Change Starts Here

Patricia Lute First Place 2021 Future Alumni Essay Contest 2020 came to all of us like any new year, fresh and full of promise. However, just a mere three months into the blossoming year a swiftly circulating pandemic swept through every corner of the globe, collectively pausing our lives, and leaving distant memories of life without constraint. Days began melting into nights effortlessly, time became inconsequential and amid this pause; death would come in rapid succession with profound numbers. Within these moments of panic and chaos, the choice to continue my education and the desire to help create a positive impact in the lives of those whose health was declining was formed. As a stay-at-home mom of two daughters, time isn’t easily afforded. When brick and mortar schools shuttered their doors; the world of online education opened theirs. I knew who I wanted to become; I’ve honestly known it since I was a small child. I was destined to become a nurse. It was with this dream; albeit ...

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...

Kimon Noel Third Place 2021 Future Alumni Essay Contest Kansas sang to us in 1977, implanting the thought that all we are is dust in the wind exemplifying how fragile and brief of an existence we yearn to enjoy. 44 years later and those words became a personal gospel floating around in the atmosphere of uncertainty.  Imagine a windy day at the beach and the free-spirited unsaturated sand being blown and swept around with each draft. The many millions of grains with unpredictable futures and no discernable destiny just taking flight with the current of opportunity. Some find themselves leaving their sandy counterparts behind for rocky and muddy seaside fickleness while others make their way towards the vast ocean of the job market. In one way or the other, we are somewhere between deep ocean water diving in the depths of our academic rewards or relaxing unfavorably behind the cumulative mounds of sand wondering what's beyond it.  This was particularly my mental status’ home add...

TTC President Mary Thornley joined other technical college presidents this month at a press conference where the governor announced a new technical college scholarship program for South Carolina residents. Designed to address the state's labor shortage,  Workforce Scholarships for the Future will cover the cost of tuition and required fees for recent high school graduates and adults who enroll for Spring Semester 2022, the pilot phase of the initiative.  The governor hopes to secure additional funding in the next legislative session that will allow the scholarship program to continue next fall. Students in most credit programs (except AA and AS programs) will be eligible for a scholarship, as well as students who enroll in noncredit programs in high-demand fields that lead to an industry certificate and/or credential. The program goals are to reduce the cost of higher education in the Palmetto State, lower student loan debt for South Carolinians, produce a highly-skilled work...

Students from Trident Tech, Clemson University, Brigham Young University, Purdue University, Tuskegee University, Qatar Aeronautical Academy and the University of Patras came together on Thornley Campus Oct. 12-13 to kick off a two-semester capstone project to design, manufacture and fly an unmanned aerial vehicle. The U.S.-based university students will collaborate to design a UAV, addressing technical areas of aerodynamics, materials, propulsion, manufacturing, structures, sensors and controls. The university project lead, Clemson, will coordinate closely with Trident Tech students, who will evaluate the vehicle’s manufacturability and maintenance and aid in vehicle production. Trident Tech students in advanced CNC machining will participate in the design review, manufacturing and assembly in the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center advanced manufacturing lab.  The project is being sponsored by Barzan Aeronautical , providing $28,000 for the Barzan Aerospace Capstone Design Program ...

By Herb Frazier With two master’s degrees on his resume, Summerville resident Magellan T. Mambou is pursuing dual associate degrees at Trident Technical College because he wants a challenge beyond just teaching high school and college students. For 25 years, Mambou has taught math in South Carolina and in his native Cameroon. A message from a TED Talks presenter, however, led him to imagine a different path. The opportunity to do just that came when he learned about a scholarship named for 19th century attorney, journalist and diplomat Archibald Grimké and funded annually by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation. Mambou is in the first year of a two-and-a-half year plan to earn associate degrees in network systems management and cybersecurity.  “I am trying to work extra so I can finish on time,” he said recently, sitting in the shade of towering oaks at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens . “I decided to go back to school to do something that is fun and do something that could...

Like many young people, it took some time for Maraleius Birdsong to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He left Ft. Dorchester High School before graduating and moved back to his hometown in Indiana to stay with his grandmother. He worked, bought a car and got an apartment. Later, he moved back to North Charleston and earned his GED. He enrolled at Trident Tech in the fall of 2011. While delivering pizza to pay for school, he took classes to pursue his goal of becoming an electrical engineer. Maraleius was a good student and often helped his fellow students outside of class. His dream was to work for a large company in the area like Bosch, Boeing or GE.  Chuck Ackland, who was the coordinator of the Electrician: Automation and Industrial program at the time, said the program was challenging and had an enrollment which tended to get smaller as the semester went on.  Ackland noticed something unique about Birdsong right away. “He always sat front-row center," he said...

The  Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships  (CRYA) program celebrated career education with hundreds of students, business leaders, educators, and funders at Signing Day 2021. The event was held on Thursday, July 29, at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston. Former CNA/pre-nursing youth apprentice Kevin Boyd shares a laugh with Dr. Thornley reflecting on his time working at Roper St. Francis Hospital as a young high school student aspiring to attend medical school. He is currently a student at Duke University.   Signing Day 2021 recognized the eighth signing class of over 70 new youth apprentices from the tricounty area, with many more still being hired for the 2021-22 academic school year. The event, sponsored by RegionsBank , began with opening remarks from TTC President, Dr. Mary Thornley. It was highlighted by a panel discussion facilitated by Dr. Thornley with four current and former...

Education feels out of reach for so many, even at an institution as affordable as Trident Technical College. Although approximately 80% of TTC students receive federal financial aid, many still struggle to afford post-secondary education. That's where TTC Foundation Scholarships come in. Last year, more than 400 students received $428,000 in scholarships, and this year we are poised to award even more scholarships. Keith Rumrill, Director of Development, manages the scholarship program and says that when someone asks about funding a scholarship, they are often surprised at how little it takes. "Scholarship donors quickly recognize the impact they can make with as little as $1,000, which would fund an award for one year or $500 for a semester," he said.  Scholarships financially assist students with tuition, fees, equipment and books, even if they are receiving other aid.  As we read the thank you letters of grateful students, we are reminded of the other significant, oft...

Bill and Jeanne Hall with Chef Frank Lee.  The Charleston community experienced a significant loss when restaurateur Bill Hall suddenly passed away last year. But the legacy that he created lives on. A leader in the community, long-time Trident Technical College Foundation Trustee and supporter of TTC, Bill Hall and his family opened their first restaurant, Halls Chophouse, in downtown Charleston in 2009. Since then, the Halls Restaurant Group, now with eight restaurants, has become synonymous with true hospitality and well-known for its exceptional food, welcoming atmosphere and attention to detail. The Hall Management Group  hires more  Culinary Institute of Charleston  (CIC) students and apprentices than any other business in Charleston. Dean Michael Saboe had the privilege of working closely with the Hall family for the last 10+ years.  “The Charleston hospitality community is a better place because of Mr. Hall’s vision and philanthropic su...

On May 13, 1964, a dedication ceremony was held for the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Technical Center, part of a statewide system designed to meet the educational and training needs of South Carolina. The center opened with two buildings, 226 students and programs in industrial and engineering technology. Fifty-seven years later, Trident Technical College boasts five campuses, more than 150 programs of study and 12,000 students, providing quality education and promoting economic development in the Lowcountry. In celebration of the day TTC opened its doors, the college held its very first Giving Day on Thursday, May 13, 2021 raising more than $11,000 to support students. Trident Tech students work hard to provide a better life for themselves and their families. Many work and take classes full-time while raising a family, and some are also taking care of elderly parents or other family members. And because half of Trident Tech students are first-generation college students, they of...

Trident Technical College held its first socially distanced commencement ceremony on Friday, May 7 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Colleges and universities typically invite their highest academic achievers - the valedictorians and salutatorians - to speak at graduation.  At Trident Technical College, it's about more than just a GPA. Each year, two graduates are chosen through an audition process for the coveted speaker spots. Students are asked to prepare a four-minute reflection about what brought them to TTC, their educational journey, obstacles they faced and how their TTC experience contributed to their success. A panel of student leaders, with oversight from faculty and staff, rate the candidates on content, organization, language and delivery. The winners then work with public speaking instructors to polish their skills. Over the years, a number of TTC graduates have stood on the coliseum stage and expressed their personal stories of hopes, dreams, stumbles and victo...

TTC President Mary Thornley with members of TTC Foundation Board of Trustees. Trident Technical College and Dorchester County officials, along with a limited number of invited guests, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 18 to celebrate completion of the college’s new Dorchester Campus in Summerville. The Dorchester Campus, the college’s fifth campus, is Trident Tech’s first full-service campus in Dorchester County. The college operates another educational site in Dorchester County – the Dorchester County QuickJobs Training Center in St. George. Thus far, Dorchester County has paid design, engineering, permitting and construction costs of $2.6 million to renovate the building. The county spent another $550,000 for furniture and access control hardware. Dorchester County will also cover the annual building lease and fees paid to cover taxes, insurance and common area maintenance for the property. The Town of Summerville contributed $200,000 toward the project. The college pr...

Coqui-Anna Turner has always had a lot on her plate. Growing up in upstate NY among five siblings and absentee parents, she learned to take care of herself. She worked hard in school because she knew that education was the way out of poverty. And although neither of her parents went to college, “It was always just a given that we would all go,” she said. But it's not always that simple. Turner became pregnant and had a child in high school, which complicated her plans, but she remained steadfast in her focus, and with support from her family, she earned an Associate Degree in medical assisting. Turner enjoyed working as a medical assistant because she was able to gain experience in many different areas of the hospital. After several years, she decided she wanted to take her career to the next level and become a nurse, and she wanted that to happen in Charleston. “My grandmother is from Charleston and we grew up visiting the area. I just knew I would always end up here,” she said. ...

Shelly Eicher, TTC alum and assistant general manager and VP at Raycap Stealth, joined the TTC Foundation Board of Trustees in 2013 and serves on the college’s scholarship committee. We asked her about her experience as a student, foundation trustee and scholarship donor. What did you study at Trident Tech?   I already had an undergraduate degree in accounting. I enrolled at TTC for additional classes so I could apply for admission into the Physician Assistant program at MUSC. Out of 1500 applicants, MUSC only accepted 15 and I was not one of the 15. Ironically it all worked out. The company I was working for part-time hired me full time, the very same day I found out that I did not get accepted into the MUSC program. Twenty-one years later I am still working at that same company. There is no way I would be where I am today both personally and professionally without my Trident Tech experience. What was the biggest surprise about Trident Tech?  How much I loved going to classes...

A Night in the Valley, Trident Technical College Foundation's largest fundraising gala, typically takes place every January, welcoming 600 guests to enjoy a gourmet, full-service dining experience hosted by the Culinary Institute of Charleston . Every year, thousands of dollars are raised to support scholarships, student urgent needs and other crucial programs .  This year, however, the pandemic brought all in-person events to a screeching halt.  "Yet, the need is greater than ever," says Lisa Piccolo, TTC Foundation Executive Director, "It is especially hard right now for our students to reach their educational goals." After weighing many options, it was decided to take the event online. And thanks to the many sponsors and individual supporters of TTC, the event was a great success.   A Night in the Valley: Home Edition was held Friday evening, January 29, raising more than $160,000 from sponsorships, raffle sales and donations. Leading up to the event, chefs...

The Truist Foundation has awarded the Trident Technical College Foundation a $1 million grant to support the college’s effort to create the Truist Transportation and Logistics Center on the college’s Berkeley Campus in Moncks Corner. The transportation center is a major component of the college’s multiphase plan to renovate the aging campus. With the Truist Foundation grant, college funds, $1 million provided by Berkeley County and a private donation of $100,000, the college will be able to move forward on the initial phase of the renovation project and offer commercial driver’s license training on the campus this fall. The college will continue to seek local, state and private funding to complete the full $32 million campus renovation to better serve the training needs of rapidly growing Berkeley County. “The Truist Transportation and Logistics Center will support the workforce needs of diverse employment sectors, including transportation and air freight providers, warehouse and dis...

When respiratory therapist Karen Simmons transitioned from a clinical career to teaching, she never would have guessed that a respiratory virus would be responsible for a global pandemic just six months later.  “It felt weird not to be in the middle of it, but I realized that my impact would be much greater by teaching and advocating for the profession,” she says Simmons graduated from Trident Tech in 1997 and went on to treat patients for more than 20 years. Now, as the clinical coordinator for the Respiratory Therapy program at the College, she is hoping more students decide to go into the field.  "Respiratory therapists are in high-demand, playing a critical role in the fight against the Coronavirus," she says.  Respiratory therapists focus on the treatment, management, control, evaluation and care of patients who have trouble breathing. They typically care for patients with chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or emphysema, as well as patients who suffer from...