More than 770 degrees, diplomas, and certificates were awarded at Greenville Technical College this spring, and nearly 320 graduates participated in Commencement Exercises held on Thursday, May 5 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Lissette Treanor was recognized as Faculty Member of the Year. Treanor was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the U.S. at the age of seven. She received a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in English as a Second Language from Jersey City University. In 2000, she was hired by Greenville Technical College to develop an ESL program, and she has served as lead instructor and coordinator of the program for the past 16 years. She is an advocate for her students and serves as a mentor though her role as the faculty advisor for the Latino Student Association. She also works with the Hispanic American Women’s Association and the Hispanic Alliance, where she was a founding member and serves on the committee for higher education.
Robin L. Carter was honored as Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. Carter has taught at GTC since 2011. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Troy State and her master’s degree in Biology from the University of Alabama. She has gone above and beyond her role as an adjunct instructor by chairing the Biology 101 Lab Manual Committee during the 2012-13 academic year, ultimately producing the lab manual used by all students in Biology 101.
Brady Gilbert received the Outstanding Alumnus Award. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Furman University, he came to GTC and in 2005, added an associate degree in Computer Technology and a CISCO certificate, which aided him in the development of his company, Call Brady Computer Services. The business made him aware of the importance of computer skills for all individuals, which led him to create another enterprise, SeniorTraining.org. This venture reflected his philosophy of assisting others while providing a valuable service to a particular audience.
David Stafford received an Honorary Alumnus Award. Stafford serves as executive vice president, personnel and chief human resources officer for Michelin North America and is chairman of the Greenville Technical College Area Commission. He has worked tirelessly for the college, providing strong leadership and dedicated service, Despite a heavy work schedule and other community commitments, Stafford is an ambassador for GTC, representing the college whenever asked. He and his wife recently created an endowed scholarship fund to help students overcome financial hurdles. Though he didn’t attend GTC, Stafford has made the college a part of his life and his gifts of money and service have moved the college forward.
Whitley Farmer received a President’s Award. Farmer was on track to graduate during her senior year of high school and was taking college classes to get ahead. But mid-year, family problems and personal struggles got in the way, and she missed so many classes that she couldn’t graduate. Four years later, she decided to turn her life around, earning a GED and enrolling at Greenville Technical College. Thanks to the Student Support Services (TRIO) program, she found the help she needed to make a successful start and established what became an unbroken record of 4.0 GPAs each semester. As her academic skills became obvious, her leadership skills emerged too, and she became a peer leader for College Skills classes. Whitley will enter the Nursing program at USC Upstate this fall.
Leslie Brooks also received a President’s Award. She has been a student at GTC since spring of 2015 and an Honors Program student since the following fall. The very definition of what a successful college student should be, she is dedicated, intelligent, and confident, demanding excellence of herself and those around her. She always goes above and beyond, completing eight honors courses to earn the Honors Program distinction when only six were required and completing 100 service learning hours during her course of study when only 40 were needed. Leslie has been accepted to attend Furman University next fall.