Piedmont Technical College’s Tara Harris, nursing instructor, and David Martin, funeral service program director/instructor, were among the 22 technical college executives from across the state of South Carolina who recently graduated from the Technical College System’s 2009 Leadership Academy.

Participation in the academy is selective and by invitation only. Harris and Martin were both nominated by PTC’s president and institutional officers, and then approved by the South Carolina Technical College System’s (SCTCS) board of directors. All participants must commit to complete the entire program.

“It was a tremendous honor to be among such a great group of colleagues. Not only did we learn from all of the presentations, we learned from each other,” said Harris.

The purpose of the academy is to develop technical college employees currently serving in third level administrative positions to assume the role of vice presidents in the system. A major component is the completion of a live project by each participant. The project is developed in consultation with a college mentor and a community mentor and is showcased at the graduation celebration.

“This training strengthened my belief in the technical college system,” said Martin. “I know that I gained valuable leadership experience.”

The SCTCS continues to support its mission by providing learning opportunities that promote the economic and human resource development of the state. The Leadership Academy is just one of those programs that continue to be successful.

Piedmont Technical College is one of the sixteen colleges in the SCTCS and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award two-year associate degrees.