The following individuals have been named honor students for the summer 2016 academic term at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: President’s List (full-time) Bamberg: Myrtes Barnwell, Robert Crosby Barnwell: Tracy Palm Blackville: Ivan Cann Cameron: Joseph Rast Columbia: Brandon Alston Cordova: Randal Hughes Hanahan: Madison Breland Norway: Jonathan James Orangeburg: Annika Gupta, Katilyn Just, Randall McDaniel, Aaron Schaffer Ridgeville: Kaitlyn Cummings Santee: Aja Evans Springfield: Robert Hallman President’s List (part-time) Aiken: Rebecca Hickman, Brooke Meeler Bamberg: Paris Felder, Jynae Harris-Robinson, Caleb Peterson, John Walsh Barnwell: Misty Dyal, Nicholas Feagin, Lynnsey Jamison, Stephanie Lott, Paige Martin, Daniell Ruth, Charlease White Blackville: Jalesa Heyward Blythewood: Angela D’Anna Bowman: Wesley Collier, Elaine Mims, Sabrina Myers Branchville: Heather Harbeson, Josie Stone Cameron: James Avent, Deidre Stewart, …

Teams of elementary, middle and high school teachers connected metal parts, tinkered with wires, wheels, sensors and gears, and programmed controllers during the VEX Robotics Professional Development Workshop at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. The workshop was held June 20-23 in the Mechatronics lab on campus. Educators from as far away as Georgetown gathered to learn more about ways to incorporate robotics into their STEM curriculum. Additionally, the teachers built robots to perform a variety of tasks, from grabbing soda cans and transporting them to a receptacle to picking up a ball and shooting it over a “wall.” Aronda Frasier, a math …

Nearly two dozen rising fifth- through 11th-graders gathered to build and program robots during the VEX Robotics Summer Camp at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. “I like programming,” camper Marcus Elmore said. “I’ve made a few games, and I make and sell maps that people can use for their games.” Elmore has attended a robotics camp before, but that was different because the robots were already assembled and the campers just programmed them. This time, he and fellow campers were given boxes of parts, split into teams, and required to assemble and program their creations. Elmore is looking forward to the camp …

More than 20 elementary, middle and high school guidance counselors got an in-depth look at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and the employment needs of the local community during the third annual Guidance Counselor Leadership Institute. “Guidance counselors really serve as the gatekeeper for a lot of students, in terms of what happens to them as they plan their future,” President Dr. Walt Tobin said. “The point of this institute is to give counselors an idea of what we do at OCtech and why we do it.” During the first week, counselors attended information sessions about the college’s student services, admissions process …

Learn how to prepare for exciting, in-demand careers at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College during the school’s Division Showcases in July. OCtech’s University Transfer, Education and Agriculture programs-old-old-old-old will be highlighted on Tuesday, July 12. In addition to earning an associate degree, University Transfer students can choose from more than 80 courses that will transfer to any South Carolina public college or university and most private institutions. On Thursday, July 14, the focus will be on Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology programs-old-old-old-old. Students in these programs-old-old-old-old gain hands-on training with KUKA robots, a simulated Festo assembly plant, welding and truck driving simulators, …

Twenty-one teams. Two days of competition. One big win. In March, students from the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Chapter competed in the VEX Robotics Championship at the NSBE National Convention in Boston, Mass. The Middle College students – team Orengineers – were tasked with designing and building a robot for the Nothing But Net Competition. Two alliances comprised of two teams each competed in matches that resembled a mashup between basketball and hockey. OCtech’s NSBE Jr. Chapter won every match they played, and by the end of day one, they were ranked second-place overall. The …

You could say Dominique Rynes stayed on TASC. The 23-year-old Orangeburg woman is the first to complete the Test Assessing Secondary Completion – or TASC – in South Carolina. She also earned the Distinguished Achievement Award for her mathematics score on the TASC. The TASC national high school equivalency assessment evaluates five subject areas – reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies – based on what current students need to know to pass high school tests. It measures examinees’ levels of achievement relative to that of graduating high school seniors and career and college readiness standards. The Adult Education program …

The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Associate Degree Nursing program held its annual pinning ceremony on Tuesday, May 10, at First Baptist Church of Orangeburg. During the ceremony, 35 registered nursing graduates received their pins. Katie Baltzegar received the award for highest GPA, and Hannah Dockery was honored for achieving the second-highest GPA. Also receiving special honors were Jimmy Osteen, Clinical Excellence; Nichole Irby, Best All Around; and Janet Musselman, the Delura R. Knight Spirit of Nursing Award. In addition, seniors who served as officers or delegates in the OCtech-Student Nurses Association were presented with a blue-and-white honor cord to be worn …

Rising juniors and seniors and their parents are invited to learn more about getting ahead in college while still in high school at Middle College Parent Night. The open house will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 23, beginning in Roquemore Auditorium on the campus of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Following an overview of the Middle College program, students and parents are invited to explore Career Pathways, tour lab areas and watch demonstrations across campus. OCtech’s Middle College allows ambitious high school students in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties the opportunity to earn college credits before they graduate. The …

The following individuals have been named honor students for the spring 2016 academic term at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: President’s List (full-time) Bamberg: E Georgette Amaker, Jynae Harris-Robinson, Caleb Peterson Barnwell: Stephanie Hair, Stephanie Lott Bowman: Elaine Mims Branchville: Chris Conrad, Dylan Dantzler, Michael George Cayce: Sara Edwards Cope: Vanetta Argo, Zachary Drawdy, Taylor Johnston Cordova: Kimberly Blewer, Caleb Dunning, Scott Han, Brandon Herring, Randal Hughes, Stacy Moultrie, Lori Reed, Matthew Wolfe Denmark: Tony Nimmons, Shirley Robinson Effingham: Brooke Langston, Karren Smith-Gee Ehrhardt: Enrique Mundo Elgin: Elizabeth Dillon Elloree: Courtney Adams, Christopher Bair, Steven Cooke, James Hampton, Ruth Osteen, Karen Stokes Gaston: Christine Knauer Hartsville: Chandler Byrd Holly Hill: Victoria Jackson Ladson: Sarah Heglar, Jessica Isherwood Lexington: Belinda …