Skip to main content

TTC Instructor Honors Her Mentor by Giving Back

As a young medical laboratory student at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Michelle Mantooth learned everything she needed to know about clinical laboratory testing. But under the wing of Mary Eileen Leonard, she learned that working in the medical laboratory technology field wasn’t just a job; it had to be your passion.

"She had an infectious way of distilling a passion for learning and serving, " says Michelle, who is now an instructor in the Medical LaboratoryTechnology program at Trident Technical College. She shares with her students what she learned from her mentor: "the patient is the most important part of your life from now on. Continue your education and make a name for yourself and the profession and never forget what it is to get your hands dirty.”

So every year, through the TTC Foundation Campus Campaign, Michelle makes a gift to the Mary Eileen Leonard Clinical Laboratory Sciences Scholarship, which was established by friends and colleagues in 2004 to recognize Ms. Leonard’s years of service and dedication to the field. 

Giving back to the community was important to Mrs. Leonard. Michelle says, “She taught service, compassion and being passionate about those things you endeavor to do in life. If she wasn’t in the lab or the classroom, she could always be found helping kids at Bishop England with their homework or seeing to it that those in the orphanage always had a Christmas.”

Michelle continues to follow in her footsteps and, in addition to volunteering for her church, the American Red Cross and other community organizations, she is currently serving on the leadership team as a captain for the 1516 TTC Campus Campaign. As a volunteer, she encourages her colleagues to make a gift to the TTC Foundation, something she has been doing every year since she started at TTC in 2006. 


"I wouldn't be who I am today if I didn't have such an inspiring mentor in Mrs. Leonard. By giving to her scholarship, I can honor her by helping many more students receive an education and feel that same passion in their work."

Last year, 77 percent of TTC employees contributed more than $72,000 to benefit the college. Learn more about the campaign | Learn more about the MLT program | Learn more about TTC Foundation Scholarships

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Laptop is a Game-Changer

When life throws you one challenge after another, you start to appreciate the small wins.  For Trident Tech student Kristi Salvo, receiving a new laptop through the Student Urgent Needs (SUN) fund was a game-changer.  Like students across the country, Salvo’s in-person classes were abruptly switched to an online format this spring due to COVID-19. But she knew her older computer couldn’t keep up with the online demands and she couldn't afford to buy a new one. “I was already dealing with a lot and it felt like this was going to be the thing that would break me,” she said. Salvo, a veteran of the US Air Force, struggles with health issues, including a back injury and a severe autoimmune disorder. In March, she and her husband separated, leaving her to juggle the responsibility of being a student, while also being a teacher to their two young children. All this, while trying to stay healthy and safe during a global pandemic. After Salvo and her children moved into a smaller, mor...

Film Students Represent at International Film Festival

TTC’s Film and Media Art ’s 2021 Film Practicum class film “The Flip Side” was an official selection for the recent 16th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival . The film was also nominated for Best Musical Score (score by Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish). BIFF is an acclaimed film festival with an international reputation. Film Instructor Tim Fennell, along with key actors, crew and students, attended the Feb. 25 screening and took to the stage to answer questions about the film and their work on the production Among the approximately 300 festival attendees were a large contingent of TTC students and staff who made the trip to see the 17-minute film. During the three-week Film Practicum Class (FLM 269) in May students get to experience prepping and filming a scripted short film. Tim wrote “The Flip Side” screenplay and hopes the film will be screened at festivals all over the state and beyond.

What Matters Most

Kimiyonn Sadler Second Place 2021 Future Alumni Essay Contest Academic achievement has been on my agenda since the beginning, but life has a way of humbling us all. Being a high achiever is something that came naturally for me. I was determined to use my intelligence to accomplish remarkable things in life. I wanted to create an exceptional life for my family and I. I took the smart, straight, and narrow path of consistent straight A’s, several academic accolades, and plenty of college acceptances. I made plans for university straight out of high school like any other bright-eyed, bushy tailed 18-year old. Unfortunately, the pressures were too much for me to thrive properly. Finances were short. Navigating university as a first-generation student with no guidance was not an easy feat. A stable support system was non-existent. Often, I struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar environment and felt out of place. My mental health declined, making my college experience sufferable and too much t...