Make a fresh start this spring at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. OCtech’s new Complete to Compete initiative is designed to address the needs of students who may have some college credits, but never earned a degree. According to U.S. Census figures, approximately 12,000 Orangeburg County residents ages 25 and older fall into that category – or some 20 percent of the county’s population. “We know that middle-skill jobs exist in this region for individuals with more than a high school diploma and less than an associate or bachelor’s degree, but the earning potential and the employment opportunities for individuals with a …

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Physical Therapist Assistant Instructor Shari Tanner, PT, DPT, was invited to present her research at the 50th Annual Association of Schools Allied Health Professions Conference, held Oct. 18-20 in San Antonio, Texas. This year’s theme was “ASAHP at 50: Reflections on the Past, a Window to the Future of Healthcare.” Tanner was the only presenter from a technical college at the conference. Her research focused on using laboratory-based patient scenarios in PTA neurology classes to improve students’ perceptions of evidence-based practice.

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Electronic Engineering Technology students Marcus Hilliard and Derek Martin traveled to Washington, D.C., Oct. 23-25 to participate in the 2017 ATE Principal Investigators Conference, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the American Association of Community Colleges. This is the third time OCtech students have been invited to present at the conference. This year’s theme was “Hands-on, Minds-on: Pathways to a Highly Skilled U.S. Workforce.” Hilliard and Martin helped collect temperature data on campus during the total solar eclipse in August. LabVIEW software and data acquisition hardware were used for the project, which was funded through the …

By CHRISTOPHER HUFF T&D Staff Writer “It is truly a great day in Orangeburg County,” state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said at Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College’s Nursing and Health Science building. “But more importantly, a great day here at OCtech,” she said. The 30,000-square-foot facility will feature a large tiered classroom, computer lab, study rooms, skills practice lab and simulation labs with the latest technology to prepare students for careers as health care professionals. The $12.5 million building is scheduled to be ready for classes in spring 2019. “One of the things I think is important to …

Four lucky winners will leave the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation’s Evening of Fine Wines and Foods with a fabulous prize. This year’s signature fundraising event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in the Patrick Student Services Building on the campus of OCtech. In lieu of a silent auction, An Evening of Fine Wines and Foods will feature Golden Ticket drawings for a $1,500 gift card for a Kiawah Island Golf Resort getaway, a state-of-the-art stainless steel TEC Infrared Grill by Thermal Engineering Corporation, a Husqvarna lawn tractor, and a beautiful coffee table from Marty …

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin has been named to the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program’s inaugural Job Quality Fellowship Class of 2017-18. “Now is the time to focus on making better-quality jobs,” said Maureen Conway, vice president for policy programs-old-old-old-old and executive director of the Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program. “That’s why we’re launching the Job Quality Fellowship. It is our direct engagement with an impressive range of innovators already leading the way toward expanded opportunity and improved job quality.” With support from The Prudential Foundation and Ford Foundation, the Job Quality Fellowship aims to support and strengthen the work …

Change is in the air for the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation’s 13th annual Evening of Fine Wines and Foods. This year’s signature fundraising event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in the Patrick Student Services Building on the campus of OCtech. In addition to a new weekday and venue, the Foundation is shaking up this year’s event to include Golden Ticket drawings for four spectacular prizes and a Wine Pull in lieu of a silent auction. While some aspects have changed, guests of An Evening of Fines Wines and Foods still have the opportunity to …

The following individuals have been named honor students for the summer 2017 academic term at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: President’s List (full-time) Bamberg: Thompson Pruett, Marcus Ransom Branchville: Jessica Bozard Columbia: Kyle Gero, Elmer Johnson Cordova: Thomas Williams Denmark: Edward Singleton Elloree: Matthew Risher Eutawville: Retha Aguirre Hanahan: Rachel Cunningham Holly Hill: Tanyetta Thompson Lexington: John McPhillips Neeses: Victoria Linder, Michael O’Cain Orangeburg: Brian Anderson, Laquell Carter, Joshua Lawley, Dermaine Nelson, Aaron Schaffer, Cayce Ulmer Rowesville: Tora Isaac St. George: Benjamin Mays Summerville: Whitley Steele Swansea: Marko Nikolic Sycamore: George Brown, Justin Crim Vance: Keri Morris Walterboro: Terry Hampleton President’s List (part-time) Allendale: Nevada Brown Bamberg: Justin Bates Barnwell: Tracy Palm, Caleigh Sanders, Jana Schroeder Blackville: Kenneth Frederick, Cody Still Bowman: Callie Stokes, Margo Welch …

The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Practical Nursing Class of 2017 was honored during a pinning and awards ceremony on Aug. 1 at First Baptist Church of Orangeburg. Forty-five graduates were pinned during the ceremony. Johnna Patrick, director of nursing at Jolley Acres Healthcare Center, was the guest speaker. Patrick is a 1998 graduate of OCtech’s Practical Nursing program and 2010 graduate of the college’s Associate Degree Nursing program. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Claflin University in 2017. Several students were recognized for their outstanding achievements. Sharika Taylor (traditional PN program student) and Tiffany Montagnese (PN Flex program student) received the …

Working adults who want to earn a degree, change careers or build their skills have a way to reach those goals – and now they can do it tuition-free. Thanks to scholarship money available through the state legislature to the state’s technical colleges, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is offering tuition assistance to South Carolina residents in select Evening College for the Working Adult programs-old-old-old-old. This assistance means working adults can attend OCtech at no cost to them. “OCtech is committed to improving the lives of working adults, but also helping local employers address workforce demands in areas that require a post-secondary …