Wayne Bruner is one of five Elementary Education students scheduled to be the first graduates from the University of South Carolina’s Palmetto College.

Wayne chose the Palmetto College program because he knew that while he wanted to complete his degree, he had to continue working to support his family. A traditional college campus setting with daytime classes would not work with his full-time job responsibilities in his family business. Palmetto College offered him a local University of South Carolina affiliation, with the space and opportunity to customize his own schedule.

As a veteran Marine, he says: “Palmetto College has been very military-friendly; they have a great VA program at UofSC that helped me through the process of going back to school.” He continues, “I liked the idea that if I had a question there would be someone that I could meet with personally and talk with. This could not happen if I were taking online courses through an out-of-state university.”   

Bruner has enjoyed the freedom that Palmetto College has given him to continue to provide for his family and to be able to follow his dreams of becoming a teacher. He is proud to be one of the first students attending and graduating from Palmetto College with an Elementary Education degree. He and his fellow classmates have been able to work closely with professors to schedule classes. Professors proved to be very accommodating to quickly correct any issues that came up in order for students to have a smooth transition between semesters.

The one recommendation Bruner has for someone thinking about Palmetto College is: “Don't hesitate any longer. You will never get where you are going until you take that first step,” he said. He tempers this enthusiasm with a bit of realism, saying: “Be prepared to work hard; just because this is UofSC’s online campus, it doesn't mean that classes are any easier, they are just more convenient.”