Sue Dacus honored with Tri-County’s Presidential Staff Medallion

August 23, 2021

Sue Dacus earned the highest award given to staff at Tri-County Technical College at an annual fall convocation.

Dacus, who serves as senior data analyst focusing on veterans affairs, received the Presidential Medallion for Staff Excellence.  Dr. Galen DeHay, president of Tri-County Technical College, presented her the medallion.

“Sue’s superb work ethic, coupled with her decades-long dedication to the College (31 years and counting!) make her an excellent recipient for the Presidential Medallion,” Christopher Caldwell, statistical and research analyst in the TCTC student data center, wrote in his nomination letter.

“Sue is well known across the College as an expert in her field and is held in high regard with faculty and staff members. She personifies what it means to be a Tri County employee through her devout dedication to student support and success,” said Caldwell.

Dacus began her career at the College in 1988 after earning a TCTC business management degree. She has worked for the Registrar’s Office in various capacities over the years, beginning as an administrative specialist and later as data coordinator and office manager. She is the primary academic drop/add contact for students and faculty and a team leader/subject matter expert in her role as a senior student data analyst.

Over the last five years she has served as graduation coordinator. “Sue is like a walking reference guide for faculty, staff and students,” said Cathy Cole, operations manager for the registrar’s office/student data center. “She is the expert when it comes to graduating our students. She has learned all of the ‘ins and outs’ of the degree auditing software and is constantly looking to make improvements and updates to minimize errors,” said Cole.

When taking on her new role, Dacus engaged with other VA officials and attended workshops and conferences to make sure TCTC was providing the best service to its student veterans. “She has worked tirelessly to make sure our veteran students understand timelines, payment deadlines, and bookstore charges so they have everything they need to be successful in the classroom. She has worked with Upstate Warrior Solutions to connect several student veterans who have needed help getting their education benefits started through military offices. I remember several years ago we had a veteran who revealed to her he was homeless and she reached out to folks who were able to help him secure housing,” said Cole.

Tina Burton, recruitment support specialist and campus visit coordinator for the College’s recruitment, admissions and orientation department, said Dacus provides “premier customer service to students and fellow co-workers through her knowledge base and years of experience with the registrar/Student Data Center. Sue is faithful to Tri-County Technical College and has the passion to see that this is not just a job but a way to be a part of changing lives. Sue is respected as a professional and as a person of great compassion with a great work ethic and caring personality,” said Burton.

“Sue truly embodies Tri-County Technical College’s mission to transform the lives of our students each and every day and is well-deserving of this honor,” said Cole.

In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in human services from Anderson University in 2013, Dacus holds an associate degree in business management from Tri-County Technical College and a legal secretary diploma from Forrest College.

 

Dacus resides in Anderson.

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About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.