CCTC alumnus donates books to Natural Resources Management Program

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A Central Carolina Technical College alumnus has donated 19 high-quality natural history books to the college's Natural Resources Management Program.

Joshua Arrants of Camden graduated magna cum laude from Central in 2002 with an associate degree in natural resources management.

"This is the beginning of a library and a resource for the students in this program," said CCTC Environmental and Natural Resources Program Chair Josh Castleberry. "Hopefully, it will inspire them to get out and research beyond the classroom. We recognize and thank Joshua for this great contribution to our program."

Arrants was recognized in 2014 with an Outstanding Alumni Award by CCTC. He started his career in 2001 as an intern at Shaw Air Force Base, where he worked with the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Arrants is now a naturalist with Arrants Outdoors LLC, a company which specializes in offering full-spectrum ecological and environmental property consultation for private landowners, industries and public lands.

“I have my education at Central Carolina Technical College to thank for my internship at Shaw Air Force Base," Arrants said. "That is where my career started. I do not take that for granted. I want to help students in this program. A real, updated catalog of books covering the entire natural history of this area will benefit the program."

Arrants said he hopes that students will use the encyclopedic books to research their findings in the field.

"This is my way of giving back to the program that helped me get my start," he said. "I know without a doubt that I would not be where I am today had I not been a student at CCTC."

The Environmental and Natural Resources Program offers associate degrees in natural resources management and environmental engineering technology. The program also provides certificates in environmental; health and safety; water operator; and wastewater operator. Most classes are conducted at the Natural Resources Management Center, 735 Brewington Road in Sumter. This 105-acre outdoor laboratory includes agricultural fields, wooded and natural areas and ponds, all of which are used for instructional purposes.