Trident Found Me

Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital CEO and TTC Alum Anthony Jackson had always known that he could find success in the medical field. But as a first-generation college student from Aiken, SC, he wasn’t sure how he would get there. 

He started looking around the state and found the Radiologic Technology program at Trident Technical College.

“Actually,” he says, “I always say, ‘Trident found me.’”

Coming from a small town, he was surprised and relieved to find so much comfort at TTC. The college provided him with an environment where he could thrive.

“The faculty advisors were so nurturing and encouraging. They got to know me as an individual and helped me develop my strengths, which gave me the confidence to be successful,” he says.

He says that Roper St. Francis works very hard to attract the best and brightest students from TTC and has made a number of hires directly from the college.

“What I find most impressive about the students from TTC is their confidence in their skills. They hit the ground running when they come to work for us.”

Anthony goes out of his way to introduce himself to TTC graduates and takes pleasure in seeing their reaction when he tells them that he, too, is a graduate.

“I love asking them about their experience, sharing my own story and discovering that we have a lot more in common than they might have thought,” he says.

When he was asked to join the TTC Foundation Board of Trustees this past year, Anthony didn’t hesitate. He had been looking for an opportunity to reconnect to the college in a way that was meaningful.

He says, “There are many first generation college students out there that don't understand how to take advantage of what Trident has to offer. Having been that person not so many years ago, volunteering and helping to raise money for students seems like the best way for me to pay it forward.”