Where Are They Now: Pickens County Career and Technology Center: Mechatronics Program
🏆 In 2011, the Pickens County Career & Technology Center's Mechatronics Program was recognized with the InnoVision Young Innovator Award: an honor created and sponsored by Michelin in memory of Dr. Ibrahim Janajreh, longtime Michelin R&D scientist.
Fifteen years later, the PCCTC is doing far more than Mechatronics.
The original program is still going strong, now within an ecosystem of 23 career and technical education pathways, including Aerospace & Piloting, Welding, Machine Technology, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Biomedical Sciences, firefighting and an EMT certification in partnership with Tri-County Technical College.
What's grown most impressively is how early PCCTC is reaching students. Eighth graders can now take select CTE courses. Middle and elementary school students visit for career exploration. Summer camp drew 162 students in 2025. And outreach programs, including hands-on "Birdhouse Builds" and the "It Takes a Village" initiative, are reaching students as young as kindergarten.
The numbers: 1,859 students enrolled in 25-26. 500+ expected to earn an industry certification this year. And a 99.6% four-year graduation rate for students who complete a CTE pathway.
From a Mechatronics program that caught InnoVision's attention in 2011 to one of the most comprehensive career and technical education programs in South Carolina, the PCCTC continues to innovate where it matters most: in the lives of Pickens County students. Congratulations to the entire PCCTC team. 🎉
Link to post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7496544169000075264-Cf7t