Stories

Black History Month Speaker Describes How Benjamin Mays Bridged Racial, Political Chasms

A young boy’s indoctrination into the ugliest manifestations of hate came at the tender age of 4. It haunted him throughout his life. “I remember a crowd of white men who rode up on horseback with rifles on their shoulders. I was with my father when they rode up, and I remember starting to cry,” Dr. Benjamin E. Mays wrote in the opening to his 1971 memoir titled Born to Rebel. “They cursed my father, drew their guns and made him salute, made him take off his hat and bow down to them several times.” They were lucky to escape with their lives.

Partnership Offers Newberry High-Schoolers Dual Enrollment Opportunity

The Newberry County School District recently partnered with Piedmont Technical College (PTC) to offer juniors and seniors an opportunity to attend college classes while still in high school under a dual enrollment program that provides them with credentials to work in manufacturing directly out of high school.

International Honor Society Recognizes PTC Advisor for Service Milestone

The Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, which recognizes the academic achievement of state and community college students, recently honored Piedmont Technical College Admissions Specialist Vernessia Wideman for five-years of service as an advisor to PTC’s Omega Chi Chapter.

Engineering Design Tech Instructor Receives Visionary Award

Fortunate are those who have been inspired by that one teacher whose words and visage stay in their mind for decades, even for a lifetime. Christina Knight is one such teacher. It’s National Engineers Week®, an opportunity to tell the story of one who is leading others. Based on heartfelt accolades from faculty and students alike, the Piedmont Technical College Engineering Design Technology program instructor recently was chosen to receive the college’s exclusive Visionary Award.

Laurens-Based Prisma Health Executive Joins PTC Foundation Board

The Piedmont Technical College (PTC) Foundation recently welcomed Justin Matthew Benfield to its board of directors.

PTC 'Test Drive' Alum Soon to Connect Disco Beat with Degree

When Jonah Gonce signed up for Piedmont Technical College’s free Test Drive program, the last thing he expected was to get intimately acquainted with the Bee Gees’ 1977 disco hit Stayin’ Alive. But he soon learned that the tempo of that fast-paced song is perfect for chest compressions while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Gonce, now in his first semester working on an associate degree in nursing at PTC, chose the health care Test Drive path last fall, completing the two-week program with a CPR certification and a $250 tuition credit.

Piedmont Tech Reviews Improvements and Upgrades Made During 2018

Over the past year, Piedmont Technical College (PTC) invested significantly in health care learning facility upgrades. One of the most visible improvements is a new drive-through-type service window in the pharmacy technology lab. In fact, the college has invested more than $50,000 in the pharmacy technology lab since it was reaccredited in January 2018. Other additions include the installation of a realistic pharmacy store service counter, cash register, and a Fillmaster, an automated water dispenser for medications requiring reconstitution.