Clemente Coalition President Veronica Rohtert wins $5000 Scholarship

Clemente Coalition president Veronica Rohtert won a $5000 South Carolina Federal Credit Union scholarship. She plans to pursue a degree in graphic design, which she wants to use to help support the causes she believes in. To win the scholarship, she completed an application and an essay, which you can read here.

Veronica Rohtert is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and moved to Charleston, SC in 2014. She graduated with honors Magna Cum Laude from Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, TN.

She has worked as a Facility Liaison for Ricoh Americas Corporation where she used her knowledge of copiers and office management to facilitate two buildings for United HealthCare. Veronica started two family businesses and was the Office Manager for both Tennessee Laser Express and Sumner Gun & Supply.  Since moving to South Carolina she decided to dream a new dream and return to college. This new dream is in commercial graphic design and she intends to use this degree to aid nonprofits in advertising, recruiting and attracting funders.  She started at Trident Technical College in 2017 and became the President of the Clemente Coalition and has been paying it forward.  She is actively involved in community service assisting the Charleston Clemente Course, bliss Spiritual Co-op, Florence Crittenton teen program, the Windwood Farm Home for Children and Neighborhood House.  

As the president of the Clemente Coalition she organized and implemented a blanket drive for the Neighborhood House, a book drive for the library at MacDougall Correctional Center, and she volunteers at the PTK Clemente grocery vault at Trident Tech on Palmer Campus.

She says, "I truly love creating beautiful eye-catching works of art that make you stop. When you stop, you will absorb it, read it and come join me.  That is my goal to help those in need with my work and to eradicate hunger and homelessness right here in South Carolina."

Charleston Clemente Course Holds Graduation on April 26th

The Charleston Clemente Course will hold its spring graduation ceremony in the Downtown Palmer Campus Amphitheater on April 26 at 6 pm. 

In January of 2005, Trident Technical College launched its groundbreaking Charleston Clemente Course Project, offering courses during the fall and spring at Palmer Campus. Students receive free tuition, meals, books, bus passes, mentoring and refurbished computers. In HSS 101, students embark on a study of art and American history. Students passing this course can then take HSS 102, which combines the study of literature, philosophy and writing. In this class, students are exposed to the Western paradigm through the works of Sophocles, Plato, Shakespeare, Kant and Mill and to the Eastern paradigm through excerpts pertaining to Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism. In addition to the classroom, Clemente students participate in other activities, including a play.

Many of Clemente graduates go on to complete their associate and bachelor’s degrees. Some obtain stable jobs and careers, move out of the shelters and into their own apartments. Some overcome addictive behavior patterns that have continually sabotaged them.

Although there are now more than 65 Clemente Courses spread throughout the world, the Charleston Clemente Course is currently the only one in South Carolina. Trident Technical College serves as the Southeast Center for Clemente.  

To learn about enrolling, contact Dr. Mary Ann Kohli at 843.720.5713.

Charleston Clemente Course Awarded Grant

NEH ANNOUNCES $96,000 GRANT TO THE CLEMENTE COURSE IN THE HUMANITIES TO SUPPORT COURSES FOR VETERANS IN THREE LOCATIONS

New York, NY (April 9, 2018) -- The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) today

announced that the Clemente Course in the Humanities is among its 2018 grant recipients, awarded $96,000 to expand its work in the NEH Dialogues on the Experience of War initiative. Projects funded through NEH Dialogues on the Experience of War grants will support humanities-based programs for military veterans and their families.

This is the second consecutive NEH grant Clemente has received to support the Clemente Veterans Initiative (CVI), which was developed in 2014 to provide a meaningful intellectual community to veterans who are struggling to adapt to civilian life. CVI is based on the idea that guided discussion of humanities texts and images can provide veterans with an opportunity to reflect on their military experiences and support their transition to post-military life.

Dialogues will be held in the Spring of 2019 in:

●       Providence, RI, at the University of Rhode Island

●       Charleston, SC, at Trident Technical College

●       Boston, MA, at Codman Square Health Center

Each dialogue will enroll 15-20 students, the majority of whom will be veterans. Dialogues will meet twice a week for 12 weeks, using diverse texts and images to explore themes such as war, courage, and moral injury. The course, including books, child care and transportation assistance, will be offered free of charge to participants. Transferable college credit will be available from Bard College.

“For more than 20 years, we have seen how the humanities helps marginalized people place their stories and life experiences into a broader examination of historical and moral questions,” said Lela Hilton, Clemente’s National Program Director. “In Clemente, we do this in small, classroom communities where conversations begin without judgment, and can then move toward understanding how our stories fit into the larger questions. What does it mean to live a good life, to be a citizen, to be human? We are thrilled to share this work with men and women whose lives have been so deeply impacted by serving in the military. It is a true honor.”

Founded in 1996, the Clemente Course in the Humanities is now offered in 30 sites in the US. It provides free, accredited college courses in the humanities to those facing economic hardship and adverse circumstances. Students are guided by highly experienced college faculty who, using the Socratic method, provide a rigorous education in literature, philosophy, American history, art history, and critical thinking and writing. Clemente was awarded the 2014 National Humanities Medal by President Obama. For more information, contact: Dr. Mary Ann Kohli – office phone 843-720-5713 or email – maryann.kohli@tridenttech.edu 

Web Site: http://www.tridenttech.edu/academics/divisions/hss/hss_clemente.htm

Clemente Coalition holding Valentine's Day Sale to Benefit Downtown Palmer Campus Grocery Vault on Feb 12 and 13

Grand Opening of PTK Grocery Vault 2 - Downtown on Jan 31st

Come to Palmer room 104 on January 31st between 1:00-3:00 to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Palmer Campus PTK Grocery Vault 2-Downtown. The TTC Vault, either on Main or Downtown, is open to all students and staff in need.

Admissions Officer Gregory Cushing hosted an Angel Tree leading up to the Holiday Break during which our campus community donated the food that is currently on the shelves. If you missed out on that opportunity but would still like to donate, you can bring donations to the Admissions Office and put them in the big green can. 

Want to help further? Volunteers are needed to stock and staff the PTK Grocery Vault 2-Downtown. Orientation for volunteers is January 25th, 2-4 pm in Palmer room 107. Dr. Mary Ann Kholi and the Clemente Coalition will be joining PTK in staffing and supporting the new Grocery Vault 2-Downtown.   

Thanks to Admissions Officer Gregory Cushing for all his hard work getting this project off the ground, and Facilities Officer Pete Burbage for installing the shelving and making the space ready. And to PTK and the Clemente Coalition for sponsoring such an important new service to our campus community.  

Blanket Drive for the Homeless from now until Feb 2nd

Blood Drive 2018 on Jan 30th

Win with the Clemente Coalition 50/50 Drawing!

Incluza-Palooza to Benefit the Charleston Clemente Course on Nov 1!

Blood Drive on Palmer Campus Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept 27th

Clemente Graduation on April 27!

If you need a little dose of hope here at the end of the semester, you will surely find it at the Clemente graduation Thursday April 27th at 6 pm in the Palmer Amphitheater.

The guest speaker will be TTC's very own Cathy Almquist. Captivating music will be provided by Richard Blakeney and Matthew Parker. The occasion is guaranteed to leave you feeling better than when you came.

Catch the hope with Clemente!

The Clemente Players Present "Smoke on the Mountain"

Auditions for Smoke on the Mountain

Clemente Coalition wins Eastside Day Philip Simmons Display Contest

The Clemente Coalition won the Eastside Day Philip Simmons display contest, and you can see some of their project here. They visit Philip Simmons sites - and bring you on the journey.

Clemente Coalition Seeking TTC Veterans

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN 

AND A STUDENT AT TRIDENT TECH, 

THE CLEMENTE COALITION 

IS PUTTING TOGETHER A DISPLAY TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SERVICE.

SEE VICTOR IN RM. 146 

TO HAVE YOUR PICTURE TAKEN 

BETWEEN 5 AND 7 P.M. 

TODAY,

 NOV.1,

OR BY

  NOV. 3

TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DISPLAY.

Thanks for your continuing support of the Clemente Course and Clemente Players

by Sharon Willis and Mary Ann Kohli

Our TTC family is renowned for its generosity, and following is another example. We would like to thank everyone who helped make the production of this year’s Clemente Players production a success. Each and every one of you had a hand in achieving our final total of $13,381.64, which will go a long way toward helping the Charleston Clemente Course. The future students of the program thank you, as do the Clemente Players. Since its 2005 inception, the Clemente Players have, with your help, raised a whopping $95,000. You can follow the Clemente Players on Facebook to continue your support.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

Clemente Graduation coming up Thursday, April 28th

Dr. Mary Ann Kohli invites you to come see our Clemente students launch into the next stage of their educations and lives, as they transition into perhaps a Trident Technical College program, a new job, or a new view of life. Clemente graduation is Thursday, April 28th at 6 pm in the Palmer Amphitheater. Dan Bellack and Matthew Parker will provide the music for the event, and the guest speaker will be Debbie Barton, a CPA who recently moved here from the Atlanta area. A reception will follow the graduation.

What is the Clemente course? Students receive free tuition, meals, books, bus passes, mentoring and refurbished computers. In HSS 101, students embark on a study of art and American history. Students passing this course can then take HSS 102, which combines the study of literature, philosophy and writing. In this class, students are exposed to the Western paradigm through the works of Sophocles, Plato, Shakespeare, Kant and Mill and to the Eastern paradigm through excerpts pertaining to Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism. In addition to the classroom, Clemente students participate in other activities, including a play.

The Clemente Players Presents "Madam No-No Meets the USO-OH" starting on Friday, April 15th

Dress for Success Event Assisted 34 Students

Palmer Campus recently hosted a successful Dress for Success event. Sonya Cromwell, Student Activities Coordinator, said, "I would like to personally thank everyone who assisted with the recent “Dress for Success” events. A special thank you to Student Employment for providing services for those who attended each event."

Because of our TTC community support, Student Activities was able to provide 34 Trident Technical College and Charleston Clemente Course students with items to enhance their professional wardrobe. Since this event started last Fall, this program has helped 104 students. 

The Charleston Clemente Course Looking for New Students

The Charleston Clemente Course offers 2 free college-level humanities classes to the homeless and the under-resourced. Clemente students are given free tuition, a meal each class, bus passes for transportation, and books. The students are matched with mentors, who are volunteers from the faculty and staff of TTC and from the Charleston community. HSS 102, which is offered in the fall, focuses on American history and art history. HSS 101, which is offered in the spring, focuses on literature, philosophy, and writing. Candidates for Clemente do not have to have a GED or a high school diploma. Potential Clemente students need to contact Dr. Mary Ann Kohli. Her office is located at Palmer Campus in room 210C. Dr. Kohli’s phone number is 843 720-5713, and her email is maryann.kohli@tridenttech.edu.