NEWS AND EVENTS Becky Mann,
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November 29, 2007
Ralph Hendricks honored during “Benefactors Make A Difference” event

(GREENVILLE, SC) -- Ralph Hendricks was named Greenville Tech’s Benefactor of the Year and was honored at the South Carolina Technical College System’s “Benefactors Make A Difference” event held November 8 in Columbia. During the event, benefactors from each of the state’s 16 technical colleges were honored for their generosity.

Hendricks was one of five children whose parents could not afford to purchase textbooks. As a result, he spent time in study halls with books he borrowed from classmates. His gifts to Greenville Tech have been aimed at encouraging young people who need help in pursuing their educational goals.

Those gifts have included generous amounts of time and money. Financial support of more than $335,000 has created endowed scholarship funds that have aided more than 120 students in the past seven years. With his help, the college was able to purchase two human patient simulators for health sciences programs, funding that motivated others to support additional simulator purchases. These teaching tools have been used since 2002 in the college’s nursing, respiratory therapy and EMT programs. The sophisticated computerized simulators are programmed to have medical conditions. They respond to procedures, broadening the range of conditions from which students can draw hands-on experience.

Hendricks served for six years on the board of directors of the Greenville Tech Foundation. With his leadership, the foundation was able to raise more than $15 million dollars during the six year “Partners Working for Success” major gifts campaign. The campaign’s original goal was $8 million.

Hendricks continues to be active in his support of the Greenville Tech Foundation, educational institutions, and the community. He considers the greatest reward to be a thank you note from a student.