Ramsey shares Story with TCTC Grads

Eighteen years ago, Dr. Valerie Ramsey, then an accountant at Clemson University, was asked to deliver the commencement address to Tri-County Technical College’s summer graduates. She told the Class of 1997 her personal life story and how Tri-County helped her to overcome barriers and permitted her to achieve her goals thus transforming her life. She returned to the stage again this year, as a College Commissioner and retired chief business officer for the College of Health, Education and Human Development at Clemson University. She emphasized to the 302 graduates of the Class of 2015 the power of education and the importance of sharing their stories. Back in 1975, a 21-year-old Ramsey entered Tri-County’s secretarial classes through the federally funded Comprehensive Manpower Program. She was a single parent who was looking for a chance at a better life that would one day enable her to support herself and her five-year-old daughter. It’s not always how you start out, but how you finish, said Dr. Ramsey. Following the speech, Tri-County President Ronnie Booth and other College officials presented degrees, diplomas and certificates to the graduates.