Aiken Technical College Celebrates SC Technical College Week

Aiken Technical College and the South Carolina Technical College System are celebrating South Carolina Technical College Week from March 22 through March 26 with the theme, “I Defy.”

This week celebrates the impact of South Carolina’s largest higher education sector by showcasing the impact of the state’s public technical colleges.

“Great things are taking place at public technical colleges throughout the state. At Aiken Technical College, we are on a mission to provide educational and workforce development opportunities to help area residents achieve their goals,” said Aiken Technical College President Dr. Forest Mahan. “Sometimes referred to as the ‘best- kept secret,’ we are redefining what it means to go to college. Aiken Technical College is a part of a statewide initiative called ‘I Defy’ that showcases the power and impact of the state’s technical colleges and, most importantly, how our students defy the traditions, norms, and expectations that society sometimes places on them. I invite our community to explore what we have to offer and encourage our students and alumni to share their stories about how a technical education has made an impact on their lives and careers.”

The System consists of 16 public technical colleges, including ATC, strategically placed throughout the state to ensure that most residents have a 30-minute or less drive to a local technical college or one of their satellite campuses.

Annually, South Carolina’s technical colleges serve more than 160,000 South Carolinians through academic and continuing education programs. In the 2019-2020 academic year, ATC served more than 2,870 students through its academic programs, with more than 73 percent of the students residing within Aiken County.

The System strives to provide relevant, affordable, and accessible higher education and meet the state’s workforce needs. To meet these goals, each college has academic advisory councils with representatives from the respective industry, has local governance to rapidly meet the needs of the college’s service area, and offers scholarships and grants exclusive to South Carolina’s public technical colleges such as South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance and the South Carolina Workforce and Industry Needs Scholarship.

For more information about Aiken Technical College, visit www.atc.edu. For more information about the South Carolina Technical College System, visit www.sctechsystem.edu.

South Carolina Technical College Week Activities