TO CONGRATULATE MARGARET U. HOLMES, CHAIR OF THE MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE COMMISSION, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER SIX YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly has learned that Margaret U. Holmes will begin a well-deserved retirement after decades of public service, the last of which have been as the highly-regarded chair of the Midlands Technical College (MTC) Commission, the college's board of trustees; and
Whereas, in 1956, she graduated from Fairfield County Training School, and from 1964 to 1974, she earned college credits from the University of Phoenix Annex, Distar Program during employment as an educational aide with Washington, D.C., public schools; and
Whereas, Ms. Holmes served as a forms manager from 1976 to 1985 and as a management analyst from 1985 to 1998 in Washington, D.C., with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), serving as the records' officer for forty-eight offices. During this time she took many courses for training and certification; and
Whereas, after retiring as a federal employee, Ms. Holmes served as a substitute teacher from 1999 to 2003 and as a librarian from 2003 to 2008 in Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland; and
Whereas, since her return to Fairfield County, she has served as a volunteer with the county's Summer Feeding Program and Red Cross and as a member of the Lions Club and the NAACP. She is a member and steward of St. John AME Church in Winnsboro; and
Whereas, Ms. Holmes joined the MTC Commission in 2015 and has served as its chair since 2019, the first female to hold that post, and she led the commission through the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas, during her tenure, Ms. Holmes served on the Executive, the Resource Management, and the Government Relations committees, and created the Fairfield Promise Program which provides free access to a college education at MTC; and
Whereas, she has been responsible for the creation of two strategic plans for MTC and an advisory board for the MTC Fairfield Campus, consisting of county citizens as members; and
Whereas, MTC participated in several career fairs designed to help former employees at the V. C. Summer Nuclear Power Station explore education and training options to help them re-enter the workforce; and
Whereas, to develop tools to encourage young people to grow interest in mechanical, electrical, and other engineering fields, Ms. Holmes led the commission to partner with the Smithsonian, the University of Virginia, the University of South Carolina, Princeton University, and two school districts, including Lexington School District Four; and
Whereas, while a member of the MTC Commission, Military Times designated MTC "Best College for Veterans" due to the array of services, special rules, accommodations, and financial incentives offered to students with military ties; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly take great pleasure in extending best wishes to Margaret Holmes as she transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the leisurely pace of the days ahead and wish her many years of enjoyment in her well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate Margaret U. Holmes, Chair of the Midlands Technical College Commission, upon the occasion of her retirement after six years of exemplary service, and wish her continued success and happiness in all her future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Margaret U. Holmes.