TCL mascot recognized by City of Beaufort

Published on September 27, 2023

(l-r) TCL President Dr. Richard Gough, Student Ambassador Quanti Wright, Assistant Vice President – Marketing & Public Relations Leigh Copeland and Acting Mayor Mike McFee

The Technical College of the Lowcountry’s new mascot name was recently honored by the City of Beaufort with an official resolution.

At its regular meeting held Sept. 26 at the Beaufort Municipal Complex, Beaufort City Council recognized the Tides as TCL’s official mascot.

“The Tides are a perfect representation of TCL’s vision to elevate the students and communities it serves and a fitting symbol of the steadfast spirit of its students and alumni,” read City Manager Scott Marshall from the resolution. (To read the full resolution, see below.)

A resolution is way for an official body to recognize or express an opinion and used to address a special matter. TCL’s resolution was signed by Beaufort Acting Mayor Mike McFee and entered into the public record.

Several members of TCL’s staff were on hand for the event including TCL President Dr. Richard Gough.

“We’re so very thankful for this tonight,” said Dr. Gough, adding that the voting for the mascot name, which began in February, resulted in nearly 800 votes. “And the mascot (character) itself will be coming soon.”

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R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING THE TIDES AS THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE
LOWCOUNTRY OFFICIAL MASCOT

WHEREAS, the Technical College of the Lowcountry traces its roots to The Mather School, which was founded along the banks of the Beaufort River in 1868 to educate the daughters of newly freed enslaved people; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, Mather School concludes 100 years of unique educational service to the greater Beaufort area and the campus is given to the State of South Carolina as an area trade school, eventually becoming the Technical College of the Lowcountry; and
WHEREAS, over the last 50-plus years, the College has served as the region’s primary workforce engine,
welcoming nearly 100,000 students from Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the College annually enrolls approximately 5,000 credit and continuing education students in more than 80 associate degree, diploma, certificate, skills training, and personal enrichment programs offered at its four campuses and online; and
WHEREAS, in February 2023, TCL embarked on a months-long, community-wide initiative to choose an official mascot and received overwhelming response from its students, alumni, employees and the community; and
WHEREAS, on August 2, 2023, the College announced the Tides as its official mascot. The Tides are a perfect representation of TCL’s vision to elevate the students and communities it serves and a fitting symbol of the steadfast spirit of its students and alumni.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Beaufort, South Carolina, hereby recognizes the Technical College of the Lowcountry on this significant milestone and congratulates them on their newly introduced mascot, the TCL Tides.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Beaufort to be affixed this 26th day of September 2023.