Early Planning is Key to Making Transition from High School to College
August 3, 2010
ANDERSON, SC – August 3, 2010 – Stephanie Johnson, a recent T.L. Hanna graduate, say’s the secret to making an easy transition from high school to college is early planning.
Johnson, who will be taking all of her classes this fall at Tri-County Technical College’s Anderson Campus, says Tri-County was always her first choice for college.
Johnson began getting ready in the fall of her senior year by gathering applications for admission and financial aid. In addition to receiving the Al Norris Scholarship, endowed in the name of the College’s former Dean of Students, she was awarded a LIFE scholarship, a Student Star Scholarship through SC Future Farmers of America (FFA) and a UDC scholarship. “I am attending Tri-County tuition (and books) free the first year. The admissions process at Tri-County was easy. The key is finding someone to go through the enrollment steps with you,” she said.
“The key to being successful in college is to be prepared, to begin early and to take action. Beginning early leads to getting a preferred schedule and having the opportunity to apply for scholarships, like Stephanie did,” said Anderson Campus Counselor Butch Merritt.
“I’m really looking forward to beginning classes at Anderson,” said Johnson, who, in June, received her state FFA degree at the State FFA convention. Other awards include the 2008 – 09 Piedmont Region and State Champion for the Upper Creed Speaking Career Development Event and she is the State Champion of the Job Interview Career Development Event. She went on to receive a Silver Emblem for Job Interview at the 81st National FFA Convention.
After completing the associate in Arts degree, which is offered in its entirety at the Anderson Campus, she will transfer to Clemson University to pursue a degree in agricultural education with an emphasis in animal science. Her goal is to become an agricultural education teacher at the high school level.
“Tri-County was always my first choice for college,” she said. “The Anderson Campus, which is located 15 minutes from my home, makes it more convenient. The campus offers all of the university transfer classes I need for my degree. Why drive by this campus to take classes in Pendleton? Everything I need is here,” she said, adding that parking is easily accessible.
“Our goal is to offer the services and programs of Tri-County Technical College right where people live and work,” said Tim Bowen, director of the Anderson Campus. “The focus this year has been to create more classroom space, especially science and computer labs, and to increase the course offerings so students can get full schedules exclusively at Anderson. Significant building renovations and new scheduling options recently have added the potential for 70 new course sections over what was possible just this past spring. The pieces are now there for us to meet the anticipated increased in student enrollment,” he said.
Tri-County Technical College’s fall semester begins August 23.
