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 2007.Posted:
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January 2007
Mini-Farm
Series Begins in January
Posted
December 18, 2007, By
Cora
Blair
 The ETV Master Gardener program Making It Grow! had a tremendous influence on at least one citizen in the Lakelands area. It planted the seeds for becoming a farmers’ market vendor. The story of how Sharon Alvarez of Chappells got started in growing fruits and vegetables will be shared during the upcoming Mini-Farming Series beginning in January.
The 2008 Mini-Farm Series will kick off on January
29 at Piedmont Technical College’s Greenwood campus with five weekly classes on “Fruit and Vegetable Production.” The series is presented by Piedmont Tech in collaboration with Clemson Extension Service, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and local mini-farmers.
Alvarez will speak at the opening class on “My Experiences as a Farmers’ Market Vendor.” She will relate how her mother encouraged her to watch the Master Gardener program on PBS while her twins were small.
“I remember hearing them say ‘making it grow’ and I decided in 1992 that one day, I would become a Master Gardener,” she said. She realized her goal in 1995 and became a supporter of and participant in the Greenwood Farmers’ Market. At one point she served as the market’s board chairperson. She is known for her herbs and organic gardening skills.
This will mark the second time the mini-farm courses have been offered for small farm owners in the Lakelands area who want to explore income-producing opportunities for their property. During the first series, classes were held at the Piedmont Tech Saluda County Center. The upcoming schedule includes three modules at the Greenwood campus and one module at the Laurens County Higher Education Center.
Class meetings will be on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 7-9:30 p.m. Most modules meet for five weeks. Cost of each module is $125 or $500 for the full series. The line up includes:
• Module 1: Fruit and Vegetable Production, Tuesdays, January
29-February 26, Greenwood campus
• Module 2: Livestock Management, Thursdays, January 31-February 28, LCHEC in Clinton
• Module 3: Horticulture, Tuesdays, February 26-March 25, Greenwood campus
• Module 4: Agri-Business – Managing Your Mini-Farm, Thursdays, March 27-April 17, Greenwood campus
The first module on fruit and vegetable production is recommended for a wide range of people involved in gardening, from the backyard gardener to the person with a few acres who is looking for additional income from the farmers’ markets.
“Fruit and vegetables don’t require a large acreage like row crops do. These classes would be good for small farmers who want to know more about farmers’ markets. Others who might be interested would be people who are new to our area or who have not grown crops in a long time,” Hodges said.
The quality and condition of soil is key to growing fruits and vegetables, according to Hodges. He will cover the physical properties of soil, how to manage soil and additional things that can be done to enrich soil. He will also talk about organic farming, composting and using less pesticide.
Odom will lead the session on vegetable production which will be geared to large gardeners or truck farmers who are interested in farmers’ markets. He will discuss soil fertility, liming when needed, the ph of soil and the vegetables that are good to grow in the Lakelands area.
“It is always a good idea to take a soil sample and have it analyzed. This can be done by taking a small amount of soil from six to eight locations in the garden or field, mixing it up and having it analyzed at the lab in Clemson,” he said.
Samples can be taken to the Clemson Extension office at Park Plaza in Greenwood or to the Master Gardener location at the Greenwood Mall on Thursdays or Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $6 and it takes a week or two to get the results.
Broughton will focus his presentation on the statewide “locally grown” efforts that promote the buying of home-grown fruits and vegetables. Department of Agriculture initiatives are encouraging the growth of farmers’ markets and urging South Carolinians to eat food that is grown close to home.
The second module on livestock at the Laurens County Higher Education Center will be under the direction of John Irwin of the Laurens County Clemson Extension Service. It is planned for landowners who would like to learn how to manage livestock such as cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and poultry on their farms.
Module 3 on horticulture will cover how to establish a greenhouse and produce plants for sale or as a hobby. Kathryn White, an instructor in Piedmont Tech’s horticulture program, will coordinate the sessions.
The fourth and final module on agri-business will provide guidance on how to set up a mini-farm as a business. Topics include business planning, accounting, financing and insurance.
Additional modules on forestry and wildlife in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission will be presented at a later date.
To register for the Mini-Farm modules or to obtain additional information, please contact Continuing Education at Piedmont Tech at (864) 941-8400.
Photo Caption: Clemson Extension Agents James
Hodges, left, and Steve Odom check a soil sample
in preparation for the Fruit and Vegetable
Production module of the upcoming 2008 Mini-Farm
Series at Piedmont Technical College. Classes
will begin January 29 at the Greenwood campus.
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Piedmont
Middle College coming in Fall 2008
Posted
December 18, 2007, By Bonita
Jenkins
 Greenwood School District 50 high school students will soon have a new way to earn college credit while still in high school. A new partnership between District 50 and Piedmont Technical College has created Piedmont Middle College.
“There are some states with programs like this already in place that are providing exposure and a smooth transition from high school to college,” said Dr. Lex Walters, president of Piedmont Tech. “We at Piedmont Tech are excited about offering these opportunities to students in our area.”
Those accepted into the program will have the opportunity to receive up to six credit hours per semester in one of the following areas:
Commercial Art – Certificate in Advertising Design or Desktop Publishing
Criminal Justice – Associate’s Degree in Public Service, Major in Criminal Justice
Horticulture – Associate’s Degree in Agriculture, Major in Horticulture Technology
HVAC – Associate Degree in Industrial Technology, Major in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Welding – Diploma in Welding
“Our goal is to provide a quality education for all of our students,” said Dr. Darrell Johnson, Superintendent of Greenwood School District 50. “Offering students choices in their educational journey will help more of our students to get a degree, and become productive members of our community.”
Classes will be held at Piedmont Technical College, five days a week, and will follow the Greenwood District 50 school calendar. All textbooks, supplies, and equipment will be provided. The courses are FREE to the student, contingent upon sufficient enrollment numbers.
“We are excited about these additional educational opportunities for our students and the positive impact this can have on their lives. This program will open new doors to careers that are steadily growing in the workplace and will give them a head start on securing a job,” said Shirley Boyce, director of secondary education for Greenwood School District 50.
A maximum of 15 students will be allowed per program. Students interested in taking classes from Piedmont Middle College must register in their 10th or 11th grade years. All interested students should talk to their guidance counselors for more detailed information and application procedures.
For detailed course descriptions, please check the Piedmont Technical College Web site at www.ptc.edu/academic. Click Programs and Courses, then View Course Description.
Photo Caption: Greenwood School District 50 high school students will soon have a new way to earn college credit while still in high school. Piedmont Middle College will soon start out of a new partnership between District 50 and Piedmont Technical College. Those high school students will have the opportunity to take classes in one of the five programs offered, including welding, at no cost. Pictured is a welding student in class at Piedmont Tech.
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Christian Student Union Collects Supplies
Posted
December 17, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
 Members
of the Piedmont Tech Christian Student Union
joined with the newly-formed student government
at Kingdom Academy to collect toiletry products
and hygiene products for MEG’s House.
Collecting the items as the Kingdom Academy
representatives are, front from left, Tayyabah
Belcher, 6th grade; Keanna Tolbert, 5th
grade; Christian Saxon, 6th grade;
Christa Saxon, 2nd grade; and Cameron
Saxon, 3rd grade. Back, representing
PTC are, from left, Kendra Rodgers,
administrative specialist in the Student Success
Center; Stacy Blackwell, nursing student from
Greenwood; Ashley Able, associate in science
student from Ninety Six; Carla Hanley, OST
medical coding student from Honea Path; and
Kathy Calvo, radiologic technology student from
Donalds.
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Ceremony Blesses Nursing Students from Piedmont Tech
Posted
December 17, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
 Steve Lemons, director of pastoral services for Self Regional Healthcare, blesses the hands of Phebbie Grant, a nursing student from McCormick, during a “Blessing of the Hands” service at Piedmont Tech. About 100 people attended the ceremony.
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Piedmont Tech Fights for Animals
Posted
December 17, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
 Students, faculty and staff at Piedmont Tech participated in “The Great Piedmont Pillow Throw Down!” sponsored by Sigma Chi Beta. The event raised money for Happy Hearts, a local rescue shelter for handicapped animals. Dr. Bud Marchant, vice president for educational affairs, right, takes on massage therapy student Sonya Padgett from Laurens.
 Pictured,
Carol Paguntalan, health science counselor,
takes a spill while battling Fred Taylor,
advisor at the Laurens County Higher Education
Center.
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Ebony Club to Sponsor King Celebration
Posted
December 17, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
The Ebony Club at Piedmont Technical College will be sponsoring a gospel concert in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will be held Wednesday, January 16, 2008 in 136-B on the Lex Walters campus in Greenwood. Admission is free with the donation of a canned good.
The Club is inviting members of the college and community to participate. The event is open to all solo, duo or group acts. For more information or to submit an entry, contact Roshelle Jones at (864) 941-8378 or email to jones.r@ptc.edu. Entries may be faxed to (864) 941-8768. Deadline for participation entries is January 4.
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PTC’s Radiologic Technology alumni celebrate at first reunion
Posted
December 6, 2007, By Bonita
Jenkins
 Piedmont Technical College’s Radiologic Technology alumni from the classes of 1991 and 1992 gathered together at Lake Greenwood State Park recently to enjoy good food, good music, and celebrate at their first college reunion. The reunion also served as a kick off for the Johnny L. Moore Scholarship in honor of the Piedmont Tech graduate and instructor of the program. Moore taught for over 25 years and touched the lives of over 300 students. Class members attending in the front row from left to right: Donna M. Davis, Scott Phillips, Allison A. Rogers, Callie Y. Turner, Debra D. Riley, Scott Simmons, Judy B. Camak and Wendy A. White. Back row from left to right is Paula M. Mills and Kevin Carithers. Not pictured from the class is Becky Tutt.
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Weekend
Massage Workshop Held at Tech
Posted
December 5, 2007, By
Cora
Blair
 Claire Marie Miller demonstrates integrative reflexology techniques on a participant in a weekend massage workshop at Piedmont Technical College recently. Miller maintains a private practice in massage and reflexology in North Carolina and conducts seminars for the public. She is noted for developing such programs as “Nurturing the Mother” and “Bringing the Feet to Life.” Sixteen people attended the weekend session in Greenwood.
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Phi
Theta Kappa Sells Soup for Children
Posted
December 5, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
 Students, faculty and staff at Piedmont Technical College recently joined together to help children have a happier Christmas. Students in Phi Theta Kappa sponsored a soup sale to raise money to support local children. PTK members Randy Noel, a business student from Greenwood, and Vernessia Wideman, a computer technology student from Greenwood, serve a bowl of chili to David Rosenbaum, director of Counseling and Career Services. The group raised more than $350 for events at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood and John de la Howe in McCormick.
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Piedmont
Tech Presents Fifth Session on Aging
Posted
December 5, 2007, By
Cora
Blair
 “Emotional and Practical Preparation for the Latter Stages in Life” was the topic of the fifth and final session of the series of programs on aging which were held at Piedmont Technical College during the summer and fall. Alice Truluck, front row, fourth from left, was the facilitator for a showing of the video Almost Home and David Martin, right, director of the Funeral Services curriculum at PTC, gave a presentation on pre-need funeral arrangements. They are shown with participants, many of whom attended all five sessions. The Rev. Stephen Lemons (not shown), pastoral director at Self Regional Healthcare, was also a presenter on the topic of handling grief. The aging series was sponsored by Upstate AHEC, Upper Savannah Agency on Aging and Piedmont Tech. Plans are being made to continue to present topics on the aging process in 2008.
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Eaton Donates $20,000 to Piedmont Technical College
Posted
December 5, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
 Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation recently announced that it had donated $20,000 to the Piedmont Technical College Foundation. Funds will be used to purchase industrial equipment.
“Piedmont Tech is committed to helping students make fresh starts, begin new careers and take the first steps toward becoming what they want to be,” said Dr. Lex Walters, president of Piedmont Tech. “Thanks to Eaton’s generous donation, we can continue that important mission as we move forward in our 41st year of service to the region.”
Piedmont Technical College is a public, comprehensive two-year post-secondary institution. The college provides quality educational opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills for employment in engineering technology, industrial technology, business, health or public service. Piedmont Tech annually enrolls approximately 4,500 to 5,500 students. In 2005, Eaton contributed $10,000 to the college.
“We understand the importance of giving something back to the community,” said Brent Parris, human resources manager at Eaton’s Greenwood Hydraulics facility. ‘Many Eaton employees are currently enrolled in programs at Piedmont Tech. Along with thousands of students currently enrolled at Piedmont Tech, they will benefit from the partnership to empower learning and skill development in our area.”
Eaton currently has three facilities in Greenwood. Two are part of the company’s Electrical Group and one is part of the company’s Hydraulics Operations. Altogether, Eaton employs over 900 people in Greenwood.
Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 63,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit
www.eaton.com.
Photo Caption: Eaton Corporation recently made a
generous contribution to the People Transforming
Communities Campaign at Piedmont Technical
College. Pictured presenting the check to Dr.
Lex Walters, president of PTC, right, are, from
left, Tim Wideman, Plant Manager, CHESS;
John Thompson, Plant Manager, Eaton Hydraulics;
and Rick McClain, Human Resources Manager, Eaton
Electrical. PTC is in the final stages of its
campaign to raise $5 million.
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Piedmont
Tech Celebrates Pre-Kwanzaa
Posted
November 30, 2007, By Dawn Lewis
 In preparation of the coming holiday, students, faculty and staff at Piedmont Technical College held a pre-Kwanzaa celebration sponsored by the Ebony Club. Demonstrating the lighting of the traditional candles are, from left, advisor Reggie King; Bernadette Hentz, a human services major from Greenwood; advisor Roshelle Jones; Demetrius New, a mechanical engineering technology student from Greenwood; and Ashley Smith, a business major from Greenwood.
 Bishop
Manasseh Mankuleiyo spoke on the meaning of
Kwanzaa and sang a song in Swahili.
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Local
Benefactor Honored by State Tech System
Posted
November 30, 2007, By Bonita
Jenkins
 In a ceremony held recently in Columbia, and sponsored by the SC Technical College System, benefactors from each of the state’s 16 technical colleges were honored for their generosity and support.
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 system officials to exhibit gratitude to extraordinary supporters.
Self Regional Healthcare was selected by Piedmont Technical College as their honoree for the biennial “Benefactors Make a Difference” banquet. Accepting for Self Regional Healthcare was John Heydel, President and CEO.
“The state of South Carolina presently does not have a two year public program in place for cardiovascular technology yet more South Carolinians die from the disease than the total number of people who died from cancer, pneumonia, influenza, and car accidents combined,” said Jim Klauber, Piedmont Tech’s vice president for Institutional Advancement.
Self Regional is the premier heart center within the coverage area of Piedmont Tech and had the foresight to address the critical shortage of programs for training people in treating cardiac disorders. Recognizing the need, Piedmont Technical College and Self Regional Healthcare forged together to start the first associate degree program in cardiovascular technology in South Carolina.
“Beginning in fall of 2008, students can enroll to pursue the degree with hopes to fill the void of technologists across the state, said Dr. Bud Marchant, Piedmont Tech’s vice-president for educational affairs.
Self Regional has committed to significant assistance to Piedmont Tech over the next five years to help serve the needs of the state.
“Working as a team, we have introduced many new technologies to assure patients they are receiving the highest levels of technological advancements,” Heydel said. “We have made major commitments to community outreach and involvement. We have worked to improve and expand relationships, including the hospital’s work with other hospitals and their medical staffs, as well as our relationships with Lander University and Piedmont Technical College, most notably their medical education programs.”
“We are very pleased with our relationship with Self Regional,” said Dr. Lex Walters, president of Piedmont Technical College. “We look forward to continued partnerships with them in an effort to better our community.”
Photo Caption: In a ceremony held in Columbia recently, and sponsored by the SC Technical College System, benefactors from each of the state’s 16 technical colleges were honored for their generosity and support. Piedmont Technical College was proud to present its honoree at the annual “Benefactors Make a Difference” banquet. Pictured from left; System president Dr. Barry Russell; Piedmont Technical College president Dr. Lex D. Walters; benefactor honoree John Heydel, president and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare; and Nick Odom, chair of state board for Technical and Comprehensive Education.
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PTC Pottery Students Host Second Annual Christmas Show and Sale
Posted
November 30, 2007, By Bonita
Jenkins
 Need to do some early holiday shopping? Why not purchase some creative and handmade crafts from local students. Piedmont Technical College pottery students will host their 2nd Annual Clayworks Christmas Show and Sale. The exhibit and sale will feature work designed and made by students enrolled in the Professional Clay certificate program at the college’s Center for Creative Economies.
Interested shoppers can see and purchase the works of art on Wednesday, Dec. 5 in room 202 of PTC’s Conference Center in Greenwood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The sale and exhibit moves to the Center for Creative Economies in Edgefield on Thursday, Dec. 6. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the building is located just behind PTC’s Edgefield County Center at 506 Main Street. Pieces for sale include cups, mugs, bowls, baking and serving dishes, porcelain Christmas ornaments, as well as an array of decorative pieces.
This is the third show the students have held since the professional clay program launched in the fall of 2006. The program allows students the opportunity to not only gain the skills needed to produce pottery, but also those skills required to make such production a self-sustaining business. Instruction includes technical knowledge, design skills and marketing and business essentials.
Gary Clontz, instructor and coordinator for the program, is extremely pleased with the pottery sale events. “Last year around this time, we started with about 600 pieces of pottery,” Clontz says. “After both sales in Greenwood and Edgefield, we were cleaned out!” The students are excited and prepared for the annual holiday sale as people have already inquired about its return.
“I did most of my Christmas shopping last year at the Clayworks sale. I can’t wait to see what is available this year!” said Dr. Bud Marchant, Piedmont Tech’s vice-president for educational affairs.
Students eagerly use their marketing skills to design posters to publicize the sale, and these events also provide students an opportunity to gauge what kind of market exists for particular kinds of pieces. For more information about the sale, call Crystal Suggs at (864) 941-8686 or Gary Clontz at (803) 637-9616.
Photo Caption: Students will host the second annual Clayworks Christmas Show and Sale on December 5 at PTC’s Greenwood campus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 202 of the Conference Center, and also on December 6 at the Center for Creative Economies Gallery in Edgefield from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pieces for sale include cups, mugs, bowls, porcelain Christmas ornaments, baking and serving dishes, and an array of decorative pieces. Pictured are samples of the pieces created by the students that will be on sale.
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Senior Project Culminates With Donation
Posted
November 29, 2007, By
Dawn Lewis
 Piedmont Technical College's Fall 2007 Senior ADN class sponsored the inaugural "Run, Walk and Play to a Healthier Way!" event Saturday, October 27 at the Lex Walters Campus in Greenwood. A portion of the proceeds from the event were set aside for A Place for Us ministries in Greenwood. At a recent brunch, Todd Smith, a Greenwood resident who serves as CEO of the senior class, right, presented A Place for Us with a check for $2500. Accepting were, from left, “Melody,”
program volunteer Sally Jayne Acosta, “Hope” and Director of Programs Lesa Jefferies.
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Student Wins iPod
Posted
November 28, 2007, By
Dawn Lewis
 Piedmont Technical College recently invited students to participate in an online course survey. Those who completed the survey were entered in a drawing for a chance to win an iPod Nano. Pictured, Dr. Bud Marchant, PTC’s vice president for educational affairs, left, presents Stephanie Norman, a general studies certificate student from Greenwood, with her iPod as the first survey winner.
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PTC Students and Staff Enjoy Pie Day
Posted
November 28, 2007, By
Dawn Lewis
 Stacy Blackwell, left, a practical nursing student from Greenwood serves up a piece of pie to fellow Piedmont Technical College student Linda Tucker, a medical coding/billing major from Laurens. Students, faculty and staff joined to serve up pie to stude
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