CMT Network partners with TCTC

Tri-County Technical College is one of 20 community colleges nationwide selected to participate as a partner in Country Music Television (CMT)’s Empowering Education campaign. The comprehensive campaign provides an online resource, CMTEmpoweringEducation.com, to aid viewers in overcoming commonly perceived obstacles to furthering their education. “We are honored to be one of 20 community colleges nationwide to be selected to participate in the CMT Empowering Education Campaign,” said Dr. Ronnie L. Booth, president of Tri-County Technical College. “CMT understands there are people right here in the Upstate who don’t truly understand that a college education is possible for them. CMT will help us to reach audiences we haven’t been able to reach in the past.” CMT and country music star Dustin Lynch are teaming with Tri-County to encourage area residents to go back to school as part of the cable network’s Empowering Education initiative. With Lynch as the official spokesperson, the campaign highlights the important role community colleges like Tri-County play in providing affordable, relevant education and training that is aligned with workforce needs in America. CMT and Lynch are asking fans to pledge their commitment to education on social media using Thunderclap, an online crowd-sourcing tool. If 500 people sign up to support CMT Empowering Education by Sept. 18, Thunderclap will blast a concerted message of support across social media worldwide. As an incentive to participate in the Thunderclap, CMT and Lynch will award 10 participants with personalized gift packages, as well as one grand prize package for a VIP trip to the 2015 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Fans can visit http://thndr.it/1tTGZh1 to raise their voices for education now. Earlier this year at the Clinton Global Initiative America, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) announced its partnership initiative with CMT whose goal is to raise visibility for education and workforce struggles. The pilot year activities will focus on recruitment and retention efforts with CMT and will support local efforts by highlighting student success stories, combating perceived challenges, and by supporting the efforts of local two-year colleges, like Tri-County Technical College, in challenging viewers to go back to school. “We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to reach his or her potential with education beyond high school,” said Lucia Folk, vice president of public affairs at CMT. “With the aid of Dustin and the AACC, we want to help our viewers narrow the skills gap and improve their quality of life.” “This partnership gives Tri-County Technical College an even stronger voice in helping people understand the value of a college education,” Dr. Booth added. “We want people to know that obtaining a college degree is a realistic goal, and that we have great career opportunities right here in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties for those with the right knowledge and skills. That’s the message we want them to hear,” he said. The CMT partnership thrusts Tri-County Technical College into the national spotlight by providing opportunities for Tri-County students to tell their stories to a national audience through CMT media outlets and those of their partners. “We have so many students with incredible stories of success against great odds. Their stories serve as encouragement to others who face obstacles. We are but one community college of more than a thousand across the nation. But our voice, our story, will be heard at the national level through CMT’s Empowering Education initiative,” added Dr. Booth. “Our role is to support the challenge set forth by CMT to encourage viewers, no matter their age, to enroll or re-enroll in college to reach their potential,” said Dr. Booth. “They offer excellent online resources for students, including tips for how to finance their education, access to scholarship resources and a customized action plan that fits their individual needs and lifestyles,” he said. “Community colleges like Tri-County provide access to higher education for thousands of people who might otherwise never have an opportunity to go to College,” Dr. Booth said. “We have the support services, financial aid, and other resources to help students be successful in completing a program in a career field where there are good jobs waiting for them. That is why we are here to help. We can put them on a path to success.”