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The following
articles have been released by Piedmont
Technical College's
Office of College Communications:
Hill’s Service Company, Inc. Registers Laurens
County’s First Apprenticeship Program
Posted October 8,
2008, By Josh
Black
Piedmont Technical
College and Apprenticeship Carolina™, a division
of the SC Technical College System, are pleased
to announce that Hill’s Service Company, Inc.
has joined the growing number of companies in
the state that are establishing
federally-recognized apprenticeship programs.
Hill’s Service Company has been providing
heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR)
services in Laurens County for over 40 years.
“We work in a very
competitive environment and our employees are
what separate us from our competition. We
believe that utilizing the apprenticeship model
of training will help to instill in our
employees our expectations of quality work and
customer service,” said Robbie Hill, president
and owner.
As the chairman of
the Educational Committee for the South Carolina
Heating and Air Conditioning Association, Hill
hopes other HVACR companies will consider an
apprenticeship program. “My hope is that this
progressive training model will be utilized
across the HVACR industry. This type of training
requires us as an industry to look at the system
more holistically. A higher-quality employee
makes the industry safer, more affordable and
ultimately better for the environment,” said
Hill.
Hill’s Service
Company is the first registered apprenticeship
program to be established in Laurens County. An
apprenticeship is a time-tested method of
employee development that combines supervised
on-the-job training with job-related education.
A program “registered” with the U.S. Department
of Labor (USDOL) shows an employer’s visible
commitment to developing a high-quality work
force that meets nationally-recognized training
standards. Registered apprenticeship programs
also enable employees to receive incremental
wage increases as they demonstrate new
competencies throughout the training program.
The Hill’s Service Company program requires
apprentices to be trained on the job by a mentor
for 8000 hours (4 years) in HVACR and to
participate in over 1700 hours of classroom
training provided by Piedmont Technical College.
Apprentices in the Hill’s Service Company
program will earn not only the
nationally-recognized apprenticeship credential,
but also an associate degree from Piedmont
Technical College.
“Providing quality
workforce training is at the heart of our
mission at Piedmont Technical College. The
customized training program we’ve developed with
Hill’s Service Company and Apprenticeship
Carolina™ is one of the many ways that we’re
working to ensure that the communities we serve
maintain a highly-trained, highly-qualified work
force. Hill’s Service Company is one of the
pacesetters for employee development in our
service area, and we’re thrilled to be working
with them,” said David Kibler, HVAC program
coordinator at PTC.
“The collaborative
work among Hill’s Service Company, Piedmont
Technical College and Apprenticeship Carolina™
is a wonderful example of how our technical
college system is effectively responding to the
workforce training needs of our business
partners,” said Ann Marie Stieritz, director of
Apprenticeship Carolina™. “We have a vested
interest in the growth and success of our South
Carolina employers and highly skilled employees
are a key component in that business success.”
Apprenticeship
Carolina™ is a new division of the SC Technical
College System that works to ensure all
employers in South Carolina have access to the
information and technical assistance they need
to create demand-driven registered
apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship
consultants are available to guide companies
through the registered apprenticeship
development process from initial information to
full recognition in the National Registered
Apprenticeship System. These services are
available to South Carolina employers free of
charge. Interested employers can contact
Apprenticeship Carolina™ at (803) 896-5287.
For more
information about Piedmont Technical College’s
HVAC program, contact David Kibler at
(864)941-8475.
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Surgical Technology Undergoes Changes
Posted October 2,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 The
Surgical Technology program at Piedmont
Technical College is undergoing changes in
response to recent legislation.
Beginning this
year, all students receiving a Surgical
Technology diploma must obtain their
certification within 90 days of graduating from
an accredited school. Prior to this legislation,
surgical technologists could seek certification,
but it was not a requirement.
“I think this is
an excellent change,” said Susan Kinney,
Surgical Technology program coordinator and
instructor.
“The new
requirement helps enhance the quality of care
that patients receive,” said Lena Warren, dean
of Health Sciences at PTC.
Surgical
technologists are members of the operating team
who work closely with surgeons,
anesthesiologists, RN’s and other personnel to
deliver patient care before, during and after
surgery. A one-year program, the Surgical
Technology diploma prepares students to work in
a variety of settings, including operating
rooms, labor and delivery, central sterile
processing, surgical offices and emergency
departments.
The trend now is
to advance the program to a full associate
degree. Piedmont Technical College graduates in
the Surgical Technology diploma program have
always been able to pursue an Associate in
Occupational Technology with a major in General
Technology, but there has never been a Surgical
Technology degree. Now, Midlands Technical
College has applied to the South Carolina
Commission on Higher Education for an Associate
Degree in Surgical Technology and PTC has joined
them.
“The addition of
the associate degree is a nationwide trend,”
said Warren. “The students need more time to
learn all they need to be effective in the
field.”
“Expanding the
program would allow the students to have more
clinical time and have exposure to more areas,”
Kinney said.
Kinney says the
change may appear to be a deterrent to those
looking for a quick program, but she says
students will reap the benefits.
“While the time
required to achieve the degree is longer, there
is more lab and clinical time, which will
produce technologists who are better prepared,”
she said. “The national association prefers the
degree and new certification requirements show
that the medical field is looking to provide
high quality health care through better trained
personnel.”
For more
information on the Surgical Technology program,
contact Kinney at (864) 941-8535 or e-mail at
kinney.s@ptc.edu.
Photo Caption:
Susan Kinney, program coordinator
for Surgical Technology at Piedmont Technical
College, left, and fellow instructor Lenette
Thompson demonstrate one of the uses of their
endoscopic tower/surgical system. The Surgical
Technology program is undergoing changes in
response to recent legislation requiring that
all students who receive a Surgical Technology
diploma must obtain their certification within
90 days of graduating from an accredited school.
Return to Top
Forklift Safety
Training
Posted October 2,
2008, By Jackie
Mathis
 Piedmont
Technical College’s Forklift Safety Training and
Driving School includes operation of the
forklift on a road course and demonstrations
with pallet racking, as demonstrated by
instructor Roger Laughlin. Participants will
also learn to inspect a forklift. This one-day
workshop is scheduled for Friday, October 17
from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in Building L on the
Greenwood campus. Lunch will be included. Cost
for the class is $149. A forklift driver’s
license and certificate will be issued to those
who complete the class successfully. To register
or to obtain more information, call Piedmont
Technical College at (864) 941-8400 or
1-800-868-5528, ext. 8400.
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PTC
Offers Career Management Workshop
Posted October 2,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
Are you ready to
reinvent yourself? Is your present career not
all you hoped it would be? Feeling frustrated or
under-challenged in your present situation?
Piedmont Technical College may have the answer.
PTC will be
offering a one-day career management workshop
for professionals titled “Career Discovery and
Planning for Professionals: Managing Your Own
Career for 21st Century Success.” The workshop
will be held Wednesday, October 15 from 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m. in the James C. Self Conference
Center on the Lex Walters Campus in Greenwood.
This energizing
and enlightening workshop will provide
participants with personal profiles to show how
thinking preferences guide preferred work and
how personality relates to types of careers.
There will be discovery exercises to pinpoint
how knowledge, skills and the personal profiles
can lead to the perfect career and work
environment. And career planning will be
provided to create an on-going process that
allows for continual recharging through future
career steps.
The workshop will
be presented by Jane Allen, founder and CEO of
SmartWork Network, an organization created to
help emerging/growth companies achieve
aggressive goals by providing rational,
comprehensive processes to match self-managed
executives and knowledgeable workers with the
right positions and with the right companies.
Allen is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of
experience working with senior managers in a
variety of industries - from The Ritz Carlton
Hotels to Coca Cola, from Michelin to Delta
Airlines.
The cost of the
workshop is $375 per person. Deadline for
registration is Oct. 10. For more information or
to register, call (864) 941-8400 or go to
www.ptc.edu/coned.
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Health Sciences to Hold Open House Session
Posted September
29,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Piedmont
Technical College’s Allied Health Sciences
program continues to offer a series of Open
House sessions to introduce all interested
students to the wide variety of available
training and career options. The next sessions
will be Thursday, October 2 from 6-8:30 p.m. and
Friday, October 3 from 9-11:30 a.m. All sessions
will be held in room 100-S on the Lex Walters
Campus in Greenwood.
Each session will
provide potential students with information on
career opportunities and corresponding programs
offered at PTC in Allied Health Sciences fields
such as cardiovascular technology, radiologic
technology and massage therapy; admissions
requirements; and available financial aid
options. There will also be a tour of the Health
Sciences facilities.
Other sessions
will be offered December 4 and 5. For more
information on the sessions, contact the Student
Success Center at (864) 941-8614.
Photo Caption:
Piedmont Technical College’s Allied Health
Sciences program continues its series of Open
House sessions to introduce all interested
students to the wide variety of available
training and career options. Pictured, Francina
Waldo (left) of North Augusta gets help with
registration from Kendra Rodgers, a PTC
administrative assistant in the Student Success
Center. All sessions will be held in room 100-S
on the Lex Walters Campus in Greenwood.
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PTC
Sponsors Fall Kick-off and Club Fair
Posted September
29,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Students
at Piedmont Technical College were treated to a
Fall Kick-off and Club Fair Tuesday. This annual
event welcomes students back to class and
introduces them to the clubs and organizations
available on campus. Ninety Six resident Brandy
Harvley posts information on the Medical
Assisting Club.
 Bank
of America representative John W. Cooper, left,
shares information with Calhoun Falls residents
Thelma Bryant and Christine Turner, right, both
administrative office technology students.
 Christy
Nichols, clinical coordinator/instructor for
radiologic technology, right, shares information
with Berna Anderson, a phlebotomy student from
Mount Carmel.
 Susan
Kinney, coordinator/instructor for surgical
technology, left, shares information with
Vanessa Burton, a surgical technology student
from Saluda.
 Laurens
resident Amy Gregory, a radiologic technology
student, left, hands out cotton candy to Alicia
Williams, a phlebotomy student from Greenwood.
 Enjoying
the early fall day were, from left, Maria
Cunningham, an administrative office technology
student from Edgefield; Jan Wirtjes,
administrative assistant for the Engineering and
Industrial Division at PTC; David Moses, a
building construction technology student from
Newberry; David Jeffery, a BCT student from
Greenwood; and Brandon Andrews, a BCT student
from Johnston.
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Radiologic Technology Alum Establish Scholarship
Posted September
24,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 The
Piedmont Technical College Radiologic Technology
class of 1991 is currently working to establish
the Johnny Moore Scholarship in honor of the
clinical instructor, second from left, who spent
more than 30 years in the program. The first
scholarship of $2500 will be awarded this fall
to a senior Radiologic Technology student with a
program GPA of 3.5 and limited practice
eligibility. Pictured with Moore are, from left,
scholarship committee co-chair Paula Murrell
Mills, RT; scholarship committee co-chair D.
Scott Simmons, BSRT, (R)(T), ROCC; and PTC
Foundation Executive Director Fran Wiley. The
goal of the class is to raise an endowment of at
least $15,000. Anyone interested in
participating in the fund drive should contact
Wiley at (864) 941-8351 or
wiley.f@ptc.edu.
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Piedmont Middle College Up and Running
Posted September
24,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Classes
in the Piedmont Middle College are up and
running. This collaboration between Greenwood
District 50 and Piedmont Technical College
allows juniors and seniors the opportunity to
get a jump on college in one of five career
programs while they are still in high school.
Each program consists of four courses - two in
the fall semester and two in the spring semester
- for a total of 12 college credit hours and
four Carnegie units. College credits earned will
be applied to the appropriate two-year associate
degree, one-year diploma or certificate program
at Piedmont Technical College.
“The Piedmont
Middle College offers Greenwood District 50
students the opportunity to receive hands-on
instruction in technical career areas that are
not currently offered at their career centers,”
said Jennifer Wilbanks, PTC’s dual enrollment
coordinator. “We feel it is important to utilize
our expertise in technical instruction to assist
high schools within our service area by
providing their students with the educational
choices they need to pursue successful careers.”
“We are excited
about working with Piedmont Tech. This is a
tremendous educational opportunity that will
open new doors to students and give them a head
start on securing a successful career,” said Dr.
Darrell Johnson, superintendent for Greenwood
School District 50.
Classes are held at Piedmont Technical College
five days a week, from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m., and
follow the Greenwood District 50 school
calendar. All textbooks, supplies and equipment
are provided. The courses are free to the
student, contingent upon sufficient enrollment
numbers. The pilot program for 2008-09 has
introduced 13 students to the welding
curriculum. Future middle college offerings will
also include Commercial Art, Criminal Justice,
Horticulture and HVAC.
“Providing
students with the right opportunities to be
successful in the workforce is at the heart of
our mission at Piedmont Technical College,” said
Dr. Ray Brooks, president of PTC. “We are
thrilled about working with District 50 to offer
their students access to training in these five
disciplines.”
“Our goal is to
provide a quality education for all of our
students,” said Johnson. “Offering students
choices in their educational journey will help
more of our students to get a degree, and become
productive members of our community.”
All interested
students should talk to their guidance
counselors for more detailed information and
application procedures or contact Wilbanks in
the Dual Enrollment office at 941-8397.
Photo Caption:
Classes in the Piedmont Middle College, the
collaboration between Greenwood District 50 and
Piedmont Technical College, are up and running.
The program allows juniors and seniors the
opportunity to get a jump on college while they
are still in high school in one of five career
programs. Pictured, Kristen Culbreath, right, a
senior at Greenwood High School, explains how
the welding tools work to Dr. Darrell Johnson,
superintendent of District 50.
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Piedmont Technical College Encourages Voter
Registration
Posted September
19,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Student
Activities sponsored a Voter Registration drive
at Piedmont Technical College Wednesday and
Thursday. Students, faculty and staff were
encouraged to register to vote. Pictured,
computer technology student Andrae White, left,
and electronic engineering technology student
Justin Reed, both of Greenwood, take time to
fill out their registration forms.
 Pictured,
Lisa Toland, right, Off-Campus Coordinator for
the Associate in Arts program at the Newberry
County Center, assists Travis Hamby, a welding
student from Ware Shoals, with the registration
form.
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PTC Student Among 400 Nationwide Coca-Cola
Scholars
Posted September
18,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Greenwood
resident Fikile Mpofu, an associate degree
nursing student at Piedmont Technical College,
has been awarded a $1000 scholarship from the
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.Through the
Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program,
the Foundation awards a total of 400
scholarships annually to students attending
higher education institutions granting two-year
degrees.
“The Coca-Cola
Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program is an
extension of our long-standing commitment to
college education throughout the United States,”
said J. Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola
Scholars Foundation. “This scholarship honors
students who often balance the responsibilities
of school, work and family, but also find time
to give back to their communities through
volunteer service.”
“This scholarship
is awarded for involvement in the community, so
it provides an incentive to be involved,” Mpofu
said. “This will now give me the opportunity to
complete the nursing program at Piedmont Tech.”
The Coca-Cola
Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program is made
possible with funding from the Joseph B.
Whitehead Foundation. The Whitehead Foundation
provides grants in support of human services
initiatives. The late Joseph B. Whitehead was
one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola.
The Two-Year
Colleges Scholarship Program complements the
Foundation’s Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which
awards more than $3 million annually in college
scholarships to 250 outstanding high school
seniors. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one
of the most recognized and respected
corporate-sponsored scholarships in America.
The Coca-Cola
Scholars Foundation is supported by the
financial commitment of the Coca-Cola Bottling
Co., Consolidated and The Coca-Cola Company. The
Foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to
establish a legacy for the education of
tomorrow’s leaders. Now in its 7th year of
funding the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges
Scholarship Program, the Foundation has provided
$2.8 million in scholarship awards to students
attending two-year degree granting institutions
and more than $29.7 million towards the
Coca-Cola Scholars Program during the past 20
years.
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USC and Piedmont Technical College Establish
Pre-Engineering Curriculum
Posted September
17,
2008, By Josh
Black
 Aspiring
mechanical and electrical engineers can now
begin their studies at Piedmont Technical
College with the confidence that they’ll be able
to make a trouble-free transition to the
engineering programs at the University of South
Carolina. Today, representatives from PTC and
USC signed an agreement that establishes a
pre-engineering curriculum at Piedmont Technical
College.
The curriculum
consists of a series of USC-approved courses
which will be taught at PTC. Since these courses
will closely match the content in the first year
of the USC Engineering and Computer Science
curricula, students enrolled in the
pre-engineering program will be able to complete
their first year at PTC, then transfer to USC to
complete a Bachelor of Science degree in either
Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
This agreement
represents the first time a direct path has been
formalized between PTC’s Engineering Technology
program and a four-year university’s engineering
program. This new option offers residents of the
Piedmont Technical College service area who know
they’d like to complete their studies at a
four-year university a convenient, local way to
begin work toward a bachelor’s degree in
engineering.
“We’ve always had
quality two-year degree programs in Engineering
Technology, but we’ve now established a pathway
for our students to be able to move directly
into a four-year program. USC has been a great
partner during this process, and we’re thrilled
with the new opportunities this agreement will
create for the community,” said Keith Lasure,
dean of Engineering and Industrial Technology at
PTC.
“This agreement
represents an exciting opportunity for the
University of South Carolina to further open the
doors of our Engineering and Computing programs
to local Greenwood talent. We’re confident that
with the guidance that Piedmont Technical
College can provide, these pre-engineering
students will be very successful in our
programs,” said Dr. Michael D. Amiridis, dean of
the University of South Carolina's College of
Engineering and Computing.
PTC students can
apply for admission to the USC College of
Engineering and Computing through the
University’s Office of Admissions after
successful completion of a minimum of 30
semester hours of the pre-engineering program at
Piedmont Technical College. Pre-engineering
students must maintain a 2.75 GPA at PTC to be
eligible for USC admission.
In addition to this new pre-engineering
curriculum, PTC also has engineering technology
transfer agreements in place with South Carolina
State University and with USC Upstate. Students
wishing to transfer to SC State or to USC
Upstate must first complete an associate degree
in Engineering Technology at PTC.
For more
information on PTC’s pre-engineering curriculum,
contact Keith Lasure at (864) 941-8687.
Photo Caption:
Representatives from Piedmont Technical College
and the University of South Carolina have signed
an agreement that establishes a pre-engineering
curriculum at Piedmont Technical College. PTC
students enrolled in the program will be able to
complete their first year at PTC, then transfer
to USC to complete a Bachelor of Science degree
in either Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
Pictured, from left, are Dr. Michael Amiridis,
dean of Engineering and Computing at USC; Sandy
Warner, department head of Engineering
Technology at PTC; Herbert Adams, chairman
emeritus of the USC Board of Trustees; Dr.
Michael Perkins, assistant dean of Engineering
and Computing at USC; Dr. Ray Brooks, president
of PTC; Dr. Donn Griffith, outreach director for
USC’s College of Engineering and Computing,
Susan Timmons, interim vice president of
Educational Affairs at PTC and Keith Lasure,
dean of Engineering and Industrial Technology at
PTC.
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PTC Hosts
Annual Blood Drive
Posted September
12,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 The
Blood Connection Blood Mobile visited Piedmont
Technical College for a blood drive sponsored by
Student Activities. The blood mobile was on
campus for two days, taking donations and
reminding everyone that one pint can save up to
three lives. The blood drive collected 56 pints
from students, faculty and staff. Pictured,
Fiasha Paul of Abbeville, left, and Myra
Lockhart of Greenwood, both practical nursing
students, make their donations with the
assistance of technicians Mikie Lane and Marie
Griffith.
 Pictured,
Reanna Bange, an associate degree nursing
student from Saluda, left, has her blood typed
by technician Steve Vaughn.
 Pictured,
Economics instructor Jeremy McCracken, left, of
Clemson, and Anthony Richards, a practical
nursing student from Ninety Six, complete
paperwork and await their turn to donate blood.
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Piedmont Technical College and Lander University
Collaborate to Address Regional Teacher Shortage
Posted September
12,
2008, By Josh
Black
 As
part of a statewide research initiative,
Piedmont Technical College and Lander University
are collaborating on a project that will
ultimately create a seamless transfer path for
students between PTC and Lander’s teacher
education program.
With support from
the US Department of Education and the
University of South Carolina, Lander and PTC
have received $5,000 in federal funding as part
of the Diverse Pathways to Teacher Preparation
Seed Grant program. Using this funding, a series
of focus groups will be conducted in September
to identify any challenges that will need to be
addressed to facilitate a trouble-free
transition for students.
“Lander has a
136-year history of educating teachers for the
public schools in South Carolina,” said Dr. Dava
O’Connor, chair of Lander’s Department of
Teacher Education, “so we are excited about
working with Piedmont Technical College to bring
more teachers into the state’s classrooms. We
will be gathering and analyzing data about the
challenges associated with moving from the
technical college into a teacher education
program at Lander. We are interested in student,
faculty and staff perceptions as well as the
realities. The results will be used to identify
ways to smooth this pathway.”
In addition to
creating the groundwork for transfers between
PTC and Lander’s teacher education programs,
this research will be used to help address what
Dr. Jim Rex, SC superintendent of Education, has
called an impending teacher crisis.
“If you want to
make a dent in our regional teacher shortage, it
makes sense to grow your teachers from within
the technical college system. Technical college
students are typically very bound and committed
to their communities, and once they have their
degrees, they’ll stay in those communities
because of their deep connections in the area,”
said Donna Foster, dean of General Education and
Transitional Studies at Piedmont Technical
College.
Results of the
focus groups will be compiled and used to
generate legislative support to fund a project
intended to systematize teacher education
transfer paths between technical colleges and
four-year universities throughout the state.
“As we’ve traveled
around the state, we’ve discovered a lot of
interest from universities and technical
colleges in creating transfer paths, but there’s
been no money to support such an initiative, and
no top-down push to make it happen. The Diverse
Pathways Seed Grants are designed to spark a
grass-roots effort to provide the rationale for
these funds,” said Dr. Stephen Thompson,
professor of Education at the University of
South Carolina.
For more
information about the upcoming focus groups,
contact Donna Foster at (864)941-8430.
Photo Caption:
Lander University and Piedmont Technical College
have begun the process of easing the transfer of
PTC students into Lander’s teacher education
program. The two institutions will utilize
$5,000 in funding as part of the Diverse
Pathways to Teacher Preparation Seed Grant
program. Pictured, from left, are: Bron Broom of
Starr, an early childhood education major at
Lander who transferred from Tri-County Technical
College; Carola Smith of Clarks Hill, an
Associate in Arts graduate from PTC currently
enrolled at Lander as a special education major;
Donna Foster, dean of General Education and
Transitional Studies at PTC; and Dr. Dava
O’Connor, chair of the Department of Teacher
Education at Lander.
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Piedmont Technical College to Sponsor Spain Trip
Posted September
12,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Piedmont
Technical College will be sponsoring a tour of
classical Spain and Portugal that will be
departing on February 19, 2009. This 13-day trip
will explore the timeless cities of Madrid,
pictured, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Granada,
Valencia and Barcelona in Spain and will include
a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Participants will
experience all aspects of the country, the
culture, people, language and customs. The cost,
including travel, lodging and 19 meals, is
$3,285 per person for double occupancy. The
deadline for signing up for the trip is
September 19. For more information, contact
Jeanne Hughston, special events program manager
at Piedmont Technical College, at (864) 941-8781
or by e-mailing
hughston.j@ptc.edu.
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CapitalBank Makes Donation to Piedmont Technical
College Faculty/Staff Development Endowment
Posted September 8,
2008, By Josh
Black
 CapitalBank
recently presented Piedmont Technical College
with a generous donation as part of a five-year
commitment to a Faculty/Staff endowment. These
funds are intended to assist PTC employees
seeking to obtain a higher degree in their field
of expertise. Pictured (from left) are Dr. Ray
Brooks, PTC president; W. Gerald Stevens, senior
vice president at CapitalBank; Taylor T. Stokes,
senior vice president at CapitalBank; and Jim
Klauber, vice president for Institutional
Advancement.
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Piedmont Technical College Selected to Provide
Training
Posted September 4,
2008, By Josh
Black
Eight of the
businesses in the Upper Savannah Region that
have qualified for Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)
Grant funds through the Upper Savannah Workforce
Development Board this year have selected
Piedmont Technical College to provide their
training.
The businesses to
receive training are CeramTec (Laurens),
Greenwood Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, the
Greenwood Regional Tourist and Visitors Bureau,
McKechnie Vehicle Components (Newberry),
Parkdale (Edgefield), Prysmian (Abbeville), the
Presbyterian Home (Clinton) and Wesley Commons
(Greenwood). The instruction, which will range
in subject matter from Lean Manufacturing to
customer service and hospitality, will begin
this month.
“The Incumbent
Worker Training Grant program is a great
opportunity for businesses in our area to keep
their employees’ skill sets current while
minimizing costs. Piedmont Technical College’s
Economic Development division is pleased to work
with this year’s grant-winners to provide
training solutions that meet the needs of their
businesses,” said Sherry Sullivan, dean of
Programming for PTC’s Continuing Education and
Economic Development division.
The purpose of the
IWT program is to provide resources for
employers to train currently employed workers in
an effort to keep businesses and workers
competitive. The program provides funding for
the kinds of instruction needed to meet the
changing skill requirements created by new
technology, retooling, new product lines and
organizational re-structuring.
“Employers today
compete in a global environment. Companies must
upgrade the skills of their existing workforce
to meet changing economic conditions. The
Incumbent Worker Training program is available
to small, medium and large employers and offers
a variety of training opportunities and options
for the employers in the Upper Savannah region,”
said Sandra Johnson, workforce development
administrator for the Upper Savannah Council of
Governments.
The Upper Savannah
Region, which consists of Abbeville, Edgefield,
Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and
Saluda counties, received $159,400 in incumbent
worker funds for the period beginning July 1,
2008. These funds were awarded to area
businesses whose grant applications represented
a significant upgrade in employee skills and
wages. Priority was given to businesses that had
not received grant funding in the past. Each
business could receive up to $15,000 to support
their training efforts.
The Upper Savannah
Workforce Development Board seeks to work with
partners to establish a customer-driven
workforce development system that maximizes
return on investment and focuses on customer
satisfaction. Board members are nominated by
local chambers of commerce/development boards,
partner agencies, community-based organizations
and other organizations. Members are appointed
by the county councils in Abbeville, Edgefield,
Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and
Saluda.
Piedmont Technical
College’s Economic Development division provides
customized employee training programs designed
for on-site delivery. Courses are led by
experienced professionals who understand the
needs of business, industry and adult learners.
The division strives to play a leading role in
regional economic and human development by
providing quality technical and managerial
education.
For more information, please contact Josh Black
at (864)941-8542 or
black.j@ptc.edu.
Return to Top
Continuing Education Offers a Variety of Self
Enrichment Classes
Posted September 3,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Do
you want to learn to play chess? Determine the
worth of a treasured antique? Understand the
differences between California wines and French
wines? Then Piedmont Technical College’s
Continuing Education division has something for
you this fall. Beginning Sept. 8, Continuing
Education will be offering a variety of self
enrichment classes that will be of broad
interest to the community.
Chess Basics will
teach the basic strategy and tactics needed to
be a competitive player. Students will begin
with equipment, board set-up, rules and moves
and advance to reading lists, tips for
improvement and where to play. The class begins
Sept. 8 and will be held each Monday through
Oct. 13. Classes are scheduled from 7-9 p.m. and
all students will receive a standard-sized
travel chess set and book.
After playing a
challenging game of chess, students can move on
to Wine 101. This four-week course covers an
array of topics from basic tasting knowledge and
food pairing to the differences in wines from
around the world. The class will be held on
Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m. beginning Sept.
25 and will be taught by Robbie Lybrand, owner
of R3 Catering.
“I really have a
passion for wine and I like to share that
knowledge,” he said.
Lybrand says he
hopes the class will be exciting and open a
whole new world for the participants.
“We will be doing
tastings,” he said. “I hope this class will give
students a taste of wines they may not have
tried.”
 The
third class for self enrichment will provide an
opportunity for participants to find hidden
treasures. In “Appraising Antiques,” certified
appraiser Dot Hipps will teach students what to
look for in everything from jewelry to
furniture.
“You never know
what you’re going to see,” she said. “That’s
what makes it so interesting.”
Hipps has over 40
years of experience appraising antiques and
handling estate appraisals, auctions and sales.
Her four-week course will teach the techniques
and principles for determining the value of
collectibles and antiques and will provide books
and reference materials to help with appraisals.
Beginning Oct. 28, classes will be held at the
historic Regal Hall in Ware Shoals on Tuesdays
from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
“With this class,
the students won’t be experts, but they will be
able to tell by the construction of something if
it is a valuable antique,” Hipps said. “I hope
they come away with an increased knowledge.”
To register for
these or any other Continuing Education classes
or for more information, call (864) 941-8400 or
e-mail Jeanne Hughston at
Hughston.j@ptc.edu.
Photo Captions:
(left) Piedmont Technical College’s Continuing
Education division offers a wide variety of self
enrichment classes. Robbie Lybrand, owner of R3
Catering, will be conducting the Wine 101 class
beginning Sept. 25. For more information or to
register, call 941-8400.
(right) Dot
Hipps will be conducting the Appraising Antiques
class beginning Oct. 28 at the historic Regal
Hall in Ware Shoals. For more information or to
register, call 941-8400.
Return to Top
Couple’s Donation Assists Engineering and
Industrial Technology Programs
Posted September 3,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Keith
and Sophie Lasure of Greenwood recently made a
generous donation to the Engineering and
Industrial Technology programs at Piedmont
Technical College for the purchase of a Ford
Expedition tow vehicle. The vehicle will be used
to assist PTC’s Engineering and Industrial
Technology programs with the transportation and
display of projects completed by students, like
the recent “Cobra” replica. The donation placed
the couple in the Sponsor level on the Piedmont
Technical College Foundation Wall of Honor.
Pictured at the wall are, from left, Dr. Ray
Brooks, PTC president; Sophie Lasure; Keith
Lasure, dean of Engineering and Industrial
Technology; and Jim Klauber, vice president for
Institutional Advancement.
Return to Top
PTC Nursing Assistant Students Celebrate
Completion of Classes
Posted
September 2, 2008, By
Cora
Blair
 Fourteen
students in a Nursing Assistant course at
Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood that met
only on weekends completed their skills and
clinical training recently. Clinical training
was held at National HealthCare in Greenwood.
Graduates include, front row left to right,
Rebecca Morgan of Gray Court, Latoya Triplin of
Greenwood, Martha Abrams, instructor, of Ware
Shoals, Gwen Brocklehurst, instructor, of Cross
Hill, and Kelley Kingsmore of Greenwood; middle
row left to right, Courtney Duncan of Campobello
and Sheila Leopard of Greenwood; back row left
to right, Jasmin Roberts of Greenwood, Sharon
Gaskin of Greenwood, Patricia Fowler of Laurens,
Jessie Gilliland of Laurens, Tony York of
Greenwood, Kimberly Saylors of Abbeville,
Revonda Durham of Trenton, Quiana Rapley of Ware
Shoals and Adriene Pratt of Abbeville.
 Eighteen
graduates of a Nursing Assistant course at
Piedmont Technical College at the Newberry
County Center celebrated completion of classes
in August. Clinical training was held at White
Oak Manor Newberry. Students include, first row
from left to right, Chala Glymph of Newberry,
Adrianna Chisholm of Newberry, Martha Abrams,
LPN, instructor, of Ware Shoals, Gwen
Brocklehurst, RN, instructor, of Cross Hill,
Kimberley Perry of Newberry and Kerri Graham of
Newberry. Second row from left to right, Jessica
Rogers of Newberry, Cathy Walker of Newberry,
Jennifer Shealy of Newberry, Shantel Betrand of
Columbia, Nina Lester of Prosperity, Deirdre
Rhodes of West Columbia and Shirley Sanders of
Newberry. Third row, from left to right,
Bathsheba Burton of Newberry, Deneatre Thomas of
Jenkinsville, Jonathan Blackmon of West
Columbia, Melissa Barbare of Newberry, Lindsey
Smith of Prosperity, Vivian Moze of Newberry and
Lisa Cordero of Leesville.
 Graduates
of an online Nursing Assistant course at
Piedmont Technical College recently celebrated
completion of classes. Clinical training was
held at Wesley Commons. Students include, front
row from left to right, Angela Nix of Greenwood,
Gwen Brocklehurst, instructor, of Cross Hill,
Jenna Emert of Ninety Six and Marlena English of
Greenwood; standing left to right, Francina
“Tina” Waldo of North Augusta, Linda Hines of
Newberry, Jill Bell of Greenwood, Julie Scott of
Abbeville and Beverly Wilson of Newberry. Not
shown is James Moore of Newberry who finished
his clinical training at Presbyterian Home of
Clinton.
Return to Top
Massage
Therapy Students Honored
Posted August 28,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Recent
graduates of Piedmont Technical College’s
massage therapy program at the Lex Walters
campus were recognized in a pinning ceremony in
August with their instructor, Michelle Liggett
(kneeling). The students and their hometowns
are, front from left, Ashlon Reed, Laurens;
Tonya Hawthorne, Donalds; Jennifer Campbell,
Clinton; Kayla Wilkie, Abbeville; Tamisha Sims,
Newberry; and Emily Dorn, Greenwood. Back, Shawn
McKinney, Ninety Six; Shana Campbell, Ware
Shoals; Lynn Hutchinson, Greenwood; Sonya
Padgett, Laurens; Jenna Morrow, Greenwood;
Jennifer Johnson, Ware Shoals; Amanda Harnish,
Hodges; and Chad Poole, Calhoun Falls.
Return to Top
Area
Nursing Students Honored
Posted August 26,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Recent
graduates of Piedmont Technical College’s
associate degree nursing program at the Lex
Walters campus were recognized in a pinning
ceremony in August. The students and their
hometowns are, front from left, Diana Wade,
Augusta, Ga.; Raven Hill, Columbia; Ashley
Vickers, Honea Path; and Kela Porter,
Spartanburg. Back, Lynn Edwards, Union; and
Darlene Davis, Columbia.
 Recent
graduates of Piedmont Technical College’s
associate degree nursing program at the Lex
Walters campus were recognized in a pinning
ceremony in August. The students and their
hometowns are, from left, Antoinette Bates,
Saluda; Patricia Cardenas, Prosperity; Candace
Bouknight, Newberry; and Pamela Dominick,
Newberry.
Return to Top
Practical Nursing Students Honored
Posted August 26,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Recent
graduates of Piedmont Technical College’s
practical nursing program at the Lex Walters
campus were recognized in a pinning ceremony in
August. The students and their hometowns are,
front from left, Tonya James, Laurens; Kacy
Crawford, Ninety Six; Lynsie Wise, Greenwood;
Andrea Elam, Johnston; Angela Tumblin, Gray
Court; and Megan Foxx, Greenwood. Back, Calistur
Hill, Greenwood; Christina Snow, Laurens;
Barbara Madden, Ware Shoals; LaQuainda Mims,
Plum Branch; Jamie Collins, Greenwood; Pamela
Arrowood, Whitmire; and Cathy Barrett, Ware
Shoals.
Return to Top
Area College Students Head Back to Class
Posted August 26,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Students
at Piedmont Technical College headed back to
class on Monday. Abbeville residents Kristi
Mattison, an accounting student, left, and
Stephanie Davis, a medical assisting student,
discuss their supply needs while in line at the
campus shop. Interested students still have time
to enroll for Late Term, which begins September
30.
 Laurens
resident Ryan Lollis, a business major, right,
receives assistance with his schedule from Debra
Auten, an enrollment specialist in the
Admissions office.
 Jessica
Thomas, an early childhood development student
from Johnston, waits to speak with a counselor
in the Student Success Center.
 Britney
Fuller, right, a medical coding student from
Clinton, receives her student ID from librarian
Meredith Daniel.
 Prosperity
residents Josh Sligh, left, and Keith Rankin,
both automotive technology students, look over
the student calendar.
 Bradley
residents Daniel Callan, an Associate in Arts
student, left, and Matthew Kidd, a horticulture
student, compare schedules.
 Todd
Dickson, a mechanical engineering technology
student from Chappells and C.J. Roesner, an
Associate in Arts student from Saluda, pause
between classes to chat.
 Massage
Therapy students Yasheria Leverette from Plum
Branch and Tashun Battle from McCormick wait in
line to purchase their books.
Return to Top
Piedmont Technical College students
accept V.I.P. prize
Posted August 22,
2008, By Josh
Black
 April
Trammell, left, a Physical Therapy major at
Piedmont Technical College from Enoree, accepts
a $500 gift card from Julia Dunbar, a book store
employee and a student in the Associate in Arts
degree program. Every fall term, Piedmont
Technical College offers early registrants a
V.I.P. t-shirt, a registration fee waiver and
the chance to win one of five gift cards from
the campus shop.
%20copy.gif) Davonia
Miles, right, an Early Childhood Development
major at Piedmont Technical College from
Edgefield, accepts a $500 gift card from Josh
Reid, a book store employee and a student in the
Advertising Design program from Ware Shoals.
Every fall term, Piedmont Technical College
offers early registrants a V.I.P. t-shirt, a
registration fee waiver and the chance to win
one of five gift cards from the campus shop.
Return to Top
Abbeville Nursing Students Honored
Posted August 22,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Recent
graduates of Piedmont Technical College’s
associate degree nursing program at the Lex
Walters campus were recognized in a pinning
ceremony in August. The students and their
hometowns are, from left, Shannon Beauford,
Calhoun Falls; Missy Williams, Abbeville; Maegan
O’Bannon, Abbeville; Patricia Brown, Abbeville;
and Whitney Johnson, Calhoun Falls. Back, Patty
Johnson, Abbeville; Cynthia Hill, Abbeville; and
Traci Young, Donalds.
Return to Top
Greenwood Nursing Students Honored
Posted August 22,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Recent
graduates of Piedmont Technical College’s
associate degree nursing program at the Lex
Walters campus were recognized in a pinning
ceremony in August. The students from Greenwood
are, from left, Taryn Mathis, Kelley P. Hays,
Bobbie Garvin and Paige R. Stumbo. Back, Diane
Ledoux, William Brown, Alicia Williamson and
Stephanie Daniel.
Return to Top
Piedmont Technical College Welcomes New Adjuncts
Posted August 20,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 The
Business and Public Services Division at
Piedmont Technical College recently welcomed its
new adjunct instructors with an in-service
training session. Beverly Burton, Public Service
department head, second from left, was one of
the trainers for the new educators.
Return to Top
Piedmont Technical College Breaks Ground on New
Satellite Campus in Saluda County
Posted August 20,
2008, By Dawn
Lewis
 Today,
Congressman J. Gresham Barrett, State Senator
Shane Massey and officials from Piedmont
Technical College, Saluda County, Aiken Electric
Cooperative, Inc., and USDA Rural Development
celebrated a dream coming true for Saluda County
with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new
Piedmont Technical College-Saluda County Center.
The new Piedmont Technical College-Saluda County
Center will be located at 711 Batesburg Highway
in Saluda. The approximately 20,000 square foot
satellite campus will be an advanced educational
and training facility. The facility will include
classroom/meeting, administrative, and
lab/workshop space that can be configured to
optimize instructional utility and flexibility.
There will also be community space available for
local residents. Piedmont Technical College is
the regional provider for post-secondary
technical and vocational training.
The estimated cost for this project is
$3.75million. USDA Rural Development provided a
$740,000 zero percent pass-through loan to Aiken
Electric Cooperative, Inc., who in turn provided
a zero interest loan with a 10 year term to
Saluda County. Saluda County will provide these
funds plus $810,000 in conventional financing
for the Piedmont Tech-Saluda County Center
expansion. Piedmont Tech provided $600,000 in
funding and received a $1.5 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic
Development Administration
“This is an exciting opportunity for both
Piedmont Tech and Saluda County. A new facility
with expanded courses will open the door for
more students to stay in their own community for
their education. In today’s tough economic
climate, I commend the leaders of Piedmont Tech
and Saluda County for their forward thinking.
Saluda County has been hit hard with dramatic
job losses in the past decade. A properly
equipped workforce is critical for the
recruitment of industries and businesses for any
community. This venture will make a positive
difference in the lives of the citizens of
Saluda County for years to come,” said Barrett.
“Today Saluda County takes a bold step toward
the future,” said Saluda County Council Chairman
T. Hardee Horne. “The citizens of our County
have partnered with Piedmont Technical College
to insure that our children and those wishing to
further their education have that opportunity.
The impact of a campus in our county will
provide the education of a workforce that can
compete with any area in this state. As everyone
knows an educated workforce is attractive to any
industry that would locate here and for Saluda
County this is the first great step toward
providing that workforce. I really want to
emphasize that this would not be possible if not
for the citizens of Saluda County who voted to
make this a reality and making the commitment to
their future.”
Dr. Ray Brooks, President of Piedmont Technical
College said, “We are very excited that the
leadership of Saluda and the people of Saluda
have provided the resources for a new building
for Piedmont Technical College. This facility
will allow us to expand our offerings in Saluda
and continue our successful cooperation with
business and industry in the area. A special
thank you to William Whitfield for working for
Saluda. Without his hard work and dedication,
none of this would have been possible.”
“Aiken Electric Cooperative, Inc. is dedicated
to our service territory an | 
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