State Farm Hires TCTC Dual Enrollment Student as First-Ever Intern

Anne McAlister was looking for a specific skill set when she began the search to hire her first-ever office intern for her State Farm Agency in Seneca.

The candidate had to be customer oriented, friendly and a quick learner. The individual also had to be mature and dependable and a good listener.

“We are customer-based so our business is about building and maintaining relationships with our customers,” said McAlister, who in August will celebrate 39 years as a State Farm agent.

She found these characteristics and more in Madisyn (Maddi) Davis, a 17-year-old D.W. Daniel High School senior who takes college courses online at Tri-County Technical College (TCTC). Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college classes while they are still enrolled in high school. These classes count for both high school and college credit.

McAlister reached out to the business department at TCTC and outlined what she was looking for. Instructor Angel Luper recommended Davis, who takes classes at Daniel High School during the day and is enrolled in an online TCTC accounting class this semester.

McAlister and Leanne Cobb, work-based learning coordinator at TCTC, worked together to create a work-based learning experience for TCTC’s accounting program.

Work-based learning opportunities are the key to producing work-ready graduates with 21st-century workplace skills. Work-based learning options match the company’s staffing requirements to individual students’ training needs, producing benefits for both.

“Students are able to augment their classroom experiences with real-world experience and receive a paycheck for this valuable work experience,” said Cobb.

“Every day here is different and you have to be flexible and know how to multi-task,” said McAlister, who was impressed by Davis’s work ethic upon learning she was earning college credit while in high school. Following a short, in-person interview, McAlister said she hired Davis on the spot.

Davis says she learned about the internship when Luper posted it on a class discussion board. “I took a day to think it over,” said Davis, who also works part time at Starbucks. “The networking and the knowledge learned could benefit me professionally and personally. Also, it aligns with my career goals.” (She plans to study economics at Clemson University this fall.)

“There is a lot to learn about insurance. This job is very educational,” Davis said. In addition to the day-to-day office procedures, she is learning about the importance of insurance and is taking classes in security awareness, privacy and the laws of S.C. Davis also will be managing the business’ social media calendar on Facebook. “Work based learning offers students the opportunity to discover where they want to go and what they want to explore,” said

Cobb. “It is an extension of the classroom where technical skills and knowledge can be put into practice and soft skills, like problem solving and teamwork, can be developed. For employers, work-based learning is an easy way to recruit skilled employees who are prepared to be successful in the workforce.”

Internships and co-op positions are becoming much more important both to students and to employers looking for a trial run with potential hires, said Cobb.

“Providing a transformative experience for students is a collaborative effort between the College and our industry partners, and TCTC is fortunate to have supportive partnerships with employers like State Farm. Work-based learning is an essential component to our students obtaining economic mobility and career success,” said Cobb.

Employers who are interested in learning more about work-based learning at TCTC can contact Leanne Cobb, work-based learning coordinator, at LCobb4@tctc.edu or (864) 646-1637.

Work-Based Learning Opportunities

There are lots of opportunities for students, through our Career and Employability Resources office, to obtain 21st-century workplace skills while attending college.

Recently the Career and Employability Resources department welcomed representatives from ITW Hartness and Robert Bosch on campus to talk about their Technical Scholars programs. Scholars programs are designed to provide a pipeline of skilled employees to the industry partner. Scholars programs allow selected students to attend class full time while working part time at a local manufacturer.

right, top: Alan Johnson, standing, was on site to talk about the Bosch Technical Scholars program.

right: Whitney Smith, human resources manager and Kendall Geer, both standing, give an overview of the ITW Hartness Scholars Program.