Tri-County Grad Says Co-ops Open Doors

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 1506

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/19/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

WILLIAMSTON --- Brad Fowler had already begun building his resume when he graduated from the Industrial Electronics Technology department in 1998.

As a freshman, he had landed a co-op position at Milliken which gave him work experience in the electronics field and paid his tuition at Tri-County. An added bonus was the opportunity for a job when he graduated.
It's an incredible deal, he says.

Today Fowler is an electricity/electronics instructor at the Career and Technology Center in Williamston, and he encourages his seniors to pursue that route. "A co-op allows you to work in your field, and the pay is better than part-time work. It opens the door for full-time employment."

After Fowler transferred to Clemson University, he stayed on at Milliken as a part-time employee.

"I had a good experience at Tri-County. I applied what I learned in the classroom to my job at Milliken. Many of our students at the Career Center go from high school to jobs as electrical helpers. I recommend that they work on an associate degree at Tri-County. In today's work environment, a degree is important."

Earlier this year, students from the Career and Technology Center were among those who participated in Duke Energy's Technical Career Day, an annual event aimed at increasing awareness of careers open to industrial and engineering technology graduates.

Next year, Fowler plans to get his electricity students to team with the manufacturing class to participate in the event. "It's an opportunity to see how technology can be turned into a competition whereby students can learn and have fun. Many of our students had never toured Duke Energy, which could be a future employer for them. The event is a good recruitment tool," he said.

Around the time he graduated, the teaching position came open at the Career and Technology Center. "I try to incorporate tours and field trips into the curriculum. I'll bring my students to the College's renovated facilities for the Industrial Electronics Technology department. I've kept my contacts with Tri-County instructors. And they help me by serving on my advisory committee. I had wonderful instructors at Tri-County, and I still rely on them as resources."
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