I-BEST Holds Fall Commencement

Spring semester kicked off January 6 with an enrollment of 5,336 students taking classes at our community campuses in Pendleton, Anderson, Easley, and Westminster. The number of continuing students increased by 2.18% over last spring. We have slightly fewer students in our total headcount – .43 – but have an increase of 1.59 in students attending with full-time schedules, or FTEs.

The Fall Semester I-BEST graduates were awarded certificates during the Fall Commencement Ceremony held December 16 in Parker Auditorium on the Pendleton Campus. Twenty students graduated with a Manufacturing Production I certificate, 13 graduated from the new Personal Care Aide Pathway, and two received high school diplomas.

I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) is a nationally-recognized workforce development program designed by Washington State community colleges and adapted for Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties by Tri-County Technical College. Local I-BEST programs are created, offered, and enhanced through collaborative partnerships between the College, School Districts, Adult Education Centers, and employers throughout the tri-county area.

The programs focus on students between the ages 17-20 and adults who can benefit from non-traditional education pathways in preparation for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers that require postsecondary technical education.

I-BEST graduates pictured, left to right, (back row) Trey Asay, Sherra Thomas, Craig Longino, Ava Saicido-Cinquini, Tracy Floyd, Jerome Jones, Tahj Clark, Jim Aquilar, Angel Pasho, Caraleena Mejia, Jon Ligon, and (front row) Nicholas Dimopolos, Katherine Gavarrete, Jenny Jackson,

Jovani Roderick, Amber Hannah, Jenni Moore, Michelle Burden, Ashley Evatt, and Eric Skelton. Pictured with them are President DeHay, far left, and Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, dean of our Health Education Division.