Catch up on what has been happening
at Piedmont Tech. Articles in this
News Archive have been released by the Office of College
Communications since January 2005.Posted:
December 2005
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November 2005
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October 2005
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September 2005
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August 2005
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July
2005
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June
2005
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May
2005
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April
2005
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March
2005
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February
2005
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January 2005
Computer
Course for Seniors to be Offered at Piedmont
Tech
Posted December
15, 2005, By Laura Garrett
 David Stephenson, computer training coordinator for continuing education and economic development at Piedmont Technical College, demonstrates keyboard shortcuts during a recent course. The college will offer a “Computing for Seniors” workshop on Jan. 10 and 12. The two-day workshop will meet from 1-4 p.m. at the Lex Walters Campus in Greenwood. To register or to obtain more information, call Tech at (864) 941-8400 or 1-800-868-5528, ext. 8400 beginning January 3.
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Forklift Safety Training Offered at Piedmont Tech
Posted December
15, 2005, By Laura Garrett
 Roger Laughlin, industrial instructor at Piedmont Technical College, demonstrates safe forklift operating practices. The college will offer a “Forklift Safety Training and Driving School” workshop on Friday, January 20. The one-day workshop will meet from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in Building L on the Lex Walters Campus in Greenwood, and lunch will be included. A forklift driver’s license will be issued to those who successfully complete the class. To register or to obtain more information, call Tech at (864) 941-8400 or 1-800-868-5528, ext. 8400 beginning January 3.
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Piedmont V-P Makes National Presentation
Posted
December 15,
2005, By
Nancy Hall
 Piedmont Technical College vice president for institutional advancement James S. Klauber recently made a major presentation at the annual meeting of the Council on Resource Development (CRD) in Washington, D.C.
CRD is the only professional organization dedicated exclusively to fund raising among two-year colleges. Through education, advocacy and mentoring, CRD supports professionals and develops leaders engaged in community college resource development. The organization is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges and serves more than 1550 members at more than 800 institutions across the country.
Formed in 1966, CRD is open to anyone interested in the welfare of two-year colleges and includes development officers, grant writers, foundation directors, college presidents, administrators and staff.
Klauber collaborated with two associates to present a panel discussion on Community College Foundation Best Practices. Their topic offered an overview of three areas critical to the success of community college foundations, including discussions that focused on governance, board development and fund-raising practices. Joining him were Dr. Edward Duffy, vice president for institutional development at York Technical College, and Greenwood native John E. Joslin, vice president of Donor2, Inc.
Chartered by the South Carolina Secretary of State as an eleemosynary organization in 1975, the Piedmont Technical College Foundation became one of the first in the technical college system. The purpose of the group remains to support the educational programs at the college and promote financial assistance to its students.
Photo Caption:
PTC vice president for institutional advancement Jim Klauber, center, joined Dr. Edward Duffy, left, of York Technical College, and Greenwood native John Joslin of Donor2, Inc. to lead a panel discussion on best practices for community college foundations at a national meeting of the Council for Resource Development. The discussion focused on governance, development and fund raising.
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PTC Honors Most Recent Practical Nursing Graduates at Pinning Ceremony
Posted December
15, 2005, By Laura Garrett
 Piedmont Technical College honored its newest graduates of the practical nursing program at a pinning ceremony earlier this month. Seated, from left, are: Melissa Ford of Laurens; Kristi Bledsoe of Saluda; Katherine Taylor-Vaughn of Honea Path; Ruth Pitts of Elberton, Ga.; Michelle Nabors of Mountville; Ann Wallace of Callison; and Tina Boggs of Bradley. Standing, from left, are: Jennifer Phillips of Edgefield; Lindsey Graham of Greenwood; Ebony Drennon of Greenwood; Cayce Branyon of Due West; Mindy McJunkin of Woodruff; Sharon Dunbar of Hodges; Russell Prince of Abbeville; Karen Hughes of Laurens; Alison Webb of Ninety Six; Lucy Moore of Greenwood; and Dawn Boozer of Laurens.
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“Forty & Eight” Veterans Group Funds Nursing Scholarship at Piedmont Tech
Posted December 15, 2005, By Laura Garrett
 Dr. Lex Walters, left, president of Piedmont Technical College, receives a scholarship gift from Emmett F. Brooks, right, Chef De Gare (Commander) of the local chapter of the “Forty & Eight.” The organization was founded in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1920 by a group of World War I veterans in good standing in the American Legion. The Post 20 chapter (Voiture 435) consists of 50 active Legionnaires and functions as a support group for all American Legion activities.
At its most recent gathering, the chapter voted unanimously to fund an annual scholarship for a nursing student at Piedmont Tech.
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Talents
of First-time Artist “Show” at PTC
Posted December 15, 2005, By Beth Hitesman
 Last December, 67-year-old Annette Burton went on vacation and decided she wanted to try something she had never done before: painting. She enrolled in an art class at a local church, picked up a paint brush and began dabbling into the world of oil painting. Little did she know that one year later one of her first paintings would end up permanently displayed in the Solutia Gallery at Piedmont Technical College.
Burton, an adjunct English instructor at PTC, never intended to share her artwork with the public. More than likely, her paintings would have remained private if it hadn’t been for the prompting of her students.
“Most of the students in my business communications class are enrolled in the commercial art program. They were talking about an upcoming art show at Piedmont Tech, and when I shared my recent ventures into painting, they encouraged me to enter a few pieces in the show,” she explained.
Hesitantly, Burton decided to enter. Except for her family, she had never shown anyone anything that she had painted. Several weeks following the show, she was nearly dumbfounded when she received a call from a representative of the Piedmont Technical College Foundation asking if she would be willing to part with one of her paintings entitled “Mountain Cabin.”
“We were looking at all the beautiful artwork at the show when Annette’s painting caught our eye,” said Fran Wiley, alumni/development coordinator at the college. “Unfortunately, we learned it wasn’t for sale.”
The Foundation was so impressed by the painting, they decided to see if they could talk her into selling it. “I was so flattered and honored when they called, I said I would just give it to them,” exclaimed Burton.
The humble teacher and artist said that it’s hard to find words to express how she feels. “I’m in awe. When I was growing up, I couldn’t even draw a stick figure. In college I never even doodled in my notebook. It’s overwhelming that people think so highly of my painting and that they actually want to display it.”
“Mountain Cabin” was only the third painting Burton had ever completed in her life. As for her future works, she said, it depends on her situation. She never paints when she’s alone and does better in a classroom environment where she can receive critiquing and encouragement. Currently, she’s looking for an art class to attend so she can start painting again.
Piedmont Technical College’s Solutia Gallery is open to the public at no charge. In addition to Burton’s “Mountain Cabin,” on display are works of more than 60 artists representing the seven counties served by the college. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until noon when classes are in session. Call Wiley at 941-8351 to arrange for a tour. Individuals are welcome, and clubs and organizations are invited to schedule their meetings at the college with a special guided tour of the gallery.
Photo Caption: Annette
Burton, left, presents her piece, “Mountain
Cabin,” to
Fran Wiley
, right. Wiley, alumni/development coordinator
at
Piedmont
Technical
College
, recently asked to include
Burton
’s artwork in the Solutia Gallery at Piedmont
Tech. Wiley spotted
Burton
’s work in a recent art show at the college,
where
Burton
is an adjunct English instructor.
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Artist Pledges to Share His Legacy
Posted December 6, 2005, By Beth Hitesman
 Nick Esposito of Greenwood is a gifted, award-winning artist whose surrealistic dream world drawing, Dali, earned “Best in Show” at a recent Piedmont Technical College art sale and competition. If it hadn’t been for the intervention of a caring teacher, however, his talents and gifts might have remained untapped, never to be enjoyed by the world.
Esposito hails from a long line of artists and says he’s been
involved in art ever since he can remember. His inspiration came from his mother and grandfather, both of whom were artists.
Although his talent was natural, Esposito says his ambition wasn’t. “In high school, I lacked drive, caused trouble and was kind of bad,” he shares. “Once, a teacher came up to me and said, ‘Nick you need to teach art so you can get what you dish out.’”
Unbeknownst to the teacher, her challenge would be prophetic. Soon, an art teacher would give Esposito a new outlook on his life and his potential. At Emerald High School, the struggling student enrolled in Keith Bowen’s art class. The compassionate teacher looked beyond Esposito’s façade, took him under his wing and became his mentor.
“Mr. Bowen took us on field trips, to art galleries and encouraged us to talk to college art professors. He encouraged me to stay in school and to do something with my life. He convinced me that there’s a whole world out there and that I needed to go out to see it.”
Esposito took Bowen’s words to heart. “I never had any intention of going to college, in fact, if it hadn’t been for him, I probably wouldn’t be at Piedmont Tech today,” Esposito explains.
He enrolled in Piedmont Tech’s commercial art program with the goal of opening his own art school. “I want to teach art, but like Mr. Bowen, I don’t want to be just a teacher; I want to be a mentor,” he says.
According to Esposito, the combination of teaching and art is a powerful, potentially life- changing combination, “Art helped me work through a lot of my problems and let me express myself when I couldn’t find the right words. I think that there are a lot of students out there who, like me, are seen as bad. Mr. Bowen showed me that with the right amount of caring, compassion and guidance, anyone can find the way to succeed.”
A popular quote states: “A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove -- but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” Esposito hopes that someday, he can make the difference in someone’s world, because he will always remember when someone took the time to make a difference in his.
Photo Caption: Artist Nick Esposito claimed the “Best in Show” award at Piedmont Technical College’s annual student art exposition. He credits his high school art teacher for turning his life around and inspiring him to pursue a future as a mentor.
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Sidetracking Career Results in Adventure
Posted December 6, 2005, By Beth Hitesman
 Sidetracking: a perplexing phenomenon where a project is started, something diverts your attention, then, hours, weeks, months or years pass before your neglected, dust- collecting goal ever warrants your attention again. Kymberly Briggs of McCormick is an expert in sidetracking. After pursuing a little venture that left her sidetracked for more than a decade, the Piedmont Technical College student may earn the title of “Sidetracking Queen.”
Brigg’s zigzagging adventure began more than ten years ago when she enrolled in a state college to pursue a degree in sociology. She was in the third year of her studies when she decided to take a little break. “I needed some time off so I could earn a little extra money. I was planning to return to college the following semester,” she began.
She embarked on a job as a secretary for a manufacturing facility. When the semester was over, she decided to stay on to make a little more money. That semester came and went, along with the next semester, the next year and the next ten years. “Once I started making money, it was difficult to give it up and walk away,” she explained.
Through the next decade, she thought about going back to college, but the timing was never right. She was working 12-hour shifts and had a lot going on in her life. She never felt like she had the time or energy to squeeze classes into her schedule.
Then, after ten years of service, Briggs received notice that her company was shutting down. While part of her grieved the loss of her job and the security it provided, another part welcomed the possibilities that were lurking just around the corner. She thought that this might be her chance to finally finish her college degree.
Briggs enrolled in Piedmont Tech’s human services program to get a solid start on a degree in counseling. “I’ve always wanted to work with physically, emotionally and sexually abused children,” she said. “I know a lot of people who faced those challenges growing up and they frequently felt they had no one to turn to,” she sympathized.
Briggs said coming back to school was not just a goal she had, it is now a pursuit she needs. She believes in fulfilling her purpose on this earth and that means helping others.
She is confident that, with her associate’s degree from PTC, she will make a difference in the lives of those around her. “I know I can’t help everyone, but if I can help just one person, my life will be fulfilled,” she concluded.
Photo Caption: Kymberly Briggs, right, of McCormick works with classmate Lisa Ballenger, left, of Abbeville. Briggs admits she became sidetracked on her way to pursuing a career in counseling, but is now back on track as a student in the human services program at Piedmont Technical College.
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Wedding Vows Come Full Circle for Lifetime Child
Care Specialists
Posted December 2, 2005, By Beth Hitesman
 When
LeVerne and John Fuller vowed to stay together
through “richer and poorer and in sickness and
in health,” they could not have fathomed how
deeply their words would be tested.
The couple moved
to Greenwood several years ago after retiring
from the Army, where John served as a supply
specialist for 21 years. “I’m from D.C., but
John’s family is from Greenwood, so, after some
discussion, we decided to settle here,” said
LeVerne.
LeVerne had always
been a professional childcare worker and wanted
to continue her career when she moved to
Greenwood. “I am absolutely passionate about
children. There is nothing else I want to do,”
she exclaimed.
She also dreamt of
opening her own child care center, but frequent
moves had made the dream impossible. Once the
Fullers had a chosen Greenwood as a place to
settle, LeVerne thought this could be her chance
to fulfill her dream.
Unfortunately, the
would-be entrepreneur faced one major obstacle:
finances. “I had no money.” she shared.
She soon had an
unexpected blessing when her husband, like a
knight in shining armor, announced he would
finance her venture. “John looked at me and
said, ‘LeVerne, I believe in you.’ I was
overwhelmed,” she recalled. He withdrew the
money from his retirement account to support the
woman he believed in so deeply.
In a short time,
LeVerne began building her Creative Kids
Learning Center, and soon she was welcoming
bright-eyed children to the center that she had
developed just for them.
For four years the
center and the children grew and flourished
until tragedy interrupted. “My husband had a
near fatal heart attack and was rushed to the
hospital,” LeVerne revealed.
John underwent
immediate, triple-bypass surgery, and the
procedure was successful. During a follow up
examination, however, doctors uncovered an
additional complication. He had been complaining
of pain in his legs. Upon testing, doctors
discovered a closed artery in his leg.
John returned to
the hospital, where doctors inserted a tube to
open the collapsed artery. In addition to the
two surgeries, John was also struggling with
complications related to his diabetes.
Between taking
care of her husband and running her learning
center, the overstretched caregiver faced
exhaustion. “I loved my center and I loved my
students, but I knew that, at that moment, I
needed to be with my husband,” LeVerne shared.
Laverne sold her
center and devoted all her time to the man who
had unconditionally supported her. Although she
missed her kids and the center, she knew that
she had made the right decision.
While LeVerne was
happy taking care of her husband, he sensed that
something was missing. John could see how much
she missed her children. Since his health
prevented her from working full time, he
suggested that she go back to college to finish
her degree.
“I was thrilled at
the thought,” LeVerne admitted. “I started
college when I young, but I was forced to drop
out to care for my younger brothers after my
mother became sick.”
After several
inquiries, LeVerne decided to enroll in the
early care and education program at Piedmont
Technical College. She applauded the advisors
who were terrific at working with her and helped
find classes that would fit her needs. She was
able to schedule her courses so that she could
care for her husband in the morning and attend
classes in the afternoon.
LeVerne says going
back to college is downright fun. “I’ve been in
child care all my life and have learned a lot of
things over the years; yet, at Tech, I’m happy
to say that I am still learning,” she explained.
As for giving up
her childcare center LeVerne said, “Maybe it
happened for a reason. My husband has always
supported and believed in me, and I will always
do the same for him. Hopefully, one day I will
go back to working full-time with children, but
until then, my life has been surrounded by so
much love and joy that I think I am the luckiest
person on earth.”
Photo Caption:
LeVerne Fuller, an early care and education
student at Piedmont Technical College, shares
stories with Haley Trotter and Mitchell Giles.
Fuller, who has worked in child care for as long
as she can remember, substitutes for the
Greenwood County School Districts. Trotter and
Giles are cousins and classmates in the
Montessori class at East End Elementary School.
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Local Benefactor Honored by State Tech System
Posted
December 2,
2005, By
Nancy Hall
 Local
real estate executive Calhoun A. Mays, Jr.
received special recognition from the South
Carolina Technical College System earlier this
month. Mays was one of 15 individuals and/or
corporations honored at a semiannual
“Benefactors Make a Difference” banquet in
Columbia.
The purpose of the
event is to provide recognition and show
appreciation to individuals, foundations or
businesses/corporations for their outstanding
contributions to South Carolina’s technical
colleges. Showcasing the exceptional generosity
and strong commitments of benefactors, the
banquet provided a forum for college and | 
