TTC Employees Give So Much More

"You have no idea how unreal it feels to wake up knowing that just one more person believes in you."

-Olivia, TTC Scholarship Recipient

TTC faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve their goals and improve their lives, and through their participation in the 2018-19 CampusCampaign, So Much More, they demonstrated that commitment. Eighty-three percent of full-time employees contributed more than $72,000 for TTC Foundation programs like Scholarships, Minigrants and the Student Emergency Fund.

This is no surprise, as faculty and staff have a long history of giving back to students, raising $1.4 Million since 1980. They give back because working at TTC is more than just a job to them. Through their donations, they are sending the message that they believe in students and are rooting for them to succeed. They understand that, to students, it’s about so much more than the financial support. Just knowing that they are surrounded by a community that supports them gives them confidence and motivates them to succeed. Half of TTC students are first-generation college students, so for some, the TTC family may be the only support system they have ever had.

For TTC employees, it is so much more than a job and for students, it is so much more than a donation.

Comments

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, more aff

The Path to Success

As the 11th of 14 children, Kathy Simmons knows what it’s like to be a part of a close-knit family. Which is exactly why she has made her way back to Trident Technical College 33 years after graduating in 1985. Kathy’s path back to TTC began with her desire to fulfill two goals – advance her education and travel – and she figured the best way to accomplish both was through the military. So Kathy joined the Air Force in 1987, and did indeed accomplish both goals. She received her Bachelor of Arts while stationed in Minot, North Dakota, her Master of Arts from Erskine Theological Seminary and she has completed 60 hours toward a Doctor of Education from Walden University. She saw much of the country and spent time overseas in Korea. After the military, Kathy found herself back at TTC in the Admissions and Registrar’s office, and it was there she realized she really wanted to stay in education and help students find success. But a wise mentor once told her that in order to advance

Alumna Living her Best Life

E arning a college degree is challenging enough. But for single parents, it can seem like an insurmountable feat. Costs like living expenses and childcare only add to the stress of paying tuition. Making time to study usually means waiting until after the kids are in bed, leading to added exhaustion and stress. When Joyce Antonetty attended Trident Technical College as a single parent of two young children, she knew it would be difficult. But she was determined to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Fitness Specialist. “I wanted to help people become a healthier version of themselves,” says Joyce. Joyce had been down this road before. Like many Trident Tech students, she had attended a four-year college immediately after high school. But when she was waitlisted to enter the Physical Therapy program at MUSC, she postponed her dream in order to start a family. Joyce's life took an unexpected turn when she went through a divorce in 2010. She held several resp

Change Starts Here

Search This Blog