Grainger Foundation Gift Will Support Lab at Greenville Technical College

The Grainger Foundation has given its support to the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Greenville Technical College with a gift of $10,000.  The gift will support an upgrade of the program’s lab computer workstations and server.  Some of the equipment to be upgraded is a dozen years old.

Ryan Tiller, Director of the Grainger Distribution Center in Fountain Inn, and Paul Ellis, Manager of the Grainger Greenville Branch, presented the gift while visiting a lab class at the Barton Campus on June 5, 2013.  They also spoke with students about the opportunities they will have when completing their studies at Greenville Tech.

“We are routinely hearing from our customers and from our company leadership that there is a growing demand for people with technical skills like those you’re learning at Greenville Tech,” said Tiller.  “Those with technical skills, high integrity and an ability to collaborate will have ample opportunities.                 

Ellis, whose branch serves customers from Columbia, SC to Asheville, NC, told the students they were especially fortunate to be in the Upstate because “the market is growing and demand for people with technical skills seems to be outpacing the supply.”

College president, Dr. Keith Miller, offered great appreciation for the gift. “Grainger’s continuing support of our labs helps assure that students will be fully prepared for the workforce,” he said.

GTC EET instructor, Bill Burns, thanked Grainger for its support, citing lab equipment as one of the first items cut during reductions in state assistance of GTC and other higher education institutions.