FDTC graduates the largest class in recent history

Florence, S.C. - Florence-Darlington Technical College is thrilled to announce that its 2024 graduating class will be the largest in its most recent history, consisting of 809 remarkable students.

“We are so proud of our graduates and the hard work they put in each and every day to excel in their areas of study,” FDTC President Dr. Jermaine Ford said. “We have more than 800 students that will graduate this year with the opportunity to obtain a family-sustaining wage or proceed to the next step in their educational journey. From our Area Commission, our faculty and staff, and myself, we wish them nothing but success as they move on to their next steps.”

This year, the Graduation ceremony will take place on May 9 at the Florence Center, commencing at 6:00 p.m. It's a pivotal moment, celebrating the perseverance and dedication of the graduates who've invested years into their journey. Among them, 459 will proudly receive associate degrees, 106 will claim diplomas, and 244 will be awarded certificates.

Furthermore, 21 students from the Early College Academy, spanning Darlington High School, Mullins High School, Marion High School, and J. Paul Truluck Magnet School, will be honored and there will be 20 certificate recipients, including Hannah-Pamplico High School for Welding, J. Paul Truluck Magnet School for Industrial Maintenance, Lake City High School for Welding and HVAC, Johnsonville High School for HVAC and Welding, and the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Association for HVAC.

One of the college’s upcoming graduates, Angelica Garcia, said she is excited about graduation and celebrating her accomplishments

“The first thing I’m going to do is I’m going to celebrate my hard work and actually take advantage of my accomplished goals by starting my career and using my degree,” she said. “At Florence-Darlington Technical College, everyone has a common goal: getting your education and earning a degree. I truly agree that the support staff here makes that possible, and you’re offered so many opportunities, whether that’s networking, extra classes, or even daycare services.”

Garcia, a mother of a 5-year-old, chose to come back to FDTC to pursue a degree in the College’s Paralegal program.

“Coming back to school as a parent, it’s been tough,” she said. “The classes have been flexible. My professors have been flexible and, being a parent, you never know what’s going to happen. You have to expect the unexpected. The school and my professor and the support staff, all have been great. Truly, they made it possible.”

Garcia is just one of the many stories that can be found in this year's graduating class. Students just like her with different backgrounds and at different points in their lives will take center stage on May 9 to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments.

New to the graduation ceremony this year, the College will have 107 of its Corporate and Workforce Development students eligible to participate in the ceremony. These are students who successfully completed their Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and Pharmacy Technician certifications and are in addition to the college’s 809 graduates.

This year’s commencement speaker will be former FDTC graduate and local attorney Linward C. Edwards who is a native of Florence and graduated from Wilson High School in 1995.

Edwards served in the United States Air Force for four years before returning home and attending Florence-Darlington Technical College and earned his Associate in Arts Degree in 2002. He then went on to Francis Marion University earning his Bachelors of Business Degree in 2004, and then onto the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in Washington, D.C. earning his Juris Doctorate in 2010.  While in law school, he clerked for the Public Defender's Office of the District of Columbia and was a summer Judicial Clerk for the Fourth Circuit Federal Judge, the Honorable Margaret Seymour.

In April 2012, he then opened his own law practice, The Law Office of Linward Edwards II, where he continues to represent clients in State and Federal court cases today. His practice focuses on the areas of Personal Injury Law, primarily automobile accidents, limited criminal defense and Family Law cases. In December 2014, Mr. Edwards was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Florence, South Carolina. He served in that capacity until December 2023.

The college plans to offer a live stream of the Graduation Ceremony for family and friends that cannot attend in person. Those interested in viewing the live stream can find it on the College’s Facebook page.

The Florence Center is located at 3300 W Radio Dr in Florence and the ceremony will begin promptly at 6 p.m.

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About Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) has provided affordable technical education to many thousands of Pee Dee-area students since 1963. The college strives for student success and workforce development while providing its students with a high-quality education that leads to post-graduate success and little to no debt. FDTC currently enrolls more than 3,500 curriculum students and nearly 3,500 noncredit students annually through the college’s Corporate and Workforce Development division. Additionally, the College is home to the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT). For more information, visit www.fdtc.edu.