Michael Clardy

Welding Graduate, Class of 1980

The journey began in the fall of 1980, when a recent Spartanburg High School graduate enrolled at what was then Spartanburg Technical College. Alongside four close friends, he entered the Welding program with a clear goal: secure employment with Duke Power, then hiring for pipeline construction at two new nuclear energy plants being built in the Upstate.

But as graduation approached, the outlook changed. Support for nuclear power projects declined, hiring was frozen, and one of the plants shut down completely. “This left us needing a plan for ‘what’s next,’” he recalled.

The college didn’t hesitate. Through its network and job placement efforts, the group was offered positions with Daniels Construction. But for him, the opportunity meant long-term, out-of-state travel—something not feasible due to responsibilities at home. Once again, he was left at a crossroads.

And once again, the college stepped in.

“One of my Welding instructors, Conrad Allen—who had even worked with my father earlier in their careers—helped me register, get accepted, and transfer to USCS,” he said. That next step eventually led to a long and successful career with Spartanburg Water System, where he served for 37 years.

In July 2019, nearly four decades after first enrolling, he returned to SCC—not as a student, but as Director of Procurement. Today, almost six years later, he continues to serve the college in a part-time capacity, helping students chase their own futures with the same support and encouragement he once received.

“The school never let me down—even when local job prospects fell through. They helped me find not only my next step, but a career and a calling.”

Learn More About SCC's Welding Program: https://www.sccsc.edu/academics/industrial-trade/tat/welding/