Dr. Eric Brown encourages Bamberg-Ehrhardt seniors before graduation

Dr. Eric Brown brought a close-to-home message to Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School seniors as the Class of 2026 moved into graduation week, underscoring Denmark Technical College as one of the nearest college options for students in rural Bamberg County.

Brown, Denmark Tech’s 10th president, spoke at the Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Baccalaureate Service before the school’s graduation livestream at 6 p.m. on May 28, 2026. His presence tied the ceremony to a larger education-to-workforce pipeline that already reaches deeply into the county the school serves, including the Bamberg and Ehrhardt communities and the surrounding rural areas.

Denmark Technical College named Brown its 10th president when he began the job in October 2025 and formally installed him on Jan. 30, 2026, in the William L. McDuffie Student Life Center in Denmark. The college said Brown brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience, along with a Ph.D. from Walden University, a master’s degree from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University.

For Bamberg County families weighing what comes next after high school, the numbers show an established connection to Denmark Tech. The college reported 625 students in Spring 2025 enrollment and 652 in Fall 2025 enrollment. In that fall head count, 149 students came from Bamberg County, a sign that the two-county school-to-college bridge is already active.

That connection matters in a county where keeping young talent close to home can shape the local labor force for years. Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School sits within the Bamberg County School District and serves a rural population that often looks to nearby institutions for affordable training, credentials and a first step into work. Denmark County listed Bamberg County among its service-area counties in Fall 2025 enrollment data, putting the college squarely in the region’s education map.

As the Class of 2026 prepared to cross the stage, Brown’s visit offered more than a ceremonial sendoff. It pointed to a practical next step for graduates who want to stay connected to Bamberg County while building skills at Denmark Technical College or another nearby path after high school.