Northeastern Technical College officially welcomed Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston on her first day as president on July 2 with a warm reception that reflected the college's spirit of community and collaboration.

Faculty, staff, and employees gathered to celebrate the beginning of Frank-Alston's leadership with thoughtful gestures and heartfelt messages. A custom welcome banner, signed by employees from across the college, was filled with words of encouragement, well wishes, and excitement for the future of NETC.

The celebration also included a welcome cake and a thoughtfully prepared goodie basket, offering a warm introduction to the Trailblazer family.

The first-day welcome served as a meaningful expression of the college's commitment to supporting Frank-Alston as she begins leading Northeastern Technical College into its next chapter. The event highlighted the strong sense of unity that defines the NETC community and the shared enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead under Frank-Alston's leadership.

Northeastern Technical College is proud to welcome Frank-Alston and looks forward to the vision, innovation, and leadership she will bring as the college continues its mission of transforming lives through education and workforce development.

Northeastern Technical College welcomed education, industry, and community leaders to its Marlboro Campus on June 30 for the South Carolina Rural Technical College Consortium (SCC3) Advisory Council meeting, highlighting the collaborative efforts that continue to strengthen workforce development across the region.

Centered around the theme, "Capacity Building: One Building. One Body. One Career at a Time," the meeting brought together K-12 partners, business and industry representatives, community stakeholders, Continuing Education staff, NETC leadership, Apprenticeship Carolina, and members of the SCC3 Consortium to discuss opportunities for expanding workforce training and increasing access to high-demand careers.

The program featured welcoming remarks from Dr. Athos Barahona, who celebrated the progress of the consortium and thanked the many partners whose collaboration has made the initiative possible. Mrs. Tania Appel provided an overview of Apprenticeship Carolina, while consortium leaders shared updates on SCC3 activities and the impact the project is making throughout rural South Carolina.

Guest speaker Dr. Rebecca Battle-Bryant delivered the keynote address, encouraging continued collaboration between education, workforce, and industry partners to create sustainable pathways that lead to family-supporting careers and stronger communities.

During the meeting, attendees also welcomed Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston, who officially began her role as Northeastern Technical College's next president on July 1. Dr. Frank-Alston shared remarks about the importance of partnerships, workforce innovation, and continuing the college's mission of serving students and the region.

The event concluded with discussions on how NETC can continue supporting employers, students, and community partners, followed by a campus tour and networking opportunities.

The SCC3 initiative, funded through the U.S. Department of Labor's Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program, is designed to strengthen workforce education by providing funding for personnel, industry certifications, licensure opportunities, and workforce equipment that align with today's labor market demands. The South Carolina Rural Technical College Consortium includes Northeastern Technical College as the pass-through entity, along with Denmark Technical College and Williamsburg Technical College, representing a $4.9 million investment in rural workforce development.

As SCC3 staff shared during the event, the project's mission remains clear: "Changing lives one family-sustaining wage at a time." Through continued collaboration, NETC and its partners are helping build a stronger workforce and brighter future for the communities they serve.

Northeastern Technical College Culinary Arts Instructor Sha'kira Gattison showcased her culinary talents by preparing light refreshments for guests attending the Dance Workshop and Evening Ball at Kevin Lear On Main on Saturday evening.

Serving approximately 50 to 70 attendees, Gattison created an assortment of refreshments that complemented the evening's atmosphere as guests enjoyed the dance workshop and social gathering.

Community events like this highlight the value of collaboration and the skills of NETC faculty, who continue to share their expertise beyond the classroom while strengthening connections throughout the region.

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