sidney-davis-boxed.gif

Editor's Note:
Tri-County Technical College is one of 14 community colleges nationwide selected to participate as a partner in Country Music Television's Empowering Education campaign.  The comprehensive campaign provides an online resource, CMTEmpoweringEducation.com, to aid viewers in overcoming commonly perceived obstacles to furthering their education. 

Tri-County students and graduates gathered at a special event, hosted by Country Music Television (CMT), for high school juniors and seniors, Saturday, April 4, at Tri-County Technical College.  They discussed their individual educational journeys and the different pathways that led them to Tri-County. Nikki was among the students who participated in a panel discussion moderated by CMT.  Videos of their stories will be posted on CMT's Empowering Education website. 

PENDLETON --- Sidney Davis never even considered Tri-County Technical College when he was a high school senior making decisions about college. "I didn't want to go to college near my home," said the Westminster resident, so he headed to Spartanburg Methodist where he received an associate degree in science.   He went on to USC-Upstate where he planned to study communications. "I wanted to work in broadcast journalism but I discovered I'm not a writer," he said. He came home after a year and began looking for work - and training for a career.

"Looking back, if I knew what I do now, Tri-County would have been my first choice," said Sidney, who is now enrolled in the Industrial Electronics Technology (IET) program.  "I'd be 21, with a degree and working in a good job in industry. It should have been the route I took.  I just didn't know what a Tri-County degree can do for me."

Everything is a valuable experience, he noted.  "At Spartanburg Methodist, I learned how to study.'  And he brought 90 credit hours with him when he entered the IET program last year. "I finally found a place I fit in.  College finally makes sense," said Sidney.  "Everything I'm learning is applicable in the work place." 

He says he appreciates the good academic and career advice he has gotten from instructors.  "They care about you and your grades," he said of instructors/mentors Ron Talley and Shan Smith. "I work 10-hour days on third shift at Itron and I leave work and come to morning classes.   I've got the best GPA I've ever had because of instructors who make the material interesting and easy to understand.  I admire their wisdom and knowledge.  They've pushed me to succeed." 

Sidney will graduate this summer, thanks to the 2014 David A. Harvey Memorial Scholarship he received last year.   Four IET students received $1,125 to assist with tuition and book expenses for summer 2015.  Scholarship recipients must have a 2.8 GPA or higher; must be an IET major; and all applicants must write a 300 - 500-word essay describing the reason they decided to major in IET and where they see themselves in five years.

Last year Summit Media Group selected Tri-County Technical College as the recipient of the 2014 David A. Harvey Memorial Scholarship.  Representatives from the College accepted the $4,500 check at the May 20 - 21 Automation Conference in Chicago, Illinois.   Sidney was among the four Industrial Electronics Technology students who received $1,125 to assist with tuition and book expenses for summer 2015.  Scholarship recipients must have a 2.8 GPA or higher; must be an IET major; and all applicants wrote a 300 - 500-word essay describing the reason they decided to major in IET and where they see themselves in five years.

"We're pleased to acknowledge Tri-County's innovation and success and hope this scholarship makes the journey to a career in manufacturing a little easier for deserving students," said Jim Chrzan, vice president/publisher, Automation World.

"The scholarship is the reason I can graduate on time," said Sidney.