.

New Adjunct Faculty

Orientation Hosted by Academic Development

The Office of Academic Development hosted an orientation for new adjunct faculty members on January 3. The 17 attendees were greeted by their respective academic deans or representatives and were able to visit resource tables staffed by Human Resources, Campus Police, Information Technology, Student Support, TC Central and the Learning Commons.

Participants heard presentations about payroll, student record management, advising and academic support, student support services, academic development and Blackboard resources. Pamela Altstatt, lecturer and recipient of the 2023 adjunct faculty award, gave valuable tips for starting the semester.

Rep. Neal Collins Brings Experience to the Classroom

On the same day Rep. Neal Collins began his 10th year of service as a legislator serving Pickens and Greenville County’s District 5, he kicked off the 2024 spring semester as a first-time adjunct faculty member at TCTC.

Two mornings a week he heads to the Easley Campus where he teaches an American Government class. His students are first-year college students and dual enrollment students. “I really enjoy teaching and interacting with young adults and discussing government and their community,” he said. It’s his first time as a faculty member and he says he chose TCTC because “it is a community-based college where I can interact with local residents.”

During class he incorporates his experience in state government into the discussions and lectures. He says he also learns from the students through their feedback. “They educate me as well,” he said.

When Lara Wrightson, political science instructor, began looking

at resumes of applicants last year, she was surprised and pleased to see Rep. Collins’ resume. “It’s great to have a state legislator teaching so students can see what it’s like on the ground—to explain first-hand how state and local government work.”

She also wondered ‘how will he fit all this in his schedule’? In addition to serving as a legislator (regular session meets Tuesday through Thursday from January through mid-May), Collins is an attorney with the Hendricks Firm, a student (he is pursuing a master’s degree through Harvard Extension School), a husband, and a father.

But it’s a great fit for both students and Rep. Collins, Wrightson reports. “He interacts with students who are constituents in the district he serves. He is able to tell them in real time what is going on in Columbia,” she said.

In fact, earlier this semester, students met in Rep. Collins’ law office instead of in the Easley classroom during the Tuesday New Hampshire primary so they could discuss the polling as it happened.

“That’s an exciting opportunity for students,” said Wrightson. “Local government has an impact on their lives. And it’s important that they understand how it practically impacts their lives and Rep. Collins is doing just that.”

Rep. Neal Collins teaches an American Government class at the Easley Campus.

IT Manager Mike Blizzard (center) was on hand to assist adjunct instructors in the computer lab.

Timken Foundation Makes Donation to Support CDL at Watkins Center

The Timken Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the TCTC Foundation to purchase a commercial truck driver (CDL) simulator for the truck driving classes offered at Watkins Community Center in Honea Path.

On December 16, Timken Plant Manager Todd Kingsbury, left, and Human Resources Manager Kendrick Meekins, fourth from left, presented the check on behalf of the Timken Foundation.

The first CDL class in Honea Path was held in December. Additional classes are being scheduled.

Board of Visitors Meets at Anderson Campus

Several TCTC Alumni Serve on the Board of Visitors

The Board of Visitors kicked off 2024 with a meeting at the Anderson Campus on January 18.

This group of community leaders serves as advocates and ambassadors for TCTC.

They heard a presentation from President DeHay, who discussed the role of the Board of Visitors and outlined why TCTC is a good investment. (See President DeHay’s message on Page 2 for details.)

Richard MacBeth, director of project management, gave an update on the Anderson Campus master plan which includes a $25 million facilities project to create a transportation/logistics/utilities center at the campus. The project includes building facilities to house the Power Line, Heavy Equipment, CDL, Mechatronics and Automotive programs. The project is currently in the feasibility study phase.

Dr. Beverly McAdams, director of the Anderson Campus, gave an overview of the onsite Rosenwald School replica, which will be relocated on the campus to make it more accessible to the community.

The campus’ 900-square-foot reproduction of a Rosenwald School was constructed in 2014 by students in the College’s Building Construction program. It is the site of the nation’s only full-scale reproduction of a one-teacher Rosenwald School. These schools were built in the early 20th century for the education of African Americans in the rural South.

Nick Johnson and Denise Bailey are among this group of community leaders who serve as advocates and ambassadors for TCTC.

Johnson, who is senior HR business partner at Robert Bosch in Anderson, is a graduate of the General Engineering Technology (GET) program. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from South Carolina State University. “I graduated from Tri-County in 1994 with honors (cum laude). I still remember that day,” he recalled. “In high school I hadn’t thought about college and went into the Marines. But Tri-County put me on a path to success. It gave me confidence and the skills to achieve professionally.”

Bailey, a principal (partner) with Elliott Davis, graduated from TCTC’s Accounting program in 2004, and she is the first student from Tri-County to transfer to Franklin University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s in Business Administration (Finance). She is the 2018 recipient of TCTC’s Distinguished Alumni Award and has served on the Business Technology Advisory Committee since 2005. She says that she will always make time for Tri-County. “I have a heart for the students and a passion for the program,” she said.

Pictured from left are Courtney White, executive director of the TCTC Foundation; President Galen DeHay; and Bryan Manuel, dean of Integrated Workforce Solutions at TCTC.

Nick Johnson

Denise Bailey

First Cohorts Pass

NCLEX-PN

Congratulations to Kimaka Evans (left), Samantha

and Caitlyn Phillips

the three students in the first cohort of the TCTC, Honor Health Career Programs (HHCP) and HMR Veterans Services, Inc. (HMRVSI), Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program at the Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home. Evans, Keefe and Phillips recently passed the NCLEX-PN and are now LPNs.

They were the first HMRVSI employees to enroll in the program and to take classes in the on-site education and training center. They graduated in August 2023, and are employed at the veterans nursing home.

In August of 2023, officials from TCTC, HHCP and HMRVSI announced a new workforce development program—the first of its kind in the U.S.—that created an on-site training program for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to pursue an LPN credential at the Richard M. Campbell Veterans Home in Anderson.

Six students are enrolled in the second cohort which began in January.

Medical Assisting Program Celebrated

TCTC’s Medical Assisting program is the seventh longest-running Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)-accredited program in the United States. The program, established September 10, 1971, is 53 years old!

Medical Assisting is a unique program because unlike most health care programs students are trained in both administrative and clinical procedures, said Program Director Laura McClain.

Medical assisting duties are a good mix of clinical and administrative work. Graduates are cross trained in every area of ambulatory care. Their duties range from hands-on patient care, under physician and nursing supervision, to front office duties.

Clinical training includes checking a patient’s vital signs, phlebotomy, giving medications, EKGs, laboratory work, specimen collection and processing and assisting with minor surgical procedures. They also are certified in first aid and CPR while in the program.

Tri-County’s Medical Assisting program is accredited through 2029.

Statewide Transfer Agreement Signed

In January House Speaker Murrell Smith joined Governor Henry McMaster, legislators, South Carolina universities, and the South Carolina Technical College System (SCTCS) to celebrate the signing of a statewide transfer agreement.

The statewide transfer partnership agreement between the SCTCS and the South Carolina Public Research Universities, specifically Clemson University and the University of South Carolina Columbia, represents a concerted, collaborative effort to streamline the transfer experience to the benefit of student success.

Its primary objective is to strengthen the seamless transfer of credits from technical colleges to public research universities within the state.

Key components of the agreement include:

• Establishment of 30 or more credit hours of guaranteed acceptance AND applicability to the student’s major designed to reduce credit loss at the time of transfer.

• Maintenance of the acceptance of a minimum of 60 credit hours for students completing the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science, per state policy.

• A reverse transfer credit option enabling credits earned at the university to be transferred back to the SCTCS college for the completion of an associate degree.

• Establishment of annual data sharing in an effort to highlight successes and opportunities for further collaboration to increase transfer student success.

• A commitment to ongoing, regular collaboration through the facilitation of faculty and staff convenings to promote better advising, pedagogy, and resources. “At a time when workforce development is crucial to the future prosperity of our state, the Statewide Transfer Agreement will make college more affordable and accessible, further encouraging South Carolinians to pursue a degree in high-demand career fields,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “I thank the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and the South Carolina Technical College System for their collaboration on this important initiative that will greatly benefit our people and state.”

Keefe (center)

(right),

Our College Family

excellence through service Faculty, Staff

Participate in Dream Day

A group of TCTC faculty and staff participated in Dream Day, an annual event during which the community gathers to complete service projects throughout Anderson County in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The day of service is organized by the United Way of Anderson County. Pictured from left are Gene Franks (Stacey Franks’ husband), Travis Durham, Dr. Jackie Blakley, Dr. Beverly McAdams, and Frances Boyce.

Mia Tensley Recognized by Clemson City Council

Mia Tensley was recognized during Black History Month by Clemson Mayor Robert Halfacre and the Clemson City Council for her exceptional contributions to her community. Mayor Halfacre and Council expressed their gratitude for her work as a founding member of the Clemson Area African American Museum (CAAAM) and as the chair of the Friends of CAAAM for the past three years. In addition, she has served as the Juneteenth Coordinator, raising funds and coordinating logistics for the celebration of the historical event, and represented the group on the City of Clemson’s Art and Culture Commission.

Celebrating Black History Month

The SANKOFA Black History Museum was on display February 6 on the Pendleton Campus. Spanning the period from 1860 to the present, SANKOFA takes audiences on a journey through slavery, the era of King Cotton, and the uplifting days of Emancipation. It also tells the stories of such notables as Ida B. Wells, the Negro Baseball League, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pictured here are Mila Dunlap, an associate in science major, left, and Tased Smalls, assistant curator.

Tensley is a reading and college skills instructor in the Academic and Career Foundations Department at TCTC and serves as the College’s faculty liaison.

“It is a privilege to be recognized during Black History Month, a time when we reflect on the rich tapestry of contributions made by individuals who have shaped our communities and our world,” Tensley said in her remarks to Council. “I am driven by a passion for community service and a commitment to fostering positive change. I hold a strong belief that if you have the ability to do so, you should. Those with the means and capacity to make a positive impact or contribute to a cause have a responsibility to do so ... to bring about positive change and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and the community. From my involvement with CAAAM to Leadership Clemson, every step has been guided by a dedication to building a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.”

She concluded: “As we celebrate Black History Month, let us remember that history is not just about the past; it is about the present and the future we collectively shape. I am grateful to be part of a community that values diversity, collaboration, and progress. Together, we will continue to build a community that thrives on inclusivity and shared purpose.”

Front row, Dr. Mandy Elmore, Stacey Frank, Cara Hamilton, Jenni Creamer and Karen Potter.

Mia Tensley, center, is honored by Clemson City Council.

Evan Bate is the new Welding instructor. He is a 2009 graduate of our Welding program and a former adjunct instructor.

For the past six years, he has been the instructor for Pickens County Career & Technology Center’s Welding program. Previous experience includes working as a fabricator and later a welding technician at GE Power & Water.

Clay Buckner is a programmer on the IT Application Delivery and Business Intelligence team. He has four years of experience as a software engineer, most recently at RedSail Technologies.

Wadreama King has worked in Marketing part-time for the last four years. She is the new full-time videographer. She will be developing ideas for videos, handling video shoots, developing animations, editing film, and creating a full video library for the College.

Chad Knight joined the Corporate and Community Education Division as a Maintenance and Reliability instructor. He has an extensive industrial maintenance background in local industry. He will create, teach, and administer all aspects of our Maintenance training programs.

President DeHay Co-Authors Op-Ed on Degree Completion

Did you know that Clemson University and TCTC boast the highest bachelor’s degree completion rate in the nation for transfer students who receive federal financial aid? President DeHay and Clemson University President Jim Clements coauthored an op-ed that explains how the two institutions set the bar for transfer student degree completion. The op-ed appeared in the Post and Courier and the SC Daily Gazette.

Julia Seligson is our new English instructor. She has a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master of arts degree in English from Clemson University and has more than 15 years of experience.

Leah Paxton is a financial aid counselor who will be meeting with families, processing aid, and serving our students through the financial aid process. She comes to TCTC with many years of financial aid experience.

Brittany Harrell joins us as our creative technologies librarian. In this role, she will coordinate and facilitate digital creation and user-accessible technologies for the Learning Commons across a range of media and materials. She’ll take the lead on our makerspace programming and events, working with any and all students, faculty, and staff who’d like to explore maker opportunities.

Dr. Martin Offield is a new full-time biology instructor in the Arts and Sciences Division. He previously served as an adjunct. He holds a Ph.D. in cell biology from Vanderbilt University and comes to us with more than 20 years of teaching experience.

Tracey Herlong is the operations manager for the Easley Campus. She has more than 20 years of experience with Prisma Health, Wren Hospice and The Blood Connection working with internal and external stakeholders in event management and community relations roles; training and onboarding team members; and a variety of operational support roles across different positions.

In Memoriam

Rev. Rufus H. Mitchell

We mourn the loss of the Rev. Rufus H. Mitchell, former TCTC faculty member and the College’s first chaplain, who passed away January 2.

Rev. Mitchell began teaching humanities courses, primarily psychology, at TCTC in 1970 and over the years served on the President’s Advisory Committee and the Faculty Senate. In 1973 he was one of four TCTC faculty members to receive an Outstanding Educator of America award.

In 1990 he took the lead as the first coordinator for Access and Equity programs which he directed until his retirement in 1994.

For most of his years at TCTC, he provided many of the services associated with a college chaplain and was known widely for his powerful prayers.

The Rev. Mitchell served as senior pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Anderson until his retirement in 2013. During those 54 years, he was honored many times for his leadership.

He graduated from Morris College with a bachelor’s degree in Education in 1957 and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1959. Reverend Mitchell also earned a master’s in education degree

from the University of South Carolina, Spartanburg. In 2005, he received the Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Morris College.

Charlie Thornton

We were saddened by the passing of longtime TCTC Foundation Board member Charles (Charlie) Thornton, who lost his battle with cancer on January 15.

Thornton joined the Foundation Board January 1, 1992. Because of his background as a CPA, he was quickly asked to join the Finance Committee, and he accepted. He served as vice chair of this committee for many years. In addition, he also served on the Audit Committee. He and his wife, Susan, consistently made gifts to the Foundation through annual giving or campaign requests.

When Thornton rotated off the board in May 2019, he was named an honorary trustee.

“Charlie helped lead the Foundation for 20-plus years,” said Courtney White, executive director of the Foundation. “He served as a trusted advisor on business matters and as an advocate throughout the Anderson community.”

Maintenance Technicians from Bosch Complete Manual Machine Course

Six maintenance technicians from the Robert Bosch plant in Anderson completed a new and accelerated Manual Machining course designed by and offered through the Corporate and Community Education (CCE) Division. The course was designed to teach the skills technicians need to operate certain cutting machines within Bosch and pass the company’s certification test. The original Manual Machining course was modified to include extra topics and more hours of hands-on machine time.

Offered at the Oconee Campus, the course was taught by adjunct instructor Dr. Ken Candiotti. To successfully complete the course, participants must make a complex machine part and pass a written test after 120 hours of hands-on training.

“The results are experienced and confident parts makers,” said Jay Sloan, program director for CCE’s Center for Workforce Excellence.

“This certification opens up opportunities for them and increases participants’ confidence levels.”

Rev. Rufus H. Mitchell

Charlie Thornton

Colby Stewart Is Ulbrich Specialty Wire Product’s First Apprentice from TCTC

Colby Stewart, a 21-year-old Mechatronics major, is Ulbrich Specialty Wire Product’s first apprentice from TCTC.

Stewart is an apprentice in the engineering department and works as a technician/electrician under the guidance of a seasoned electrician. He works four days a week, four to five hours a day at the Westminster facility and earns a paycheck while learning his craft.

Apprenticeships benefit employers by providing them with a pipeline of skilled workers with industry-specific training and hands-on experience. Ulbrich already employs co-ops from four-year colleges but hiring an associate degree student for this on-the job-training is a first for the Westminster facility.

“We know the value of a two-year degree and we always knew Tri-County was down the road,” said Mike Zambito, director of engineering and maintenance.

“We employ TCTC graduates, including Chris Morris, manager of electrical engineering and plant controls. Recently, our company’s needs changed and our culture changed. We were finally able to make this work-based learning opportunity happen for a TCTC student this year.”

It’s a perfect fit for Stewart, and for the Westminster-based company, that is equipped for rolling, drawing, annealing, straightening and precision winding of a variety of round, flat and square wire products.

Apprenticeships help students to develop a realistic expectation of industry. They also produce ready-made technicians who will feel engaged right from the beginning, and therefore have a personal and professional investment in the company.

Stewart gains the theoretical knowledge in the classroom and then applies that knowledge on the job.

Stewart said he wanted this hands-on experience and values the mentoring experiences with co-workers whom he shadows. “I enjoy the real-world problems that complement the textbooks,” he said. He also is building hours toward his journeyman’s municipal license.

He must accrue or work 2,000 hours to meet the standards to take the test and earn his license.

“He is an extra set of hands to help with projects and he is part of the team,” said Zambito.

Morris said it was evident Stewart wanted the job when he arrived at the interview early.

“He is helping us to complete projects. After he graduates from TCTC, if he is hired he will know the plant and the culture. This is an investment that is mutually beneficial for both of us,” said Morris.

Stewart said the smaller campus and approachable instructors are what attracted him to TCTC. Prior to enrolling, he had taken four years of mechatronics classes at the career center, in addition to one year of machine technology classes.

“This time next year we’d like to have more TCTC apprentices, like Colby, join our team,” said Morris, a 1994 graduate of TCTC’s Industrial Electronics Technology program. He has been at Ulbrich for 26 years. “We have many longtime employees with 50 years of service. Ulbrich is a good family-owned business that values its employees.”

Colby Stewart, a 21-year-old Mechatronics major, second from left, is Ulbrich Specialty Wire Product’s first apprentice from TCTC. He is pictured with, from left, Chris Morris, manager of electrical engineering and plant controls, and a TCTC alumnus; Leanne Cobb, TCTC work-based learning coordinator; and Mike Zambito, director of engineering and maintenance at Ulbrich.

TCP Decade of Success

(continued from page 1)

TCP is offered in partnership with local school districts. Classes are taught by college faculty at the high schools, career centers, or a Tri-County campus that is adjacent to a career center, thereby allowing students to use district-provided transportation if needed.

TCP is free because tuition and related expenses, such as books and fees, are fully funded by the state.

The program enables students to transfer seamlessly into the workforce or into an associate degree program after high school. For example, students earn a Technical Operator 1 certificate before they graduate from high school. This certificate can help them enter the workforce after graduation prepared for positions that frequently pay between $17 and $27 an hour.

Alternatively, for those students who decide to pursue further education after high school, they can complete an Associate in Applied Science degree at Tri-County in one year instead of two. Having an associate degree qualifies them for positions that frequently pay up to $31 an hour.

Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO John Lummus said TCTC was the first partner to join its ‘Skill Up’ platform whose goal is to connect individuals with career pathways. The platform was created by the Upstate SC Alliance in partnership with TCTC, Greenville and Piedmont technical colleges and Spartanburg Community College. “Our goal is to inspire individuals to acquire new skills for better paying, more resilient in-demand jobs and connect people with programs available at the Upstate’s technical colleges that can launch their careers,” said Lummus.

The number-one question he hears when an industrial prospect, both international and domestic, visits the area is ‘where can I get my workforce?’ he said. “We have a great story to tell because of the 16 technical colleges, readySC, apprenticeships and others. We can’t do our jobs in economic development without TCP.”

below: Crystal Lopez, a Pendleton High School senior and TCP Welding student, standing, poses with Joey Branyon, senior counselor at Pendleton High School, left, and TCTC Welding instructor Matt Woodall.

GET Graduates Discuss Career Paths

Two 2009 graduates of TCTC’s General Engineering Technology program (now Engineering Systems Technology), Trent Randles and Raymond James, both leaders in manufacturing technology, returned to their alma mater recently to talk about their careers.

Dorian McEntire, program director for EST, located his former students on LinkedIn and asked them to share their stories with current students.

Randles is a manufacturing engineering manager at BorgWarner.

James is assistant dean for Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation Technology at Greenville Technical College.

After graduating from TCTC, Randles enrolled in university transfer classes before transferring to USC Upstate where he received a bachelor’s degree and worked on the design team at Plastic Omnium. Next, he worked as an engineering manager at Magna Seating of America in Duncan before accepting his current job in 2021. Along the way, he earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Clemson University and is currently pursuing an MBA at Clemson.

Before enrolling at TCTC, James served in the U.S. Army from 1996 until 2005 and served under Operation Noble Eagle (20012002). After graduating from TCTC, he worked as a supply quality engineer at AFCO and later was a quality engineer at BMW. He left industry to pursue his passion—teaching. He began working as an adjunct instructor at Greenville Technical College. In 2019 he was hired as a full-time instructor for Mechatronics and CNC and three months later became department head. He was promoted to his current position in 2021. He holds a master’s degree in higher education from Purdue Global and a bachelor’s degree in business from Kaplan University. He will enter a doctoral program in January.

“Your education is your foundation,” James said.

“Keep the connections you make here at TCTC,” said Randles, who also advised them to seek a co-op opportunity while in college.

Both stressed students and graduates should maintain a LinkedIn account. You can’t network enough, they agreed.

Trent Randles

Raymond James

Bridge to Clemson Alumnus Eric Roper Serving as Adjunct

Alumnus Eric Roper was feeling nostalgic as he headed to the TCTC Pendleton Campus earlier this semester—returning for the first time 13 years after graduating from the Bridge to Clemson program in 2009. The reason for his visit was to attend an orientation session for new adjunct faculty members. Roper is teaching two online classes for the Engineering and Industrial Technology Division.

“It’s good to be back. I’m proud to be a TCTC alumnus,” said Roper, who several years ago moved back to Anderson County after living and working in Virginia, most recently as the chief engineer for a Department of Defense contractor. Currently, he is project manager for Hargrove Engineers and Constructors in Greenville.

He reconnected with Dr. Mandy Elmore, assistant vice president of curriculum and instruction at TCTC, on LinkedIn when he saw a post by Elmore who was seeking adjunct instructors for spring semester.

Eric Roper

She was one of his teachers when he was a student at the Anderson Career and Technology Center and later became a mentor when he was a Bridge student on campus.

After graduating from Clemson University with a mechanical engineering degree in 2013, he began working for a NASA contractor as a mechanical engineer and later in mission management until 2020. During his tenure, he launched 25 missions for NASA all over the world.

The first day Roper reported for work as a mechanical engineer for NASA’s Sounding Rocket Operations Contract on Wallops Island, Virginia, there were six rockets on his desk. His job was to design the hardware, draft all the drawings for each part, submit them to the shop to get all the hardware built, draft up the assembly drawings, create a test plan, and then present all this information to his upper management, NASA, and the customer throughout the life cycle of each individual rocket.

Four months into the job, he had launched his first rocket and within the next three years, he had launched a total of six rockets. Over the years Roper designed rocket payloads for scientific research and experiments, along with targets for defense contracts.

“It was very exciting,” said the Easley native, who credits his academic and professional success to beginning college in TCTC’s nationally-recognized Bridge to Clemson program and continuing in Clemson University’s engineering curriculum and engaging in co-op opportunities.

Before graduating from Clemson, he had three job offers—from the CIA, SPAWAR in Charleston and NASA. He chose NASA because of an internship he completed there while at Clemson.

He says he was a successful college freshman at Tri-County and later at Clemson because of his start in the Bridge to Clemson program, a unique freshmanyear program that blends the traditional academic experience at Tri-County with the social and cultural experiences of being a Clemson University student.

“The Bridge program allowed me to ease into the college atmosphere,” Roper said. “It also helped me to figure out which area of engineering best suited me. The general education and math classes I needed were taught by great Tri-County instructors who helped me to get ahead of the game when I got to Clemson in 2009. I was definitely prepared for my sophomore year,” he said.

“It was an easy transition—it was merely a change of campus, not a change in the level of academics,” said the 2008 Wren High School graduate.

“With help from my parents, the LIFE scholarship and working weekends, third shifts, and holidays, I paid for college myself and managed to graduate debt free. Any time someone asks about my career path, I tell them I highly recommend the Bridge to Clemson program. It’s affordable and a good way to ease into the college lifestyle.”

“I loved every minute of my time at TCTC. It’s the reason I was successful in college,” said Roper.

“Eric is an extraordinary young man who has accomplished so much,” said Dr. Elmore. “As an adjunct engineering instructor, Eric will launch students’ careers instead of rockets, and I can’t wait to see it.”

Topping Out Ceremony

Attended by Faculty, Staff, Students

TCTC and Harper General Contractors celebrated a milestone in the construction of the College’s $22 million Oconee Hall renovation on the Pendleton Campus with a topping out ceremony on January 10. The beam was hoisted into place at noon to commemorate the halfway mark of the project.

The topping out ceremony is an age-old tradition in which the final beam is placed on a project. It marks a major milestone for everyone on the project and serves as an opportunity to recognize and thank the people who have worked on the building.

Prior to the final beam placement, faculty, staff, and students and contractors signed the steel beam. The beam was decorated with an American flag and a TCTC flag.

Targeted completion date for Oconee Hall is October 2024. Opening day is the first day of classes in January 2025.

Oconee Hall, the first multi-level building on campus, opened in 1979. It housed the first auditorium and every student in every program received training in general education courses in the building.