Student Advocacy Day

The Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) Program has made education possible for thousands of students throughout the state. On Tuesday, January 15, over 300 students representing the 16 South Carolina technical colleges gathered at the State House to show their support for the LTA Program. Students wore shirts proclaiming, “Lottery Tuition Assistance makes a difference….one of $175,000+,” referencing the number of technical college students who have utilized the lottery-funded aid. Twenty-four York Technical College students, Kelli Dawkins, Warren Cook, and I rode by motor coach to Columbia to show our appreciation to the General Assembly. Dr. Barry Russell, System president; Senator John W. Matthews (D-Orangeburg), Senate Education and Finance Committees; Representative Dan Cooper (R-Anderson), Chair, House Ways and Means Committee; and Catalina Abruntilla, an LTA recipient and student at Midlands Technical College spoke to the hundreds of students gathered at the steps of the State House. As members of the House and Senate began their sessions, they recognized sixteen students representing each of the technical colleges. I enjoyed spending the day with the students and greatly appreciate Kelli Dawkins, Sherry Glenn, and Carolyn Stewart for all their hard work in making the day a success!

Lottery Tuition Assistance is just one of the many legislative priorities for the SC Technical College System this year. The following link provides a list of the System’s legislative priorities.

http://www.sctechsystem.com/LegislativePriorities/2008-09/index.html

The 2008-2009 Legislative Priorities: An Overview provides a brief summary of all the priorities.

2007 Benefactor of the Year

Joe McElwee, a York Technical College Foundation Board member since 1990, was recognized at the South Carolina Technical College System Benefactors Make a Difference ceremony which highlights the generosity and efforts of individuals who have partnered with South Carolina's technical colleges to make a college education possible for hundreds of students.

McElwee is a major supporter of the College’s efforts to build a higher education facility in Chester County. He is helping the College’s Foundation raise funds from private sources to make the new Chester Center a reality. “The one thing missing in Chester County for a long time was the lack of post-secondary opportunities. Seeing the construction of the new York Technical College Chester Center is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream,” said Joe McElwee.

Joe’s contributions to the College are highlighted in the video. The College is thankful for his leadership and support, and we are very proud to recognize Joe as our Benefactor for 2007.

Welcome Back and Happy New Year!

2008 . . . I should get used to the year changing but I never do. It always seems to boggle me for a little while. I will struggle to get it right for a week or so, as I write the date, then it will become normal. Growing up, the thought of a new millennium seemed strange. Being a sci-fi guy and watching the futuristic TV shows and movies made me think that 2000 was incredibly far away and not really real. Now, in 2008, the thought of crossing that time threshold seems less strange but still odd none-the-less. Neither 2001: A Space Odyssey (released in 1968) or the sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) got the timing right on man orbiting Jupiter but we have achieved many things envisioned by science fiction writers.

One thing that hasn’t changed a great deal though is organized learning: technical, academic, and otherwise. Of course, we have much more sophisticated technology and much more of it. But the real ingredients of education stay the same—namely people working with people to build upon, transfer and apply knowledge that adds value to the individual and society. Such is our endeavor and a most significant one at that. When teaching, I often feel inadequate. In part because I realize how little I really know and because I know I have so far to go. That doesn’t change the fact that the person who I am responsible for is looking to me for guidance and there is no ready alternative. That realization helps me to take stock, refocus and improve. You see, I can simultaneously be grounded in the knowledge of my limitations, help others learn and get better myself. It is an amazing human endowment. So without getting into the whole resolution thing, I will endeavor for our organization to grow and improve in 2008, while I too strive to grow and improve. I know you will join with me in that challenge and as such feel confident that we will have a great 2008. Welcome back and Happy New Year!