Piedmont Technical College

Each year, Piedmont Technical College chooses some of its best and brightest to serve as Presidential Ambassadors. These students represent the college at campus functions, provide tours and speak about their experiences to potential students.

The Piedmont Technical College Area Commission recently hosted a barbecue dinner at Bermuda’s at The Links at Stoney Point, for local, state and federal legislators to raise awareness of PTC’s vital role in the work force development of South Carolina’s Lakelands region.

Piedmont Technical College students who had outstanding academic accomplishments during the 2010 fall term have earned inclusion on the President’s List. To be named to the list, students must be full-time and earn a term GPA of 4.00. Students will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the college president.

Officials from Piedmont Technical College will meet with residents of Gray Court on Tuesday, April 12 to discuss public interest in offering classes at the Pleasant View Center.

The announcement comes as the ZF Group prepares to open a plant in Laurens County.

Mayor John Carter said he has shown the center to officials from Piedmont Tech and believes the facility will meet the needs of the college and the community.

Seventy new members were recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at Piedmont Technical College. Phi Theta Kappa was established in 1918 to honor two-year college students and boasts more than 1,200 chapters today. The Carolinas region includes 75 active chapters in the two-state area. Piedmont Tech’s Omega Chi chapter became the first among South Carolina’s technical colleges in 1974.

High school students from Laurens, Clinton and Newberry will be representing Piedmont Technical College at the annual regional Scholars’ Bowl in Atlanta April 16 after taking the state championship recently at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. The students are part of the Upward Bound LENS program, which serves Laurens, Edgefield, Newberry and Saluda counties.

Piedmont Technical College has launched a new program called REACH, which is designed to help working adults fit a college education into their busy lives. The College is accepting applications for the program now, which will be offered at the Laurens County Higher Education Center, and on the Greenwood Campus. Classes begin in August.

According to the US Census Bureau, more than 50 percent of adults over the age of 25 in Laurens County, and 45 percent in Greenwood County have graduated from high school but lack a college degree.

The partnership formed between Piedmont Technical College and Laurens District 55 has proven to be a successful venture.

“This was a good opportunity for Piedmont Tech to grow the welding program and benefit all those involved,” said Keith Lasure, dean of engineering and industrial technology at PTC.

At Piedmont Technical College’s 37th annual Student Awards and Recognition Program, president Dr. 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.

Sandy Warner, department head for engineering technology at Piedmont Technical College, has been nominated for the 2013 Governor’s Professor of the Year Award.

“This is such an honor to be recognized for doing what I love,” said Warner.