June 4, 2008
NETC Graduates Encouraged to Stay Positive

Nick Dines, of Bennettsville, poses for a photo after graduation with MJ Martin, a faculty member at Northeastern Technical College, who Dines attributes to his success in returning to college and earning a degree in industrial technology.

See more photos from NETC's graduation

More than 185 students graduated from Northeastern Technical College with associate degrees, certificates or diplomas during the college’s commencement exercises on May 31.

“We are honored that you chose our college as the place to pursue your pathway to a college degree,” said Dr. Ron Bartley, president of Northeastern Technical College who was presiding over his first commencement exercises since being named president in March.  “And we hope that each of you will take advantage of this success and utilized your creative talents to be the best that you can be.”

Representative Ted Vick, who represents Chesterfield County (Legislative District 53) in the South Carolina House of Representatives, was the commencement speaker and encouraged this year’s graduates to use their recent accomplishment as a way to work toward future success.

“It’s up to you to determine how you are going to use this success,” he said to crowd of more than 700 gathered on the campus of Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw.  “You are at a crossroads now in your life and I can assure you, the path you choose will make all the difference.” 

Vick quoted from the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken” and offered four ideals he feels have played a crucial role in the success he has found taking the road less traveled. 

“Put God first in your life.  Without him you can do nothing and with him you have the potential to do anything” he said.  “Secondly, be a good steward of what has been given to you.  The more wisdom you receive, the freer you should give it.  And the more wealth you receive, the more you should give.”

He went on to say that keeping a positive attitude and learning to detest the words, ‘I can not’ were the third and fourth ideals important to experiencing continued success.

“If you say that you can’t do something, then you will not,” he said.  “Instead, ask yourself how you can do something and all of a sudden you’ve opened a world of possibilities for your self.”

Vick, who came from humble beginnings in Patrick, S.C., went on to graduate from the Citadel and earned a master of education degree from the University of South Carolina. He is widely known as a successful businessman, managing several multimillion dollar companies, and was named the 2005 Legislator of the Year after only serving one year as a representative of Chesterfield County. 

“I don’t care where you are from or what you have, if you embrace the idea that you can achieve what you want and that you determine your destiny, that pathway will lead to a higher level of success in your life,” he said to the graduates. 

Nick Dines, a graduate from Bennettsville receiving his associate degree in industrial technology,did just that.  After working for 20 years in a mill, he lost his job due to a plant closing and returned to school to work toward a new destiny.

“It was hard for me everyday and I was always dealing with challenge after challenge” he said.  “But I’m a fighter and when I get knocked down, I get right back up and this time I got up to earn my college degree.”

Special recognition was given to Dr. Ronald W. Hampton, past president of Northeastern Technical College who served for 26 years as president before retiring in 2003.  In honor of his service to the state of South Carolina and the influence he had over the establishment of Northeastern Technical College in Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon counties, building 200 was renamed Hampton Hall.

“This building is a focal point of campus and community activity,” said Herbert Watts, chairman of the college’s board of trustees. “Dr. Hampton always emphasized the college’s mission of serving our students and our community, so it is especially fitting that this particular building be named in his honor.”

Hampton, his wife Shelia, daughter Georgia Christian and grandson Justin Christian attended graduation and were recognized during the ceremony.

More than 185 students were also recognized for receiving diplomas, certificates and degree at this year’s commencement exercise. 

Sixty one percent received associate degrees, 30 percent received certificates and 9 percent received diplomas.   Within those categories, a majority of students received degrees in arts and sciences, business and industrial technology.  A majority of the certificates awarded were in early childhood development and nurse preparation while a majority of diplomas were awarded in health sciences.

To view photos of Northeastern Technical College’s 2008 graduation ceremony visit the college’s homepage at www.netc.edu and click on “See more photos of NETC’s 2008 Graduation” below the main photo on the home page.