Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin has been elected to the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors. He was elected to the post in February and began his three-year term July 1. The AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. The association represents more than 1,000 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 12 million students. The Board of Directors acts on behalf of the institutional members to create and maintain a vision for AACC, and to determine and ensure that the organization adheres to appropriate standards of performance. “I’m humbled to be selected …

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College will hold two ceremonies honoring its summer 2024 graduates Thursday, Aug. 1, on campus in the college’s Roquemore Auditorium. The 2 p.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Business, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Education, and Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Technology programs. Health Science and Nursing graduates will be honored at the 4 p.m. ceremony. St. Matthews Mayor Helen Carson-Peterson will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony. She is a Calhoun County native and graduate of John Ford High School. She attended Heffley and Browne Secretarial School in New York. She worked as …

The following individuals have been named honor students for the spring 2024 academic term at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: President’s List (full-time)Bamberg: Michael Defrenn, Crystal Fail, Donna McAlhany, Brant Mitchell, Christopher Peterson, Joshua WallenBarnwell: Alexis Isaac, Britney TaylorBlackville: Marquez LawrenceBowman: Makaylin Phillips, Destiny SellersBranchville: Joshua Chaplin, Malayna Holder, Andrew Sealing, Zachary WilesCameron: Preston BryantColumbia: Michelle Bradshaw, Juana Carmon Torres, Christopher Gerstner, Zuri Jackson, Mitchell SpeedyCope: Haley Arends, Daniel FogleCordova: Jalynn FrazierElloree: Lalia KinleyEutawville: Alaysia Elmore, Joshua SiauFairfax: Bailey KuntzGaston: Hannah BrunsonLexington: Willie Dean Hallman-PeeplesNeeses: Matthew Harsey, William WolfeNorth: Amiyah Robinson, Ryan WallingNorway: Tracy JamisonOrangeburg: Ronshay Baker, Davion Brown, William Carson, Glenda …

The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation has received a $5,000 gift from Georgia-Pacific for the college’s Electrical Engineering Technology program. “We appreciate Georgia-Pacific stepping forward to support OCtech’s EET program,” Foundation Executive Director Faith McCurry said. “Their generous contribution will assist the college in continuing to provide our students with access to the latest technology and ensuring they are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market.” OCtech is the only technical college in South Carolina that offers a degree in Electronic Instrumentation, a field of Electrical Engineering Technology that prepares skilled professionals to maintain the reliability …

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College will hold three ceremonies honoring its spring 2024 graduates Thursday, May 2, on campus in the college’s Roquemore Auditorium. The 1 p.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Technology programs. Business, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Education and Health Science graduates will be honored at the 3 p.m. ceremony. The Nursing graduation ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler will speak at the 1 p.m. ceremony. The Atlanta native was elected mayor in 2013 and is currently serving his third term. He is a …

Renowned horticulturalist Bryce Lane will show guests how to keep container gardens looking fresh for every season and plants perfectly pruned at this year’s Home and Garden Symposium. The event – which raises funds for the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation – will be held Wednesday, May 8, on campus in Roquemore Auditorium. The day begins with a brunch catered by Buck Ridge Plantation and a silent auction featuring plants, décor and more generously donated by local businesses, individuals and garden clubs. Lane is a celebrated three-time Emmy Award-winning host and producer of UNC-TV’s “In the Garden with Bryce Lane.” The …

Richard Murphy has been named vice president of Academic Affairs at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Murphy joined the OCtech faculty in 2008 as an instructor and Electronics Engineering Technology program coordinator. He was named dean of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Technology in 2013. He continued to teach students and lead both the program and division until 2021, when he was appointed associate vice president of Advanced Manufacturing, Health Science and Work Force Development. “Richard’s exceptional leadership qualities, dedication to academic excellence and commitment to student success make him an outstanding choice for this position,” OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin said. “As …

The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation will hold its 18th Home and Garden Symposium Wednesday, May 8, on campus in the OCtech Math and Science Center. Guests will enjoy a brunch by Buck Ridge Plantation and have an opportunity to browse the silent auction before the formal presentation begins in Roquemore Auditorium. Bryce Lane – a celebrated three-time Emmy Award-winning host and producer of the UNC television show “In the Garden with Bryce Lane” – will share his tips and tricks for “Growing Year-round Container Gardens: Maintaining, Managing and Replacing Plants” and “The Nuts and Bolts of Pruning: Theory, Tools, Technique …

Three faculty and staff members have been honored as Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College’s Educators of the Year and were recognized during the South Carolina Technical Education Association’s annual conference Feb. 15-17 in Myrtle Beach. Radiologic Technology and Radiology Online program director Fran Andrews is the outstanding faculty member, assistant director of financial aid Amanda Dempsey is the outstanding staff honoree and registrar Amy Ott is the outstanding administrator. SCTEA is a professional association of technical education personnel and others interested in post-secondary technical education. Andrews started working at OCtech in June 1992 as a Radiologic Technology clinical instructor. She became the …

The following individuals have been named honor students for the fall 2023 academic term at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: President’s List (full-time)Bamberg: Michael Defrenn, Donna McAlhany, Christopher PetersonBarnwell: Phoebe Black, Patricia Mims, Jarvis Moore, Britney TaylorBlackville: Marquez LawrenceBowman: Kamiyah Jones, Makaylin PhillipsBranchville: Joshua Chaplin, Elizabeth Heape, Malayna Holder, Carley Kinard, Andrew Sealing, Jordan WrightCameron: Emma Chavis, Kayley Elliott, Clayton WeeksColumbia: Fatima Askar, Monica Jordan, Mitchell SpeedyCope: Haley Arends, William Cooper, Daniel Fogle, Aedan Hatchell, Callie HewittDenmark: Tysheema MurrayElloree: Lalia Kinley, Lakendra WrightEutawville: Jason DeabateHolly Hill: Cody Anderson, Bailey BoddorfIrmo: Vanessa Pizzini-EichelbergerLexington: Carla DiazNeeses: Nyquaysia Brown, Abby Fenton, Natasha Hall, William WolfeNewberry: …