Cutting Edge –
Beth Reid, Chairwoman of the Fairfield County School Board; Marshall (Sonny) White Jr., Midlands Tech College (MTC) President; David Ferguson, Fairfield County Council Chairman; David Corley, FCHS Principal; Denado Dickson, MTC College and Career Advisor; Jeffrey B. Archie, Senior Vice President, SCANA Corporation, and Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of South Carolina Electric & Gas Company; Randall (Mack) Jackson, MTC Commissioner; J.R. Green, Superintendent of Fairfield County Schools; and Sierra Robinson, FCHS Student Body President offcially cut the ribbon on the Midlands Technical College/Fairfield Central Success Center.
A Success Center designed to ensure a direct route from high school to higher education was opened Jan. 30 at Fairfield High School. The Center is a collaborative effort between Midlands Technical College (MTC) and the high school in partnership with SCANA Corporation and the School District of Fairfield County. The Center essentially places a college presence within the high school.
The Center offers students college planning and preparation assistance; information on jobs in health sciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and alternate energy. The Center also offers in-school computerized college entrance testing (ACT COMPASS testing). Additional services include career search and financial aid workshops, daily parent outreach for targeted students, curriculum guides and support for faculty and staff, and MTC preparation materials and outreach.
“It is so important to ensure the pipeline from high school to higher education is open and accessible to all students,” said MTC President Dr. Marshall (Sonny) White Jr. “By having a physical presence within Fairfield Central High, MTC will be able to engage more students in early planning for their future education and careers.”
“The Success Center will enable our students to gain access to Midlands Technical College and explore future career opportunities,” said FCHS Principal David Corley. “The widening gap between available jobs and skilled workers is requiring our students to meet the growing demands of employers.”
Fairfield School Superintendent J. R. Green introduced a group of seventh graders who will be the first participants in the program. He thanked White “for giving us the latitude to stretch our students. We’re all about working together to achieve this,” Green said.
The Success Center is located at Fairfield Central High School and is staffed by MTC Program Coordinator Denado Dickson. Any Fairfield Central High School student can utilize the Center through referrals by teachers, faculty or by permission of the principal. All Educational Talent Search and TRIO students have unlimited access to the Success Center. Local school districts, teachers, and parents can access the center by calling 803-605-1332.
