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HGTC Leaders Honored by South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners

(Conway, SC) 09/30/2026

SCATCC Group Photo Horry-Georgetown Technical College leaders and commissioners celebrate recent honors presented by the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners.

Pictured from left are Dr. Lori A. Heafner, HGTC vice president for academic affairs and incoming president; Dr. Melissa Batten, HGTC vice president for student affairs and interim president; Dr. Yvonne Barnes, chair of the SCATCC Executive Committee and Trident Technical College Area Commission member; Tommy Branyon, past chairman of the HGTC Area Commission and 35-year service honoree; and Robert Hucks, chairman of the HGTC Area Commission. Not pictured is Orrie West, secretary of the HGTC Area Commission, who was recognized for 40 years of service.

Robert HucksFrom left, Dr. Yvonne Barnes, chair of the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners Executive Committee; Robert Hucks, chairman of the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Area Commission; and Tommy Branyon, past chairman of the HGTC Area Commission, are pictured as Hucks and Branyon accept the SCATCC Chief Executive Officer of the Year Award on behalf of Dr. Marilyn “Murph” Fore, past president of HGTC.

Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) leaders were recently recognized by the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners (SCATCC) for distinguished leadership and decades of service to technical education in South Carolina.

Two longtime members of the HGTC Area Commission were honored for their years of service. Tommy Branyon, past chairman of the HGTC Area Commission and secretary of the SCATCC Executive Committee, was recognized for 35 years of service, while Orrie West, secretary of the HGTC Area Commission, was recognized for 40 years of service.

Dr. Marilyn “Murph” Fore, past president of HGTC, also received the association’s Chief Executive Officer of the Year Award, recognizing her service, leadership and contributions to technical and community college education.

“These recognitions reflect an extraordinary commitment to Horry-Georgetown Technical College and to the mission of technical education across South Carolina,” said Dr. Melissa Batten, HGTC interim president. “Mr. Branyon, Ms. West, and Dr. Fore have each given generously of their time, leadership and experience in service to our students, our College and our community. We are incredibly proud to see their contributions recognized at the state level.”

SCATCC represents commissioners from South Carolina’s technical colleges and works to promote education and workforce training opportunities for South Carolinians while advocating for the state’s technical college system.