“I grew up in a military household, but had no desire to enlist,” he says. “Nor did I want to attend college or work in the tourism trade.”
Mills was interested in electronics, and after investigating options, he enrolled at Trident Technical College.
“Classes were interesting, the hands-on labs were fun and the instructors were excellent,” says Mills.
During his first year at TTC, he was encouraged by one of his instructors to apply for a scholarship and received $500 for tuition and books. This helped him progress more quickly toward a degree and he received an Associate in Engineering Technology in 1982, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.
During his final semester, he was offered a job installing and servicing X-ray equipment and jumped at the chance. It was enough money to be able to get a place of his own and get married.
“I even had a company car,” he says. “This was the big time - to me anyway!”
After a few years of working and taking additional classes at TTC, Mills saved up enough money to continue his education. He transferred to UNC Charlotte for Electronics Engineering Technology and completed his bachelor’s degree, completely debt-free.
Mills continued to work in the medical imaging equipment field servicing X-ray, CT and MRI equipment and is now working for a major medical imaging manufacturer teaching technical classes, using the knowledge and skills that he learned many years ago at TTC. He has two grown children who are both college graduates, and one is pursuing a master’s degree in engineering.
It was during a recent family gathering that Mills thought about the impact Trident Technical College had on him and his family.
“I was reminded that both my wife and father-in-law took classes at TTC, and my niece is currently taking classes there as part of her high school studies,” Mills says.
The discussion reignited his desire to give back and help others achieve their goals, just as he had. He decided to make a donation in the same amount as the scholarship he received as a student.
“I am thrilled to be able to give back to the institution that gave me a great educational foundation, one which I have been able to build upon throughout my life and career,” says Mills. “I guess I have now come full circle.”
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