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On May 13, 1964, a dedication ceremony was held for the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Technical Center, part of a statewide system designed to meet the educational and training needs of South Carolina. The center opened with two buildings, 226 students and programs in industrial and engineering technology. Fifty-seven years later, Trident Technical College boasts five campuses, more than 150 programs of study and 12,000 students, providing quality education and promoting economic development in the Lowcountry. In celebration of the day TTC opened its doors, the college held its very first Giving Day on Thursday, May 13, 2021 raising more than $11,000 to support students. Trident Tech students work hard to provide a better life for themselves and their families. Many work and take classes full-time while raising a family, and some are also taking care of elderly parents or other family members. And because half of Trident Tech students are first-generation college students, they of
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Graduation Reflections

Trident Technical College held its first socially distanced commencement ceremony on Friday, May 7 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Colleges and universities typically invite their highest academic achievers - the valedictorians and salutatorians - to speak at graduation.  At Trident Technical College, it's about more than just a GPA. Each year, two graduates are chosen through an audition process for the coveted speaker spots. Students are asked to prepare a four-minute reflection about what brought them to TTC, their educational journey, obstacles they faced and how their TTC experience contributed to their success. A panel of student leaders, with oversight from faculty and staff, rate the candidates on content, organization, language and delivery. The winners then work with public speaking instructors to polish their skills. Over the years, a number of TTC graduates have stood on the coliseum stage and expressed their personal stories of hopes, dreams, stumbles and victo
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Dorchester Campus Opens

TTC President Mary Thornley with members of TTC Foundation Board of Trustees. Trident Technical College and Dorchester County officials, along with a limited number of invited guests, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 18 to celebrate completion of the college’s new Dorchester Campus in Summerville. The Dorchester Campus, the college’s fifth campus, is Trident Tech’s first full-service campus in Dorchester County. The college operates another educational site in Dorchester County – the Dorchester County QuickJobs Training Center in St. George. Thus far, Dorchester County has paid design, engineering, permitting and construction costs of $2.6 million to renovate the building. The county spent another $550,000 for furniture and access control hardware. Dorchester County will also cover the annual building lease and fees paid to cover taxes, insurance and common area maintenance for the property. The Town of Summerville contributed $200,000 toward the project. The college pr
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A Sound Investment

Coqui-Anna Turner has always had a lot on her plate. Growing up in upstate NY among five siblings and absentee parents, she learned to take care of herself. She worked hard in school because she knew that education was the way out of poverty. And although neither of her parents went to college, “It was always just a given that we would all go,” she said. But it's not always that simple. Turner became pregnant and had a child in high school, which complicated her plans, but she remained steadfast in her focus, and with support from her family, she earned an Associate Degree in medical assisting. Turner enjoyed working as a medical assistant because she was able to gain experience in many different areas of the hospital. After several years, she decided she wanted to take her career to the next level and become a nurse, and she wanted that to happen in Charleston. “My grandmother is from Charleston and we grew up visiting the area. I just knew I would always end up here,” she said.
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Trustee Profile: Shelly Eicher

Shelly Eicher, TTC alum and assistant general manager and VP at Raycap Stealth, joined the TTC Foundation Board of Trustees in 2013 and serves on the college’s scholarship committee. We asked her about her experience as a student, foundation trustee and scholarship donor. What did you study at Trident Tech?   I already had an undergraduate degree in accounting. I enrolled at TTC for additional classes so I could apply for admission into the Physician Assistant program at MUSC. Out of 1500 applicants, MUSC only accepted 15 and I was not one of the 15. Ironically it all worked out. The company I was working for part-time hired me full time, the very same day I found out that I did not get accepted into the MUSC program. Twenty-one years later I am still working at that same company. There is no way I would be where I am today both personally and professionally without my Trident Tech experience. What was the biggest surprise about Trident Tech?  How much I loved going to classes and how
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A Virtual Night in the Valley

A Night in the Valley, Trident Technical College Foundation's largest fundraising gala, typically takes place every January, welcoming 600 guests to enjoy a gourmet, full-service dining experience hosted by the Culinary Institute of Charleston . Every year, thousands of dollars are raised to support scholarships, student urgent needs and other crucial programs .  This year, however, the pandemic brought all in-person events to a screeching halt.  "Yet, the need is greater than ever," says Lisa Piccolo, TTC Foundation Executive Director, "It is especially hard right now for our students to reach their educational goals." After weighing many options, it was decided to take the event online. And thanks to the many sponsors and individual supporters of TTC, the event was a great success.   A Night in the Valley: Home Edition was held Friday evening, January 29, raising more than $160,000 from sponsorships, raffle sales and donations. Leading up to the event, chefs
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Truist Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant for Transportation Center

The Truist Foundation has awarded the Trident Technical College Foundation a $1 million grant to support the college’s effort to create the Truist Transportation and Logistics Center on the college’s Berkeley Campus in Moncks Corner. The transportation center is a major component of the college’s multiphase plan to renovate the aging campus. With the Truist Foundation grant, college funds, $1 million provided by Berkeley County and a private donation of $100,000, the college will be able to move forward on the initial phase of the renovation project and offer commercial driver’s license training on the campus this fall. The college will continue to seek local, state and private funding to complete the full $32 million campus renovation to better serve the training needs of rapidly growing Berkeley County. “The Truist Transportation and Logistics Center will support the workforce needs of diverse employment sectors, including transportation and air freight providers, warehouse and dis
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