March 8, 2024 | Stay Connected, Stay Informed | |
Tom Pharr, of Bennettsville, reaches his 30th year representing Marlboro County on the NETC Area Commission. | |
'Rural life for the young' | |
Thirty years on commission, Pharr supports NETC, more technical training to to sustain small counties | |
|
The muffled thumping hammers banging and screeching of power tools could be heard throughout Northeastern Technical College’s Marlboro County Campus; a project near and dear to Area Commissioner Tom Pharr.
Pharr, who reached his 30th anniversary serving on the NETC Area Commission, is eager for the new campus to fully open which will help preserve rural life for future generations in Marlboro County; education is an essential part of becoming financially comfortable, specifically technical education, Pharr said.
“When I moved to Marlboro County, agriculture was king,” Pharr said. “Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical College was later established, there was only one campus. Marlboro County utilized the Cheraw campus, but it can be an hour away and take half a day to go to and from class while trying to work,” Pharr said.
Satellite campuses are an asset for NETC’s rural service area, he said. NETC’s service area of Marlboro, Chesterfield and Dillon Counties is nearly 1,700 square miles, larger than the state of Rhode Island but with a population about a tenth (approximately 97,000) spread among the three counties.
Ongoing construction at the Marlboro County campus is a $6.9 million investment converting 19,000-square-feet of a former grocery store building into a technical college campus along with an additional 10,000-square-feet in labs; the campus is slated to bring in more workforce curriculum.
“A lot has changed economically and with industry in Marlboro County with the need for skilled workers from plumbers to welders to nurses becoming in demand,” he said. “Rural life can be for the young, Technical colleges play a role retaining skilled workers from a community to stay in a community.”
| |  |
|
In 1968, Pharr moved to Bennettsville, S.C., taking an engineering position at Powell Manufacturing where he worked his way to president until 2002; in 2005 he purchased the name of the company after the company closed merging it with his company MarCo Manufacturing, a tobacco and hemp harvester developer and sales. He was appointed to the Area Commission of then Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical College representing his home county.
When Pharr settled in Marlboro County, there were many young people and couples in the “middle management” income range the energy of a community, he said.
“Refocusing on manual skills which is central to rural areas has been ignored for too long,” Pharr said. “I think people are seeing the value of technical colleges.”
During his tenure, Marlboro County School District in conjunction with NETC brought welding, automotive, and beginner Allied Nursing courses opening a world to learning in-demand skills that can be put into use in their home communities.
Northeastern Technical College’s focus on hands-on specialized courses for high school students gets Pharr’s full endorsement.
“Students who enroll in a four-year college from rural areas typically do not return,” Pharr said. “Not every route to success goes through a four-year university.”
As construction is slated to continue for several months, Pharr is thinking about what is next for NETC’s offerings in Marlboro County: aviation.
“I hope to have aviation program as centerpiece of Marlboro County campus – this program could have potential for growth and garner national attention. It would be a good fit for us,” he said.
| |
|
Are you aware students at Northeastern Technical College pay nothing for nearly all of their class textbooks?
March 4-8 marks Open Education Week, a global event promoting broader accessibility to education and teaching materials.
NETC offers Open Educational Resources, a free and open-available learning materials, located in the college’s Desire 2 Learn (D2L) program alleviating the costs NETC students pay for textbooks.
“Without the burden of paying for textbooks students can save thousands of dollars each semester and our students can afford to take more courses per semester and graduate early,” said NETC Head Librarian Ronnie Stafford, who helped oversee the transition from paper to digital.
The average price of a physical technical college textbook typically costs between $50 to $200 with some specialized books priced higher.
Approximately 95 percent of NETC classes use free digital, Stafford said.
| |
|
NETC uses Desire2Learn (D2L) as an online learning platform where students can receive and upload assignments, take quizzes, and monitor grades. D2L is a hub for communicating with instructors and classmates in discussions as well as for college announcements.
User Name: FirstNameLastName
Password: is mailed to home address or contact helpdesk@netc.edu.
To access D2L, click here.
Tutorial Videos
| | |
Getting Out of the Textbook Business
Learn how NETC College is making education more accessible and affordable. A column by Dr. Derk Riechers.
Read More!
| |
|
Lisa Morman-Patterson, NETC Speech Instructor, heads the college’s Theatre Club. | |
NETC Theatre Club offers acting, live performances | |
|
In just under two months from the start of a new semester, Northeastern Technical College students managed through dozens of different work, class, family, and for some high school obligations, to produce Booker T. At the Door for a live audience.
When there are dedicated actors and stagehands, a small theater troupe can make big things happen, said NETC Theatre Director Lisa Morman-Patterson.
“Our casts are dedicated and really enjoy theatre,” said Morman-Patterson, who is a NETC Speech Instructor. “The number one thing is that we love what we do and will make that sacrifice.”
Travel.
Rehearsals.
More travel. Late nights. More rehearsals. The show will go on, she said.
Within its first semester in 2019, the club debuted their first run of A Christmas Carol. When NETC faced pandemic shutdowns in 2020, the team continued rehearsals remotely.
“We were not going to stop even though the venues had shut down because of covid restrictions, we took the shows outdoors, went really, really, well,” Morman-Patterson said.
The NETC Theatre Club primarily pulls from the college’s student body with actors ranging from late teens to 40-somethings; its mission is to provide an opportunity for those interested in performing arts a place to learn the craft of acting (or stage production) as well as an opportunity to experience live theater.
| | |
|
Morman-Patterson's inspiration comes from her late brother, Pastor Garcia L. Morman, in which she saw his commitment to send tractor trailer of supplies to people displaced by Hurricane Katrina, built momentum making regional news leading to a groundswell of support and supplies quickly making it to those in need.
Booker T. at the Door was dedicated to him and performed on his birthday, Morman-Patterson said.
In November 2023, the club revised its production of A Christmas Carol for local audiences and performed at the Booth Playhouse, at the Blumenthal Arts Center in Charlotte, N.C.
Along with Booker T. at the Door, which took place Feb. 27 at the Cheraw campus, NETC Theatre Club produced the Sherlock Holmes mystery Hound of Baskervilles and Glory Road, an original production which featured national Gospel recording arts Paul Porter.
“In rural areas, these cultural opportunities can be scarce,” Morman-Patterson said. “Even on a small scale, the NETC Theatre Club can have a large impact in our community.”
With a late winter production off the scheduled, the NETC Theatre Club turns its sights on competition this spring at the S.C. Speech and Theater Competition hosted by Lander University.
Returning is Diego Wheeler, of Lakeview, captured first place in poetry interpretation with The Hill We Climb in 2023.
For more information about NETC Theatre Club call 800.921.7399 or contact lmorman@netc.edu.
| | |
|
|
Click on any video to watch a NETC Theatre Club production. | |
Faculty, staff compete in Cheraw Chili Cook-Off | |
Northeastern Technical College participated in the 2024 Cheraw Chili Cook-Off March 2 at Cypress Music Hall. NETC came prepared with Culinary Instructor Sha’Kira Gattison and her team of Early Childhood Education Instructor Marlowe Harrington, Institution Effectiveness Coordinator Karen English, Machine Tool & Construction Instructor Jim Williams, and Dean of Workforce Development & Continuing Education Patrick Dail. | |
Interested in the business of culinary? Click the pot! | |
|
JOB FAIR!
Northeastern Technical College hosted a hiring event on March 1 at its Marlboro County campus open to the public. Representatives from a variety of local businesses and industries were on hand to talk to prospective employees. College representatives were available to discuss its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Welding, Machine Tool, and Phlebotomy and CNA classes as well as enrollment specialists to help prospective students.
| |
Below, Northeastern Technical College hosted a hiring event on March 5 at its Pageland campus open to the public. | |
Below, Northeastern Technical College hosted a hiring event on March 7 at Dillon ATECH. | |
Need a lift?
PDRTA offers public transportation routes Cheraw, Dillon,
and Marlboro County. Buses routinely stop at NETC Cheraw Campus.
Find your Route!
| |
| |
|
|
Northeastern Technical College President Dr. Kyle Wagner escorts Celia Urquhart from U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham’s office through the Marlboro County campus during a Feb. 29 visit in the service area.
| |
CHERAW CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION MAP | |
|
Construction will create changes to entries,
walkways and parking on the Cheraw Campus.
The Northeastern Technical College quad is accessible from all buildings. Demolition fencing has been removed and parking is available. This will remain in effect until construction begins.
| |
Faculty: Sign up for driver's training | | |
|
A randomized group of Northeastern Technical College employees will receive a Great Colleges to Work for Survey March 4-29 via email. The Great Colleges to Work For survey, conducted by The Chronicle of Higher Education, recognizes U.S. colleges and universities fostering exceptional workplace environments. It evaluates factors like job satisfaction, compensation, and professional development, aiming to highlight institutions prioritizing employee well-being and satisfaction. | |
Faculty: Sign up for driver's training | |
|
Northeastern Technical College employees who drive any of the college vehicles must complete the State Fleet Defensive Driving Course.
Courses are available through March 27 online and in-person in Columbia.
Click the official steering wheel of NETC to the right to register or click here.
The defensive driving class takes approximately eight hours to complete and is valid for three years; proof of completing the course could result in a discount with your auto insurance – check with your insurance provider.
A refresher course must be completed every three years; if certification expires, you must retake the full course again.
| |
Click on the NETC Fleet steering wheel to register for the state's defensive driving course. | | |
|
Free tax prep at
NETC Cheraw campus
NETC hosts AARP Tax-Aide as a free service for income tax preparation 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays until April 10 on the NETC Cheraw campus.
There are no age or income limits, and AARP membership is not required; the service is free. Tax-Aide is the largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance program in the United States. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact a local volunteer: 843-910-6510 or click for email here!
| |
Annual Trailblazers Golf Tournament returns April 19 | |
|
Bring your clubs and A-game when Northeastern Technical College’s golf tournament returns in spring.
The Third Annual NETC Trailblazer Golf Tournament 1 p.m. April 19 at Marlboro County Golf and Recreational Complex. Space is limited to the first 20 teams.
The Trailblazer Tournament is a 4-player Captain’s Choice tournament – a $400 entry fee per team includes golfing, lunch, and beverages on the court.
Prizes will be awarded to the longest drive, closest to pin on all Par 3s, and door prizes. A putting contest starts 11 a.m. prior to the tournament’s start.
NETC Mulligan Packages are available at $20 per player that includes one mulligan and one option to hit from the red tees from any hole excluding Par 3s and Longest Drive hole.
Sponsorship opportunities are available with proceeds from the tournament dedicated to NETC’s athletic department.
"We are thrilled to be hosting this fundraising event to support our athletics program," said NETC President Dr. Kyle Wagner. "Our athletics program is an essential part of the college experience for our students, and the funds raised from the tournament will help us to continue providing high-quality sports facilities and equipment for them."
| |
|
As a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), NETC offers students the opportunity to compete in several sports, including men's and women's golf, men's and women's cross country, and Esports.
The college takes pride in its athletics program, which provides students with valuable experiences and opportunities to develop essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and time management, Wagner said.
The golf tournament is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to support NETC's athletics program while enjoying a day of golf at one of the most scenic courses in the state.
The event is open to all levels of golfers, from beginners to experienced players – last year, 56 golfers among 14 teams competed in the Trailblazer Tournament.
Registration for the event is now open and interested parties can visit the college's website for more information on how to participate, sponsor, or donate.
NETC Trailblazer Golf Tournament
WHEN: 1 p.m. Friday April 19
WHERE: Marlboro County Golf and Recreational Complex, 404 Country Club Dr., Bennettsville, S.C.
WHAT: Team Fees $400 include golfing, lunch, and beverages on the course. Prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin on all Par 3s. Door prizes awarded.
Players can purchase for $20 one mulligan and one hit from the red tees.
| | |
To download a team form click the golf ball or click here. | |
To download sponsorship information, click here. | |
Don't game as a lone wolf, NETC Esports recruiting for spring team | |
|
Northeastern Technical College is looking for mixed martial artists, mercenaries, professional football players, and if you have magical powers, that too.
NETC’s esports program is looking for official Trailblazers as well as casual players looking to compete in-house through the intramural program.
The number of school and intramural competitors is gaining traction with the ranks growing from Spring 2022 to Fall 2023, said NETC Esports Head Coach Tyler Nolan.
NETC Trailblazers are full-time students who maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours with at least a 2.0 grade point average, along with the college’s golf and cross-country program.
Intramural players (also known as Tier 3) are any part-time, full-time, and dual enrollment students.
All of NETC sports programs compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the national governing body of two-year college athletics.
There are no age restrictions for players.
Esports players can compete off-campus or at Trailblazers Esports headquarters on the Cheraw campus.
In Fall 2023, the Trailblazers competed in Madden Football, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Valorant, Modern Warfare, Overwatch, and Super Smash Bros.
Competing in Fall were Lexy Deitz and Nick Oakley, of Chesterfield; David Hancock, Josh McMillon, and David Hancock, of Cheraw; Victor Barrington and Mary Blackwell, of Bennettsville; Jeremy Clark and Ethan Jones, of McBee; and Luke Byrd, of Hartsville.
Dual Enrollment students Vonta Marshall, of Bennettsville, and Zander Wagner, of Cheraw, enlisted in Intramural competition.
INTRAMURAL ESPORTS
NETC offers Intramural Esports to any full-time, part-time, and Dual Enrollment student where players can face each other one-on-one or in teams in competitive video gaming.
NETC students aren’t restricted to competing at the Esports Game room on the Cheraw campus, they can login remotely during play scheduled 6 p.m. weekdays.
For more information, visit online at www.netc.edu, select Student Resources in the top menu, select Athletics then click the NJCAA logo and scroll down to locate the interest form.
| |
NETC Esports program plays a variety of games competitively against other colleges across the nation. Teams play Madden, Overwatch, Fortnite, Call of Duty, War Zone and more! | |
Interested in NETC Esports? Click HERE or the logo to access the interested form. | |
Watch NETC Esports on Twitch HERE or click the logo. | |
Subscribe to NETC Esports: Goal 100 | |
| Monday | TBA | | Tuesday | TBA | | Wednesday | TBA | | Thursday | TBA | | Friday | TBA | | |
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Northeastern Technical College provides affirmative action and equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, - including the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, national origin, age, religion, or disability.
Find Your Career Here!
| |
|
| April 5 | Alternate Schedule | | May 2 | ADN Pinning Cheraw | | May 9 | Spring Graduation Cheraw | | May 27 | Memorial Day Holiday | | May 28 | Area Commission Meeting | | |
NETC Foundation offers tax deductible custom scholarships | |
|
Giving the gift of education can be tax-deductible; creating a scholarship in the name of a loved one is priceless.
Northeastern Technical College Foundation offers individuals, businesses, and organizations, can create and contribute to their own customized scholarship for one-time or reoccurring.
The NETC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with its mission since 1979 supporting Northeastern Technical College students and school projects; donations are tax-deductible.
By supporting the NETC Foundation, donors become a catalyst for positive change, creating opportunities for students that extend far beyond the classroom.
In lieu of individual scholarships, donations can be made to the NETC Foundations four major funds:
| |
|
Uplift Fund: Donations directly impact students by providing scholarships and emergency relief removing unnecessary barriers to their education.
Jumpstart Fund: Donations become a part of innovation and progress by supporting the expansion and initiation of new programs.
Legacy Fund: Leave a lasting mark designating funds for scholarships, equipment, or specific projects to honor an individual, family, or business/industry.
NETC Trailblazer Athletics: Support the NETC E-Sports, Golf, and Cross-Country Program. Contributions foster a culture of teamwork, discipline, and excellence, enriching the college experience for student-athletes.
For more information visit www.netc.edu or contact us directly at 843.910.6916 or 843.921.6902.
| |
|
|
NETC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing student scholarships and assists in capital, emergency and equipment expenses. | | | |
|
NORTHEASTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1201 Chesterfield Highway Cheraw, SC 29520
www.netc.edu (843) 921-6900
| | | | |
