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Feb. 2, 2024 - Trident Technical College Foundation Raises Record-Breaking $1 Million at A Night in the Valley

The Trident Technical College Foundation and the Culinary Institute of Charleston hosted their 20th A Night in the Valley dinner and auction fundraiser Friday, Jan. 26. This premier event is held every January to raise funds to support student scholarships and the Student Urgent Needs Fund, and to provide funding for classroom equipment. The highlight of the evening is a four-course meal prepared and served by students, faculty and alumni of the Culinary Institute of Charleston.

Trident Technical College Foundation welcomed close to 600 guests and raised a record-breaking $1 million. TTC alum and WCIV Lowcountry Live host Tom Crawford returned as auctioneer with the assistance of TTC student Kendra Rivers. The night concluded with a special performance by TTC alum Faith Schueler, a rising country singer and songwriter originally from Charleston. HendrickCars.com returned as the presenting sponsor.

In addition to celebrating the 20th anniversary of A Night in the Valley, the evening was a tribute to retiring Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley. The love and support of the community for Thornley was on full display, as one by one, donors stood and announced significant donations in her honor.

A Night in the Valley would not be possible without the support of generous sponsors and donors. Click here for Information about  ways to be involved in A Night in the Valley. A Night in the Valley 2025 will be held on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.

To learn more about the TTC Foundation and other events, click here.

Nov. 28, 2023 - Trident Technical College to hold presidential search public forums

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) has been selected to assist Trident Technical College with its presidential search process. The college began the search process after its longtime president, Dr. Mary Thornley, announced her retirement effective June 1, 2024. ACCT’s assistance will include providing support with the development of a presidential profile and recruiting highly competitive candidates. ACCT has conducted over 750 community college searches and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the process. ACCT’s mission is to strengthen community college governance through education and advocacy.

An important step in the presidential search process is the development of a presidential profile. On Dec. 5, 2023, three public forums will be held to solicit input, which will assist with the development of the presidential profile. The public is invited to participate in this discussion about the qualities, characteristics and qualifications of the next president of Trident Technical College, and the opportunities and challenges facing the college in the years to come. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presidential search process. The discussions will be facilitated by Luke Robins, Ph.D., ACCT search consultant.

The one-hour public forums will be held Dec. 5 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the College Center in Building 920 on the college’s Thornley Campus, 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston. No RSVP is needed. A brief electronic survey has been developed for those who are unable to attend one of the public forums. The anonymous responses to the survey will also be used to inform the development of the draft presidential profile. The survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Trident-technical-college-presidential-search. The online survey should be completed no later than 7 p.m. (ET) on Dec. 5, 2023.

For additional information about the presidential search, click here.

Sept. 26, 2023 - Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley Announces 2024 Retirement

“It is with deepest gratitude and humility I submit this retirement letter. I realize I will never be ready to leave, so I must leave Trident Tech without being ready.” With these words, Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley announced her retirement effective June 1, 2024, during a meeting of the college’s Area Commission Sept. 26.

Thornley is the college’s fifth and longest-serving president. She began her 50-year career at the college as an adjunct instructor in 1973. She became a full-time instructor the next year and over time moved up the ranks to hold positions including department head, dean and vice president. She became president in 1991.

The college’s Area Commission will conduct a national search for a new president. These searches typically take between six and eight months. Trident Technical College Area Commission Chair Anita Zucker will serve as the search committee chair, and the commission will follow the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education’s policy for presidential search committee appointments. The policy requires a search committee that includes the chair of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education or another board member and a president of another South Carolina technical college. The Area Commission will establish a timeline and share updates about the process in the coming weeks.

“Mary Thornley exemplifies visionary leadership. Her unwavering commitment to meeting the ever-evolving needs of our region has been a key factor in the Lowcountry’s continued growth and economic success,” said Zucker. “As we begin the process to find her successor, we look ahead with hope, eager to welcome a new president who shares her boundless ambition and tireless drive to meet the college’s mission to educate the individual, accelerate the economy, and inspire the future.”

The Area Commission voted to honor Dr. Thornley with the honorary title of president emeritus upon her retirement. At her request, this title comes with no monetary compensation.

Thornley has received numerous awards and honors over the years including the Order of the Palmetto, the Joseph P. Riley Leadership Award, the Shirley B. Gordon Phi Theta Kappa Presidential Award of Distinction, and the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners CEO Award. She also won the Association of Community College Trustees CEO Award twice – in 2009 and 2019. In 2018 the college’s Area Commission voted to rename the college’s Main Campus in North Charleston to honor Thornley for her years of service and leadership. The college’s original and largest campus is now the Thornley Campus.

For highlights of Dr. Thornley's tenure as president of Trident Technical College, click here.

May 9, 2023 - Trident Technical College honors top students and organizations at Awards Day

Trident Technical College honored its top students and student organizations at the annual Awards Day ceremony on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center located on Thornley Campus.

Michelle Mobley, a Nursing graduate from Summerville, received the top award of the day, the Dr. Mary Thornley Distinguished Community Leadership Award. Presented by the Trident Technical College president, this award is given to a graduate who demonstrates integrity, servant leadership and the potential to provide future leadership to their profession and the community. This award was first established in 2018 by the John M. Rivers, Jr. Foundation in honor of Dr. Thornley. The recipient chosen for this award is selected by the president with input from Cabinet.

The Patricia L. Kurtzman Memorial and Alumni Association Prize, also presented by the TTC president, is given to a graduate with high academic achievement and who demonstrates the potential to make a significant impact in their chosen career. This year’s recipient is Hector Cruz, a graduate of the Human Services program at Trident Tech.

Jim Kinard, president/CEO of the South Carolina State Credit Union, presented the State Credit Union Award to Chloe VanWagner of Summerville. This honor, which also includes a monetary gift, is presented to a returning student who demonstrates a commitment to service, exhibits perseverance toward completing higher education goals, displays commendable personal attributes, and serves as an exemplary role model to other students.

The Dr. Frankie Miller Leadership Award was created in honor of the former dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston, Frankie Miller, and is awarded to Mary Ann Koller this year. The Robert J. Brinkman Endowed Machine Tool Technology Award was presented by its namesake, the retired chairman and CEO of Brinkman International Group, and given to James “JP” McDeavitt.

Dr. Mary Thornley also recognized the Merit Award winners for their academic and personal excellence. Outstanding members of student organizations were recognized. The Student Nurses Association was named Outstanding Student Organization and Nathan Rex was named Outstanding Student Organization Advisor for his work with the Hospitality and Culinary Student Association. 

March 15, 2023 - Trident Technical College hosts 14th annual Electrician's Competition and Career Fair

The Charleston Electrical Contractors Association is hosting their 14th annual Electrician’s Competition and Career Fair on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place at Trident Technical College’s Thornley Campus, Bldg. 970, located at 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406.

The Electrician’s Competition and Career Fair is an excellent way for members in the community to learn more about careers in the electrical industry, learn about Trident Tech’s electrical programs, and to visit vendor and electrical display booths. People can even watch Charleston Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) apprentices compete for prizes. This competition allows first-, second-, third- and fourth-year electrical apprentices the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned through hands-on experience and classroom instruction. The event and parking are free for everyone. Free food and drinks will be available, and lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Dr. Mary Thornley, president of Trident Technical College, will give a special awards presentation at the end of the event from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Trident Tech and CECA welcome employees of electrical contractors, high school and college students and their families to attend the fair and learn more about the electrical industry.

Feb. 23, 2023 - Trident Technical College Foundation awarded $100,000 grant to support Dental Hygiene Clinic 

The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation recently awarded Trident Technical College Foundation a $100,000 grant to support the expansion of the college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic.

The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation awarded eight grants in the fall of 2022 to organizations working to improve the health of South Carolina’s economically vulnerable citizens. This grant will allow the college’s Dental Hygiene program to increase enrollment from 24 to 30 students and increase the number of patients that can be served in the dental clinic. The Trident Technical College Foundation plans to use the funds to purchase training equipment for the Dental Hygiene program.

Melissa Copeland, the Dental Services department head says, “Oral health is highly correlated with overall health, and there is a growing need for oral healthcare in our communities. There is also a great need for oral healthcare providers in our community. This grant will help us increase the number of students we can have in our dental hygiene program in order to educate them and prepare them for the dental hygiene profession. During the program, we offer low-cost care to those in the community who can benefit from it, so increasing the number of students will also increase the number of patients we can serve in our community. This grant helps serve the community in multiple ways and will help for many years to come.”

Trident Tech’s Dental Hygiene Clinic provides dental hygiene services to the general public, as well as the college’s students, faculty, staff and alumni. Clinic services include routine dental cleanings, comprehensive periodontal therapy, radiographs, sealants and whitening. The purpose of the Dental Hygiene Clinic is to provide access to quality oral health care and assist patients in eliminating and preventing oral disease while providing education and experience to Trident Tech students.

The Dental Hygiene Clinic is located on the college’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston. The facility is staffed and supervised by licensed dentists and dental hygienists. The dental hygiene students who provide care to patients have extensive education and training and must demonstrate competence in clinical services before being given permission to treat the public.

Nov. 16, 2022 - Trident Tech extending free tuition offer through spring 2024

Trident Technical College is extending its tuition-free initiative for another academic year, giving most South Carolina residents the opportunity to attend the college tuition-free through Spring Semester 2024.  The tuition-free initiative applies to all of the college’s more than 150 programs of study, including its popular university transfer programs that serve as the first two years of a four-year degree.

“Great jobs are going unfilled in our community because employers can’t find people with the right skills,” said Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley. “Not having to pay for tuition out of pocket removes one of the biggest hurdles for people who want to train or retrain to land one of the many in-demand jobs that are available.”

Both new and current students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be eligible to attend tuition free. New students and students who have not been enrolled during the last three semesters must also submit a college admission application. Other requirements vary based on the type of state aid awarded. The college will first apply any federal and state grants and scholarships awarded, then waive any remaining tuition, registration and course fees. Eligible students can attend either full or part time.

The college offers several terms during the semester. The next available term is the college’s Wintermester, which begins Dec. 14. Spring Semester classes begin Jan. 9. For more information visit www.tridenttech.edu or call 843-574-6111.

Oct. 4, 2022 - Trident Tech partners with College of Charleston on Transfer Program for Systems Engineering Majors

Businesses in South Carolina are clamoring for more engineers, and the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College have teamed up to help meet that demand. The two institutions have created a 2+2 program that provides a clear map for the courses students need to take at Trident Tech in order to have all their credits transfer to the College of Charleston so they graduate in four years with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering.

“We are excited to increase the pool of career-ready graduates in the Lowcountry,” says Sebastian van Delden, dean of the School of Sciences and Mathematics. “The MOU establishes sequencing maps for Trident Tech students so they know exactly what courses to take for their two-year associate degree so they can come to the College of Charleston and graduate with a systems engineering degree after two more years.”

“Many of our students want to continue their studies and earn a four-year engineering degree,” says Tim Fulford, dean of the Division of Engineering and Construction at Trident Tech. “This 2+2 pathway is an excellent opportunity for Trident Technical College students to earn a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and enter the highly in demand advanced manufacturing job market.”

The 2+2 systems engineering program, which went into effect last month, will serve as the road map for future 2+2 collaborations between Trident Tech and the College of Charleston. These programs will allow for businesses coming to South Carolina to hire locally and will strengthen the state’s position as a prime location for business and industry.

“More and more businesses are coming to South Carolina, particularly the Lowcountry, and they have diverse needs when it comes to employees,” says Suzanne Austin, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “By collaborating with Trident Tech, we can ensure students are on the right path to transfer to the College and succeed. And this will help support our growing economy.”

Sept. 7, 2022 - Nathan Rex named dean of Culinary Institute of Charleston

Nathan Rex

Nathan H. Rex has been named dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College. In this role, Rex will oversee all academic programs, including culinary arts, baking and pastry, and hospitality and tourism management, offered by the college. He will also oversee the Conference Services department, which offers rental spaces and event planning services for meetings, conferences, weddings, receptions and banquets.

Since 2015, Rex served as Hospitality and Tourism department chair and has been responsible for leadership and management of the hospitality and tourism programs.

Rex holds dual associate degrees in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Technology from the Culinary Institute of Charleston, where he received a Merit Award; a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management from the University of South Carolina; and an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Prior to joining the college, Rex served as the resort manager for the 3,000-room luxury property The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His hospitality experience also includes positions as the director of front office at the Ravella Resort, assistant executive housekeeper and assistant front desk manager at the MGM Grand and front office manager at the Platinum Hotel, all in Las Vegas.  

The Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College offers four associate degrees and 12 certificate programs. For more information, click here.

Sept. 2, 2022 - Trident Technical College president participates in White House event to launch Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative

Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley participated in a White House event in Washington, D.C., Sept. 1 to help launch a new national Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative. U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and First Lady Jill Biden hosted the event for leaders of the initiative. Thornley represented the nation’s community colleges during a panel discussion on expanding apprenticeship opportunities.

The Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative is a national network of employers and industry organizations, labor organizations, educators, workforce intermediaries and community-based organizations who are committed to strengthening and diversifying Registered Apprenticeship. Registered Apprenticeship is a high-quality, debt-free, equitable “earn and learn” model with a nationally recognized credential system that helps employers hire a more demographically diverse workforce and provides workers with on-the-job learning experience with a mentor, job-related instruction and a clear pathway to a good-paying job. Trident Technical College is one of more than 200 organizations selected to serve in the first cohort of Apprenticeship Ambassadors. The Apprenticeship Ambassadors have existing Registered Apprenticeship programs in over 40 in-demand industries and have committed to expand and diversify these programs over the next year by collectively: developing 460 new Registered Apprenticeship programs across their 40 industries, hiring over 10,000 new apprentices, and holding 5,000 outreach, promotional and training events to help other business, labor and education leaders launch similar programs. Ambassadors will also use their expertise to scale innovative practices and increase access to Registered Apprenticeship for underserved populations, including women, youth, people of color, rural communities, people with arrest or conviction records, and people with disabilities.

“Registered Apprenticeship programs have power – the power to change lives in remarkable ways and the power to accelerate our economy and build strong communities,” said Thornley. “Trident Technical College and our partners in the Charleston region have seen tremendous successes as a result of our collective commitment to building and providing these high-quality educational opportunities for the citizens in our community. As an Apprenticeship Ambassador we are passionately committed to expanding these opportunities within our community, to sharing this vision with others, and to promoting and supporting the development of Registered Apprenticeships in other communities across the nation.”

Trident Technical College is a national leader in apprenticeships. The college has worked with local employers for more than 40 years to offer adult apprenticeships. Since 2014 the college has worked with employers, Apprenticeship Carolina, local school districts, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and philanthropic donors to offer youth apprenticeships for high school students. As an Apprenticeship Ambassador, the college has committed to work with more local employers, K-12 partners and community organizers to expand to 400 apprentices across 10 industry sectors in the next year. The college will also develop new Registered Apprenticeship programs in mechatronics, transportation and education. As a partner in New America’s Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) Initiative, Trident Tech is committed to offering technical training to communities across the country so they can rapidly adopt Registered Apprenticeships.

Aug. 3, 2022 - All Trident Tech programs offered tuition free for 2022-23 academic year

All of Trident Technical College’s programs of study will be available tuition free for eligible South Carolina residents for the 2022-23 academic year thanks to additional funding provided by the state.

In recent years South Carolina residents have been able to enroll in a number of career training programs at Trident Tech without paying out of pocket for tuition and fees. With the additional funding from the state, the college is able to offer all of its programs, including its popular university transfer programs, tuition free for the full 2022-23 academic year.

Both new and current students should complete a 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing the FAFSA may provide additional federal and state funding. New students and students who have not been enrolled during the last three semesters must submit a college admission application and be accepted to the college before registering for classes. Other requirements vary based on the type of state aid awarded. The college will first apply any federal and state grants and scholarships awarded, then waive any remaining tuition, registration and course fees. Eligible students can attend either full or part time.

The college offers several terms during the fall semester. The first fall semester classes begin Aug. 22. For more information click here or call 843-574-6111.


July 28, 2022 - Anita Zucker to lead Trident Technical College governing board

Anita Zucker

InterTech Group Chair Anita Zucker began a two-year term as chair of the Trident Technical College Area Commission July 1 after serving as the commission’s vice chair since 2018.

The college’s nine-member Area Commission governing board is comprised of three members each from Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Commission members are appointed by the governor upon the recommendation of the legislative delegations in Berkeley and Charleston counties and by the county council in Dorchester County. Zucker represents Charleston County and has served on the commission since 2007. She takes over as chair from Dr. Yvonne Barnes of Berkeley County who served two two-year terms as chair.

The college’s Area Commission members select their chair, vice chair and treasurer every two years through a nomination and voting process. William Blanton of Berkeley County is vice chair of the Area Commission. Margie Morse of Charleston County serves as the commission’s treasurer.

July 26, 2022 - Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship program celebrates its largest class of apprentices

The Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships (CRYA) program celebrated career education with its largest class of apprentices at Signing Day 2022 held Tuesday, July 26, at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

The breakfast event, sponsored by Regions Bank, recognized CRYA’s ninth signing class with 90 new youth apprentices, hired by 51 employers across 16 career fields. The students represent all four local school districts, charter and private schools, as well as homeschool associations from the tricounty area.

TTC President Mary Thornley opened the program with a welcome, followed with remarks by Taylor White, national director of Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA) and senior policy advisor for K-12 Education and Workforce, New America. The event was highlighted by a panel discussion facilitated by Thornley with three former youth apprentices who discussed how the program set them up for success in their career fields. The panel consisted of Daniela Figueroa, graduate of Fort Dorchester High School and current Trident Health employee; Byrone Porcher, graduate of Wando High School and current employee at Wild Dunes Resort; and Colton Pitcher, graduate of Cane Bay High School and former Boeing South Carolina apprentice. Pitcher’s mother, Susan Pitcher, also joined the panel discussion as a parent and school counselor.

The discussion was followed by the official signing of the youth apprentices with their employers representing Automotive, Baking and Pastry, CNA/Pre-Nursing, Computer Networking, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Engineering Technician, Hotel Operations, HVAC, Industrial Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Medical Office Assistant, Security/Pre-Law Enforcement, Sterile Processing Technician, Supply Chain Analyst and Welding. 

Through CRYA, Trident Tech connects qualified high school students with participating employers. The employers interview and hire the students, who then begin employment while taking high school and college courses. At the completion of the apprenticeships, students will have earned a high school diploma, a TTC certificate, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience.

All costs associated with the program, including tuition, books and most materials for apprenticeship-related courses at Trident Technical College, are paid for while apprentices are working for a participating employer through the support of several funders. The 2022-23 funders include Apprenticeship Carolina/U.S. Department of Labor, Bank of America, Boeing, Charleston Engineers Joint Council, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA), Regions Foundation, Truist and TTC Foundation.

Learn more.

Feb. 18, 2022 - Culinary Institute of Charleston chef to cook on NBC's 'Today' show

Chef Kevin Mitchell will share a taste of the Lowcountry with the rest of the country during live “Today” show cooking demonstrations on Thursday, Feb. 24. Mitchell, a chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College, will cook in the “Today” show’s kitchen during both “Today” and “Today with Hoda & Jenna.” During “Today,” Mitchell will cook fish and grits with tomato gravy. During “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” he’ll cook blackened salmon with curried black-eyed peas and collards.

The NBC show’s crew recently visited the Charleston area and filmed Mitchell at Joseph Fields Farm on Johns Island and in one of his classes in the Culinary Institute’s kitchens on Trident Tech’s North Charleston campus. “Today” show producers are interested in Mitchell’s work as both a culinarian and an historian, and how he connects South Carolina cuisine to the people who helped create it.

After working at restaurants across the country, Mitchell joined the faculty at the Culinary Institute of Charleston in 2008. In addition to holding two degrees from the Culinary Institute of America, he holds a master’s degree in Southern studies from the University of Mississippi. He is a Nathalie Dupree Graduate Fellow of the Southern Foodways Alliance and has served as a South Carolina Chef Ambassador. He and co-author David Shields recently released a story-driven cookbook, “Taste of the State - South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories,” that provides the rich history behind South Carolina’s signature dishes and their distinctive ingredients.

Dec. 4, 2021 - State scholarship to cover tuition and fees for many Trident Tech students this spring

Thanks to a new workforce training scholarship program, many Trident Technical College students will be able to take classes without paying tuition and fees this coming spring semester.

Gov. Henry McMaster announced the Workforce Scholarships for the Future pilot program in November as a way to address South Carolina’s labor shortage. The program will use $17 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund money to cover tuition and fees for students who enroll in workforce training programs at the state’s 16 technical colleges. Most of Trident Tech’s associate degree, diploma and certificate programs prepare graduates to enter the workforce after program completion, so thousands of students will be eligible to receive a scholarship.

To be eligible, a student must be a South Carolina resident and either be employed or be willing to take a free financial literacy course offered by Trident Tech or provide 100 hours of volunteer service to a nonprofit or public service organization. Students must also maintain a 2.0 GPA. Eligibility is not based on income, but completion of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid is required. Workforce Scholarship funds will be applied after other state and federal financial aid is awarded.

Funding for the pilot program is available only for spring semester 2022, which begins Jan. 10 at Trident Tech. The governor has called upon the General Assembly to provide an additional $124 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to extend the program through June 30, 2024.

For more information about the scholarship program, visit bit.ly/WorkforceScholarships.

Dec. 1, 2021 - Trident Tech offers Industry 4.0 seminars for manufacturing employees

A partnership between Trident Technical College, the SC Council on Competitiveness (the Council), Bosch Rexroth and Fraunhofer USA has enabled the creation of two training seminars for manufacturing employees to learn, design and develop strategies to help their companies adapt to Industry 4.0 (i4.0) technologies.

Funding for the development of these courses comes from the SC Department of Commerce, via the SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance (an initiative of the Council), and Bosch Rexroth. The seminars have been developed by Fraunhofer USA and are available at Trident Technical College.

Industry 4.0, or the fourth revolution of manufacturing, refers to the use of interconnectivity, data and automation in the manufacturing process. This approach of combining IT knowledge with engineering principles results in increased efficiency and cost effectiveness to manufacturers.

“Manufacturing companies, especially small- and medium-sized organizations, face an uphill task to conceptualize, select, implement and document an i4.0 journey that will address underlying business problem statements, increase return on investment and drive competitiveness to benefit their client base,” said Dr. Marcel Schaefer, senior program manager for the Council’s SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance. “The necessary skill sets, methodologies and understanding of the key benefits of the i4.0 journey remain out of reach for most of these organizations.”

These seminars will be taught at Trident Technical College as part of the college’s workforce training opportunities and will be held at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center on Thornley Campus in North Charleston. These course offerings are targeted to manufacturing employees and benefit any company interested in boosting efficiency and lowering operating costs.

The seminars will be offered Jan. 27-28, 2022. The cost is $795 per day. The seminar on Jan. 27 introduces participants to i4.0 technologies. The seminar on Jan. 28 navigates through challenges, best practices, success stories and solutions. After completing both seminars, participants receive a certificate of completion.

To register for these seminars, visit https://www.tridenttech.edu/ce/info/industry-seminar.htm. For more information, please contact David Liebal, Trident Technical College instructor, at david.liebal@tridenttech.edu or 843-574-6161.

Sept. 17, 2021 - Trident Technical College holding open house for S.C. Aeronautical Training Center

Trident Technical College’s newest building, the South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center, will be open to the public for an open house on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 3-7 p.m. The S.C. Aeronautical Training Center is located on the college’s Thornley Campus, 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston.

At this drop-in event, visitors can tour the building to see classrooms and lab areas, including the Aeronautical Studies lab and the Advanced Manufacturing lab, as well as state-of-the-art equipment including a flight simulator, 5-axis CNC machines, robotics trainers, 3D printers and automation trainers.

Faculty members will provide information and answer questions about the programs taught in the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center, including Aeronautical Studies, Engineering and Construction, and Manufacturing and Maintenance.

Additional college departments will also be available at the open house, including those that provide vital help with college application, enrollment, registration, and financial aid and veterans assistance processes, including Recruiting, the Educational Opportunity Center, The Hub, and Financial Aid and Veterans Assistance.

For a campus map showing the location of the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center, click here.

For more information, email SCATC@tridenttech.edu or call 843.323.3501.

Aug. 30, 2021 - Trident Tech offers Industry 4.0 seminars for manufacturing employees

A partnership between Trident Technical College, the SC Council on Competitiveness (the Council), Bosch Rexroth and Fraunhofer USA has enabled the creation of two training seminars for manufacturing employees to learn, design and develop strategies to adapt to Industry 4.0 (i4.0) technologies for their companies.

Funding for the development of these courses comes from the SC Department of Commerce, via the SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance (an initiative of the Council), and Bosch Rexroth. The seminars are being developed by Fraunhofer USA and will be available at Trident Technical College starting in fall 2021.

Industry 4.0, or the fourth revolution of manufacturing, refers to the use of interconnectivity, data and automation in the manufacturing process. This approach of combining IT knowledge with engineering principles results in increased efficiency and cost effectiveness to manufacturers.

“Manufacturing companies, especially small- and medium-sized organizations, face an uphill task to conceptualize, select, implement and document an i4.0 journey that will address underlying business problem statements, increase return on investment and drive competitiveness to benefit their client base,” said Dr. Marcel Schaefer, senior program manager for the Council’s SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance. “The necessary skill sets, methodologies and understanding of the key benefits of the i4.0 journey remain out of reach for most of these organizations.”

These seminars will be taught at Trident Technical College as part of the college’s workforce training opportunities and will be held at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center, Trident Technical College’s newest building. These course offerings are targeted to manufacturing employees and benefit any company interested in boosting efficiency and lowering operating costs.

The seminars will be offered Sept. 23-24, 2021. The cost is $795 per day. The seminar on Sept. 23 introduces participants to i4.0 technologies. The seminar on Sept. 24 navigates through challenges, best practices, success stories and solutions. After completing both seminars, participants receive a certificate of completion.

To register for these seminars, visit https://www.tridenttech.edu/ce/info/industry-seminar.htm. For more information, please contact David Liebal, Trident Technical College instructor, at david.liebal@tridenttech.edu or 843-574-6161.

Aug. 4, 2021 - Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships program celebrates new class of apprentices at Signing Day

The Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships (CRYA) program celebrated career education with hundreds of students, business leaders, educators, funders and special guests at the Signing Day 2021 event held Thursday, July 29, at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

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 Regions Bank, began with opening remarks from TTC President Mary Thornley. It was highlighted by a panel discussion facilitated by Thornley with four current and former youth apprentices. Kevin Boyd (graduate of Academic Magnet High School), Keyshon Green (graduate of Burke High School), Keri Sheffield (graduate of Hanahan High School) and Allison Shipp (graduate of Wando High School) discussed how their apprenticeships changed their lives.

The discussion was followed by the official signing of the youth apprentices with their employers representing Automotive, Baking and Pastry, CNA/Pre-Nursing, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Hotel Operations, HVAC, Industrial Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Networking, PLTW Engineer Technician and Welding.

Through CRYA, Trident Tech connects qualified high school students with participating employers. The employers interview and hire the students, who then begin employment while taking high school and college courses. At the completion of the apprenticeships, students will have earned a high school diploma, a TTC certificate, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience.

All costs associated with the program, including tuition, books and most materials for apprenticeship-related courses at Trident Technical College, are paid for while apprentices are working for a participating employer through the support of several funders. Funders include Apprenticeship Carolina/U.S. Department of Labor, Bank of America, Boeing, Charleston Engineers Joint Council, Daniel Island Rotary, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA), Regions Bank Foundation and Truist. Currently, there are 45 business partners who have or are interested in hiring youth apprentices for the 2021-22 academic school year.

July 29, 2021 - Fall semester at Trident Tech shaped by lessons learned during pandemic

After moving most classes online, employing new technologies and developing new teaching methodologies during the pandemic, Trident Technical College is not going back to business as usual this fall.

“Trident Tech students can anticipate a wider variety of course format offerings than ever before,” said Dr. Cathy Almquist, vice president for education at Trident Tech. “The TTC faculty are enthusiastic about employing the lessons learned during the pandemic to create the best possible learning environment while improving the accessibility and flexibility of a TTC education.”

In addition to offering traditional face-to-face classes this fall, the college has expanded its hybrid offerings, which combine traditional lecture instruction with online learning, and added additional fully online sections. The college developed two new methodologies this past year, scheduled online meetings and open labs, that will be employed again this fall. Like online courses, students in scheduled online meetings are not required to come to campus, but like traditional classes these classes meet virtually on scheduled days at specified times. Open labs allow students the opportunity to schedule times to perform hands-on lab skills.

The college has also expanded its minimester offerings, with four three-week terms available this fall. The three-week minimesters are an addition to the college’s normal seven-week and 14-week class options. Minimesters begin Aug. 23, Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 15.

Many students will be able to attend Trident Tech tuition-free this fall. By combining different sources of financial aid, the college is offering more than 70 tuition-free programs, including the college’s new Commercial Truck Driving and Police Pre-Academy Training programs.

Summerville residents who plan to take in-person classes this fall will have the opportunity to stay closer to home with the opening of the college’s new Dorchester Campus in the Oakbrook area of Summerville. The recently opened campus on Dorchester Road features two science labs, two HVAC labs, and general education classrooms. The Dorchester Campus is Trident Tech’s fifth campus. The college has other campuses in North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, downtown Charleston and Moncks Corner.

Registration for fall semester is ongoing. Students must first submit an admission application and be accepted to the college before registering for classes. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 23. For more information visit www.tridenttech.edu.

July 28, 2021 - Bank of America renews investment in workforce development, TTC Youth Apprenticeship Program

Trident Technical College (TTC) is the recipient of a $30,000 grant from Bank of America in support of the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships (CRYA) Program. The support from Bank of America provides needed funding to cover program-related costs, including tuition and course-related materials such as books, tools, uniforms and equipment, removing any financial barriers to participation and allowing more students from lower income backgrounds to take full advantage of the program. 

Bank of America has been a longtime supporter of youth apprenticeships, and its ongoing investment in the future workforce has been a significant factor in the growing success of this program. The timing of the grant aligns with the announcement of this year’s Youth Apprenticeship Signing Day celebration, July 29, during which students officially become employees and begin their apprenticeships. 

“Trident Technical College and the Youth Apprenticeship program are fundamentally aligned with Bank of America’s longstanding commitment to education and workforce development,” said Mark Munn, President of Bank of America Charleston and Hilton Head Island. “Partnerships and programs like this support a strong educational foundation, a diverse pipeline of skilled workers, and opportunities to earn a living wage, in order to pave the way for long-term vibrancy and sustainability of our local economy.”

Apprenticeships offer numerous benefits to students. Research indicates that as earners of dual credit coursework, these students will be more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college, have strong college grade point averages, and progress toward college completion. Additionally, youth apprentices develop employability skills and self-confidence, are motivated by the hands-on nature of their study and work, receive valuable mentoring, and build connections to the workforce. The apprenticeship program provides an immersive employment experience and prepares students for immediate job opportunities after graduation, often with program employers.

For youth apprenticeships, TTC partners with a range of high schools (district, charter, home and private/parochial), the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Apprenticeship Carolina and industry partners. TTC delivers educational curriculum developed with local employers and customized to industry needs. High schools promote the program’s availability to their students, while the Chamber encourages employer engagement and Apprenticeship Carolina assists employers with registering with the US Department of Labor. Employers hire and oversee the apprentices’ on-the-job training, provide mentoring, evaluate students’ progress, and provide a scalable wage.

Jan. 14, 2021 - Truist Foundation awards $1 million grant for transportation center at Trident Tech

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 distribution centers and manufacturing plants by offering CDL training and other transportation-related programs,” said Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley. “The high-tech workforce training facility will serve apprentices and adults seeking new skills and job opportunities, as well as high school graduates and others who are interested in rapid access to employment.”

Truist Market President Mark Lattanzio said the Truist Foundation is grateful to be able to take such a significant leadership role in support of the project. “This is a transformational initiative in the Lowcountry that will create jobs that will be impactful to the maritime, logistics and manufacturing sectors critical to the entire state of South Carolina,” said Lattanzio, speaking on behalf of the Truist Foundation. “Creating the training needed to fill these high-paying jobs will greatly benefit the entire distribution ecosystem and build career pathways to economic mobility among racially and ethnically diverse communities, including people who have lost jobs and do not otherwise have a platform to enter the logistics workforce. This training center will benefit regional economic development, stability of critical infrastructure and supply chain resiliency.

Trident Tech’s Berkeley Campus opened in 1982 when Berkeley County was much less developed. The campus is now located in one of the fastest-growing areas of the state in terms of both residential and economic development.

Nov. 19, 2020 - Trident Technical College president receives Order of the Palmetto

Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley received the state’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, from Gov. Henry McMaster Nov. 19 during a virtual Trident Technical College Foundation board meeting. Foundation staff members presented the award to Thornley as a video of the governor’s remarks was shown during the online meeting. The Order of the Palmetto is awarded to citizens of South Carolina for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance. Gov. John C. West presented the first Order of the Palmetto in 1971.

Thornley has worked at the college for 47 years. She was hired as an adjunct instructor in 1973 and became a full-time instructor the next year. Over time she moved up the ranks and held positions including department head, dean and vice president for academic affairs. She was named president in 1991. During her tenure, the college has more than doubled in physical size, and the college’s enrollment has grown to almost 12,000 students, making Trident Tech the third largest college in the state. Thornley has played a pivotal role in expanding the role of the technical college system in South Carolina beyond education, to include playing a valuable role in attracting economic development. Whether retraining those displaced by the Navy base closure or working with readySC and Apprenticeship Carolina to ensure that new employers have a trained workforce as they stand up operations, Thornley has been at the forefront. With the departure of Johnson & Wales University, she worked with industry leaders to develop the Culinary Institute of Charleston to build a workforce to meet the demands of the state’s hospitality industry. Partnering with the region’s county leaders, she secured funding for the college’s Nursing and Science Building to address the growing nurse shortage. With the entry of major aeronautics and automotive manufacturers into the region, such as Boeing, Mercedes and Volvo, a large, reliable source of employees with advanced manufacturing skills was needed. She campaigned for the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center, which opened on the college’s North Charleston campus in 2019. She worked with the Commerce Department and readySC to develop a regional training center and developed a lean manufacturing certificate program to enable more state residents to meet employers’ manufacturing experience requirement. She was also an early advocate of partnering with secondary schools on programs such as early college, dual credit and the nationally acclaimed youth apprenticeship program.

Thornley has made equity in enrollment, program completion, campus environment and employment and promotion a hallmark of her 29-year tenure as president. Her commitment to equity has been recognized with 2016, 2017 and 2019 S.C. Association of Technical College Commissioners equity awards, the 2017 Association of Community College Trustees Southern Region Equity Award, and the 2017 Association of Community College Trustees Charles Kennedy National Equity Award. She has received numerous other awards including the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners CEO Award, the Septima P. Clark Charleston Branch NAACP Education Award and Joseph P. Riley Leadership Award.

In 2018 the college’s main campus in North Charleston became the Thornley Campus after the college’s Area Commission voted to rename the campus to honor Thornley’s long tenure as president and recognize her outstanding leadership at the college and in the community. Trident Tech has three other campuses in the region: Palmer Campus in downtown Charleston, Berkeley Campus in Moncks Corner, and Mount Pleasant Campus in Mount Pleasant. The college will open a fifth campus, the Dorchester Campus, in Summerville in 2021. The college also provides services at two sites, one in Hollywood and the other in St. George.

Oct. 13, 2020 - Trident Tech awarded $1.9 million grant to promote STEM pathways

The Department of Defense has awarded Trident Technical College $1.9 million to implement the Building Outreach Opportunities to Motivate and Inspire the Next Generation in STEM (BOOMING in STEM) initiative to help address acute STEM workforce needs in the Charleston region.

Working with partners Joint Base Charleston and the Charleston Promise Neighborhood, Trident Tech will use the funding to provide camps and coursework to engage youth in STEM activities and connect them to educational offerings and work experiences. The project will create STEM career pathways for military-connected, rural and disadvantaged K-12 students, primarily focusing on students age 7-18.

“Creating clear pathways for students to explore STEM options and train for STEM careers will strengthen and expand the regional talent pipeline,” said TTC’s Vice President for Education Cathy Almquist. “This project will help our region address the need for well-trained, diverse employees in fields such as advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, which are critical Department of Defense priorities.”

The college is one of only 12 institutions in the country to receive a National Defense Education Program Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) award from the Department of Defense this year. The department will provide more than $31 million to the 12 educational and industry partners over a three-year period to establish or expand STEM education, outreach and workforce initiatives for students and educators from early childhood through college.

“The Department of Defense is proud to support the STEM workforce our nation needs to maintain our technological superiority far into the future,” said Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Kratsios. “We are particularly pleased with the range of initiatives pursued by this year’s awardees, with programs for early childhood education, postsecondary study and outreach to student veterans. This investment will be critical to expanding STEM opportunities to students, educators and veterans in underserved, underrepresented and military-connected communities.”

Aug. 20, 2020 - TTC announces 2019-20 SKIP Award recipients

Trident Technical College announced the 2019-20 SKIP Award recipients Monday at the college’s annual faculty and staff meeting, held virtually for the first time due to social distancing restrictions as a result of COVID-19.

The SKIPs were created by former Trident Tech vice president Skip Godow to identify and reward employees who are setting an example of innovation at TTC. "Good is the enemy of great," Godow said. “We should always be striving for great. That takes creativity, imagination and innovation.”

The nominations exemplify innovation that significantly enhances the student experience, improves an administrative process or puts TTC on the cutting edge. Awards were given in each of two categories, non-instructional and instructional.

The Phi Theta Kappa Advisory team of Carmela Gordon, Daryl Milligan, Brenda Oxford, Mozell Rollerson and Chris Solomon won the non-instructional award for the PTK Grocery Vault.

In 2019, this team decided to elevate the food pantry to better serve the college. Team members identified additional needs and researched ways to provide healthier food options. They transformed the food panty into a wellness pantry, expanded service options and created a facility where students can be prepared to lead. As a result, they were able to serve 111 households and distributed more than 15,000 pounds of food, including 40% more fresh produce and meats.

Pharmacy Technician program coordinator Janell Geddis’s restructuring of the Pharmacy Tech program earned her the SKIP Award for the instructional category.

Recognizing the program needed an overhaul, Geddis created an innovative academic and continuing education hybrid program that would meet the needs of today’s students and employers.

Working collaboratively with Continuing Education, she developed a Pharmacy Technician certificate program with evening hours to accommodate students who had employers willing to subsidize training as well as those who already had bachelor’s degrees and only needed technical training.

The new program was very successful and led her to revise the academic program to mirror the shorter-term, working-adult-friendly format. The academic option would allow students who needed federal financial aid or scholarships to attend. Working closely with industry partners, she ensured students would leave the program with the skills employers needed.

SKIP is an acronym for Strategy + Knowledge = Innovation Prize. The TTC Foundation awarded winners, who were selected by a committee of innovative leaders in the community, a hand-sculpted trophy and $1,000.

Established in 1975, the TTC Foundation exists to advocate and raise funds for the college to support the region's economy. The TTC Foundation is a separate and independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

June 12, 2020 - TTC Statement on Equality and Respect

Trident Technical College stands in support of the African American members of the community we serve. We reject all forms of discrimination. We affirm the guiding principles of our mission: equality, advocacy, individual worth, and mutual respect.

We seek to model the change we want to see in the world. We work to prepare our students to see from various angles. We strive to demonstrate to them, and to each other, that we are able to see perspectives different from our own, and, in so doing, become more empathetic and responsive. And we work to ensure that all of our campus community’s voices are heard, that all know we value them as individuals, and that we respect each other not just for our strengths but also for our struggles. Trident Technical College commits to mutually respectful, humanizing dialogue as we work to change our campuses and our community.

April 8, 2020 - Trident Technical College produces reusable masks for local health care workers

Trident Technical College’s new South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center has not been sitting idle while the college’s campuses are closed to the public. Working alone in an advanced manufacturing lab, TTC Vice President for Continuing Education and Economic Development Bob Walker has been working as a one-man production line for personal protective equipment (PPE) using six of the college’s 3D printers.

The college offered to create reusable masks for health care workers at the Medical University of South Carolina after learning of MUSC’s request for PPE. Using design files provided by MUSC, Walker converted the files to programs needed by the college’s 3D printers. He is using the printers to produce small, medium and large masks, as well as cartridge housings for filters. The first supply of parts was delivered to MUSC on April 8. The hospital will handle the final assembly, adding filters, head straps and liners to the masks. Portions of the masks can be sanitized and reused, which reduces the hospital’s dependence on fully disposable masks.

After refining the production process in the lab on campus, Walker received permission from the college’s president to move the printers to his home where he can better monitor the printing and increase the production yield. He hopes to produce around 40 to 50 masks a week with the printers running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At MUSC’s request, Walker is also exploring the possibility of making head strap assemblies for face shields. The crash course in PPE production has been both fun and frustrating, said Walker, but also very rewarding. “We’re just trying to help out in any way we can those fighting this battle on the front lines,” he said.

March 7, 2020 - Tricounty students, schools earn academic accolades at 34th Annual QUEST Competition

Approximately 1,470 students from 44 public schools throughout Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties battled for top honors at the 34th Annual Quest Academic Competition held Saturday at Trident Technical College’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

Students participated in four levels of competition: Level I-grade 6, Level II-grades 7-8, Level III-grades 9-10 and Level IV-grades 11-12. Students competed and earned points in team competitions in math, science and social studies, and in individual competitions including composition, public speaking and visual arts. Special competitions were held in automotive, computer aided design, computer programming, culinary, engineering design and construction, horticulture, medical terminology, Spanish, video/film and welding. Schools whose students earned the most total points won overall awards at each level.

Overall awards were given to 12 schools. At Level I (grade 6), Marrington Middle School of the Arts won first place, Rollings Middle School of the Arts placed second and Camp Road Middle School finished in third place. At Level II (grades 7-8), Moultrie Middle School took top honors, while Charleston County School of the Arts and Camp Road Middle School tied for second place. At Level III (grades 9-10), Stratford High School claimed first place with Academic Magnet High School in second place and Wando High School in third place. At Level IV (grades 11-12) Wando High School won first place with Ashley Ridge High School and Hanahan High School finishing in second and third places, respectively.

The Quest competition was developed by TTC to promote academic excellence, provide an academic challenge to students, and recognize top students, teachers and schools.

Nov. 8, 2019 - Trident Technical College celebrates opening of the South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center

Trident Technical College officially opened its new $80 million South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center Friday, Nov. 8, with a ribbon cutting and tour of the 218,000-square-foot facility (including ramp) located on the college’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

Invited guests gathered in one of the center’s aircraft hangars for the opening ceremony with remarks by Gov. Henry McMaster; Sen. Hugh Leatherman, Senate Finance Committee Chair; Anita Zucker, CEO, InterTech Group; Elliott Summey, Chair, Charleston County Council; Lane Ballard, Vice President of Boeing South Carolina 787 Delivery and Paint; and Dean Marsh, Managing Director, Dassault Systèmes.

The hangar door was raised, and Dr. Mary Thornley and the guest speakers officially opened the center by cutting a ribbon. Following a light show set against a backdrop of airplanes positioned on the aircraft ramp, guests explored the hangars, outfitted with a section of a Boeing 787 fuselage, a flight simulator and other aircraft training aids. A self-guided tour of the three-story building provided the opportunity to see the many training labs equipped with high-tech advanced manufacturing equipment.

College officials initially envisioned a center that would primarily serve the needs of the state’s growing aerospace industry and the desire of South Carolinians to prepare for jobs in the aerospace sector. However, after Volvo Cars and Mercedes Benz Vans announced plans for manufacturing facilities in the Lowcountry, the college expanded the scope of the facility to encompass a broader mix of advanced manufacturing technology training.

The center includes an aircraft ramp, two hangars with high bays to accommodate a variety of aircraft and large aircraft training aids, 22 classrooms, 25 specialty labs, six flex-space labs, 37 offices, meeting spaces, a café and catering kitchen. The center’s labs and classrooms are equipped with cutting-edge industry-standard technology, including programmable robotic equipment, 3D printers and computer numerical control machines. The center also has composite material labs where students will learn to manufacture and repair the strong, lightweight structural material used in airplanes, vehicles, boats and other applications.

Previously, the college’s aircraft assembly, aircraft maintenance and avionics programs were spread across two campuses and five buildings. The new center houses all of the college’s Aeronautical Studies programs and provides space for other applied engineering academic programs, as well as continuing education courses and customized training in advanced manufacturing. ReadySC’s Boeing Training Center, where pre-employment, new hire and skill enhancement training for BoeingSC is held, is located on the building’s third floor. An estimated 5,370 students and 120 faculty and staff will use the facility annually.

“South Carolina has become a manufacturing hot spot, and this center will help sustain the state’s economic expansion by supplying the highly skilled workforce required by manufacturers and related industries that have made substantial investments in our state,” said TTC President Mary Thornley.

Thornley said the facility was designed to accommodate school tours and other events that will showcase the college’s hands-on training capabilities in manufacturing and related fields. “This will be not only an instructional space, but also an inspirational space that will ignite a spark in young minds to pursue high-tech, in-demand jobs with high wage potential,” she said. “Students don’t get excited about something until they can see, touch and experience it. This is where that magic will happen.” 

Construction funding came from local, state and federal sources. The South Carolina legislature provided $48.4 million. Charleston County provided $18.75 million. The City of North Charleston provided $1 million in cash and $337,000 in road work. Trident Tech invested $8.1 million in cash and land. The college also received $2.47 million in federal grants. The Zucker family provided an additional $6 million as a sustainability gift.

During the opening program, the college announced an educational partnership with Dassault Systémes, a software company that develops 3D design and engineering software used by major manufacturers including Mercedes Benz, Volvo and Boeing. The partnership will help address talent gaps by providing the training necessary to create the workforce of the future. Dassault and Trident Tech will establish the first Dassault innovation center in the Southeast, called the 3D Experience Center, which will be housed in the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center. Dassault is making a substantial investment toward the creation of the 3D Experience Center by providing Dassault 3D Experience software, cloud support for the 3D Experience platform, and paid internships for student support and mentoring. Professional development workshops for industry representatives and continuing education programs leading to certification in Dassault software will also be held in the 3D Experience Center.

LS3P Associates and T.Y. Lin | Lindbergh of Charleston designed the center. T.Q Constructors performed the site work including roads and utilities, and Turner Construction Company built the building. The new building was designed and built to meet green building and energy efficiency standards for high performance in the areas of project management, site, energy, water, resources, emissions, and indoor environment. The building’s design provides many sustainable features including a solar array that will provide approximately 210 kilowatts of power, enough electricity to power 33 typical houses. The building received New Construction certification from the Green Building Initiative, including the achievement of a Two Green Globes rating.

Oct. 28, 2019 - TTC students capture the transformation of Charleston’s Eastside for Palmer Campus’s 2019 Eastside Day

Trident Technical College’s Palmer Campus will take a look at the transformation of Charleston’s Eastside as part of their 2019 Spirit Week. Highlighting the week of activities will be an art gallery opening Wednesday, Oct. 30, featuring the work of TTC photography students showing the physical transformations of Charleston’s Eastside where the college’s downtown Charleston campus is located.

Some of the buildings have kept their familiar past. Some did not fare as well as others, and new houses and businesses have taken their place. The project shows that all grow from one stage of life to another as the Eastside changes and transforms. The gallery opening will take place from 6-7 p.m. and is open to the public.

The Palmer Campus will continue to capture the transformation of the community on Eastside Day Friday, Nov. 1, starting at noon. The campus will hold a panel discussion with representatives from the Eastside Community, along with presentations made by former TTC instructor Susan Millar Williams, co-author of “Upheaval in Charleston: Earthquake” and “Murder on the Eve of Jim Crow,” and Michele Moore, author of “The Cigar Factory: A Novel of Charleston.”

From the American Revolution to the explosion of tourism, Charleston’s Eastside neighborhood, developed as a high-end subdivision called Hampstead by slaveholder Henry Laurens, has, like the city itself, endured wars, natural disasters, economic booms and busts, and demographic shifts. Millar will present a lightning-round sketch of how historic Hampstead has evolved in response to challenges and opportunities. Moore will be speaking about the history of the cigar factory, including information about the historic 1945 strike which gave rise to the Civil Rights Anthem, "We Shall Overcome."

Spirit Week is held annually to celebrate the students of TTC and the heritage of the Eastside Community. Spirit Week 2019 will take place Oct. 28-Nov.1. In collaboration with TTC’s Film, Media and Visual Arts department, the Palmer Campus Spotlight Committee and the Early College High School, Palmer Campus has planned a week of student-driven activities that the community and TTC students, faculty and staff are invited to attend. All events are free.

A Spirit Week Kickoff will be held on Monday, Oct. 28, and followed by a Health Expo on Tuesday, Oct. 29, a College Transfer Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and a Safety Awareness event on Thursday, Oct. 31. The week will conclude with Eastside Day.

For times and locations of Spirit Week 2019 activities, see the attached flyer. For more information, contact Regina Smart at regina.smart@tridenttech.edu or 843.722.5562.

Aug. 2, 2019 - Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship program celebrates
new class of apprentices at Signing Day 2019

 

The Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship (CRYA) program celebrated career education with hundreds of students, business leaders, educators and special guests at the Signing Day 2019 breakfast held Tuesday at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

The breakfast, sponsored by Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), began with opening remarks from PAYA’s Senior Policy Analyst Taylor White. The event was highlighted by a panel discussion facilitated by TTC President Mary Thornley with former youth apprentices Dakota Duncan (graduate of Berkeley High School), Jessica Garcia (graduate of Fort Dorchester High School), Charles Gries (graduate of Charleston Charter Math and Science) and Ty’Celia Young (graduate of Garrett Academy of Technology), who discussed how their apprenticeships changed their lives.

The discussion was followed by remarks from State of South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Karen Dunn Kelley and White House Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy Michael Kratsios. 

Following the program, youth apprentices officially signed with their employers representing Automotive, Bookkeeping, CNA/Pre-Nursing, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Emergency Mechanical CAD Technician, Engineering Assistant, Hotel Operations, HVAC, Industrial Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Medical CAD, Medical Office Assistant, Networking, Security/Pre-Law Enforcement and Welding.

Through CRYA, Trident Tech connects qualified high school students with participating employers. The employers interview and hire the students, who then begin employment while taking high school and college courses. At the completion of the apprenticeships, students will have earned a high school diploma, a TTC certificate, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience.

All costs associated with the program, including tuition, books and most materials for apprenticeship-related courses at Trident Technical College, are covered while apprentices are working for a participating employer. Currently, there are over 160 business partners who have or are interested in hiring youth apprentices for the 2019‐20 academic school year.

May 8, 2019 - Trident Technical College honors employees for years of service

Trident Technical College honored 50 employees for their years of service at the college May 1, at the Thornley Campus in North Charleston. Employees were honored for 10, 20 and 30 years of employment with a breakfast and token of appreciation.

TTC 10 years of service: Pictured at right are employees who were recognized for 10 years of service at TTC, (top row) Michael Hodge, James Sidletsky, Judy Martin, Marshall Connor, Scott Henning, Mark Hunter, Angela Wimberly, Richard Latham, Kathy Simmons, (bottom row) Terrance Johnson, Michelle McClennon, Brenda Clayton, Tamara Lipsey, Jarae Szydlowski, Doyle Brooks, Joyce Svensen.


TTC 20 years of service:
A total of 18 employees were recognized for 20 years of service at TTC. Pictured at left are (top row) Randy Grimes, Suzy Chandler, Barry Franco, Bob Walker, Joe Potter, Thomas Fitzmaurice; (bottom row) Connie Jolly, Helen Sughrue, Hernetha Goodman, Melicent Middlebrook, Sylvia Blake, Cathy Elrod.

May 8, 2019 - Nursing Graduate Kristin Welborn receives Dr. Patricia L. Kurtzman Memorial and Alumni Association Prize

Trident Technical College honored several students and faculty members for their outstanding achievement and involvement in student organizations at TTC’s Awards Day ceremony held Thursday at the college’s Thornley Campus. Among the honorees was the top award winner of the day, nursing graduate Kristin Welborn of Mount Pleasant.

Welborn was honored with the Dr. Patricia L. Kurtzman Memorial and Alumni Association Prize, the highest honor which includes a monetary gift given to a graduating student on the basis of academic achievement, contributions to the college and community service.

With an undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech in mechanical engineering and a graduate degree in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan, Welborn worked in the field for several years, including work on projects such as developing stents for angioplasty procedures. She then stayed home to raise her children before deciding to embark on a new career through the nursing program at TTC.

Welborn started TTC in 2016 and graduated with an Associate in Science degree in Nursing in December 2018. Nursing instructor Gay Purcell describes her as “an exemplary student.” Welborn finished the program with a 4.0 grade point average, which is rarely done in the nursing program due to the rigorous curriculum and demanding schedule of both clinical and classroom requirements.

“Kristin excelled in the classroom, but also provided kind, compassionate and thoughtful care to her patients in the clinical setting and worked well with patients, families and staff nurses in the local hospitals where she attended clinical,” said Purcell. “Her quiet, humble, contemplative nature was respected by fellow students and her instructors, and she was always ready to greet with a smile.”

Welborn not only met the rigorous academic demands of the program, but she also was an active member in two campus organizations, the Student Nurses Association and the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society.

Upon graduation in December, Kristin passed her National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and became licensed as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) in the state of South Carolina. She is currently working full-time at East Cooper Medical Center as an R.N. in the Women's Services Unit where she cares for mothers and their babies, as well as women having gynecological surgeries.

May 8, 2019 -Outstanding students honored at Trident Technical College’s Awards Day

Merit Award Winners

Trident Technical College students and faculty members were recognized for their outstanding achievement and involvement in student organizations at TTC’s Awards Day ceremony held May 2, at the college’s Thornley Campus.

The Patricia L. Kurtzman Memorial and Alumni Association Prize, the highest honor which includes a monetary gift given to a graduating student on the basis of academic achievement, contributions to the college and community service, was awarded this year to Kristin Welborn, a nursing graduate from Mount Pleasant.

Charleston branch manager Jim Goddard and President/CEO Jim Kinard were on hand to present the S.C. State Credit Union Award to Early Care in Education-Childcare Management graduate Kimberley Lookabill of Hanahan. This award, which also includes a monetary gift, is presented to a returning student who demonstrates a commitment to service, exhibits perseverance toward completing higher educational goals, displays commendable personal attributes, and serves as an exemplary role model to other students.

The Dr. Frankie Miller Leadership Award, in honor of the former dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston (CIC), Frankie Miller, was awarded to Haruka Fukuoka of Ladson. Fukuoka was recognized with a $500 scholarship check from the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and an award from CIC.

The Merit Award winners also were recognized by TTC President Dr. Mary Thornley for their academic and personal excellence, identifying each recipient as the top student in his or her program of study. The Merit Award winners are: Accounting-Danielle P. Thrower; Administrative Office Technology-Denise Toney; Associate in Arts-Kimberly A. Kovacich; Associate in Arts-Savannah Steele; Associate in Science-Quyen Nhi Tran; Associate in Science/Homeland Security-Sean Buckmon; Business Administration/International Business-Miguel C. Flores; Commercial Graphics/Animation-Bryanna Cantrell; Commercial Graphics/Graphic Design-Jeanne Rodick; Commercial Graphics/Photography-Natalie Moreau; Computer Technology/Computer Programming-Taylor C. Bailey; Computer Technology/Information Systems Specialist-Emile D. Chavis; Criminal Justice-Dawn Lewis; Culinary Arts Technology-Shanette Yvette Coad; Culinary Arts Technology/Baking and Pastry-Brigette Elmore; Early Care and Education/School Age and Youth Development-Heidi Rader; General Technology-Madison R. Watson; Hospitality and Tourism-Kara Bailey; Media Arts Production/Film Production-Walker L. Rounsefell; Media Arts Production/Television and Media Arts-Regan Budig; Medical Assisting-Teresa Labar; Medical Lab Technology-Emily Garrison; Network Systems Management-Joshua Chavis; Nursing-Kristin Elizabeth Welborn; Paralegal-Stephanie Hable, Pharmacy Technician-Asia Boyd; Physical Therapy Assistance-Mary Pace; and Radiologic Technology-Robert J. Williams.

There are approximately 40 student organizations at TTC in which students have opportunities to network with other students who have similar interests, gain additional practice in their fields of study, interact with future colleagues, and offer time and energy to community service. Three organizations were recognized with Outstanding Student Organization awards. Winning the top honor was the Student Nurses Association, followed by Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association as first runner-up and Early Childhood Development Club and Society for Medical Laboratory Technology tied for second runner-up.

Awards of Distinction, given to student organizations that have won the Outstanding Student Organization award for more than three years, were presented to Society of Broadcasters and Phi Theta Kappa.

Outstanding Advisors and Outstanding Members of Student Organizations also were recognized. Society of Dental Assisting Advisor Katherine Moten tied with Phi Theta Kappa Advisor Chris Solomon for the top honor for Outstanding Student Organization Advisor. First runner-up was given to Heather Hobbs, advisor for Veterinary Technology Club, and second runner-up was given to Michelle Mantooth, advisor for Society of Medical Laboratory Technology.

Outstanding Student Organization Members included Elizabeth Brazell (Clemente Coalition); Heidi Radar (Early Childhood Development Club); Chloe Dawson (Pharmacy Technician Association); Angela Coxe (Phi Theta Kappa); Chesley Farnham (Physical Therapy Assistant Association); Christina Valipour (Radiologic Technology Association); Kyro Davis (Respiratory Care); Amy Burdette (Society for Dental Assisting); Amanda Mazza (Society for Medical Assistants); Kelly Grosskopf (Society for Medical Laboratory Technology); Jarrid King (Society of Broadcasters); Nicole Stolf (Student Accounting Association); Gabrielle Keating (Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association); Brittany Potts (Student Nurses Association); Jabrae Lanning (Veterinary Technology Club); and April LaRoche (Visual Arts Club).

Graphic Arts Student Design awards were also presented to Kemi Ogunji and Deanna Halenkamp for their all occasion and birthday greeting card designs.

March 20, 2019 - Learn about LIFE Scholarship

Trident Technical College is holding a “Learn about LIFE” info session April 9 at 6 p.m. at Thornley Campus (formerly Main Campus, 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, Bldg. 970/Rm. 108).

Many high school students and parents are unaware that there are fewer eligibility requirements to use the S.C. LIFE Scholarship at a two-year college than at a four-year college. This info session will provide additional information about eligibility, how to combine LIFE with other forms of financial aid, and requirements for keeping the scholarship.

For a complete list of suggested documents to bring, visit click here or call 843.574.6346.

March 6, 2019 - Top students, schools earn academic accolades at 33rd Annual QUEST Competition

Approximately 1,400 students from 42 public schools throughout Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties battled for top honors at the 33rd Annual Quest Academic Competition held Saturday at Trident Technical College Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

Students participated in four levels of competition: Level I-grade 6, Level II-grades 7-8, Level III-grades 9-10 and Level IV-grades 11-12. Students competed and earned points in team competitions in math, science and social studies, and in individual competitions including composition, public speaking and visual arts. Special competitions were held in automotive, computer aided design, computer programming, culinary, engineering design and construction, horticulture, Spanish, video/film and welding. Schools whose students earned the most total points won overall awards at each level.

 Overall awards were given to 15 schools. At Level I (grade 6), Camp Road Middle School won first place, Thomas C. Cario Middle School placed second and DuBose Middle School finished in third place. At Level II (grades 7-8), Moultrie Middle School took top honors, while Rollings Middle School of the Arts placed second and Palmetto Scholars Academy finished third. At Level III (grades 9-10), Academic Magnet High School claimed first place with Hanahan High School in second. There was a four-way tie for third place between Fort Dorchester, James Island Charter, Philip Simmons and Wando high schools. At Level IV (grades 11-12) Ashley Ridge High School won first place with Wando and Stratford high schools finishing in second and third places, respectively.

The Quest competition was developed by TTC to promote academic excellence, provide an academic challenge to students, and recognize top students, teachers and schools.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Feb. 27, 2019 - Scholarship funds still available for Continuing Education courses through the Workforce Pathways Scholarship program

Scholarship funding is still available for several Trident Technical College Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development courses through the Workforce Pathways Scholarship (WPS) program that was approved by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2018.

Eligibility for a scholarship is not based on financial need or prior academic performance and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Courses in 11 Continuing Education Division programs qualify for the WPS funding which covers 100 percent of the tuition fees for those courses (books are not covered by the scholarships).

To apply, students must attend an orientation session to learn about the WPS program and obtain an application form. Orientations are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 5 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 in Building 920, Room 507 at Trident Technical College Thornley Campus (formerly Main Campus), 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston.

For more information on WPS funds for TTC continuing education courses, visit www.tridenttech.edu/ce/funding/pathways-scholarship.htm or call 843.574.6152.