State and federal leaders congratulate Piedmont Technical College for 60 years of success

In recognition of its 60th anniversary, state and federal leaders are congratulating Piedmont Technical College (PTC) for its successful past and promising future.

At an anniversary celebration honoring community partners and donors Monday evening, area legislators presented PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers with resolutions from the state House of Representatives and state Senate honoring the college for its “significant work educating citizens for employment in South Carolina.” 

PTC officials also received congratulatory letters Monday from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

Rivers spoke Monday about PTC’s “amazing growth” since its first classes were held in 1966. After starting out in a single building in Greenwood with 300 students, PTC now serves more than 8,500 students annually at eight locations in seven counties.

She thanked the students, communities and employers who have helped PTC become “such a wonderful college.”

Rivers also focused on PTC’s future, citing more than $100 million in ongoing construction projects.

“We are not slowing down,” she said.

The anniversary celebration was held in the restaurant at Olde Eight on Lake Greenwood, which also was the venue for Monday’s PTC Corporate Cup golf tournament that raised $60,000 for student scholarships. Commercial Bank fielded the tournament’s winning team, which consisted of Nakia Davis, state Sen. Mike Gambrell, Tim Thompson and Brian White.

The golf tournament and anniversary celebration were both hosted by the PTC Foundation.

The speakers at Monday night’s event included 8th Judicial Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo. He said his son and one of his daughters graduated from PTC. His son now works at BMW and his daughter is a nurse in the intensive care unit at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.

“I am proud that we have the best tech school in the state of South Carolina right here in the Lakelands,” Stumbo said.

You can browse through a photo gallery of the anniversary celebration. You also can see photos from the Corporate Cup golf tournament.