Accepting award at Central Carolina Technical College graduation ceremony
Photo courtesy Becky Rickenbaker
Central Carolina Technical College recently announced it’s Outstanding Alumni Award recipients at dual graduation ceremonies held May 9 at Sumter Civic Center.
Josh Arrants of Camden, a 2002 CCTC Magna Cum Laude graduate with an Associate Degree in Natural Resources Management, was recognized as an Outstanding Alumni award recipient at the 3:00 p.m. commencement. A naturalist and cultural ecologist, he also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Anthropology with a focus on cultural ecology from the University of South Carolina.
Mr. Arrants started his career in 2001 at Shaw Air Force Base by working to save the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker, along with birds of prey, and songbirds. Since that time, he has become one of the most respected authorities on birds and natural history in the state. Having also worked with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Environmental Control, he has extensive environmental experience in air and water quality management. He was part of the emergency response team awarded the Michael D. Jarrett Outstanding Customer Service Award from DHEC for efforts in response to the Graniteville chlorine spill in January 2005.
He is an instructor for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Master Naturalist and Palmetto Pro Birder programs and sits on their Board of Directors. A sought-after naturalist, speaker and field trip leader, Josh Arrants has lectured on and been sent to study natural history all over the country. He has also served as guest lecturer at a number of schools, including The Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. Most recently, he was sent to Washington, D.C., where he met with legislators to discuss the importance of funding conservation programs in South Carolina and throughout the United States.
Dr. Tim Hardee presenting Outstanding Alumni Award.
Photo courtesy Becky Rickenbaker
Community service and volunteering have been of particular importance to him since leaving Central Carolina. Leading nature walks and presenting natural history education programs, Mr. Arrants has dedicated more than 3,000 hours to volunteering with various federal, state, and local government agencies, land trusts, and conservation-based initiatives in the 12 years since graduating from CCTC.
Becky H. Rickenbaker | Director, Public Relations
CENTRAL CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE