A Little Perspective
As graduation season comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many moments this May that reminded me why the work we do at Midlands Technical College matters so deeply.
Over the past several weeks, we have celebrated students from many backgrounds, programs, and experiences. While each ceremony was distinct, they were united by a shared sense of determination, growth, and the promise of what comes next.
At our 2026 Spring Commencement, hundreds of students crossed the stage at Colonial Life Arena, representing powerful stories of perseverance, sacrifice, and achievement. Among them were dual enrollment students earning college credentials while still in high school, veterans continuing their educational journeys, working adults balancing family and career responsibilities, and graduates like Ciara Wallace and her foster daughter, who earned their credentials side by side. Their story is a reminder that education has the power to transform not only individual lives, but entire families and generations.
At The College Center stole ceremony, we celebrated another remarkable group of students who completed both their high school diplomas and associate degrees at the same time. This milestone carries special meaning because The College Center began as a vision grounded in partnership, opportunity, and access. Seeing that vision continue to grow through the success of these students is incredibly rewarding.
We also recognized the newest graduates of our BOOM program, where students with disabilities gained hands-on construction experience while developing skills that extend far beyond the job site. Programs like BOOM reflect the many ways education can meet students where they are and create meaningful pathways into both careers and continued learning across our region.
What stands out most to me during this season is the resilience our students continue to demonstrate. Many balanced responsibilities that extended well beyond the classroom. They faced challenges, adapted to change, supported one another, and kept moving forward with purpose and determination.
That spirit is what defines what it means to be a Maverick.
As we celebrate this year’s graduates, I am grateful to our faculty, staff, families, school district partners, and community supporters who make student success possible. Most importantly, I am proud of every graduate who chose to invest in their future and follow their inner Maverick.
I hope you will take a moment to read more about these celebrations and the remarkable students behind them.
News Headlines
President's Posts
- E Sports Tournament
As I watched the recap from the inaugural Soda City Cup, I found myself reflecting on how quickly the landscape of education and opportunity is evolving.
What took place on that stage was certainly competition, but it was also something more meaningful. It offered a glimpse into an industry that is reshaping how students connect their passions to future careers.
The students who joined us from high schools across South Carolina brought energy, focus, and an impressive level of skill. Their presence on our campus was a powerful reminder that the next generation is already engaging with emerging fields in ways that are both exciting and inspiring.
E-sports sits at the intersection of technology, creativity, and collaboration. Events like this show that learning does not only happen in traditional settings. It happens anywhere students are challenged to think critically, work as a team, and perform under pressure.
At Midlands Technical College, we are committed to creating opportunities that prepare students for what comes next. The Soda City Cup is a strong example of how we can partner with high schools and our community to open new doors and expand what is possible.
I hope you enjoy this look back at a truly special event.
- Table Tennis Match
While it’s clear from watching this video that Tripp has a future in table tennis, and I may need a little more practice, it reminded me of something important.
Connection and laughter can be just as important as the serious work we do each day.
That's especially true when one of our students gets the opportunity to shine.
The match (and my many missed returns) captured something special about who we are as a campus and community. It was reflective of the energy, camaraderie, and sense of joy that brings us together as Mavericks, even beyond the classrooms and the office spaces.This video is more than a highlight reel of Tripp’s impressive serves and rallies. It showcases the Maverick spirit: a willingness to show up, seize the moment, and celebrate one another, even after a little bit of friendly competition.
I hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed making it. Who knows ... perhaps, there’s a rematch in our future!
- Maverick Market
The Maverick Market represents something deeply important about who we are as a college.
It is a place built on the belief that every Maverick matters. The opening of the Maverick Market is the result of our students, faculty, staff, and community partners coming together with a shared purpose: to ensure that no Maverick has to choose between their education and their well-being.
This space is more than shelves and supplies. It is a reflection of our commitment to care for one another and to remove barriers that stand in the way of student success.
I hope you enjoy this video highlighting the grand opening of the Maverick Market and the Maverick spirit that made it possible.
- December Graduation
At Fall Commencement in December, I told graduates that some will run towards danger as paramedics; some will comfort a child before they take an X-ray; some will weld the framework of our future. Some will go to be Gamecocks, or Tigers or some other fierce mascot.
But, I reminded them that no matter where they end up -- they are first and foremost Mavericks.
Hope you enjoy this recap video from graduation.
- Happy Holidays ❄️
I hope this holiday season finds you full of joy and inspiration for the future.
Please take the time you have earned to prepare for another great year, creating all the good things to come for you professionally and personally.- Open House at Cornerstone
The first week of November, Midlands Tech hosted dignitaries and the community to the newest edition to our Northeast Campus. The Cornerstone building is home to an Economic Development and Workforce Training Center.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster visited for a special tour of the facility, where ReadySC is providing pre-hiring training and support for Scout Motors and the production center that the company is constructing in Blythewood.
Cornerstone represents MTC's ongoing commitment to economic and workforce development and it is made possible thanks to partners Richland County, the S.C. Department of Commerce, ReadySC, and S.C. Technical College System, as well as Scout Motors.
- Midlands Regional Talent Summit
In early October, it was my pleasure to host an event that promoted collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations to address regional talent challenges.
About 150 people joined me at the Midlands Regional Talent Summit at the Columbia Convention Center. It was an insightful conversation that will continue to guide MTC leadership as we meet the workforce needs facing communities in Fairfield, Lexington, and Richland Counties.
- Apprenticeships for Richland Two
This summer, a group of students from Richland District Two became the newest cohort of a Prisma Health/Midlands Youth Apprenticeship Program. The goal is for these students to go to work at Prisma Health as Nursing Support Assistants.
The initiative was reported by The Carolina Panorama in an article entitled "Richland Two students sign as new Midlands Youth Apprentices."
- The Confidence Obstacle Course at Fort Jackson
Midlands Tech is honored to be a Purple Heart College and support our nation’s heroes. In celebration of that, I recently took on the Confidence Obstacle Course at Fort Jackson. My brother, Phillip, joined me. He graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson in 1988 and served in the U.S. Army and N.C. National Guard as a medic before becoming a public school principal.
- Celebrating Mavericks
Every spring and fall semester, I have the privilege of presiding over graduation. This May, I was able to shake hundreds of Maverick hands as they crossed the stage to begin the next chapter of their life.
- Filling the Gap in Automotive Technicians
A partnership between MTC and the South Carolina Automotive Dealers Association aims to help close the gap in skilled automotive technicians. The next time you take your car into the dealership, check under the hood, the tech may be a Maverick.
- SkillsUSA State Championship
Twenty-six Mavericks competed and won 16 awards in the South Carolina SkillsUSA state competition this year. Their next stop: Atlanta, Georgia for the national SkillsUSA competition in late June.
- Prisma Partnership
MTC works with our hospital systems to generate talent to keep our community healthy. One way we do this is through apprenticeships. Check out the partnership MTC has with Prisma Health through our nursing apprenticeship program.
Contact the President
Has a Maverick made an impact in the community? Need to share something with Dr. Little? Let us know!