Senecan achieves goal to a college degree

Seneca resident Michael Crouch admits he has struggled both personally and academically over the past years with challenges that sidelined his academic and professional journey. Today, substance-free since 2013, he proudly talks about the road to achieving a lifelong goal of earning a college degree. He says he couldn’t have done it without Tri-County Technical College, its support services and most important, its instructors. The 41-year-old Crouch now balances his time with college classes and working as a certified peer support specialist for Pickens County Behavioral Health. After several unsuccessful attempts at college while struggling with substance abuse, as well as ADHD and social anxiety, today Crouch is in long-term recovery and earning grades that landed him on the President’s List (all A’s). He says both people and resources at the College have contributed to his academic and personal success. He told his story to a group of peers and educators at the March 4 – 7 National Organization of Student Success (NOSS) conference where he received the Martha Maxwell Scholarship for Students in Student Success Programs. He is the first student from South Carolina to receive this prestigious scholarship and award from this national organization. The purpose of the award is to support completers of programs related to student success as they continue their college degree aspirations. Crouch earned A’s in his Comprehensive Studies English and math courses and continued in the Associate of Arts (university transfer) program, earning A’s across the board and participating in the Learning Beyond Campus program. His goal is to transfer to Anderson University to study human services and eventually work as a peer support coach in a collegiate recovery program.