President Booth Urges Summer Grads to Listen, Look, Learn and Deliver

 Tri-County Technical College President Ronnie Booth told graduates to enter the next phase of their work or life with their eyes wide open to these new environments and their demands, challenges and opportunities.

Three hundred and sixty-eight students were awarded degrees, diplomas and/or certificates during the College’s 50^th anniversary summer commencement held August 3 at the Anderson Civic Center.

“I want to offer a few suggestions in regard to how I believe you can build on the knowledge you have acquired and the success you have evidenced by being here tonight and how to increase the likelihood of future success in your life,” he said.

Enter the next phase of your work and life with eyes wide open, he said. “Newly documented learning must be tempered with a heavy dose of reality. Failure to understand the world into which you are about to enter can be costly, if not deadly. Conversely, a strong understanding of your world of work will enhance your opportunities for success and may lead you into never-before-thought-of options for advancement and achievement,” he said.

Next, he advised the grads to find a mentor. “This reality of the world of work is best gleaned from a mentor, someone who has a few battle scars. I can’t say enough about how important this is,” said Dr. Booth, citing his father as his early business mentor, in addition to the president of Gainesville College, where he worked before coming to Tri-County in 2003. “I have found mentors who have gone far beyond where I can imagine and who continually stretch me to move out of my comfort area in order to experience future success in my work and my personal life.”

Do not miss the opportunity to gain from others around you, like your colleagues, he added. He said he recently attended a seminar with about 50 other two-year college presidents. “We were able to share experiences, lessons learned and ideas about how to be more effective in our work and how to address challenges that we each face at the colleges we serve,” he said. “All of us admitted the need to continually learn, be flexible and give up past notions of how things work when confronted with new realities and demands.”

Additionally, he said you must continually work on and adjust your life plan. “Do not get so involved in the heavy lifting of the day that you miss trends, market adjustments and changes in the nature of the work you do. The best way to stay ahead of what is taking place around us is to listen, look, learn and deliver.”

He concluded by telling the grads to maintain and focus on their relationships. “Really, that is all you have.”

Following the speech, Dr. Booth and other College officials presented degrees, diplomas and certificates to the following Pickens County graduates:

From Central:

Anna Lisa Aikens, Medical Assisting; Michael Scott Bellamy, General Technology - Mechatronics; Heather Renee Brewer, Medical Assisting; Justin Zachary Davidson, Engineering Graphics Technology; Brooke Ellyn Donald, Pre-Nursing; Zachary Ryan Duncan, Utility Service Technician; Richard Allen Griebno, Radio and TV Broadcasting; Stori Anna Lombardi, Pre-Nursing; Gilbert Brian Nichols, Welding; Kenneth David Parker, Computer Technology; Amee Samarth Patel, Practical Nursing; Candice Michelle Stephens, Management; and Melanie Christa Young, Associate in Arts

From Clemson:

Shamica Andrea Benson, Early Childhood Development; Christopher Ryan Filipski, Associate in Science; Kimberly S. Finley, Surgical Technology; Diane Paige Geddings, Associate in Science; Amy Leigh Gilstrap, Associate in Science; Jacqlin Diane Howard, Crime Scene Investigations; Lindsey Morgan MacDonald, Practical Nursing; Taylor Carlisle Martin, Heating, Ventilation and AC Technology; Mavis Delimini Robinson, Nursing; and Trevor Joel Witthoeft, General Technology - Mechatronics

From Easley:

Alisha Brooke Barnes, General Technology - PrePharmacy; Kristen Kay Brewer, Criminal Justice Technology; Nathan Aaron Chavis, General Technology - Mechatronics; Amanda Berliner Clark, Medical Assisting; Pamela Annette Clemons, Data Entry Clerk; Jill Barrett Cook, Surgical Technology; Tammy Crumpton, Administrative Office Technology; Lindley Erin Davis, Pre-Nursing; Eric Palmer Earwaker, Engineering Graphics Technology; Ashley Nicole Fletcher, Medical Office Specialist; Jonathon Michael Fosselman, Radio and TV Broadcasting; Tammy Rena Foster, Administrative Office Technology; Jessica Glickman, Pre-Dental Hygiene; Charles Ryan Guthke, Criminal Justice Technology; Terry Bernard Hawthorne, Heating, Ventilation and AC Technology; Donald Gene Holbrooks, Pre-Nursing; Anthony Garrett Hubber, Criminal Justice Technology; Jessica Anne Long, Pre-Nursing; Chad Larkin Looper, General Technology - Mechatronics; Matthew Jared Mason, Industrial Electronics Technology; Regan Leigh McClain, Management; Tanya Carleene Mikkelson, Practical Nursing; Brian Andrew Miller, Management; Casey Harrison Morgan, Pre-Nursing; Jason Channing Murphy, Managerial Accounting; Mariah Lynne Patel, Associate in Arts; Samantha Victoria Pitts, Industrial Electronics Technology; Dana Michelle Praytor, Medical Assisting; Adrian Starr Proctor, Expanded Duty Dental Assisting; Rebecca S. Selig, Associate in Science; Jacob Lee Sharp, Associate in Arts; Emily Rebecca Styles, Management; and Owen Michele Webb, Criminal Justice Technology

From Liberty:

Tracy Ann Becknell, Pre-Nursing; Catherine Suzanne Clem, Pre-Nursing; Crystal Jean Davis, Pre-Nursing; Melissa Kaye Horton, Practical Nursing; Christopher Lee Hostetler, General Technology - Mechatronics; Grady Franklin Kelley, Pre-Nursing; Julia Erin Lewis, Associate in Science; Earl Russell McElrath, General Engineering Technology; and Charles Michael Trotter, Practical Nursing

From Pickens:

Brandon Lyn Bryant, General Technology - Mechatronics; Cameron Mark Childs, Practical Nursing; Steven Marion Darnell, General Technology - Mechatronics; Christopher Thomas Gerstle, Associate in Science; Josh Anthony Hammond, Gas and Arc Welding; Sonya Amaris Parker Hester, Medical Office Specialist; Anna Kathleen Hunter, Expanded Duty Dental Assisting; Abbigail Kirk, Radio and TV Broadcasting; Michael Stephen Knight, II, General Technology - Mechatronics; Joseph Butler McCall, Industrial Electronics Technology; Lindsey Rebekah McCall, Practical Nursing; Barry David Morton, Mig and Tig Welding; Kevin Anthony Nealey, Radio and TV Broadcasting; Jessica Amber Nix, Criminal Justice Technology; Jonathan Michael Riggs, Associate in Arts; Adam Douglas Sanders, General Technology - Mechatronics; Rose Dobbins Tapp, Pre-Nursing; Brandie Leigh Trotter, Industrial Supervision Technology; and Brittani Kristin Womack, Nursing

From Six Mile:

Nicholas Andrew Galloway, Criminal Justice Technology; Katie Ann Garrett, Pre-Nursing; Tammy Michelle Jones, Medical Assisting; James Randall Maloney, Gas and Arc Welding; Lucas Runyon, Associate in Arts; and Stephen Alan Shove, Law Enforcement and Correctional Services