I-BEST Smart Start Program Helped Amberly Simpson Get College Ready
PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 11, 2026
Contact: Lisa Garrett, lgarrett@tctc.edu
I-BEST Smart Start Program Helped Amberly Simpson Get College Ready
PENDLETON, SC ---For a decade, Amberly Simpson has been kicking around the idea of going back to college and finishing the degree she started right out of high school, but finances, self doubt and life’s curve balls have sidelined that dream more than once.
Simpson, now 35, said her discovery of Tri-County Technical College’s I-BEST program helped turn the page in the new chapter in her life leading to her longtime goal of becoming an art teacher.
TCTC’s I-BEST program is designed to increase the College’s focus on unemployed and underemployed populations. It is a one-semester program that allows students to explore careers in manufacturing, health care or Smart Start, a stand-alone course for college and career exploration opportunities. The program offers opportunities to earn college credit and national (industry-recognized) skill certifications. There is no cost for the I-BEST program.
Simpson enrolled in the Smart Start component to focus on college and career readiness.
During the 11-week Smart Start class, participants are introduced to technology-based career opportunities in the region; learn 21st-century work skills; develop college-readiness skills; and earn an industry-recognized certification – OSHA General Industry Standards training – which is appropriate for employment in any career field.
Simpson, who completed the class and now is enrolled in TCTC’s Associate in Arts program, says she gained the confidence to say, ‘I can do this’ and the tools to be successful.
“The Smart Start program has been a game changer,” said Simpson. “It’s more than classes; it’s a launchpad,” said the Seneca resident.
“After years of working minimum wage jobs that weren’t making ends meet, I was burned out,” Simpson said. “I had been getting a paycheck and surviving for a decade – always with the dream of one day being an art teacher. I’m stable for the first time so I chose the path of getting an education and pursuing my dream,” she said.
As a senior at Seneca High School in 2010, the plan was to graduate and enroll at Lander University and study art. “I was accepted and very excited. But I’m a first-generation student. My mom dropped out of high school and my dad graduated from high school and enlisted in the military. They couldn’t help me navigate the financial aid process back then. We were ill equipped to understand and complete the paperwork and processes required for financial aid. At the last minute, my financial aid didn’t come through at Lander, so I had to forego college. It was heartbreaking. I have always wanted to make a better life for myself. College was my way out,” said Simpson.
Her guidance counselor suggested TCTC as an option. “It was a great entry to college, and I began to pursue an Associate in Arts degree. I attended debt free on the GI Bill. I had a full ride, but balancing work with full-time classes was difficult to manage. My GPA suffered,” she said. Simpson dropped out and began working in retail and restaurants for a decade.
Last year, she looked to TCTC as a starting point. She searched TCTC’s website and the I-BEST program popped up as an option for her.
“I was nervous about going back to college,” said Simpson. “School wasn’t always easy for me. My ADHD made it feel like I was running a marathon with rocks in my shoes. Going back to school at 35 felt overwhelming. I didn’t know where to start, or if I even could,” she said.
“That’s when I first spoke with Catherine DuRant, I-BEST program director. She didn’t just give me paperwork or directions; she helped me start the whole process, guided me step by step, and made me feel like someone believed I could do this. When Catherine said the Smart Start program was free, I was hesitant. It sounded too good to be true,” said Simpson.
“Catherine was genuine and direct and answered every question I had. She helped me find the best solution for me and every resource available to me,” said Simpson.
“Smart Start is great way to be reintroduced to college slowly,” said DuRant. “I recognized that Amberly was hesitant so I called her a few days later to check in and invited her to an information session so we could meet in person.”
Simpson enrolled in Smart Start to get college ready. “I was shocked at what I got out of it. I learned how to navigate BlackBoard, Power Point, and Word. I earned an OSHA certification and got help with FAFSA,” she said.
“Amberly recognized that the Smart Start course would prepare her for the next step while she was figuring things out. And it was at no cost. She formulated a plan and said this is where I see myself,” said DuRant.
“I-BEST can introduce students to all of the College’s resources and how to access them. It teaches students to advocate for what they need. This empowered Amberly to know how and when to ask for help when needed. Through I-BEST, students get a clear expectation of themselves and others. Amberly learned she has achievable goals,” said DuRant.
Simpson said a helpful tip learned in Smart Start is to adopt smart goals. “We learned to set short- and long-term goals and to stick to them. I have ADHD so planning and organizational skills are key,” she said. In addition, time management skills improved her work-life balance. She is now able to manage a full credit load and hold down a weekend job.
With lottery tuition assistance, a Pell grant and TCTC Foundation scholarships, Simpson said, “I will graduate debt free.”
She credits DuRant and instructor Ross Hughes with her newfound confidence – and her success.
“Ross connects with students; he is a stabilizer and down to earth. He helped with boosting my confidence academically, as well as personally. Even now that I’m in the Associate in Arts program, he is still a big cheerleader for me,” said Simpson.
“With leaders like Catherine to guide you and instructors like Ross who don’t give up on you, you’re not just earning credits — you’re building confidence, skills, and a future. Whatever dream you carry, whether it’s a degree, a career, or proving to yourself that you can, I-BEST is the place to start turning that dream into reality,” Simpson said.
“It’s not just about the credits or certificates; it’s about discovering that I can do this. I’ve learned how to organize my time, push through challenges, and trust myself again. The program gave me structure when my life felt messy, guidance when I felt lost, and confidence when I felt doubtful. Most importantly, it’s shown me that age, past struggles, or ADHD don’t define what I can achieve. Thanks to Ross and Catherine and the program, I’m taking real steps toward my bachelor’s degree, and one day, my master’s, so I can teach art and inspire others the way I’ve been inspired,” she said.
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About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, business administration, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.
