Skip to main content

Executive Director's Message - Lisa Piccolo


As you may know, the North Charleston campus of Trident Technical College was recently renamed Thornley Campus, after President Dr. Mary Thornley, to honor her for 46 years of service and leadership to the college. We held a dedication ceremony last fall, and the campus now proudly has signage bearing her name.

What you may not know is that in conjunction with the campus renaming, two TTC Foundation trustees, Bobby Collins (immediate past chair) and Chris Fraser (vice chair) developed an idea to create a fund that will enable Dr. Thornley to continue her great works.

The Thornley Leadership Fund provides immediate and significant benefits to TTC students. There are opportunities that present themselves for which students may not have the resources to pursue, and those opportunities can slip by. The Thornley Leadership Fund provides critical resources which have a direct impact on our students and allows Dr. Thornley to continue her legacy of leadership. 

The fund is already off to a great start, thanks to the generosity of a group of founding donors, which include Bobby and Boo Collins, Chris and Karen Fraser, Bill and Elizabeth Craver, the Dayna and Dick Elliott Family Fund, Bill and Prudence Finn, Mary Graham, Bill and Jeanne Hall, Carolyn Hunter-Heyward, Tony and Gillian Mark and Bob and Margaret Seidler. Together they contributed more than $800,000. 

In addition, a special appeal was held at TTC's annual fundraising gala, A Night in the Valley, bringing the total to more than $1 million, which included a $100,000 pledge made by Nancy Snowden of NCGS.

The funds will create a lasting impact on our students and honor Dr. Thornley, who, throughout her 28 years as president, has accomplished some amazing feats - new buildings, campuses and programs - which continue to stimulate the economy of our communities.

To make a contribution to the Thornley Leadership Fund, click here. 

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

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...
Post a Comment
Read more