Piedmont Technical College has been recognized as a finalist for the 2003 Bellwether Awards in the "Instructional Programs and Services" category. Using the SC ATE approach in its engineering technology programs, Piedmont was recognized for:

• Extensive faculty development.
• Workplace, learner-centered curriculum design.
• Area industry commitment and involvement.

  The 2000 Governor's Award For Excellence In Science Awareness was presented to Elaine Craft in recognition of her groundbreaking work as principal investigator and director of the South Carolina Advanced Technological Education (SC ATE) Center of Excellence, a National Science Foundation project through the South Carolina Technical College System. Mrs. Craft oversees the Center's efforts to create a curriculum in which engineering technology students in the state's two-year technical colleges learn science, mathematics, communications and technology skills in the context of solving real-world industry problems. This integrated, problem-based curriculum, along with collaborative teaching strategies, active learning techniques, and faculty and student teams, form the cornerstone of the SC ATE strategy to recruit, retain and graduate more students in engineering technology programs.

Lynn Mack Honored

  Lynn Greene Mack, transfer coordinator and mathematics instructor at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, was presented the prestigious A. Wade Martin "Innovator of the Year" award by the Educational Resources Foundation for Technical Education and Economic Development.

The award was given at the South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) spring conference held in Myrtle Beach.

As Piedmont's transfer coordinator, Mack established the first joint admissions agreement between Piedmont Technical College and Lander University. Mack also is recognized for trying to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace and for efforts to lessen "math anxiety" among adult learners.

According to her nomination, Mack's "use of current technology and innovative teaching styles has brought success to her students and statewide, regional and national accolades to Lynn, to Piedmont and to the Technical Education System."

She also serves as principal investigator for SC ATE Exemplary Faculty Project and co- principal investigator for SC ATE Center of Excellence, National Science Foundation-funded projects to improve engineering technology education.

Mack received her bachelor's degree from Winthrop University and a master's degree from North Texas State. She is currently working on her doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

The "Innovator of the Year" award is named in honor of A. Wade Martin, the first executive director of the technical and industrial training program in South Carolina. His vision helped what is now South Carolina's technical college system become a model for the United States and other countries.

The award was established to recognize individuals in the technical college system who employ innovative approaches to meet the ever-changing needs in the technical education arena and whose achievements assist in statewide economic development and the education of students.

  The South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education was selected as a finalist for the 1998 Bellwether Award in Instructional Programs and Services for their program entitled "Out of the Box: Faculty Development for Reform of Engineering Technician Education." Pictured left to right: Rod McDavis, Dean, College of Education, University of Florida; Lynn Mack, Principal Investigator for the SC ATE Exemplary Faculty Project; James Wood, Co-PI for the Exemplary Faculty Project; and, Sharon Bradwish-Miller, Past President, National Council of Instructional Administrators.

The Bellwether Awards were created to acknowledge excellence and innovation in community college propramming and are sponsored by The Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Nominations for the Bellwether Awards were received from across the United States and Canada, and finalists were selected on a competitive basis, as representive of cutting edge programs in community colleges. Winners were presented with a trophy and recognized at a reception in their honor.