Skip to main content

Closing the Book


Itaski Jenkins started classes at Trident Tech (then called Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Technical Education Center) in 1969 and never left.

Until now, that is.

As Trident Tech's longest-serving employee in the college's history, Jenkins has decided to retire.

"Now that I am retiring, (TTC President) Dr. Thornley can finally claim that spot," she jokes.

Jenkins earned a diploma in computer operating in 1970 and became a TTC employee the same year. She has worked in the library ever since, most recently serving as circulation/interlibrary loan specialist.

Through the TTC Foundation's tuition assistance program for full-time employees, she continued her education while working at TTC, earning an Associate in Arts degree in 1999. Because she was able to benefit from TTC Foundation programs, she has always given back, contributing to the annual campaign every year that she was employed.

"I always supported the employee campaign because I want our students to have the same quality education and opportunities I had," she says.

When the college celebrated its 50th anniversary, Jenkins led the campus campaign as co-chair. Her energy, passion and enthusiasm led to a record-breaking year for total dollars raised and employee participation.

Jenkins has no plans to slow down upon retirement. At 66 years old, she is a licensed Zumba instructor and very involved with various church activities. She says she would also like to travel. "I plan on just hopping into my car and driving," says Jenkins. "I would really like to just enjoy the simple things in life."

Jenkins will be sorely missed by her colleagues. Her coworker, Karen Rivers, will miss seeing her dancing around the library and trying to teach her a new Zumba routine. "She has been so much fun to work with," Rivers says. "She has a beautiful smile that makes you want to smile back."

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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.
1 comment
Read more

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Becoming a Reality

Jimmy Bagwell, Chair, TTC Foundation Board  of Trustees, presents TTC President, Mary  Thornley with a check for VDI. After TTC Foundation raised more than $2 Million for the Technology and Equipment Fund during the Building Opportunity Campaign for Trident Technical College, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is becoming a reality. In fact, many students, faculty and staff are already using the technology. The campus-wide conversion to this transformational technology initiative will allow the college to realize more than $3 million in net savings over the next 10 years while furthering the college’s mission to provide more affordable, accessible educational opportunities for all students and faculty members, across all programs and campuses. VDI replaces individual desktop computers with a client/server cloud system. VDI, which pushes software applications from a central server to individual units, eliminates the need for costly desktop computers that req...
2 comments
Read more