Students Honored at Awards Ceremony 
Posted April 30, 2008, By Jackie Mathis

At Piedmont Technical College’s 34th annual Student Awards and Recognition Program, president Ray Brooks applauded the achievements of more than 60 student leaders. The ceremony, which was held in the college’s James C. Self Conference Center, attracted students, faculty, staff, friends and family members.

Becky McIntosh, vice president for student development, welcomed students and guests, and Dr. Brooks was principal speaker. Students who were listed in this year’s edition of Who’s Who among Students in American Junior Colleges were recognized by Morgan Chalmers, coordinator of student activities. Shelby Dominick, enrollment advisor, congratulated Presidential Ambassadors for their leadership during the current academic year. 

Making presentations were Lena Warren, dean of health sciences; Keith Lasure, dean of engineering and industrial technologies; Sissy Copeland, department head for business technologies; Beverly Burton, department head for public service; Becky King, dean of nursing education; and Donna Foster, dean of general education and transitional studies.

President’s Award
The institution’s most prestigious honor, the President’s Award, went to Kelley Wilson of Laurens, an associate degree nursing major. Wilson was also named outstanding graduate in the nursing division and in her curriculum.

Distinguished Student Awards
Each academic division of the college honored its top graduate with the Distinguished Student Award. In addition to Wilson, winners were Mary Phillips of Honea Path, health sciences; Patrick Burdette of Hodges, engineering technology; Rocky Dunkman of Abbeville, industrial technology; George Crittendon of Hodges, information technologies; Julia Martin of Greenwood, public service; and Christiana Evans of Ninety Six, general education. Deans from each major academic division also made presentations to these winners.

Curriculum Awards
Outstanding graduates in each of the college’s academic programs also received special recognition. 

Outstanding graduates in the information technologies division in addition to Crittendon, a computer technology student, were Glenda Sharp of Laurens, funeral services; Victoria Callaham of Abbeville, office systems technology/automated office; Randall Noel of Greenwood, business; and Celeste Tumblin of Simpsonville, commercial art. 

In the general education division, Evans was named outstanding graduate in the associate in science curriculum. Claiming the honor in the associate in arts curriculum was Patrice Edwards of Saluda.

Outstanding graduates in the public service division were Aminah Makins of Waterloo, criminal justice; Barbara Cason of Ninety Six, early care and education; and Martin, human services.

In the engineering and industrial technologies division, winners were Dunkman and Burdette, welding and mechanical engineering technology, respectively; Russell Anderson of Elberton, Ga., automotive technology; Daniel Patterson of Saluda, building construction technology; Lakeisha Dandy of Greenwood, electronic engineering technology; Scott Canupp of Clinton, engineering graphics technology; Amanda Garrett of Honea Path, horticulture landscape management; James Lowe of Abbeville, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology; Jason Bush of Hodges, industrial electronics technology; Donald Fry of Abbeville, machine tool technology. 

Wilson, an associate degree nursing major, was named as outstanding graduate in her curriculum and joined by Corey Streetman of Augusta, Ga., practical nursing.

Outstanding graduates in the health science division were Jennifer Campbell of Clinton, massage therapy; Vonda Carter of Columbia, medical coding and billing; Kushunda Beasley of Laurens, patient care technician; Cynthia Slappy of Greenwood, pharmacy technician; Amanda Dendy of Clinton, radiologic technology; Clay Hall of Iva, respiratory care; and Phillips, medical assisting.

Service Awards
A number of students were recognized for their contributions to the enhancement of student life through service to college activities and organizations.

Photo Captions: Each year, one of the distinguished students from each academic division at Piedmont Technical College is chosen to receive the President’s Award. Considered the institution’s most prestigious honor for students, this year’s award went to Kelley Wilson of Laurens, left. Wilson is congratulated by college president Dr. Ray Brooks. Wilson also received distinguished student awards from the nursing division and the associate degree nursing curriculum. Consideration for the award is based on academic achievement, involvement in college activities and community service.

Students at Piedmont Technical College were recently honored at the annual Student Awards and Recognition Program. Receiving the Divisional Distinguished Student awards were, from left, Kelley Wilson from Laurens, nursing; Rocky Dunkman from Abbeville, industrial technology; Mary Phillips from Honea Path, health sciences; Christiana Evans from Ninety Six, general education; Julia Martin from Greenwood, public service; Patrick Burdette from Hodges, engineering technology; and George Crittendon from Hodges, information technologies.

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Gilchrist Family Scholarship
Posted April 28, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student and Greenwood resident Chelsea Spears (left) was recently awarded the Gilchrist Family Scholarship. Spears, an associate in arts major, is pictured with Suzy Murray, a computer technology instructor and scholarship committee member. Awards were presented at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon where a record number of award winners were recognized for the 2007-2008 academic year.

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Greenwood Kiwanis Club Scholarship
Posted April 28, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Two Piedmont Technical College students were recently awarded the Greenwood Kiwanis Club Scholarship. Pictured from left are Lyudmila Bentsiy, an early childhood development student from Belton; Lara Stawski, a human services student from Hodges; and Jimmie Rambo, president-elect of the Greenwood Kiwanis. Awards were presented at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon where a record number of award winners were recognized for the 2007-2008 academic year.

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Piedmont Tech Holds Spring Activities Day
Posted April 28, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Hundreds of students took part in Piedmont Technical College’s annual Spring Activities Day last week. Teams of students and faculty competed against one another in a series of games, relays and other contests. Pictured, building construction technology students Daniel Patterson from Saluda, right, and BCT instructor Bobby Roche participate in the sack race. Students in the BCT program captured first place for the eighth time in nine years.

Hundreds of students took part in Piedmont Technical College’s annual Spring Activities Day last week. Teams of students and faculty competed against one another in a series of games, relays and other contests. Pictured, building construction technology students Damian Proctor from McCormick, left, C.E. Forrest of Johnston and Michael Stewart from Greenwood participate in the water relay. Students in the BCT program captured first place for the eighth time in nine years.

Randy King, a mechanical engineering technology student from Laurens, left, Justin Coker, a horticulture student from Greenwood, and C.J. McGaha, an associate in arts student from Abbeville, compete in the golf ball race. Hundreds of students took part in the college’s annual Spring Activities Day at Piedmont Technical College last week. Teams of students and faculty competed against one another in a series of games, relays and other contests.

Pam Dominick, an associate degree nursing student at Piedmont Technical College and Newberry resident, competes in the golf ball race. Hundreds of students took part in the college’s annual Spring Activities Day last week. Teams of students and faculty competed against one another in a series of games, relays and other contests. For the eighth time in nine years, students in the building construction technology program captured first place.

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Piedmont Technical College Offers State-of-the-Art PEN Classes
Posted April 28, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

If gas prices are making you think twice about enrolling in college, Piedmont Technical College offers an alternative. PTC offers state-of-the-art technology through its Piedmont Education Network (PEN) courses. Over 120 courses are transmitted live via the PEN each term. The college offers an Associate in Arts Degree at a distance and several other complete programs that may be earned entirely online.

“PEN classes are a great way for the college to provide students the classes they need without the drive. Many courses are available at a county center near you, relieving you of the need to commute to the Greenwood campus,” said Dan Koenig, associate vice president for Instructional Support and Technology. 

Online courses are Web-based, faculty-guided, interactive courses that students complete at home at their convenience. Online courses are recommended for students who work well on their own and need this mode of study as an alternative to the traditional classroom. 

The college uses the latest fiber optic technology to transmit two-way video, audio and data interactivity to sites in the seven-county service area. In the spring of 2008, over 1,750 students participated in one or more classes using this type of technology.

Many things have changed since the creation of the PEN in 1997 and technology upgrades are still underway at the Greenwood campus and all six county centers. In the 2007-08 academic year, the college technicians removed the old television sets and replaced them with large wall-mounted 32” and 37” LCD HD video monitors. This change provided a brighter and glare-free way to view the instructor and all of the students attending each course at each connected site. The next step will be to install a single ceiling microphone in all of the PEN rooms, replacing the current student mics. This will better capture all of the student conversations for a more natural interaction with the instructor and other students. 

“For many, continuing your education is a career goal you need to fit into your busy lifestyle,” Koenig said. “For those who work and live in the college’s seven county service area, PEN classes are just another way PTC will provide you with this flexibility.” 

“During my time at Piedmont Technical College I took several online classes which gave me the flexibility needed for my day to day schedule,” said Vernessia Wideman, a computer technology student from Greenwood. “The flexibility of an online class also gave me plenty of time to concentrate on everyday tasks.” 

For more information about the available online courses, visit www.ptc.edu/dl.

Photo Caption: Richard Mandau, center on the screen, teaches accounting through the Piedmont Education Network (PEN). Piedmont Technical College offers an Associate in Arts Degree at a distance and several other complete programs that may be earned entirely online. PEN classes provide students the courses they need without the drive.

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Thurmond Scholarship
Posted April 28, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student and Hodges resident Teresa Wilson (left) was recently awarded the Thurmond Scholarship at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon. Wilson, an Associate’s in Arts degree student, is congratulated by Don Ryerson (right) manager of Organizational Development and Employee Relations at Capsugel. The scholarship, which is named for Senator Strom Thurmond, is awarded annually to students who display leadership abilities and maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average. The scholarship is also based on academic achievement and financial need.

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Professional Secretaries International Loutrelle C. Self Memorial Scholarship
Posted April 28, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student Carla Hanley (right) of Honea Path was recently awarded the Professional Secretaries International Loutrelle C. Self Memorial Scholarship. Hanley, an office systems technology student, was congratulated by Nina Coursey. Awards were presented at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon where a record number of scholarships were given for the 2007-2008 academic year.

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Piedmont Technical College to Offer Charge Nurse Workshop
Posted April 28, 2008, By Cora Blair

“Who’s in Charge around Here, Anyway?” − a frontline leadership workshop for charge nurses − will be held at Piedmont Technical College on May 28. 

Brian Conner, a registered nurse (RN) and Lander University nursing faculty member will utilize his extensive background in training and management to instruct registered nurses who have moved into frontline nursing leadership positions, such as Team Leader or Charge Nurse.

“The focus of the workshop will be on delegation, conflict resolution, communication skills and interpersonal styles,” Conner said. “These are skills nurses need when they are asked to serve in roles as team leader or charge nurses. Most hospitals and health care organizations don’t necessarily teach nurses these frontline leadership skills. This workshop will enhance a nurse’s ability to succeed as a frontline leader.”

This one-day leadership development workshop will be held on PTC’s Greenwood campus on Wednesday, May 28, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The fee is $129 per person, or a special rate of $109 per person for two or more from the same organization, and will include all participant materials, lunch and refreshments.

Conner said that a nurse is often placed in the role of charge nurse because of clinical competence alone. “In reality, there are five skill sets that are required for success: clinical, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership and human relations,” he said.

The workshop will help participants learn to communicate more effectively, to give and receive feedback, to handle conflict and to understand leadership roles. In addition to adopting winning leadership habits, participants will identify their own communication style and the impact of that style on other nursing team members.

Conner holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Nursing Education from the University of Phoenix. His background includes more than 25 years of experience as an RN with the majority of those years being spent in various leadership and management positions such as nursing director, supervisor and manager. In addition, Conner served for four years as a training director for the Center for Performance Excellence within the Continuing Education Division of Piedmont Technical College. 

To register for the course or to obtain more information, contact Piedmont Technical College at (864) 941-8400 or register online at www.ptc.edu/ConEd.

Photo Caption: Brian Conner, center, will instruct a frontline leadership workshop for charge nurses at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood on May 28. Conner is a member of the Lander University nursing faculty. He is shown with clinical students Jason Watters, left, of Union and Stephen Rutland, right, of Barnwell.

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W.A. Klauber Scholarship
Posted April 23, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student and Laurens resident Heather Cox (left) was recently awarded the W. A. Klauber Scholarship at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon. Cox, a radiologic technology student, is congratulated by Jim Klauber, vice president for Institutional Advancement. A record number of award winners were recognized during the event, which allows scholarship donors the opportunity to meet recipients.

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Bailey Foundation Scholarship
Posted April 23, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student and Cross Hill resident Heather Ward (left) was recently granted the Bailey Foundation Scholarship. Ward, a business management major, is pictured with Fran Wiley, executive director of the PTC Foundation. Awards were presented at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon where a record number of award winners were recognized for the 2007-2008 academic year.

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Piedmont Technical College to Hold Spring Pottery Sale
Posted April 22, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Pottery lovers and shoppers will once again have an opportunity to see the work of local pottery students as Piedmont Technical College hosts its Spring Pottery Show and Sale on May 1. The exhibit and sale will feature the works of students enrolled in the Professional Clay certificate program at the college’s Center for Creative Economies in Edgefield.

The sale will be held at PTC’s Greenwood campus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 116C of the James C. Self Conference Center. Pieces for sale include mugs, bowls, baking and serving dishes, teapots, lamps and an array of decorative pieces. 

This is the second show the students have held this academic year. The first was held in December and proved to be a huge success. “We started with about 600 pieces of pottery,” said Gary Clontz, instructor and coordinator for the program. “Between the sales in Greenwood and Edgefield, we were cleaned out.” 

The professional clay program, which is in its second year, 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. 

Students have already put their marketing skills to use designing posters to publicize the sale. The event also provides students an opportunity to gauge what kind of market exists for particular kinds of pieces. A drawing for door prizes will be held at the end of the day and no purchase is necessary to register or win. For more information about the sale, call Clontz at (803) 637-9616. 

Photo Caption: Local pottery students will showcase their work as Piedmont Technical College hosts its Spring Pottery Show and Sale on May 1. Pieces for sale include mugs, bowls, baking and serving dishes, teapots, lamps and an array of decorative pieces. The sale will be held at PTC’s Greenwood campus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 116C of the James C. Self Conference Center.

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Presidential Ambassadors Go Green at Piedmont Tech!
Posted April 21, 2008, By Bonita Jenkins

The Presidential Ambassadors of Piedmont Technical College are asking everyone to spring clean! They are currently seeking donations of old and worn athletic shoes in the bins they have placed around the Greenwood campus. The ambassadors are hosting Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe as one of their outreach projects. That’s right. You can turn your old kicks into new places to play games.

Every year, millions of pairs of athletic shoes are thrown away, clogging landfills and wasting a lot of good material. So Nike has created a solution to recycle those old shoes! Reuse-A-Shoe is one of Nike’s longest-running environmental and community programs. They take worn-out athletic shoes of any brand (no cleats) and recycle the material to use in sports surfaces like tennis courts, basketball courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people. 

“We are collecting the shoes which will then be sent to a recycling plant in Florida so they can be ground into useful material,” said Shelby Dominick, advisor to the Presidential Ambassadors at PTC. 

The processing facility will take the shoes and ground them up into what is called “Nike Grind.” This material is used to cushion basketball courts, while other Nike Grind is used in synthetic soccer fields. 

“Everyone can participate in recycling. It is one of the easiest ways for people to take action on behalf of our environment," said Darlene Saxon, presidential ambassador and Early Care and Development student. 

Nike’s mission is to create the highest-quality sports surfaces available using the most innovative methods and advanced recycling technology. Since the birth of Reuse-A-Shoe, more than 20 million pairs of athletic shoes have been recycled and have created more than 250 sport surfaces, giving thousands of young people access to new playgrounds and athletic facilities around the world.

To donate your athletic shoes, contact Shelby Dominick at (864) 941-8679.

Photo Caption: The Presidential Ambassadors at Piedmont Technical College are hosting Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe as one of their outreach projects. The project takes worn-out athletic shoes of any brand (no cleats) and recycles the material to use in sports surfaces like tennis courts, basketball courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people. Pictured with one of the many bins around campus are, from left, Dr. Ray Brooks, president of PTC; Rocky Dunkman of Abbeville; Darlene Saxon of Greenwood; Linda Murrell of Edgefield; and Shelby Dominick, Presidential Ambassador advisor.

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Alfred and Miriam Adams Endowed Scholarship
Posted April 21, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student and Saluda resident Ruth Geddings (right) received the Alfred and Miriam Adams Endowed Scholarship at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon. Geddings, an associate in arts student, is pictured with scholarship donor Miriam Adams (left). The scholarship is awarded annually to a Saluda County resident.

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Annie Lee Swygert Scholarship
Posted April 21, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College student and Greenwood resident Michael Blackwell (right) was granted the Annie Lee Swygert Scholarship at a recent scholarship luncheon. Blackwell, a commercial art student, was congratulated by Gus Burgdorf (left), development associate. The scholarship is awarded each year based on academic achievement and financial need to a South Carolina resident.

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Access and Equity Scholarship
Posted April 21, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Three Piedmont Technical College students were recently awarded the Access and Equity Scholarship. Pictured, from left, are: Steve Coleman, director of College Outreach and scholarship presenter; Calvin Butler, a computer technology major from Saluda; and Thalondra Wilson, a nursing student from Abbeville. The other recipient (not pictured) was Latoya Lyles, an accounting major from Winnsboro. Awarded annually, the scholarship is based on academic standing, volunteerism and faculty and advisor recommendations.

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Butler Derrick Scholarship
Posted April 21, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Three Piedmont Technical College students received the Butler Derrick Scholarship at the college’s annual scholarship luncheon. Pictured from left are James Lowe, an HVAC student from Abbeville; Laura Strutko, a nursing student from Greenwood; Matthew Davis, a nursing student from Easley; and Don Ryerson (right), manager of Organizational Development and Employee Relations at Capsugel. The scholarship, named for Congressman Butler Derrick, is awarded annually to associate’s degree students in high academic standing. 

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Process Based Leadership Seminar Held
Posted April 21, 2008, By Cora Blair

Debra Boggan, CEO of Competitive Solutions Inc. of Raleigh and Atlanta, talked about “Process Based Leadership” to about 40 business and educational representatives who recently attended a free showcase at Piedmont Technical College’s Greenwood campus. PBL focuses on managing by process, not by personalities, and developing meaningful scorecards on an organization’s goals. CSI and Piedmont Tech worked in partnership to present this leadership training for organizations interested in getting their workforce on board to improve their business operations.

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Honor Society Inducts New Students
Posted April 21, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

The Tau Alpha Pi Engineering Honor Society at Piedmont Technical College recently held its annual induction for new students. Inducted were, from left, Tiffany Bunch of Clinton, Todd Dickson of Chappells and Brent Yates of Laurens. Not pictured is Al Phillips of Greenwood. Tau Alpha Pi is the national honor society for engineering technology open to the top four percent of engineering technology students at an institution.

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Students Get a Ride and Drive Experience at Piedmont Technical College
Posted April 10, 2008, By Bonita Jenkins

Piedmont Technical College recently hosted the Tenneco Technology Tour on its Greenwood campus. More than 150 high school and college students “hit the road” for The Monroe Ride and Drive training experience. 

“I saw an article about this event in one of my industry magazines and decided to call to see if we could get them to stop at the college,” said Mike Rodgers, Automotive Technology coordinator and instructor at Piedmont Technical College.

The Tenneco Technology Tour is an integral part of the Monroe brand’s “Safety Triangle” trade and consumer education campaign, which focuses on how the interrelated system of shocks, struts, brakes and chassis parts affects vehicle steering, stopping and stability. It is another demonstration of Monroe’s unique commitment to driving the growth of the ride control category.

The attendees came from PTC, Greenwood’s G. Frank Russell Career Center, Abbeville County Career Center, Newberry County Career Center and Strom Thurmond Career Center, as well as from various automotive shops and dealerships around the area.

It was a daylong event that kicked off with a presentation and lecture from Tenneco sales training manager Sidney Gay. Gay used replicas of suspension parts to show students the different types of equipment and how worn shock absorbers can affect an entire vehicle, harming tires, control and brakes. 

“This is our third event out of 42,” T.J. Fontana, Tenneco sales training manager said. “We go all over the U.S. and Canada, and for the first time we’re taking the tour to Mexico.”

To show firsthand how important suspension equipment is to cars, the students were taken to an obstacle course and given the opportunity to drive different types of vehicles. There were duplicate vehicles ranging from SUV’s to minivans in the test drive. The vehicles were identical in most ways with about 50,000 miles on the speedometer. The only thing different was one vehicle had the original shocks and the other had Monroe shocks. 

“With the original equipment on cars, you could feel it bouncing up and down, but when you drove the vehicle with the new equipment, it would only bounce once or twice,” Cory Sanders, 17, from the Newberry Career Center, said.

When the students were not driving, they rode in the back seat to fully appreciate the complete ride and drive experience. The obstacle course consisted of speed bumps, pot holes, swerving vehicles and even deer.

“The ride and drive really taught me a lot about the difference between worn and new parts. It was very complimentary to my studies in automotive technology at PTC,” said Russell Anderson, a PTC student from Elberton, Ga.

The Tenneco Technology Tour was well received and attended and the automotive technology department of Piedmont Technical College looks forward to providing even more opportunities like this in the future.

Photo Captions: 

The Tenneco Technology Tour recently visited the Greenwood campus of Piedmont Technical College. More than 150 students and automotive enthusiasts got the experience of a lifetime at The Monroe Ride and Drive training event. Pictured are the attendees getting instruction from Roger Johnson, tour administrator and instructor for Tenneco before entering the obstacle course.

Talmadge Crawford (left) and Matthew Bice, both of Abbeville, recently attended the Tenneco Technology Tour at Piedmont Technical College’s Greenwood campus. They were among over 150 high school and college students who experienced The Monroe Ride and Drive training event.  The national program teaches the value of maintaining vehicles and offers an obstacle course as part of the educational sessions.

Piedmont Technical College recently hosted the Tenneco Technology Tour on its Greenwood campus. More than 150 high school and college students “hit the road” for The Monroe Ride and Drive training experience.  Mike Rodgers (left), Automotive Technology coordinator and instructor at Piedmont Technical College discusses the education value of the tour with Brian Pruitt, auto-body instructor at the Newberry County Career Center.

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PTC to Offer Shag Class
Posted April 16, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Summertime is coming! And for South Carolinians, that means it’s almost shagging season. Piedmont Technical College’s Beach Shag class begins Tuesday, April 22. The course runs for six weeks from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $125 per person. Participants can come on their own or with a partner. Instructor Rhett Sanders, pictured with long-time partner Janada Jay, was a Myrtle Beach lifeguard during the 60’s. “It’s a lot of fun, and it’s unique to the South, particularly the Carolinas,” he said. “Students need a good attitude and a desire to dance. I’ll do the rest!” Specifically, he’ll show all the smooth moves and special techniques that set shag apart from other styles, such as rock, jitterbug, and jive. For more information, contact Vickie Baldwin at (864) 941-8602 or go to www.PTC.edu/ContEd.

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Mother-Baby Sims Lab a Success at PTC
Posted April 16, 2008, By Dawn Lewis

Piedmont Technical College’s nursing program has given birth – to a new mother-baby simulation lab.

The obstetrics rotation is one of many areas covered in the practical nursing (PN) and associate nursing degree (ADN) areas. Students work with a human patient simulator (HPS) that can be programmed with any number of medical conditions to allow the students to practice clinical skills in a safe environment. The new mother-baby Sims lab provides a safe, controlled environment for students to practice critical thinking and clinical decision making.

Lori Cooper, nursing instructor in obstetrics, is very excited about the new lab.

“We try to make this as real and lifelike as possible,” she said. “We have more control, so we can let the students make mistakes, then discuss what they should have done.”

The idea for the lab came following a remodeling of the nursing building. While Cooper was displaced to the student clinical laboratory housed at Self Regional Healthcare to teach, she had the opportunity to work with their mother-baby Sims mannequins.

“I was so excited,” Cooper said. “I came back and begged Mrs. King to create our own lab.”

The mother-baby Sims lab is equipped with mother and baby mannequins at various stages, including a mannequin that gives birth. These allow the students to experience the four areas of obstetrics: pregnancy, labor, post-partum and nursery. There are also beds, warmers and other equipment donated by area clinical agencies.

“We are very fortunate to have these high fidelity simulators to prepare our students for direct patient care. Students are introduced to many different nursing situations and then are able to practice the necessary responses until they have mastered the concepts and skills,” said Becky King, dean of Nursing. “The reality of the simulation environment allows the student to become immersed in the nursing scenario and practice without fear of risk of injury to self or others.” 

And the students are excited by the new lab.

“This is fantastic,” said Diane Ledoux from Greenwood. “The baby is still enough to assess, and that is not going to happen at the hospital.”

“Seeing it with the mannequin gives me an idea what to look for,” said Gail Jones of Greenwood. “I want more.”

The ADN program at Piedmont Technical College prepares men and women to assume responsibilities as direct care providers in a variety of health care settings. It is approved by the Board of Nursing for SC and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The PN program produces nurses that will provide patient care in a variety of settings, working under the direction of a registered nurse or licensed health care provider. The PN program at PTC is approved by the Board of Nursing for SC. 

For more information on the PN or ADN programs, contact King at (864) 941-8529 or king.r@ptc.edu.

Photo Caption: ADN students Kayla Golden of Waterloo, left, and Kim Williams and Gail Jones, both of Greenwood, take measurements of a baby’s head circumference in the Mother-Baby Sims lab at Piedmont Technical College. The new lab allows nursing students to work with mother and baby simulator mannequins to prepare the students for direct patient care.

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Piedmont Partners Faculty/Staff Scholarship
Posted April 16, 2008, By Dawn Lewis