Greenwood, SC – Piedmont Technical College Fall 2024 Convocation Highlights Achievements and Future Plans
Days before classes resumed, nearly 300 Piedmont Technical College (PTC) faculty and staff members gathered for the fall 2024 convocation in the James Medford Family Center on the Greenwood campus. “This is the start of something new, something that is refreshing,” PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers stated in her State of the College address. “I hope that you can feel the momentum that Piedmont Technical College has. I hope that you can see the progress that we have made so far, and we’re just scratching the surface.”
In a state that boasts multiple technical colleges, PTC aims to stand out with its ambitious plans for growth and improvement. During her address, Dr. Rivers spoke passionately about upcoming initiatives and campus upgrades. She highlighted a career communities initiative, enrollment growth, and efforts to boost employee engagement.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of where we want to go,” Rivers expressed, noting recent renovations to the James C. Self Conference Center. Among the future plans, she detailed the vision for renovating the library, improving the Medford Center, and constructing a new Health Sciences building on the Greenwood campus. Plans also include establishing advanced manufacturing centers in Edgefield and Saluda counties.
“It is important because we want to attract talent,” Rivers explained. “We want to retain talent, and we know that our faculty and staff enjoy working in the best spaces, and that’s the same for our students. We also know that our parents feel more comfortable when they are a part of something that’s growing and developing.”
Rivers emphasized that these accomplishments and plans are all part of the vision for PTC to become a “premier community college.” She reiterated, “We are well on our way to becoming a premier community college. We have to make sure that our eyes remain open and our willingness to dream remains true. So Piedmont, I ask you to join me in sharing the vision of becoming the premier community college.”
Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Keli Fewox, vice president for academic affairs at PTC, recognized several faculty and staff members who received prestigious awards during the convocation. The award winners included:
- National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Visionary Award: Lakeya Jenkins
- National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Staff Excellence Award: Kendra LaGreca
- South Carolina Technical Education Association Administrator of the Year: Dr. Donna Foster
- South Carolina Technical Education Association Faculty of the Year: Phillip Calhoun
- South Carolina Technical Education Association Staff of the Year: Nicole Fuller
- A. Wade Martin Award: MODELS Academy: Steve Coleman and Courtney Smith
Speeches on AI and Personal Motivation
The event also featured insightful speeches by Dr. Emma Zone, senior director of academic affairs for D2L, and motivational speaker Jean Briese. Appearing via Zoom, Dr. Zone discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education. She suggested that AI could be a valuable tool for instructors, especially in tasks such as crafting quiz questions.
Jean Briese captivated the audience with her advice on enhancing personal happiness and professional productivity. “The most important words you hear every day are the words you say to yourself because we believe what we tell ourselves,” Briese said. “We need to talk to ourselves like we’re talking to our own best friend, because our friends don’t let us put ourselves down.”
As the sun shone brightly outside, reaching high temperatures of around 95F, PTC faculty and staff members enjoyed lunch together, reflecting on the motivational and inspiring words shared during the fall 2024 convocation. The day concluded on a high note, with many feeling energized and ready for the new academic year.
