Two Tri-County Students are Nominees in USA
Community and Junior College Academic Team Competition

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 1506

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/10/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Two honor students will represent Tri-County Technical College as nominees in the 2002 – 2003 USA Community and Junior College Academic Team competition.

Anna Cochran, of Anderson, and Carolyn Bradish, of Liberty, are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the national academic honor society for community and technical colleges. They are both officers in the Alpha Zeta Beta honor society, the College's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Later this year, they will accompany President Don C. Garrison to a luncheon in Columbia to honor the state's technical college nominees.

The Phi Theta Kappa society was founded in 1918 to emphasize and recognize academic excellence in two-year colleges. As members of Phi Theta Kappa, the honorees join an elite group of students. Less than one percent of America's six million two-year college students have distinguished themselves with a superior level of academic achievement and service to their colleges and communities.

Cochran is a second-year Textile Management Technology major and is pursuing certificates in Quality Assurance and Manufacturing Management. She works as a second-shift shipping clerk at La France Industries. She is the recipient of the company's endowed scholarship. She plans to transfer to Clemson University and major in textiles. Her career goal is to work as a liaison between international imports and exports.

Bradish is an Associate in Arts major and is secretary for the Student Government Association. She is the recipient of the Don C. Garrison scholarship. She plans to transfer to Southern Wesleyan University and pursue a degree in education. She wants to teach English on the high school level.

Both agree the best aspect of Tri-County is the camaraderie between faculty and students. Cochran said, "They are knowledgeable and bring real-world experiences to the classroom discussion. They understand the needs of students, many of whom work and carry full academic loads."

She added: "They are good counselors -- they listen, and they give you the extra push when you need it."

After a 30-plus year absence from the classroom, Bradish, a divorcee and the mother of two in college, returned to Tri-County to pursue a lifelong dream. Dr. Marianne Taylor recognized Bradish's potential and encouraged her to consider pursuing a four-year degree and helped her to obtain scholarship money.

"Faculty really care about the individual students and go the extra mile," said Bradish. "Tri-County has so many good instructors and staff personnel who continually strive to encourage and challenge the students. I have been blessed to learn from some of the best."
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